I walked out of the building feeling as free as a bird. Well, somewhat free. When I was out walking around the city or at work, I needed to wear a removable splint for a couple of weeks, which was fine. At least it was removable, and I didn’t need it 24/7. After my appointment, I went shopping and bought some new clothes. As I was climbing out of the cab, and trying to gather the many bags I had, I heard a low voice behind me.
“Here, let me help you with those bags.”
Turning around, my face was mere inches from a handsome older gentleman. He had salt and pepper hair that was slicked back, striking blue eyes, a light mustache and a salt and pepper beard that lightly graced his masculine jaw line. He stood about six foot three and wore a classy black designer suit. There was a familiarity about him. No. It couldn’t be.
“Thank you, but I got it.” I gave him a small smile.
“Nonsense. It’s obvious we’re going into the same building, so let me help you.”
I sighed as I gave him a few of my bags and we walked into the building together.
“You’ve done quite a bit of shopping,” he spoke. “I hope your husband doesn’t mind.” A smirk crossed his lips.
“I’m not married, and I would never marry a man who would have a problem with it,” I said as we waited for the elevator to come down.
“Good.” He smiled. “What happened to your foot?”
“I broke it about six weeks ago. I just got my cast off today and need to wear this while I’m out and about.”
“I see. So you did a bit of shopping to celebrate?”
The doors opened and we stepped inside.
“No. I did some shopping because I’m pregnant and all my clothes aren’t fitting anymore.”
“Which floor?” he asked.
“Fifty.”
He pushed the button to the fiftieth floor and then slid in a keycard and pushed the button to Lucas’s penthouse. Damn. I knew it.
“You’re pregnant?” he asked, and I swore I heard a bit of disappointment in his tone.
“I am.” I smiled.
“Congratulations.” He gave me a nod.
“Thank you.”
When the doors opened on the fiftieth floor, I took the rest of my bags from him.
“Thank you for your help.”
“You’re most welcome. It’s not every day I get to help a beautiful young woman.” He gave me a wink.
“Somehow, I doubt that.” I pointed at him as I grinned and walked down the hall to my apartment.
Wow. He was as smooth as his son.
Chapter 17
Lucas
“I want to meet the woman who figured out what you couldn’t and almost cost this company a serious amount of money,” my father spoke as we sat in the conference room going over the financial reports.
“She should be here in a few minutes.” I let out a sigh. “I sent her a text message last night telling her to come straight to the conference room.”
There was a light knock on the door, and when I looked up, Jenna stepped inside holding a coffee from Starbucks. My father turned around instantly a wide smile graced his face.
“You?” He grinned as he got up from his seat.
“Hello, Mr. Thorne. I’m Jenna Larson.
I sat there narrowing my eye at the both of them.
“Am I missing something here?” I asked.
“I had no idea.” My father walked over, took Jenna’s hand and brought it up to his lips.
“Your father helped me with my shopping bags yesterday when I arrived home,” Jenna spoke.
“She certainly had a lot of them.” My father smiled. “We must be paying her an awful lot of money.”
“Well, considering her educational background, we are.”
“I would love for you to join the two of us for dinner tonight,” my father said to her.
Shit.
“Actually, I have—”
“Cancel them. I insist you join us.”
“Alright. If you insist.”
“Excellent. Lucas will fill you in on the details.”
“Looking forward to it.” She looked at me as she bit down on her bottom lip.
“You can get to work now,” I said. “I’ll drop by your office later.”
“Okay. It was nice to officially meet you, Mr. Thorne.”
“And you as well, darling.” He smiled. “That one is a little spitfire,” he said as he sat down across from me.
“Why do you say that?”
“I can tell from the brief conversation we had yesterday about shopping. Did you know she’s pregnant?”
I swallowed hard as I could feel the beads of sweat starting to form.
“Yes. She told me before I hired her.”
“She’s not married, but I’m assuming there is a boyfriend.”
“I don’t know, Dad. She’s just one of my employees. I don’t know her personal life.”
“I see. Well, that’s the best way to keep employer/employee relationships.”
After we finished going over the financial reports, I headed down to Jenna’s office and shut the door.
“Hey,” she said as she glanced up at me.
“You told my father you were pregnant?” I took the seat across from her desk.
“He asked me if I did a celebratory shopping because I got my cast off. I told him no, and that I was pregnant, and nothing fit me anymore. Don’t worry. He doesn’t know you’re the father and he never will.” She rolled her eyes.
“I have a feeling he’s going to be asking you a lot of questions at dinner, so you better be prepared.”
“Don’t worry about me, Lucas. I can handle your father.”
“Nobody can handle my father, Jenna. Dinner reservations are for seven o’clock at Daniel. Please try to be on time. If there’s one thing he hates is when people are late.”
“I’ll be there on time.”
I got up from my seat and headed towards the door.
“By the way, why didn’t you tell me you were getting your cast off yesterday?”
“I honestly didn’t think you’d care.” She smiled.
“Fair enough. Why are you wearing that thing?”
“I have to for a couple weeks when I’m here or out and about. I don’t need to wear it at home.”
“That’s good. I have to get back to my office. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay.”
I went to my office and shut the door. Sitting behind my desk, I turned my chair around and stared out at the city. My father wasn’t stupid and both she and I needed to be very careful with our conversations tonight.
Jenna
After freshening up a few of the waves in my hair, I changed into a black short sleeve baby doll dress and slipped my good foot into a comfortable black flat shoe. As I stood at the elevator waiting for it to stop on my floor, the doors opened, and Lucas was standing there.
“Hey,” I said as I stepped inside.
“Hey,” he spoke as he stood there with his hands tucked tightly into his pockets. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. So do you.”