I wondered if my lip bite had the same effect on him as his spectacles had on me. That information is stored in my mind.
As I continued to read, I snickered and released my lip
“How does this traveling business work?”
“Though my company is situated in Quentin, I do have to travel on occasion.” Mostly to and from San Rafael, with a few trips abroad thrown in for good measure. I want you to accompany me on my journey for as long as you are physically able.”
“Do you mean till I’m waddling around with a watermelon in my stomach?” My hand instinctively reached down to feel my stomach, and I imagined what it would be like to carry a baby inside.
He gave a grin and a nod. “It’s something along those lines.”
“What about school?”I wondered.
When he didn’t respond, I looked up again. He furrowed his brow in confusion.
“I figured college was your way out of Atkins, but now that we’ve worked out a deal, that option won’t be as appealing to you. I suppose I’m selfish in that I’d prefer you to be fully committed to us. After all, you’d have to stop anyhow if you were pregnant.”
“What?” I scanned through the pages, looking for where he made that ridiculous restriction. “College feels like a costly method to get away from my hometown. That is not the case, I tell you that. Pregnant women attend classes every day , all throughout the world, for your knowledge. You have the wrong girl if you think I’ll just sit around the house all day waiting for you to come home. I’d be bored out of my mind and would probably start throwing your priceless works of art around for fun.”
As I explained my point, his face became a little paler.
“Willow, it’s not set in stone. There’s no reason to be upset. That is why we are discussing this. If you’re wandering around this city by yourself, I’ll be concerned.”
I took a few deep breaths and attempted a different approach. “Even though I’m not sure what path I want to pursue in terms of a degree, I still want to take a few classes. I’m interested in the opportunity. I won’t take more than a few classes per semester.”
He gave a slow nod. “I see your point. College may be an extremely lucrative and enjoyable experience. And I won’t hold you back from it. I have one request in this only… I want us… our relationship to be a priority.” He paused and stared at me for a long time.
“Taking classes will not prevent me from paying attention to you.”
What a desperate man he was.
He let out a sigh. “I must request that you use private transportation. If I thought you were alone on subways and cabs, I’d go completely insane. Also, if you’re due to deliver in the middle of the semester, I’d advise you to skip that semester.”
Nicholas’ true nature as a control freak was beginning to reveal itself. His anxiety and fears expressed themselves in his manipulation of things to his liking. I wondered if he was like this with everyone in his life.
Was there anyone else in his immediate proximity?
I was used to having complete autonomy and having no one to answer to but myself. It was going to be a huge task for me to give up my independence and allow him to take control of every part of my life.
“You have to understand, Nicholas, that none of this is familiar territory for me. Since my mother’s death, I haven’t had someone whom I answered to or update on my whereabouts. This is going to be a challenge for me, and If you really want this to work, you’ll have to compromise.”
He smiled as he said, “I understand. I don’t want to alienate you by being overbearing. However, I’d want to point out that there are a variety of other activities you can engage in outside of academics. I’m confident I could teach you everything you’d study at QCU, and possibly more.” At this point, the grin had become permanent. “Plus, I’m sure my mother will herd you into working for her charitable projects.”
When his mother was mentioned, my anxiety returned.
“Well, I appreciate your modesty about Nicholas Rowe University, but I think I’ll continue with QCU
for the time being.” As he chuckled, I took a few deep breaths. “Does your family live nearby?”
“Yes, Geoffrey, my brother, works at RHI as well. He lives in the city parents have a home here, but they spend the majority of their time in Nanticoke.”
“Do you think they’ll be upset that you’ re with me?”
“No. How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Based on what I’ve read, your family is well-off. Aren’t your parents going to be concerned that you’re marrying some bumpkin from Atkins?”
He chuckled as he shook his head. “My mother will be overjoyed that I’ve finally found a place to call home. She’s been harping on me about grandchildren for years. I’m confident she’ll adore you. She can be quite overbearing at times, so please let me know if she is suffocating you. I’ll tell her to take a step back.”
I snorted. He was fortunate to have a mother who loved him, and it hurt me that he took it for granted. It didn’t go unnoticed by me that he didn’t mention his father. I was confused as to why he had been ignored.
I returned my attention to the page, making revisions to my academic goals and continuing to read.
I took a pause upon reaching the next section, which contained a detailed medical history for both Nicholas and myself.
“How did you get so much information about me?” My stomach churned with rage.
“As I already stated, I performed a background check. I wouldn’t have gone into this without first learning about your health and any potential genetic issues in your family history. My stuff is all there, too.”
This man had a lot of guts. I locked my gaze on him.