The Heiress's Pregnancy Surprise (Heirs to an Empire 2)

Excuses? Charlotte’s earlier annoyance turned into a blaze of frustration. “Excuses?” She stood. “You don’t think I put in sixty-hour weeks in this job? Or spend my downtime checking emails and doing market research? Do you realize that my entire social life revolves around Aurora Inc. functions? That I never have time to spend with my college friends or...or...”

“What the heck is going on in here?”

Charlotte spun around and saw her twin, William, standing in the door. William, so handsome and happy and perfect. She loved him but right now his perfection was aggravating. Of course he’d nearly thrown everything aside for Gabi, a perfect example of sacrificing for love. Meanwhile, Charlotte was standing there, feeling underappreciated and even a little taken advantage of.

“None of your business.” The nausea was overwhelming now. “Please excuse me. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She hurried to the executive bathroom, went inside and locked the door. Maybe a sip of water would help. She ran water and cupped her hand to drink, and the moment she swallowed, the water—and her earlier tea—made a reappearance. Moments later she knelt on the floor, still gasping, tears burning her eyes.

There was only one reason she could think of for being turned off by coffee and throwing up in the bathroom. She hadn’t had a period since returning from New York, either.

Ignoring the meeting that was surely now underway, Charlotte took the elevator down to street level and made her way to a pharmacy where she bought a pregnancy test. Then she took it back up to the private bathroom and waited for the results.

It didn’t take even the full three minutes. One minute in, the stick told the truth in bright pink. She was pregnant. So much for the withdrawal method working. One time. Just once without protection, and here she was. Bound to be a single mum. Her heart trembled.

How could she expect to do all of this while raising a baby on her own?

After a few minutes of sitting in a stupor, Charlotte got up, touched up her makeup, straightened her skirt and rolled her shoulders. Loads of single mums worked and were fine parents, so why shouldn’t she be able to manage? She shook off the fear threatening to still her breath. Charlotte had resources that so many women didn’t, so she’d put on her half-English stiff upper lip and get on with it.

The meeting was only forty minutes in and she was supposed to be there. Maybe no one really appreciated how hard she worked, but she’d show them she could do anything. She’d show them all.

* * *

Jacob sat at his desk in Richmond and rubbed his hand over his face. Spring had been glorious, and now, deep into April, he should be enjoying the sight of burgeoning gardens and the deep green of the grass on Richmond Green. Instead he’d been in a total funk since arriving back from New York.

It had been hell not to pick up the phone and call Charlotte, or send her a text just to see how she was doing. But what would that achieve? They were not a couple. He knew a total break was best, and he’d get over it eventually.

Like you got over Jacinta?

He frowned.

Jacinta died. It’s different.

At least he had nothing to feel guilty about with Charlie. It had been consensual, mutual, and they’d been on exactly the same page about their future.

Keep telling yourself that.

His inner voice just wouldn’t shut up.

He opened up a couple of case files and updated them, then moved on to contracts and potential clients. He had two guys in Asia right now, working on a trade mission, and another team in place providing security for a private event in Manchester. Maybe what he really needed was to deploy himself again. Sitting at a desk gave him way too much time to think. Or there was still the issue of his untaken vacation. Either way, he needed to be active again. See if there were any cases he could take on himself.

His mobile vibrated on top of his desk, jumping across the desktop. He grabbed it and answered. “Wolfe Security.”

“Jacob?”

He nearly dropped the phone. “Charlie?”

There was a breathless laugh. “It’s me.”

And then silence, awkward, fell between them. “How are you?” he finally asked, unsure what else to say. Why was she calling him now? It had been two months since they’d said goodbye at the airport.

“I’m—I’m fine.” She stuttered a little, but then added, “I’m in London.”

Here. She was here.

“For work, I suppose?”

“I was wondering if we could meet for a drink or something.”