“What did you talk about?”
He smirked again. “I made him an offer.”
“You did what?” I gasped.
“I made him an offer,” he repeated.
“An offer to do what? How could you possibly benefit from working with that snake?”
I had been a nervous wreck all day, waiting to hear how his impromptu meeting with Hector had gone, fearing Nicholas would lose control again. Now he was telling me they were partners in crime or something? What the hell?
“He hates Simon as much as I do.” He lifted his head, his eyes blazing.
I huffed. “But he’s working with Simon.” It made no sense to me.
“He did it for money mostly, the fact he was also fucking me over was only a bonus.” He gave a short laugh. “He’s a stupid asshole, but I’m going to be the one using him now.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, not liking the idea of putting any trust in Hector. Nicholas sounded so confident, though. I wanted to believe he knew what he was doing.
“How are you going to do that?”
“Simple. I’ll let him think he’s getting what he wants.”
“And how are you going to do that?” I walked over to stand in front of him.
Apparently, that wasn’t close enough because he pulled me down to sit on his lap.
“You trust me, right?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“I am not letting him off. Once I get what I need from him, I will give him the final blow. He might think he is getting ahead because of the promises of promotions and money, but that won’t happen. He is so greedy that he won’t even see it coming. I will never forget how much shit he has made me go through.”
“Won’t he know you are bullshitting him?”
Hector didn’t seem stupid to me. Arrogant and evil, yes. Stupid, not really.
Nicholas placed my head on his shoulder. “We were friends for a long time. He knows my weakness, but I also know his. I know how he functions and what makes him drool. Willow, believe me. I have my ass covered even if Hector finds out I am screwing him over.”
I relaxed against him. He sounded so confident, and I knew when he put his mind to something, he always got it. I was just going to chill out and trust him. “Did your father call you today?”
I felt his smile against my neck. “Yes. He gave me everything I asked for.”
That warmed me inside. If nothing else, this situation had brought him and his father together again. Or at least talking again. I turned my head and kissed him. “I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I grinned before responding. “Only because you’re bigger.”
Over the next few weeks, Nicholas continued his crusade to gather as much evidence as possible and to get as many allies as possible. Or at least ensure they were not on Simon’s side.
He kept me in the loop enough to abate my worry but usually avoided giving me too many details. It was actually a nice and peaceful time, free from worry and drama. Nicholas and his father were talking and it seemed like the problems between the two of them were slowly disappearing. I hoped after all the drama passed, the problems would be gone completely.
Finally, the charity benefit arrived and Nicholas stood around, reading yet another book about pregnancy and pestering me as I put on my dress.
“Did you know that during pregnancy, the average woman’s uterus expands up to five hundred times the normal size?”
I stopped braiding my hair, scowling over to find him staring at my stomach. “Do you mind? Quit staring at my uterus.”
His eyes quickly moved up and met mine for a second before he buried his nose in the book again. I huffed and finished my braiding.
Five hundred times the regular size? That seemed really excessive to me.
He distracted me again when he lifted his shirt and started patting his stomach.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” He dropped his shirt. “It’s just that it says here men sometimes get pregnancy symptoms too. Like morning sickness and cramps and other things.”
I rolled my eyes and turned back toward the mirror. I’d never been in favor of book burning, but I was strongly considering it at that moment.
“You had four eggs this morning, right?”
Did he have a death wish? I glared over at him, grinding my teeth. “What’s your point?”
“It’s just that it says here there are some suggestions that baby boys secrete a chemical which causes the mother to eat more during pregnancy.”
That’s because boys are trouble. Then they grow into men, and men are more trouble.
“Are you saying I’m eating too much?” I looked down at myself. Only in the last few days had it become noticeable the baby was beginning to show, and that was only when I was naked. I had gained a few pounds, but mostly in my hips and boobs. Nicholas said he loved it, but maybe he didn’t.
I was a fat cow and I was only four and a half months along. I’d be wearing his clothes before nine months came around.
“I’m absolutely not saying that.” He came up behind me, wrapping me in his arms and rubbing my belly.
“But you can tell I’ve gained weight.” I met his eyes in the mirror.
“I think you get sexier every single day.”
I snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“You do.” He nuzzled my neck. “When you get home, I want you to keep in these braids and leave on the heels.”
I laughed, not able to stay angry with him. “Of course, you would have some fantasy running through your head.” I shrugged out of his arms to finish my makeup. “I’m just hoping to get back here in one piece, without being eaten by the sharks.”
His eyes narrowed. “I wish I could be there with you. Promise me you won’t let anyone get to you.”
I sighed. “I’m just going to stick by your mom and pray not to see Rosemary.”
We both knew that wasn’t likely. She was supposed to be there, along with many other Quentin society princesses. I just kept reminding myself it was all for a good cause.