Tangled In Strings

Chapter Twenty-Four

I hear him sputtering to my back, so full of outrage he cannot form coherent words. I swing my chair out, glancing up at him, now on his feet. Norman appears to be a statue on the couch.

"You have five seconds to pick up these papers and walk out of this office, before I call security and have you escorted out of here."

I wait for his insults, which are surely flying around in his brain at an unhealthy speed. But it only takes him two seconds to snatch the papers he brought from my desk and only takes four for him to disappear from the entrance.

I breathe in, tearing my eyes from the double doors, hearing Jerry shouting to anyone who will listen about how I resent him because he's a man, and look at Norman.

His brows are high on his damp forehead. I lower into my seat, shrugging my shoulders with finality.

"It's my company."

I hear the smile in his voice. "That it is."

...

"Scarlett?"

At the sound of Rebecca's voice, meek and full of hesitance, I lift my face from my forearm with dread. She's discovered me on the floor of the bathroom, head over the toilet. It's early morning; no one's supposed to be in yet.

"Are you okay?"

I clear my throat, reaching up to flush the toilet and then I scramble up onto my stilettos, wiping my mouth as I stare at the door of the stall, my face heating up in a rush.

"I'm okay, yeah." I open the door, and head to the sink, aware of her eyes following me. "You're in early."

"Yeah, thought I'd prepare the paperwork for the meeting at nine."

"Good idea." I grab my toothbrush, which I have handy on me always now, since my morning sickness has spiked considerably over the last two days. I squeeze a hearty amount of minty paste onto the bristles, still catching my breath. "Did you call the vending company about the coffee machine yesterday? It wasn't working when I left."

"I did. They came by an hour ago."

I smile, brushing. "Always one step ahead."

"Got to be, with that big raise you just gave me."

I spit out the amount that's gathered in my mouth, and then continue to brush.

"Are you pregnant?"

I freeze at the words. My gaze meets hers in the mirror. And I can't bring myself to lie to her.

"Yes," I whisper.

She gasps, grinning. "Oh my god. You are?"

I nod, and bend to rinse out my mouth with water. When I come up, she strangles me in a hug before I've even wiped the water from my face. Pulling back, she hands me a paper towel.

"Giovanni's?"

I pat down my lips and throw the paper in the waste bin. "Mhm."

"Does he know? I mean, is it awkward?"

"He does."

She grins, biting down on her bottom lip. She's jumping in her flats. "You just got flowers. They're in your office. They're probably from him!"

I gather my things, and walk out. She's close behind.

"How far along?"

I glance around, warily, and then turn back to her. "Bec, no one can know about this. You can't tell a soul."

"Um, excuse me. I've kept every damn secret you've ever told me."

I roll my eyes at the attitude in her tone and that makes her smile even larger.