Fake Empire: Chapter 18

The conference door opens mid-meeting. To my surprise, my secretary’s head is the one that peeks through. “Mr. Ellsworth—”

I hold up a hand. “Not now, Celeste. I told you no disturbances.”

“But—”

“Take a message.”

“I real—”

I look up from the presentation for the first time, thoroughly annoyed. “There better be a financial crash or a family death.”

“Well, no. But your wife—”

I stand up, almost knocking the chair over. “What about Scarlett?”

“She’s here. She fainted in the hallway—”

I’m out the door before she’s finished the sentence. “Where is she?” I bark, striding down the hallway so quickly Celeste almost trips trying to keep up.

“In your office.”

The cold fist of fear around my heart loosens a bit when I enter my office to find Scarlett is sitting on my leather couch, looking completely alert and aware.

I shut the door behind me.

She glances up at me and sighs. “I told Celeste not to bother you.”

“What happened?” I ask as I kneel beside her.

“I’m fine,” Scarlett says. She’s holding a bottle of water and playing with the paper label. She tugs at the edge until it rips.

“That didn’t answer my question.”

Another sigh. “I got a little dizzy in the hallway. I felt nauseous this morning. Didn’t have any breakfast.”

“Scarlett.”

“I know, I know. I’m fine, though.” She takes a drink of water. “I just needed a minute.”

I stand and walk over to my desk to dial Celeste’s number. She answers on the first ring. “Crew Kensington’s office.”

“I need you to let Isabel know I’ll miss the rest of the presentation. Have them extend my apologies to Patrick. And push my meetings for the rest of the day.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And, Celeste?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you. I’m sorry I was short before.”

“No problem. You’re welcome, Mr. Kensington.”

I hang up.

“I’m fine, Sport.” Scarlett rises from the couch. “You’re overreacting. Go back to work.” She grabs her bag. “I’ll get something to eat, okay?”

“Damn right you will.” After shutting off my computer, I walk over to her. “I’m taking you home.”

“I’m going back to my office. I’ve got work to do.” She starts toward the door.

I ignore her and follow.

“Crew. I mean it.”

“So do I.”

“I am not going home!”

“Yes, you are. There’s stubborn, and then there’s reckless. You’re pregnant, Red. You can’t keep acting like you’re not. You need food and rest.”

Her eyes flash. “There’s annoying, and then there’s overbearing asshole. Want to know which one you are?”

She strides out of my office without telling me the answer, but I’m betting I could guess right.

I follow her down the hallway. More like chase, really. Scarlett’s a lot faster on heels than I’m expecting.

She reaches the elevator and jabs at the button, then looks over at me with a sigh. “It’s just a couple of meetings. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t find sitting in meetings all that strenuous.”

“It’s also not resting.”

She looks around and lowers her voice. “The doctor said I was fine to keep working.”

“I’m betting you didn’t mention fourteen-hour days and forgetting to eat were part of what you consider working during your last check-up.” I went to Scarlett’s first appointment with her—when the doctor officially confirmed she’s pregnant—but I was in London last week and missed her second one.

“I didn’t see any reason to.”

I rake a hand through my hair in frustration. “How about because your husband and father of your child told you to?”

“Would you go home in the middle of the day?” she asks me.

“That’s a ridiculous hypothetical.”

“Because we both know you wouldn’t?”

“No, because you are the one who is pregnant!”

“Once we’re two separate entities, feel free to co-parent to your heart’s content.”

I step closer, tilting her head up so she has to meet my gaze. “I can’t change the way biology works, baby.”

She sighs. “I’ll eat lunch, I promise. And if I start to not feel well, I’ll try to leave the magazine early, okay? I’ve got to approve the proofs for the next issue.”

“Scarlett…”

“I know you’re worried. I feel completely fine now, though. There’s a lot I need to get done while I still can.”

“You need to hire more people,” I tell her.

Scarlett seems to handle the amount of responsibility that would usually be divided among four people. She’s a perfectionist and a control freak.

“I know.”

Something suddenly occurs to me. “What are you doing here?” I was so distracted by making sure she’s okay I didn’t think to ask before. There’s no board meeting today, and that’s the only time she’s showed up at Kensington Consolidated, aside from handing me the edited prenup.

She gnaws on her lower lip. “I was going to see if you were free for lunch. I should have called—”

The elevator dings as the door opens. “Okay. Let’s go to lunch.” I nod for her to walk inside and then follow her.

“You were in the middle of a meeting. Go—”

I hit the button for the lobby. “What are you in the mood for?”

Scarlett gives me an exasperated look. “Crew.”

“Scarlett.” I say her voice in the exact same tone.

She sighs, and I know that I’ve won this round.