CHAPTER NINE
WHENTHEDOCTORARRIVED, Olive swept out of her room wearing a camel-colored sweater and loose white pants that flowed with her every motion.
She looked soft, her dark hair down and framing her face. Markedly different to the woman she typically was, in her black uniform.
“I see you have rejuvenated.”
“As much as possible. Though, I am a bit chagrined to see there is no black.”
“None,” he said grinning.
“That seems mean. Unnecessarily.”
“I feel that you are mean to yourself, unnecessarily.”
She mused on that. “I’m not mean. It is simplification. Also, I have never seen fit to dress for the approval of others.”
She was beautiful all the same. Though he did not say so.
He found that he should be more disdainful of her than he was.
He of course had to give a blood sample as well, to determine the match. The doctor gave her a general once-over for her health as well.
“I will call you with the results,” the man said.
Olive was pale and mute following the blood draw, and she curled up on one of his white couches, next to the roaring glass-backed fireplace that offered a view of the valley below.
“I’m tired,” she said, resting her cheek on her forearm, which was leaned against the back of the couch.
“Yes. I can see that. How exactly do you suppose you’re going to take on this business project while this exhausted.”
“I have done some googling,” she said. “I should only be this tired for the first trimester. Anyway, I only have four weeks left of that.”
“A boon for you, then.”
“Oh, yes,” she said. “I’m in the middle of a huge boon. Truly, I have never been so boon to.”
“Perhaps you need help. Perhaps, my acquisition of Ambient will be beneficial to you.”
“Somehow, I don’t think so. Somehow, I think you’re trying to position a hostile takeover as a favor, and I find that to be disingenuous, and frankly, think you’re better than that.”
“Fine. Do you want honesty? I find you unworthy of retaining ownership of your company. After that stunt that you pulled.”
“Unworthy. Gunnar finds me unworthy. Whatever shall I do?”
“Begin to make your apologies, Olive.”
“Screw your apologies.”
“You are unrepentant?”
“I think I’ve made that quite clear.”
“You’ll find that I am also unrepentant. Whatever happens after this.”
She faced him down, her hazel eyes glittering. “Tell me this, Gunnar. Would you have brought me up here if I weren’t pregnant?”
He shook his head. “No. I would have had you arrested and dealt with the fine details later. While taking over your company.”