Chapter 11

 

I sat down with a sigh, then caught myself and quickly looked around. I was only a few months along, and had still done a marvelous job at keeping my pregnancy hidden from everyone. Though I wasn’t wearing the same revealing clothing that I had been, I did realize it must be obvious my breasts were growing. I hadn’t bothered hiding them from the world in the past, and now since I wanted to keep my body more hidden than before, I found that they were enormous.

Of course, this wasn’t at all a problem with Knox, who was enjoying having sex with me more than ever now. I thought I would be self-conscious about my swelling belly, but really, I found my own pregnant body to be beautiful.

For the past few weeks, Knox continued to act strangely toward me, though he kept insisting nothing was wrong whenever I asked about it. I had to admit, it did make it rather difficult for me to want to sleep with him as much in a way, because I didn’t like the feeling he was lying to me. Before, things had been so open and free between us but now it felt like a wall was up, and there was nothing I could do to get over the wall.

Thankfully, no one seemed to notice me when I sat down so heavily in my seat, so I turned my attention back to the work in front of me. The last thing I wanted was for there to be any pregnancy rumors floating about the place. I knew without any doubts that they were speculating that Knox and I were having sex, but I could deny this to my father if he were to ever hear the rumors himself.

Pregnancy, on the other hand, wasn’t something I would be able to hide no matter how much I wanted to.

“You feeling okay?” Stef asked as she stopped by my desk.

I jumped with fright, not hearing her walk up.

She gave me a concerned look. “You’ve been acting strange lately, Meagan.”

“Oh, sorry – I didn’t see you there. I’m fine, just fine,” I quickly insisted and ignored her comment.

She continued to watch me keenly as she spoke again, “I don’t know if Knox told you, but when Kelly comes in, don’t say anything to her. She doesn’t like to be bothered with any of us, and with as close as the two of you are, I don’t want there to be any problems.” She gave me a weak smile.

I felt my heart sink. I hadn’t heard Kelly Grayson’s name in months – I had begun to imagine that she’d never existed.

Kelly Grayson – or Kelly Cortez, as she now was called – was Knox’s ex-wife. I knew the two of them were still in contact, but I had no idea she would be stopping by the office today, and part of me was angry with Knox for not telling me. No wonder he’d looked upset. He knew she was coming and knew I might react to her presence.

Stef laughed. “I’m guessing this is news to you?”

I nodded. “I know Kelly – my father is good friends with Knox, so she came over to our house most of the time when he would visit,” I explained.

Stef’s expression changed. “Oh boy, then you already know what a charmer she is.” Stef rolled her eyes.

We chatted for a few moments longer, then she returned to her own computer and started typing away.

Now my concentration was gone. All I could think about was that Kelly would be coming into the office.

I glanced toward door, wondering what he could possibly be doing in his office. I felt hurt and betrayed, and had to fight the impulse to go in there and confront him about the situation. But I knew it wouldn’t do any good. She was coming either way, and the last thing I wanted was for her to show up when I was having an argument with Knox.

I would rather not see her anyway.

A little while later, I heard her coming before I saw her. The heels she wore clicked on the floor with the same attitude she had, and I cringed. She stalked into the office with her purse draped over the crook of her arm and her sunglasses still on, but I could see by the way she kept glancing back and forth at the employees and how she was judging all of us—and wasn’t impressed. “Meagan Thompkins? You work here?”

I cringed at the sound of her voice – and the fact that she recognized me. I looked up and gave her the warmest smile I could muster, telling myself that she didn’t know how much of the situation I knew. “Kelly! Oh, my God, it’s been forever! How are you doing?” I asked as I rose from my seat. I felt relieved I’d grown used to not touching my stomach when I stood or sat down.

She glanced over me with a quick and critical eye.

I silently prayed she wouldn’t be able to see my figure through my shirt, but it was impossible to read her face with her glasses on.

“As fine as can be expected when your ex-husband cons you out of everything that is yours,” she stated flatly.

I wanted to slap her. I knew the kind of woman she was, and I knew the kind of man Knox was – he wouldn’t do anything to cheat her out of her property or her money. She lost it fair and square, and there was no way I would ever take her side in the matter. But I wasn’t about to say so out loud. “Oh, no! I heard that you got divorced – I feel so bad for both of you,” I said, once again, trying to hide how much of the situation I knew.

She laughed and shook her head. “Don’t. It’s the best thing that happened to me, really it is. You have no idea what it’s like to be in a relationship with that man…dreadful! Anyway, it’s good to see you, Meagan. Tell your father I said hi.” She didn’t wait for me to answer, but instead walked right into Knox’s office.

His back was turned to the door when she opened it, so I couldn’t see the expression on his face – but I imagined it wasn’t going to be pleasant when he turned around. No doubt, he heard us in the office before she walked through the door, and he didn’t want me to see him.

I wished I could be in there – I wanted to know what she could possibly be here for – and I was still mad at Knox for not telling me she was coming.

Kelly closed the door behind her as she walked into his office.

I could only hear the sound of their voices talking, but not the actual words they were using.

I sighed as I walked back over to my desk and sat down, all kinds of emotions swirling through my brain. There were so many questions I wanted answered, mixed with the anger towards both of them. I couldn’t stand Kelly – I’d never liked the woman even when he was married to her. But it still hurt that he didn’t tell me she would be here, and I wanted to find out why.

Could it be that something was happening between them that I needed to know about? I tried to remind myself that Knox and I weren’t in an actual relationship, but the fact I carried his child in my belly made me feel I was entitled to know something – anything about what was going on. The rising voices in his office told me they weren’t getting along, and I had to force myself to turn back to my computer and focus on work.

She would leave eventually, and when she did, I would find out the truth from Knox himself. This time, I wouldn’t be taking no for an answer.