Page 48

Cecily

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Weeks later

I don’t have nausea.

I didn’t vomit even once. The only thing that makes me sure that I’m pregnant, besides the test results, are my extremely sore breasts.

After that dinner, something changed between us. I don’t know if it was because I confessed that I loved him, but now, in addition to lust, I feel that he has an affection for me that, I guess, he wouldn’t have for a woman who was just a temporary factor in his life.

We’re still in a clandestine relationship, and I feel Dionysus’s impatience growing like a pressure cooker about to explode, but that’s not why I came to his office at the bank today. I’m willing to tell part of the truth. Tell him I’m pregnant.

Through the tinted car window, I see the same security guard who, a few months ago, barred me from entering, saying I would never get to Dionysus. What would he think if he knew that Anderson is currently driving the car I’m in, and that, in a few minutes, if everything goes well, I’ll tell the inaccessible Greek—who he told me is harder to talk to than God himself—that I’m expecting his son?

Yes, the time has come to stop lying, hiding. No matter how much he hates me in the future when he finds out that I came into his life through a calculated setup, he has the right to know that he is going to be a father.

“I’ll park near the private elevator, Cici.” Anderson, of all the employees, is sure that his boss and I are together, and at first, he tried to call me Miss Bradley again, which I didn’t allow. I still feel guilty about the scare I gave him, and I consider him a friend.

“It was the one I went up to before with Dionysus, right?”

“Yes. Just press twelve, and you’ll go straight to Mister Kostanidis’ office.”

“Thank you, Anderson.”

“Do you have your badge?”

“I do, yes.” I remove the special identification that Dionysus made for me which gives exclusive access to the elevator that leads directly to his office.

He gets out of the car and opens my door. When I get up, he frowns, as if he’s worried. “Is everything okay, Cici?”

Instead of answering, I respond with another question. “Do you believe in miracles, Anderson?”

He nods. “Every day when we get up, a small miracle happens, Cici. We are just pawns, arranged on the board of life by the great player: God. He can move us as he pleases, and even if we think we are immortal, that we will live forever, that is not true. So yes, I believe in miracles. Every breath at a new sunrise is a miracle.”

“The miracle of life. Yes, you’re right. Someone once told me that I’m a cat, that I have nine lives, but I’ve already used up two. I have seven left. I don’t need that many anymore. I want to continue in the current one. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

“Then fight to stay.”

For a moment, I think he knows everything, or at least suspects that I’m a fake.

No, it would be impossible. My history has been erased. The people who knew about my closeness to Keith and his grandmother were Jodelle and Peyton, and not even they were aware of how much my friend protected me, since he only occasionally appeared in our city.

I say goodbye and enter the elevator. Less than a minute later, the door starts to open, and I prepare to face Dionysus’s grumpy secretary. The first time I was here, the woman looked me up and down like I was an insect, and I was quite well-dressed.

To my surprise, however, the one who appears when the door opens fully is Cage.

“Cecily, you’re here!” He actually seems surprised to see me, but he recovers quickly.

“Hi, it’s been a while.”

“Not by my choosing,” he says, approaching and kissing me on the cheek.

I feel weird about this kind of intimacy, because even though we’ve texted and called a few times, as well as him being my ride to Madison’s wedding, we’ve never touched more than shaking hands. “I came to see Dionysus.”

If he’s surprised that I refer to our boss by his first name, he doesn’t show it. I suppose the reason is Joseph, since to everyone I’m still just the little boy’s night nanny.

“It must have been fate that made us meet. I have a company party to attend in a few weeks. I was actually going to call you. I want you to go with me.”

“Cage, I . . .”

“Wait, don’t answer yet. You haven’t heard my entire proposal. The party will be on a Friday, so I thought I’d plan a weekend in the Hamptons. What do you think? I have friends there. I’m sure there aren’t any places that fancy in Kansas. And don’t worry about just being a nanny. They won’t judge you.”

I don’t know what irritates me more: him assuming that I would be dazzled by the invitation because, to quote him, “I’m sure there aren’t any places that fancy in Kansas,” or the fact that he believed I would feel embarrassed for “just being a nanny.”

I believe that he misinterprets my silence, thinking that I am considering accepting the proposal, because he continues, “I’m not pressuring you, but I need you to know that I’m not a monk, Cecily. I have tolerated your modesty until now because, to be honest, I find your country manner charming, but if you accept my invitation, we will sleep in the same room.”

I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy hormones that make me want to kill him, but I feel like flying at his neck and tearing the pretentious smile off his face. I don’t even care that, in my peripheral vision, I see people approaching, probably the secretary with some other employee. I’m determined to put him in his place.

Before I can say anything, however, the door opens and Dionysus appears.

“Come in,” he says to me without looking in the direction of anyone else.

Already angry with Cage, I feel my temper emerging. “Good afternoon, Mr. Kostanidis.”

Yes, I know I shouldn’t provoke him. From his expression, I’m sure he heard what Cage said, but I’m really upset that he’s treating me like I’m his property.

He approaches, and I shiver, but not from fear. It’s because I can’t control my body’s crazy reactions whenever he’s around.

“You know you don’t need to be embarrassed, gape mou .”

My eyes widen when his huge hand comes to the back of my head, because I know what he’s going to do and also that the other people here with us are paying attention to the scene.

I have time to stop him when he pulls me towards him and kisses me on the mouth in front of everyone, but I don’t because I’ll never be able to resist him. So when our lips touch, I forget the world around us and respond with my heart.

When I soften in his arms, at his mercy and in love, after seconds that seem like hours, he moves away, but without letting go of me.

“Dionysus . . . um . . . Mr. Kostanidis, I didn’t know you and Cecily, I mean, Miss Bradley . . . were together.”

I might feel sorry for him if he weren’t so stupid and insulting, treating me like I should be grateful for doing him the favor of inviting me to a party and a weekend away, but I’m enjoying watching him squirm in embarrassment, even though now that the effect of the kiss has worn off, I’m angry with Dionysus too.

“We haven’t announced it yet, but from now on, you’re warned. Don’t get in my way, Cage. You won’t get a second chance.”