Executive Mother-To-Be Read online

  ‘You’re right,’ he murmured, taking a stab at a piece of chicken with his chopsticks, unsurprisingly coming up empty considering his eyes hadn’t left hers.

  In that moment Kris knew that, no matter how cool Nate pretended to be, he hadn’t forgotten what they’d shared. Not any of it.

  ‘Well, we better eat up and get back to it,’ she said, the false brightness in her voice almost making her cringe.

  But she had to do something to get them back on track, away from the touchy subject of that incredible night and how much she’d like to re-create the same magic again the longer he stared at her with fire in those hypnotic eyes.

  ‘Right.’

  In an instant, the heat evaporated, only to be replaced by Nate’s cool indifference, and Kris stifled a sigh.

  After all, she’d got what she wanted.

  Hadn’t she?

  ‘Kristen, where are we at with the casting for Travelogue?’

  Kristen fixed Nate with a glare, convinced he was doing the whole ‘let’s pick on the new girl’ thing on purpose. What with his condescending tone, she could quite easily have throttled him.

  ‘We’re on schedule. The final screen tests are done, and we’re expecting visa clearance for the last cast member as we speak.’

  A tiny frown appeared between his brows and, seeing it combined with his compressed lips, she knew what came next couldn’t be good.

  ‘That’s all well and good, but what’s the actual time frame? Are we talking days or hours here? I need direct answers, not vague platitudes.’

  Stiffening, Kristen twirled a pen between her fingers, refraining from stabbing it into her notebook, or better yet stabbing it into the man who had made her working life miserable for the two weeks since she’d started.

  She didn’t get it.

  He’d been fine on her first day, had been the epitome of a chivalrous gentleman, waiting till she’d reached her car after Manic Monday before leaving. Most guys took her confident persona as a sign she could take care of herself—and she could—but it had been nice to feel protected for that brief moment.

  However, since that night he’d closed off, and, if she didn’t count the slight aberration during their working dinner when he’d thawed for all of two seconds, their conversations had been cold and clipped, his demeanour bordering on antagonistic and she’d had a gutful. Once this meeting was over, she’d confront him.

  ‘The embassy doesn’t work to your stopwatch and they can’t give me precise times. As soon as the visas come through, I assure you, you’ll be the first to know.’

  She shouldn’t have spoken to him like that, not with Alan watching their sparring with avid interest, but there was only so much she could take and Nate had crossed the line about a week ago with his surly attitude and frigid tone.

  ‘Fine. Let’s adjourn till we have more.’

  If looks could kill she would’ve curled up her toes on the spot, but she didn’t flinch from his glowering stare.

  He could say things were fine, but she knew differently, and she had every intention of finding out what was going on. What had happened to his holier than thou ‘we’re professionals’ speech he’d given on the first day?

  Gone as quickly as the special spark she’d imagined they’d once shared.

  ‘Keep me posted,’ Alan said, gathering up his paperwork and heading for the door in record time.

  Maybe her poker face needed some work, for he cast her several concerned glances on his way out, obviously not wanting to get caught in the crossfire when she let Nate have it.

  ‘Thanks, Alan, shall do,’ she said, forcing a smile which quickly faded once the door closed and she turned to face the boss.

  ‘We’re finished here,’ he said, sliding documents into clear plastic sleeves and shoving the lot into a box he hefted onto his hip.

  ‘On the contrary, we’re just getting started.’

  She planted her hands on the conference table and leaned forward, fixing him with a glare that had wilted lesser men than him.

  ‘I want to know what’s going on.’

  ‘We had a business meeting as far as I can tell,’ he said, replacing the box on the table, his exasperation audible.

  ‘Don’t patronise me,’ she said, hating the tension between them, hating the fact she cared even more. ‘You’ve been giving me a hard time ever since I started. I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me and more, yet you can’t be civil. What’s with that?’

  He froze, his expression icy. ‘I treat you like any other employee. If you expect special treatment, forget it.’

  ‘Special treatment? Why would you think I’d expect that?’

  She knew, though, and the thought sent raw anger spearing through her. Would he ever let her forget the mistake she’d made in Singapore?

  ‘Look, this is getting us nowhere. I’m sorry if you think I’ve been too pushy or tyrannical or whatever, but it’s how I do business. If you don’t like it, maybe we need to come to another arrangement.’

  ‘Are you threatening to fire me?’

  She gripped the table, her blood pressure soaring and spots dancing before her eyes.

  ‘You’re…’ The words died on her lips as she swayed, the spots joined by squiggles and stars and quickly followed by darkness as she collapsed onto the table.

  Nathan’s blood chilled as he watched Kris slump forward in a heap, her head making a god-awful sound as it thumped on the table. He rushed forward in time to catch her before she slid to the floor, struck by two things simultaneously: how scared he was that she’d injured herself, and how petrified he was at how good she felt cradled in his arms.

  ‘Wh-what happened?’

  Her eyelids fluttered open, and he breathed a sigh of relief, unaware he’d been holding his breath.

  ‘You passed out,’ he said, brushing the strands of hair off her forehead, wishing the lump of fear lodged in his throat would disappear. The longer she stared at him with uncertainty in her wide blue eyes, the larger the lump grew, till he could hardly speak.

  ‘I’ve never fainted in my life,’ she said, her brow creased as if puzzling over what had happened.

  ‘Maybe you’ve been pushing yourself too hard.’

  God knew he had, pushing her away every way he knew how.

  ‘I’m used to working at a hectic pace,’ she said, shaking her head and wincing as she reached up to feel the growing bump near her hairline. ‘Ouch, that must’ve been some knock.’

  ‘It was. Shook the building, I’d say.’

  ‘Who asked you?’

  Her rueful smile faded as her fingers connected with the bump, and his heart clenched with the fragile glint in her eyes.

  ‘Here, let me check it out.’

  He’d expected her to protest, but she surprised him by lowering her hand and closing her eyes as his fingertips skimmed the bump on her forehead and beyond, using gentle pressure to explore her scalp for further damage, relieved he didn’t find any.

  His relief was short-lived, though, as he registered how damn wonderful it felt to be running his fingers through her hair, just like he’d done that night he’d been trying so damn hard to forget.

  Pulling his hand back as if scalded, he gently raised her to a sitting position, needing to get her out of his arms before he did something crazy, like kiss her bump better and follow up with a kiss on her lips to make him feel better.

  ‘You should get to a doctor, get yourself checked out,’ he said, propping her against a chair while he reached for a glass of water off the table and handed it to her.

  ‘I hate going to doctors,’ she said, taking a sip gingerly before closing her eyes tight again, a pained expression on her face.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

  ‘Hell,’ he muttered, casting a frantic glance around the room for something to act as a sick bag, and coming up empty.

  ‘Just give me a second, it might pass,’ she said, taking slow, deep
breaths and looking paler by the minute.

  Hating the helpless feeling rendering him almost useless, he grabbed one of the clear plastic sleeves containing the month’s projection figures and tipped them out in a hurry. It would do as a sick bag at a pinch.

  Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she fixed him with an accusatory glare.

  ‘Don’t think this means we’ve finished our conversation. As soon as I’m feeling better, you’re going to face the music, mister.’

  He smiled, relieved to see some of the familiar fire in her eyes, amused that she’d think of chewing him out at a time like this.

  ‘Duly warned,’ he said, taking hold of her arm. ‘Think you can stand? I’ll help you up, then grab a phone so you can call your doc.’

  ‘I don’t think—’

  ‘Don’t think, just dial. You need a check-up, as I won’t stand for having one of my prized employees collapsing on me for no reason.’

  Rather than arguing as he expected, she accepted his assistance and he got her onto a chair without further drama, though he should’ve known she wouldn’t stay silent for long.

  ‘If this is how you treat prized employees, I’d hate to see how you treat the ones you don’t value.’

  Grabbing his cell phone out of the pocket of his jacket draped over the back of his chair, he said, ‘Hey, didn’t I stop you from falling on the floor in an undignified heap?’

  She waved away his response, the colour returning to her cheeks. ‘Not that—the way you’ve been carrying on the last two weeks.’

  ‘We’ll talk about that later,’ he said, handing her the phone. ‘Now, call directory enquiries if you don’t know your doc’s number off by heart. I’m not letting you out of my sight till you’re in a taxi and on the way to see him or her.’

  ‘I don’t have a doctor in Melbourne, said, thrusting out her bottom lip in a delightful pout which matched her sulky tone.

  ‘Then you can see mine. Doc Rubin is one of the best,’ he said, dialling the number and fixing her with a glare that brooked no argument.

  ‘I’m feeling fine now. It was probably the result of long hours and snatched meals.’

  ‘Something tells me you’ve always worked like that, yet you said you haven’t fainted before.’

  He waited while the doctor’s receptionist put him on hold, hoping he wasn’t overreacting.

  Maybe she was right and this was a one-off. However, seeing her so helpless lying there with her eyes closed, and cradling her limp body had resurrected stark memories of holding Julia in a similar way. He’d been too late to save her, and he’d be damned if he dismissed Kris’s fainting spell out of hand when it could indicate something more serious than overwork.

  ‘You’re being awfully bossy,’ she muttered, her arms crossed over her chest in an action he’d come to associate with her stubborn side several times during meetings over the last week or so.

  ‘Funny, that, considering I’m your boss.’

  He held up his hand as the receptionist came on the phone again, and he took the first available appointment which happened to be in half an hour, courtesy of a cancellation.

  Thanking the receptionist, he snapped the phone shut. ‘Right. We’re all set. Let’s go.’

  ‘You’re not coming with me!’

  Her horrified glance told him exactly what she thought of the idea of his accompanying her, and he stopped short, suddenly struck by how inappropriate it might look for the boss to be seen mollycoddling an employee.

  She’s more than that and you know it.

  Ignoring his inner voice, he said, ‘Actually, I was thinking Hallie could ride with you.’

  He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to protest. ‘Don’t even think about arguing. You can’t be alone in case you collapse again, so Hallie is riding with you, okay?’

  ‘Okay,’ she said, her meek tone telling him exactly how scared she was, but trying to hide it. ‘But this doctor better be good.’

  Hiding a triumphant grin, he said, ‘You’ll be in good hands with Doc Rubin. And make sure you head home straight from the surgery. I don’t want to see you back here, got it?’

  ‘Is that ever?’

  He ignored her jibe at their earlier conversation, aware he’d have to do some fast talking once she was better. Anything rather than tell her the truth.

  ‘I’ll call you later to see how you went,’ he said, offering her a hand to help her up from the chair, which she ignored now she had some strength back.

  He should’ve known her dependence wouldn’t last long. She’d never accept a helping hand from him unless desperate.

  ‘Do you need a hand to the front door?’

  ‘I’m fine.’ She stopped short of rolling her eyes, and he grinned, holding his hands up in surrender.

  ‘Don’t think this lets you off the hook. I’ll be back to bust your butt faster than you can say “that’s a wrap”.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to it,’ he said, thinking that for a woman who acted so tough she had a delightful sense of humour, and he much preferred being on the receiving end of a funny barb than the killer glare she did all too well.

  Then again, he’d done such a good job of alienating her, maybe busting his butt wasn’t a joke!

  Keeping her at arm’s length was proving to be more difficult than he’d anticipated.

  Perhaps he had to try a whole lot harder.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘YOU’RE pregnant.’

  Kristen stared in horror at Dr Rubin, who was a dead ringer for Santa Claus. Ironic, considering she’d never believed in fairy tales or the jolly fat guy himself, especially as he’d never brought her what she wanted. No surprise that his lookalike delivered shocking news she didn’t believe.

  ‘There has to be some kind of mistake,’ she said, folding her arms and fixing him with a withering stare.

  The doctor shook his head, a kindly smile on his rotund face. ‘No mistake, Miss Lewis. Can you tell me the date of your last period so I can calculate your due date?’

  Right then, the first flicker of doubt set in.

  Last period…

  When had that been?

  She’d attributed her missed periods to changing time zones, the move to Melbourne and the stress of a new job. It wouldn’t have been the first time she’d missed a period or two at a tough time in her life.

  Never in her wildest dreams—or nightmares—had she considered she could be pregnant.

  Racking her brain, she said, ‘Over twelve weeks ago? I’d have to check for the exact date.’

  ‘We can go into that later, but right now let me give you a rough estimate.’

  While the doctor twirled a cardboard circle peppered with numbers, she sank into the chair and furiously tried to marshal her thoughts.

  She couldn’t be pregnant.

  She didn’t know the first thing about being a mother, let alone caring for a child.

  How on earth had this happened?

  Suddenly, an icy shiver spread cold, clammy fingers through her body. She hadn’t slept with anyone apart from Nate, which meant…

  ‘Your due date is December the first.’

  ‘Oh no,’ she sighed, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head from side to side in a futile attempt to vanquish the logical explanation as to who the father of the baby was. ‘No, no, no…’

  ‘I hate to state the obvious, but this pregnancy is unexpected?’

  Her shocked gaze met the doctor’s understanding one, and she hated the anger bubbling within her at the futility of her situation.

  A baby had never been in her grand plan. She had a career, a successful life, she didn’t need the complication of a child and all the responsibility he or she entailed.

  Darn it, they’d used protection. How could this have happened?

  Rubbing a hand across her eyes, she tried to erase the all-too-vivid image which flashed across her mind in response to that particular question.

  ‘We can discuss options if you don
’t want this baby,’ Dr Rubin said, his voice devoid of emotion or judgement.

  She didn’t want to discuss options.

  She wanted to run screaming from his office, head home, dive under her duvet and hide away from the truth: pregnant, to her boss!

  Taking a deep breath, she slid a protective hand over her flat belly. She needed time to think, time to absorb the shock, time to figure out what she wanted to do, though in reality she knew it would take a lifetime to get used to the idea of herself as a mother—and Nate as her child’s father.

  Lifting her chin, she met the doctor’s concerned stare. ‘That won’t be necessary.’

  ‘Good. In that case, let’s discuss obstetricians. You’ll need to have your first review and ultrasound asap, as you’re probably nearing the end of your first trimester.’

  ‘Fine,’ she said, knowing it wasn’t.

  Making the decision to be a mother was one thing, facing up to specialists and ultrasounds and goodness knew what was another.

  Apart from knowing next to nothing about kids, she didn’t have the faintest idea about what pregnancy entailed—apart from the obvious, like nausea and swollen ankles and a belly the size of a basketball. She had no friends to ask, and the thought of going through this alone hit, and hit hard.

  Though there was Nate…

  Nate, the father of her baby, who could barely bring himself to look at her these days, let alone acknowledge that the one night he’d made clear meant nothing to him had resulted in a baby.

  How could she tell him something like this?

  How would he react?

  God, what a mess.

  ‘Right. Here’s a list of obstetricians, and the multi-vitamins I recommend you commence immediately. Any other questions?’

  Kristen stared at the doctor. Was he crazy? She had a heap of them, starting with how bad will the labour be? and ending with how will I care for a baby?

  However, she swallowed her questions and shook her head. If she spent one more minute in this doctor’s office, with his twinkly eyes and benevolent smile, she’d start blubbering and never stop.