Chapter 5

The cell phone began to ring, and Emeraude turned to the other side, returning to sleep. It continued ringing until she finally turned it off. Just when she thought she would have some peace, the doorbell started ringing desperately. She sighed, got up, and went to answer the door, almost tripping over her own shoes. As soon as she opened the door, she froze.

"Good morning," Cassian said, his eyes lingering on her legs. Emeraude glanced at her attire and blushed, realizing she was still in her not-so-discreet pajamas. She quickly hid behind the door, causing him to chuckle softly.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I told you I'd swing by at 9 a.m. to pick you up. I tried calling, but someone turned off their phone," he said, entering without an invitation, a bit impolite. Emeraude suddenly remembered the exams they were supposed to take today and closed the door.

"I completely forgot, I'm sorry. Let me get ready; I'll be back in a moment. If you want, you can go ahead, and I'll meet you there," she said, walking backward down the hallway leading to her room.

"I'll wait, no rush," he replied, shamelessly eyeing her body.

"Okay," she responded and headed into her room, locking the door behind her. She took a quick shower and went through her morning routine. Emerging from the bathroom in a towel, she selected her outfit—a tribal-print, high-waisted skirt that fell just above her knee, paired with a tank top. She slipped on a pair of high-heeled sandals to gain a bit more height, then went to the mirror and arranged her hair, leaving it loose with large curls. She applied a light makeup and grabbed her bag and phone.

Emeraude left the room with her phone in hand, turning it on. Cassian was sitting on the couch, engrossed in his own phone.

"I'm ready," she announced, prompting him to look up and assess her from head to toe.

"Do you always wear heels?" he inquired, and she nodded.

"They make me a bit taller," she explained with a faint smile.

"Shall we?" He got up, and she opened the apartment door. Cassian exited, and she locked the door behind him.

They walked in silence to the elevator, and Cassian pressed the button. When the doors opened, they stepped inside.

"Can I ask you a question?" she inquired as they rode the elevator.

"Sure," he replied with a shrug.

"I won't end up in newspapers or magazines, will I?" she asked with concern, not wanting to be known as the woman Cassian St. Clair got pregnant.

"I can take care of that for you, keep your image a secret," he assured her.

"You don't want to be seen with me?" she asked as the elevator doors opened.

"I just don't want you to be known as the woman I got pregnant," she said, and he nodded.

They walked to the car, and Cassian opened the passenger door for her. She got in, and he took the driver's seat, starting the car and playing some soft music.

"You're going to tell your parents, I assume," he began, capturing her attention as she had been on her phone.

"Let's use the following story: you and I met at a nightclub, had some drinks, ended up in bed, and you got pregnant. I'll take responsibility for the child," he proposed.

"My parents will think I'm out sleeping with random guys," she said, rolling her eyes, to which he chuckled.

"Do you have a better story?" he asked.

"No," she replied after some thought.

"Then let's stick with that one. My mother will want to meet you," he mentioned.

"I don't need to meet your mother, and you don't need to meet mine," she stated, and he looked at her with an amused expression.

Emeraude looked at Cassian with a wry smile as he asked, "Don't you want me to meet my child's grandmother?"

"No, I don't see any need for that, besides, she lives in Ireland," she replied.

"I'm actually thinking of taking a trip there," he said, and she gave him a look that made him laugh.

"No," she stated firmly, causing him to chuckle.

"Why don't you want me to meet your mother?" he asked again. She took a deep breath and looked out the window.

They arrived at the clinic, and Emeraude got out of the car, still not answering Cassian. She didn't want him to meet anyone from her family; giving him the child he desired was more than enough. They entered the clinic, and he went ahead to the reception.

"Good morning. I have an appointment with Dr. Jacob today," he said to the woman behind the counter. She glanced at Cassian and immediately flashed a suggestive smile, which he seemed accustomed to.

"St. Clair?" she asked, and he nodded. "Dr. Jacob is running a bit late with the patient in his office right now. If you could wait, sir."

"No problem, I'll wait," he replied, then came over to where Emeraude was standing, observing quietly. "The doctor must be having quite the session with his patient," he remarked under his breath, making her stifle a small laugh.

"Maybe the consultation is taking longer," she said, shrugging.

"Don't be so innocent," he said, smirking. "I've known him for a while; believe me, he's having some fun in there."

She shook her head, chuckling softly, and took a seat in one of the chairs in the waiting area. Cassian's phone began to ring, and he moved away to answer it.

What was she doing? Something in her mind told her this was wrong, that having a child with him wasn't the right choice. But another part of her urged her to take the risk. Doubts began to cloud her thoughts; having a child was a serious matter, and it would completely change her life. What would she say to her parents?

Cassian returned and sat beside her, picking up a magazine and flipping through it without really reading anything. "The new conquest of millionaire Cassian St. Clair," he said, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"What?" she asked, puzzled.

"Could someone have captured the heart of the ever-desired Cassian St. Clair? Secret sources have revealed that St. Clair is dating a mysterious girl; they even exchanged cuddles in the office where the millionaire works. Could it be a co-worker?" he continued, reading from a gossip magazine. "Is this what you're trying to avoid?"

"How did this end up here?" she asked, taking the magazine from his hand, relieved to see that it only had a picture of him.

"Someone from the company must have said something," he replied, shrugging.

"Can you deny it?" she asked, handing the magazine back to him.

"I'll clear it up at the next party, or you can come with me if you want and fuel the rumors. It's always good to have rumors to boost the company's fame," he suggested.

"No, I don't want my name in any gossip magazines," she replied, and he shrugged.

"You'll be carrying my child; sooner or later, they'll find out who you are. Don't worry; when they see I'm not with you, it'll blow over," he assured her.

"Mr. St. Clair, Dr. Jacob is ready to see you," the receptionist announced.

"Thank you," he replied and got up. Emeraude followed him to the door of the doctor's office.

They entered, and Cassian gestured for her to go first, closing the door behind them. The man behind the desk looked young, roughly Cassian's age.

"Cassian, long time no see," he greeted, shaking Cassian's hand.

Cassian, taking a seat in the chair across from the desk, greeted the doctor, "Jacob, how are you?" He motioned towards Emeraude, saying, "This is Emeraude, the girl I mentioned."

"I'm doing well, and you? Nice to meet you, Emeraude," Dr. Jacob replied with a seductive smile. She smiled back out of courtesy.

"Likewise," Cassian replied. "Can we start the exams?"

"Of course. Who will go first?" Dr. Jacob asked as he stood up.

"Emeraude can go first," Cassian said. She left her bag on the chair and got up.

***

They had already completed all the necessary exams, and Dr. Jacob had mentioned that he could provide the results later that day. They were now in the waiting room.

"You asked me in the car why I didn't want you to meet my mother," Emeraude said, getting Cassian's attention. "I don't want to disappoint them," she continued.

"Do you think the pregnancy would disappoint them?" Cassian inquired.

"My father is quite traditional; he believes in having children only after marriage and such. So, for him, it would be disappointing to hear the story we're going to tell," she explained, looking at him. "That's why I think it's better not to tell them."

"Someday, you'll have to tell them," Cassian said after a moment of silence.

"One day, but for now, I'd prefer not to," she said, offering a weak smile.

"My mother knows what my life is like, so it won't be a surprise to her that I got someone pregnant. She's never approved of the kind of life I lead, but she's still my mother," he said with a faint smile.

"Are you an only child?" she asked.

"Yes."

The doctor entered the room and went to his desk.

"Here are the results for both of you," he said, handing them the papers. "Everything looks fine, Emeraude, you're already in your fertile period."

"Thank you, Jacob," Cassian said, standing up and shaking the doctor's hand.

"Anytime, St. Clair," Dr. Jacob replied with a smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Emeraude," he added, and she smiled.

"I feel the same, Doctor," she said, picking up her bag.

They left the room and walked to the car at a leisurely pace. They got in, and Cassian started the engine. She was so engrossed in her phone that she didn't notice the route he was taking.

"Where are we going?" she asked, confused.

"To my house," he replied with a shrug. "By the way, now you have to live with me until the baby is born," he added, reminding her of the contract.

"I don't think it's necessary," she said, looking at him.

"Are you afraid of being in the same space as me, Kensington?" he teased.

"No, St. Clair," she retorted, rolling her eyes.

They arrived at his place and got out of the car. They entered the building and took the elevator, which arrived promptly. Inside, he pressed the button for his floor.

"I'm going to make lunch," he said as soon as they entered the apartment.

"You can cook?" she asked in surprise. He laughed at her expression.

"I lived alone for a while," he said with a shrug and headed towards his bedroom.

She took off her shoes and placed them in a corner as they were already starting to hurt her feet. Cassian returned wearing shorts and a T-shirt, the first time she had seen him without formal attire. His arms were adorned with various tattoos. He headed to the kitchen, and she followed him, having nothing better to do at that moment. While Cassian prepared the food, they engaged in lively conversation, and she even helped with some tasks.

***

"Where do you keep this, Cassian?" she asked after they had finished lunch, while washing the dirty dishes.

"In that tall cupboard," he replied, drying some dishes.

She tried to open the cupboard, jumping to reach the high shelves, not understanding why someone would put cabinets so high. She heard his laughter, as he seemed to be amused by the scene. Cassian took the item belonging to her mother and organized the cupboard properly.

"You really are petite," he commented, moving closer to her.

"Genetics," she replied, as Cassian ran his tongue over his lips, his gaze fixed on her mouth.

"I really want to do this," he asserted, pulling her closer, and their lips met.

Their tongues danced in a passionate kiss. She placed her hands on Cassian's neck, and he pressed her against the kitchen counter. His tongue explored every corner of her mouth, engaging in a fiery battle for dominance. His hands moved down to her waist, squeezing it before venturing further down.

Cassian lifted her skirt, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist. Their bodies detached from the counter and collided with the wall as the kiss grew even more intense. Her hands tousled his hair, while his hands squeezed her thighs tightly.

A cell phone started ringing loudly, and Cassian seemed to snap out of his trance. He released her abruptly and answered the phone with a hoarse and irritated voice.

"What's up?" he asked, looking at her. She lowered her skirt and clumsily tied her hair into a bun. "Do I really need to go?" he murmured, rolling his eyes. "I'm on my way." he said into the phone before hanging up.

"Uh..."

"I need to go to the office. I'll drop you off at home and pick you up tonight. Start packing what you want to bring," he announced, while she simply nodded, unsure of what to say.

He left the kitchen, and she grabbed a glass of cold water to calm her nerves. It didn't take long for him to appear in the living room, now dressed in a suit. She put on her shoes and grabbed her bag. They left the apartment in silence, heading to the elevator.

"I'm sorry we couldn't finish what we started just now," he said as they got into the car and started the engine. "But I really need to go."

"It's okay," she replied, feeling her face flush.

The journey to her apartment was quick, and she realized he was indeed in a hurry. She got out of the car, and he did the same. She walked to the elevator, passing by Carlos and offering a weak smile. Inside the elevator, she pressed the button for her floor, leaned against the wall, and thought about what had just happened. That kiss had awakened a multitude of desires in her mind, and she knew that if the phone hadn't rung, she would have ended up in bed with him right then and there.

She hardly noticed that the elevator had already reached her floor. She exited and headed to her apartment to start packing her things. She had already signed and agreed to everything; now all that remained was for her to fulfill her part of the deal and not fall in love.