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Cecily

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Days Later

Today, Madison called to say that her sister, Brooklyn, who came out of her coma a few days ago, is recovering much faster than expected.

A miracle of life, God giving her a second chance.

I need a miracle too. And a second chance, mainly, but above all, I need to have the courage to tell my child’s father who I am.

That’s right. I can’t conceal my identity from Dionysus—my boss, boyfriend, and lover—any longer. He is all of these things, but above all, he is the father of the baby I’m expecting.

I’m pregnant.

We had agreed that I would do the blood test with the same doctor who is taking care of Madison, but I couldn’t wait. The anxiety was killing me, so this morning I went to a clinic alone and got it done.

“Shishiii . . . Uice.”

“More juice?”

“Yeeeeesssss.”

“It’s good to be little and so loved, isn’t it, Joseph? Not having doubts, fear of being alone, not yet knowing what it’s like to feel guilty... Because that’s how I am today. Sad and not proud of myself at all.”

I dry the tears that insist on flowing. I don’t think I’m emotional because of my newly discovered pregnancy but rather because I’ve been holding back crying for a lifetime.

“Are you feeling alright, Miss Bradley?” Barbara asks.

Miss Bradley, not Cecily. Proof that Dionysus and I are not as discreet as we believed. The employees have already realized that we are together.

“No. Just a little emotional.”

“You look tired. It’s not fair for Lisa to burden you so much. She was already absent a lot before, but now it seems that because she knows you live here, she has become more irresponsible.”

“I really don’t mind watching him, Barbara.”

“I know. Anyone can tell you love the boy.”

I just nod my head, because even though we get along well, I don’t feel like talking, and I think she notices, as she leaves shortly afterwards.

My phone rings, and I see from the identifier that it’s Dionysus. I hesitate before answering, so tired of lying, hiding, or however else what I’ve been doing could be described.

Dionysus: Pick up the phone.

I’m not exactly a fan of orders or ultimatums, but I get goosebumps reading the display. I must not be well.

“I was going to answer it.”

“You weren’t. You were thinking. Making up your mind. Why do I always have to chase you, Cecily? Why do you seem to like running away from me?”

I was the one who chased you , I think. And I’m afraid you’ll hate me when you find out why. “I like the idea of being hunted by you.”

“I have no problem with that. Hunting you excites me. Besides, we know the night will end with me inside your pussy.”

“Oh my God!”

“Come see me. I want to fuck you on my desk.”

I know he’s at the TV station today. I’ve never been there, and I’m curious. Maybe it would make my day a little better. “I can’t. Lisa didn’t come in again.”

“Fuck! You have been working two shifts for three days. You must be exhausted.”

“As much as mothers are when they raise their children alone. I’m fine, but I can’t come today. Invite me again tomorrow.”

“I’ll ask Ares to stay with Joseph tonight, and then I’ll take you to dinner.”

“I’m not ready yet.”

He’s been insisting that we appear in public, and I know his brothers and cousins know about us because he told me he talked to them. Elina too, so only Madison is missing from the closest relatives.

“When?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Why is it so important?”

“I don’t like hiding, but today is not about that. I want to be alone with you. We need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Don’t lie to me, Cecily. In fact, don’t even hide it. I don’t react well to betrayals of any kind. You went to the doctor. Even after we talked about taking the test at the family obstetrician, you went alone. Why?”

“Because I feel like I’m losing control of my life. I wanted to maintain a minimum of autonomy.”

“By hiding from me whether you’re pregnant or not?”

“No. I would never do that. I think we’re wrong for each other, but I wouldn’t hide the truth from you.”

“Don’t wanna go out to dinner? That’s fine, but we’re taking the night for just the two of us anyway. Ares will stay with my son. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“I have no choice?”

“Not this time. Be ready. Let’s have dinner, and then you tell me what the test results were.”

I hang up the phone with my heart racing. The beats are so intense that my chest hurts. I’m scared to tell him everything, but he has the right to know.

“Why do you look like you’re about to faint?” Ares asks when we meet in the hallway of the mansion, and I get scared.

I’m ready to have dinner with my I-don’t-know-what-name-to-call-him, and I was going to Joseph’s room to say goodbye, when I ran into the second oldest Kostanidis coming out of there.

“I don’t think I am,” I reply with a frown, because even though Dionysus’s relatives are intimidating, just like Dionysus himself, and I’m emotionally exhausted today, it’s going to take a lot more than a grumpy Greek billionaire to get me off track.

“Are you hiding something?” he asks, pretending to joke, but I know he’s serious.

I’ve noticed that each Kostanidis has peculiar characteristics.

Zeus is serious and has a way of looking at you that seems to see your soul.

Dionysus appears smooth, charming, and able to make panties melt, but he is as suspicious and cold as the other members of the family.

Ares is a bad boy at first glance, rebellious, and doesn’t give a damn what people think of him, but like the others, he’s cynical and observant, and just gives off a false impression of lightness.

Finally, we have Hades, the scariest of all. He looks at people as if he hates them, or at least despises the entire world. He rarely addresses me, and when he did once, I wanted to run.

The Cecily who arrived in New York might have run away after Ares’ question. Today’s girl has learned about her own strength.

“If I were, Mr. Kostanidis,” I say recklessly, “you wouldn’t be the one to reveal it to.”

I have no idea what his reaction will be, but it irritates me when I see one corner of his mouth lift in the shadow of a smile. “ Mr. Kostanidis ,”he echoes.

“Isn’t that your name?”

“You may be carrying my nephew or niece inside your body, Cici ,” he says, emphasizing my nickname on purpose. “Are you going to keep calling me that when you go into labor?”

“That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny. I’m just being frank. If you’re expecting my brother’s child, he will be ours. Part of the family. So maybe you should start getting used to calling me by my name, moro moo ? * .

* ? “Baby.”