Chapter 7 Two Lines

• Ninette's POV
• I sat in the sterile examination room, staring at the two pink lines that had just destroyed and remade my entire world in the span of thirty seconds.
• The doctor's appointment had been scheduled weeks ago. It was supposed to be just a routine check-up, nothing special. But when the nurse called me yesterday saying they needed to discuss my test results urgently, my stomach had dropped.
• And now I knew why.
• "Based on your last menstrual period and the ultrasound we just performed, you're approximately eight weeks pregnant," Dr. Morgan was saying, her voice gentle. "In medical terms, we calculate pregnancy from your last menstrual period, which adds about two weeks before actual conception. So while you're eight weeks pregnant medically speaking, conception occurred around six weeks ago."
• Six weeks ago.
• That night. The hotel. The stranger who'd just offered me a contract marriage yesterday.
• Oh fuck.
• "Are you alright, Ninette?" Dr. Morgan touched my arm, concerned. "I know this might be unexpected…"
• "I need to..." I couldn't finish the sentence. Couldn't think past the roaring in my ears.
• Dr. Morgan handed me a packet of information. "Here are recommendations for prenatal vitamins, diet, exercise. I'd like to schedule you for your first official OB appointment in two weeks. We'll do another ultrasound, check on the baby's development, and answer any questions you have."
• She kept saying ‘baby’ like this was real, like there was actually a tiny human growing inside me right now.
• I was homeless. Jobless. About to be arrested for credit card theft.
• And pregnant.
• With Adrian Wolfe's baby.
• Adrian Wolfe who'd just offered me half a million dollars to carry his child.
• I started laughing. Couldn't help it. The sound came out slightly hysterical, bordering on unhinged.
• Dr. Morgan looked alarmed. "Ninette…"
• "I'm fine." I wasn't fine. I was the opposite of fine. "I just... I need to go."
• I grabbed the packet, my purse, and practically ran out of that office, made it to my car, Damien's car, technically, that I'd been driving for three years, before the panic attack hit.
• I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. My hands shook so badly I couldn't get the key in the ignition.
• I was pregnant with a baby I'd conceived before Adrian even made his offer.
• What the fuck was I supposed to do?
• I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers and called Patricia.
• She answered on the second ring. "Ninette? What's wrong?"
• "I'm pregnant." The words came out flat, shock making my voice monotone.
• Silence. Then: "How far along?"
• "Eight weeks. Six since actual conception. It was... there was someone. One night. After I found Damien and Tessa."
• "Shit." Patricia's professional composure cracked. "Okay. Okay, listen to me carefully. Does Damien know?"
• "No. Nobody knows. I just found out twenty minutes ago."
• "Good. We keep it that way. If Damien finds out you're pregnant, he'll claim the baby is his regardless of the timeline. He'll use it in the divorce, play the victim, say you're keeping his child from him. The custody battle alone would destroy you financially and emotionally."
• My hand went to my stomach without thinking. Flat. Nothing there yet. But soon...
• "How do I keep it secret?" I asked. "I'm showing up to court dates, depositions…"
• "We move fast. We finalize the divorce before you start showing. You're what, eight weeks? We have maybe two months, possibly three before it becomes obvious. I'll push for an expedited hearing."
• I had two months to figure out my entire life.
• "Patricia, there's something else." I swallowed hard. "I got an offer yesterday. A... contract marriage proposal. From a very wealthy man for two years."
• "How wealthy?"
• "Billionaire wealthy."
• A pause. "Is it the father?"
• "Yes."
• "Does he know you're pregnant?"
• "Not yet. He made the offer yesterday, before I knew. He wants me to marry him and have his child. But I'm already pregnant with his child."
• I could practically hear Patricia's mind working. "Ninette, if you marry him while pregnant with his child, Damien has no legal claim. The timeline would be clear; you were separated, you met someone else, you're moving forward. It's a clean break."
• "But I need to tell him about the baby. Before I accept any offer."
• "Yes. You do that today. Don't let this sit. And Ninette?" Patricia's voice softened. "Be careful. Men with that kind of money, they're used to getting what they want. Make sure you're protected."
• The call ended. I sat in the parking lot, staring at my phone, knowing what I had to do.
• I had to tell Adrian I was pregnant.
• Before he thought I was trying to trap him.
• Before this got even more complicated.
• I pulled up the number for Wolfe Enterprises and called before I could lose my nerve.
• "Wolfe Enterprises, how may I direct your call?"
• "Jim, please. Adrian Wolfe's assistant."
• "One moment."
• Hold music. My heart hammered against my ribs.
• "This is Jim." A younger male voice came.
• "I need to speak with Adrian Wolfe. Tell him it's Ninette Cole. It's urgent."
• "Mr. Wolfe is in meetings all afternoon…"
• "Tell him I've made my decision about his offer. And that there's something he needs to know before we move forward."
• Something in my voice must have convinced him. "Hold please."
• More hold music. I counted my heartbeats. Got to thirty-two before the line clicked.
• "Ninette." Adrian's voice, that deep rumble that made my stomach flip even through the phone. "Have you made a decision?"
• "I need to see you in person. There's something important we need to discuss before I can give you an answer."
• A pause. "My office. Can you be here in an hour?"
• "Yes."
• "Jim will have a visitor's pass waiting for you. Sixty-fourth floor."
• The line went dead.
• I sat there for another moment, trying to steady my breathing, trying to figure out what the hell I was going to say.
• Then I drove to Wolfe Enterprises Tower, my hands shaking on the steering wheel, and prepared to tell a billionaire he was going to be a father.