Chapter 3

After the car drove off, I opened the rideshare app.

There were more than forty people ahead of me.

I waited half an hour. My stomach kept tightening, so I finally walked through the rain to the bus stop.

By the time I got home, my shoes were soaked.

Ethan was on the couch, listening to a voice message from Victoria.

“Did Chloe’s husband pick her up?”

“She’s always been stubborn. No one’s coming, but she still tells people someone is.”

Ethan looked up when I came in.

“Victoria asked if you had a crush on me.”

I twisted my wet sleeve. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her you’ve always known how to please your boss.”

I stood by the door for a long time.

He acted as if the matter were settled and picked up his phone again.

“Take the pregnancy cushion out of my car.”

“Victoria’s riding with me to project meetings this week.”

“If she sees it, she’ll start making assumptions.”

I took the keys downstairs.

The rain was still coming down.

I removed the cushion, then searched between the seats and gathered every prenatal appointment slip I could find.

Before my last prenatal appointment, I’d just picked up my bag when Victoria placed a dry-cleaning ticket on the desk.

“Pick up my suit and grab me breakfast.”

I checked the time. “I’m on prenatal leave this morning.”

Her smile faded.

“Being pregnant means you can pass your work to someone else?”

“You used to fake being sick in gym class so you could skip. You’re still doing that?”

My face went pale. “My doctor told me to keep my appointment.”

Ethan stepped out of the elevator. He’d approved my leave, but he only glanced at the ticket.

“Take care of Ms. Shaw first.”

“She has a client meeting at ten. Your appointment can wait.”

I tightened my grip on my bag. “But the hospital booked—”

“Chloe.”

His voice went cold.

“Don’t use your pregnancy to demand special treatment at work.”

I lowered my head and took the ticket.

The dry cleaner didn’t open until nine. The breakfast line was long.

With my eight-month belly, it took me forty minutes to go back and forth.

By the time I returned, the food had gone cold.

Victoria took a bite and frowned in front of several managers.

“It’s cold.”

“Chloe, you can’t even run an errand properly. No wonder you’re still at reception after all these years.”

I tried to explain that the line had been long.

Her eyes filled with tears first.

“I know I can’t say anything because you’re pregnant. You’re in a more vulnerable position than the rest of us.”

“Ethan, maybe I shouldn’t eat.”

He took the food from her immediately.

“I’ll have someone bring you something else.”

Then he looked at me. “Apologize to Ms. Shaw.”

I stared at Ethan and said nothing.

Victoria smiled. “Forget it. Not everyone can be as dedicated as I am. Don’t make things harder for a pregnant woman, Mr. Cole.”

That night, I watched Ethan’s accusing expression across the table.

I gathered my courage.

“Victoria’s always liked making fun of me in front of people.”

“She did it on purpose today.”

Ethan set down his fork, impatient.

“Victoria again?”

“Can you stop acting like you have a problem with her?”

I opened my mouth, but the words I’d been ready to say disappeared.