18
Olivia
He hasn’t spoken about Caruso since the night he caught me in his office with the flash drive. All he said to me was that it was done, and I was safe.
What was done?
Did he kill Luka?
The man was a monster, but murdering another man doesn’t make it right.
It’s probably the hormones and pregnancy brain giving me crazy fantasies of what Jace did to force Caruso to leave me alone. I want to believe that he’s gone and can never bother me again, but I still have nightmares about him threatening me.
Jace is a billionaire. He probably just paid the thug off. That’s what rich people do, right? Money solves all their problems.
Since the incident, I’ve had a bodyguard at Jace’s insistence. Does Jace think that Caruso’s men will come after me? Why else have someone shadow me everywhere that I go.
Will I always be watching over my shoulder for Luka?
Jace drives me to work. When I refuse, he insists that Matteo swings by on his way to the office, which is in the opposite direction.
I don’t need Matteo hating me. I like my job, and a small part of me hopes that I’ll be able to keep it after the pregnancy.
Matteo accompanies to lunch if Jace isn’t around or is busy. If it’s after hours, there aren’t too many places that I go on my own. Sometimes I go shopping, but Matteo accompanied me once, and after that, it was always another guard.
Did I bore him to death?
Good.
“I’m heading out. Are you done?” Jace asks, stopping by my desk. His days have become more typical, less late nights since insisting on driving me home.
He hovers over my desk, and I’m sure the rumors are starting to spread. I’ve barely started showing, but any day I’m going to pop. My work slacks are already challenging to get on, and while I’d like to blame it on my eating habits lately, it’s probably the fact I’m very much pregnant.
“I don’t know, am I done, Boss?” I ask, and smirk.
We may not be dating, but it does feel like there’s something between us, aside from the little bump.
“Come on, and I’ll walk you out,” he says.
I shut down my computer and grab my coat, sliding it on as I hurry around my desk.
He presses the elevator down button as I approach. “How about we grab a bite to eat and do a little shopping?” Jace asks.
I don’t have the slightest clue what he wants to buy. Am I tagging along because I don’t have another ride home or because he genuinely wants to spend time with me?
“Shopping?” I’m thrilled with leaving now, and it’s nearly five o’clock anyhow.
“Yeah, stuff for the jellybean,” Jace says as the elevator doors open. He gestures for me to step in first before he accompanies me, the doors shutting behind us.
The elevator is empty. I’m grateful for the privacy between us. Well, aside from the security surveillance, but I don’t think they can hear us.
Can they?
“Pretty soon, jellybean is going to be the size of a watermelon,” I chuckle.
“Yeah, not before it’s a lemonhead first.”
I’m pretty sure the baby is already bigger than a lemonhead. Maybe it’s the size of a lemon. I’d have to pull out the baby book to see how big the little one already is, but I’ve been trying to avoid the emotional intimacy and connection.