weakness to strangers. This woman seemed very kind but Kate wasn’t sure if she would be able to pull any weight with Carlo. Kate knew Carlo’s anger. It was intimidating, she thought, remembering the few times she had been the recipient of his anger.
Betsy nodded her head in understanding. “I’ll see if he’s free but won’t mention your name,” she said and winked as she waved Kate to a seat outside of a set of double doors.
Kate smiled weakly. “Thank you.”
The woman disappeared into an office. Kate sat down on a chair, the weariness deep in her bones. Three months ago, things were so much simpler. She went to work, she left work, she had fun with her friends and she was mildly satisfied with her life.
Now she was embroiled in an illegal scheme by her boss, she’d fallen madly in love with a man she never should have been involved with and she was about to subject an innocent child to the same painful life she’d grown up in.
Kate put a hand protectively over her stomach. She had no idea how she was going to raise this child but one thing was for sure, he or she would know enough love from her that they wouldn’t miss their father.
She knew she’d have to tell Carlo about the baby, but it would be long after all this mess was cleared up. She didn’t have the strength to tell him about an impending pregnancy and an impending stock scandal all at once.
“Why the hell are you here?” Carlo demanded from the doorway to an office. “Do you have any idea of what you’ve put me through this weekend?” he said, his voice deadly quiet.
His secretary stood behind him and her jaw dropped at Carlo’s tone. She pushed her way past him, her anger evident as she went back to her desk and started typing.
Carlo sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. His anger was still evident but he toned it down slightly. “Why don’t you come in and tell me what’s on your mind?” he said and walked back into his office, not bothering to see if she would follow.
Kate stood up and followed him on trembling legs. She glanced at the woman who had stopped typing and was now watching as Kate walked towards the door. Kate received a wink and for some reason, that small action gave her the last bit of courage she needed.
Kate squared her shoulders and walked into his office, knowing that what she needed to tell him was extremely important. She refused to let the tears fall down her cheeks again. They were wasted energy and Kate hated to waste anything.
“What’s up?” he asked, picking up a file folder and proceeding to read through the file. He was completely ignoring her.
Kate decided to just start talking and hopefully he would hear her words. “I know you’re going to be angry about this but I have some information I think you should know about,” she said and sat down on the edge of a chair in front of his desk.
Carlo snapped the folder closed and tossed it on his desk before glaring at her from across the polished expanse of wood. “What would that be, Kate? That you’ve been stringing me along all these months? I already know that, don’t I? Or that you’re dumping me for no apparent reason? Well, I’ve gotten that message as well. When a woman refuses all contact, phone, messages, in person, a man can take a hint. I won’t bother you anymore.”
“What do you mean in person?” she asked, distracted by his words.
“Don’t try it Kate. I went over to your house on Saturday around eight o’clock in the evening, worried about you. You’re car was there and lights were on but you wouldn’t answer the door.”
Kate couldn’t tell him that she’d been asleep because she’d have to explain why she was so tired that early in the evening. “I didn’t know,” was all she said. Kate was shaking her head at the beginning of his speech. “Actually, why I’m here has nothing to do with us.”
“Well, since there is no ‘us’ since you refuse to let it happen, perhaps you should tell me why you’ve ventured into the lair of the man you hate.”
Kate gasped. “I don’t hate you. I wouldn’t be here if I hated you. Think anything else but not that.”
“What do you mean? Perhaps you should explain exactly why you are here.”
Kate couldn’t look