“Linda, please god, tell me you know what it is,” Nancy said, resting her head in her hand. “I can’t do another week of broth.”

“I do. Can you come in today, in about an hour and a half,” Linda’s deep voice said through the phone, making Nancy’s head raise. She sat up straight, panic in her eyes.

“Linda, don’t beat around the bush. My father died from cancer.”

“You don’t have cancer.”

“Then what is it, because I can never get a same day appointment with you.”

Linda laughed. “I had a cancellation, so I’m penciling you in. Get down here, doctors’ orders.”

“All right. I’ll see you then.”

Nancy hung up and pushed herself up off the chaise. A knock drew her attention to see Jared standing in the doorway with his folders under arm.

“Hey, sorry, I overheard. You need a ride to the doctor’s office?”

Nancy rubbed her temples to combat the headache creeping in. “I’ll be fine.”

“Let me take you,” Jared said. “William’s out shopping and I’m sick of reviewing reports.”

“What about Michael?”

“William can get him. I’ll call him while you get dressed.”

Nancy thought for a moment and then sighed. “All right, I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Jared helped her up onto the chair and Nancy swung her feet up so she could lie back.

“I’ll be in the waiting room,” Jared said. Exiting the room, he started back down the hall when he ran into Linda.

“Jared! I’m glad you’re here, you’ll want to hear this,” she said, grabbing him by the elbow and leading him back to the room. Nancy’s eyes grew large when she saw Linda leading Jared back in.

“Sit down, Jared,” Linda said, pointing to the smaller chair. “Nancy, how are we doing today?” she asked as she set her charts down on the counter, flipping through them.

Nancy sat up. “Am I dying?”

Linda’s attention snapped to her, and she burst out laughing. “What? No. I told you it wasn’t cancer.”

“Is it something else?”

“No! It’s not bad. Christ, woman, sit back and let me do my job.”

“You’re beating around the bush.”

“I’m going to beat you if you don’t calm down,” Linda said, waving her chart at Nancy. She sat on the stool and took a deep breath, taking them both in.

“I have the results of the tests we ran, and it’s pretty obvious, but I need to ask you a question first.”

“Okay,” Nancy said, literally and figuratively on the edge of her seat. Linda smiled and narrowed her eyes at Nancy.

“When was the last time you had your period?”

Nancy took a breath and thought for a moment, her eyes going to her knees. “I think it’s been... “

She froze, her eyes growing huge. A chill crept down from behind her ears to her neck and raised goose pimples on her arms. It had been almost six weeks. Her chest tightened as she reran the numbers in her head, coming to the same result. Between work, and not being able to eat anything real, and these headaches she hadn’t noticed.

“Are you certain?” Nancy whispered and Linda nodded, holding up the chart.

“If the results were marginal, I’d run them again. But you’re well within the positive range. So, what you’re more than likely dealing with, is acute morning sickness,” Linda said with a big grin. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

Linda’s smile vanished as she looked from Nancy to Jared, whose jaw was tight, and his knuckles were white as he balled his fists on his legs. He held the most murderous glare she had ever seen. Linda glanced back and forth between them before gathering her charts.

“I know this is a lot to take in. So, I’m going to give you two a bit,” she said, and exited the room.

Nancy stared at her knees. It was that last time with Ikher. She had gotten wrapped up in the foolishness with the D.A. and hadn’t gone to the pharmacy. Get ahead of this, she thought as she turned to Jared, who was glaring at her. She matched his gaze for a few moments before she spoke.

“Well-“

“I don’t want to hear it.” Jared shook his head and left.

Nancy exhaled, grateful he didn’t cause a scene in the office, but she knew it was coming. The headache that hovered at the fringes was bearing down on her now in full force. She laid back on the chair and covered her eyes with her arm, trying to forecast how this would play out.

Was Jared’s anger strong enough to sustain itself or would it collapse and give way to his woe is me mentality? She had to stop herself from grinding her teeth when her mind wandered to Ikher. Had that bastard planned this?

A knock at the door pulled her out of the hate and rage spiral she was throwing herself into.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Linda asked, coming in.

“As well as it’s going to be with a surprise baby.”

“Jared didn’t look pleased. Are you two okay?” Linda said, as she rolled over on the stool and patted Nancy’s hand.

“Worse than normal now,” Nancy sighed, and sat up. “What are my options? I don’t suppose you could take care of this today?” she asked, waving her hand over her stomach.

“By, ‘take care of’, you mean terminate?”

“Yes.”

“Then no, I wouldn’t be able to do it today. I got you in today because someone canceled.” Linda’s mouth screwed to the side as she thought. “It’ll be another two, maybe three weeks, before I could get you in for that.”

“Fuck me,” Nancy said, shaking her head. “I’ll go to one of the low-cost clinics then.”

“You’ll be at least that long for them as well,” Linda said, patting Nancy’s arm and getting up. “Just let me do it. You know I’ll take better care of you,” she said, opening her laptop. “How’s... the first part of March?”

“I’ll make time, just say when,” Nancy said, getting up slowly. Linda nodded and typed something before looking up.

“The front desk will give you the date and time.”

“Thank you, Linda. I appreciate this.”

“No problem, hun. Rest and go easy until then, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

Linda shook her head. “Yeah, I know what that means.”

Nancy got the appointment information and left the office. Looking around, she couldn’t see Jared or the car, so she put her sunglasses on and walked out into the parking lot. After several minutes, even with the sunglasses, the bright sun was a dagger stabbing into her skull. She gave up and walked back to the covered entrance to the building to call William.

She jumped as Jared pulled up next to her, tires squealing as he stopped. He was staring straight forward, both hands gripping the steering wheel. She said nothing but got in and he took off before she buckled in.

Jared, fidgeting in the seat as he drove aggressively, told Nancy that yes, he was still furious. They made it halfway home before the silence got the better of him.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Jared spat, glaring at the road.

“What do you want me to say,” she said as she turned her head against the seat rest to look at him.

“You’re just too fucking much,” he swore through clenched teeth before launching into a litany of all the reasons she was a horrible person. Nancy let him rant in the hope he would wear himself out, but it seemed he had been storing this up for some time.

“The whole ‘find yourself a mistress’ thing makes sense now!” he said, smacking the steering wheel like he had come to some great revelation. “You tell me that to make yourself feel better?”

“It wasn’t happening then,” she said, staring out the windshield at the cars passing in front of them.

“Oh, so you aren’t even going to deny it?!”

“Deny what, Jared? I’m pregnant with a child that obviously isn’t yours. Again, what do you want me to say?”

He glared at her for a moment before looking back into traffic, shaking his head. “Is it still happening?”

“No.”

“Ha! Like I’m going to believe that,” he said as swerved through traffic.

“Believe what you want,” she said, throwing her hands up. “But you can get off your high horse since you took me up on that offer.”

“What?!”

“Your little red-headed friend. I saw you two going into that cheap motel. I assume that’s who you’ve been having so much fun talking to when you think I’m not home. Or do you have more than one girlfriend?”

Jared stared at her for a moment before he burst out laughing.

“Redheaded friend?! That’s the agent taking my old position. That motel is one of the regular non-official meeting places. You thought that was me having an affair?!”

Nancy shrugged. “Spin it however you want. You’ve been so much better to be around since you’ve been getting laid.”

Jared laughed and wiped his eyes. “You really are a piece of work, Nancy.,” he said with a head shake. “And to think, you were worrying about Michael being the one to bring home a bastard child.”

“Excuse you?” Nancy said, sitting up and turning to him. “Just what are you implying?”

“I don’t have to imply a damn thing. You’re pregnant with someone else’s child. Hence, you, are the one bringing home a bastard. It’s the ultimate case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Nancy’s eyes narrowed. Her lip trembled. He was NOT going to turn this back on her. She thrust her finger in his face. Jared jerked away and had to yank the car back as he almost swerved into oncoming traffic.

“You took my name! Mine! Any child I have would be legitimate, whether it’s with you or ANYONE else!”

Jared’s jaw fell as looked at over her in amazement. After several moments he said, “What the fuck is wrong with you? Legitimate? What kind of sick game are you playing? Did you plan this?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That family legacy bullshit your father infected you with.”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“It doesn’t? You don’t get another inheritance for a second Lanover child?” Jared asked, making Nancy laugh at his accusation.

“It always comes back that doesn’t it? Your jealousy. I have something that I’m building and growing. And you just can’t take it.”

“You have something to build. Not that you ever pay attention to it,” Jared said as he turned into their neighborhood.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. You know what I’m saying,” Jared spat as he turned onto their driveway. “Your son. Wasn’t he supposed to be the great Lanover heir? But you never have time for him. Or me! Or anyone really, except yourself and your plans. You are the most selfish god damn person on this planet. It’s always just about you and your precious long game.”

“Oh, now you want to be a husband?! Now you want my attention?!” she screamed at him as Jared threw the car in park and ripped the keys out. “Don’t you dare accuse me of something that you, again, did yourself!” She continued. “Where were you when I couldn’t walk up the stairs because I was pregnant? Where were you when I was alone in the house with our infant son?”

“I did far more with Michael than you! Once he was breastfed, you all but abandoned him. I’m the one that read to him!” he yelled, poking himself in the chest with his keys. “I’m the one that played with him. I’m the one that worked with him to be a decent human being because his mother was off in her castle playing construction princess. Oh wait, I’m sorry. Michael was the magical key that made you the queen. Oh, please forgive me, your grace,” he said, bowing his head and throwing his hands out.

Gritting her teeth, Nancy threw the car door open and stalked toward the house. Sensing the upper hand for once, Jared followed, not letting up.

“What’s wrong, your highness?!” he said as he followed her into the foyer. “Don’t have a reply for that?!”

She spun around, forcing him to stop as she put her finger in his face.

“Don’t you dare complain about anything I’ve achieved when you’ve done nothing but profit from it! You’d have nothing if it weren’t for me.”

“Here we go!” Jared yelled, throwing his hands up and starting up the steps. “That’s always your fall back whenever you don’t want to hear something. Yes! I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. But you know what?” he yelled, turning back to her. “After all these years, I’m glad I wasn’t. It’s obviously fucked you up!”

“You knew what you signed up for when you agreed to this,” she hissed as she climbed the steps up to him. “If you’re regretting your decision, there’s the door,” she said, glaring at him as she pointed.

“Oh no. I wouldn’t miss out on a front-row seat to watch her highness fall from grace.”

“Ha!” Nancy laughed and turned, leaving him on the steps. Jared’s eyes narrowed as he watched her for a moment.

“You’re wrong, you know,” Jared said as he took a step to follow her.

“This should be good,” she said, as she turned to face him again. “What, Jared, am I wrong about?”

“Me. You. Us. You always say that I’d be nothing if it weren’t for you. And you’re right. I’d probably just be some beat cop back in the boroughs.” He shrugged, but then poked her in the shoulder. “But what you always miss, is that you’d be nothing, if it weren’t for me.”

“Oh, please!”

“It’s true,” Jared said with a smile. “If I hadn’t agreed to marry you, take your name, and give you a son, you’d still be middle management in the architecture department. Eh, who knows,” he said as he turned, taking the last couple steps to the second floor before turning back to her. “Maaaybe you’d be a director by now. But you damn sure wouldn’t be C.E.O. And that was all because of... me,” he said, holding his hands out.

“You aren’t the only man on the planet who was willing to give up his last name!”

“Oh, I’m sure,” he laughed. “But how long would it have taken you to find another?” he asked, descending back down the steps to meet her. “You were running out of time, and I saved your ass. I, was the magical key that made you queen.”

Nancy’s lip curled back in a sneer. “And you’ve done nothing but benefit from it. Was all this just you beating around the bush because you want something from me? You want me to buy you something or get you another promotion?”

Jared chuckled. “Oh no, I don’t want or need anything from you anymore, Nancy.” He let out a heavy sigh. “For years, I’ve had to tiptoe around you and your shitty temper. I’ve had to kowtow to the queen’s edicts because I felt like I owed you something. But I don’t.

And yeah, the door’s there if I want to go. But I don’t. You’re going to fail. And I’m going to be there to bask in it. You’ve already failed me with… that,” he said, waving his hand to her stomach. “You failed your son by ignoring him. And you’re going to fail your precious company. It’s only a matter of time,” he said, taking the last steps back up to the second floor. He grinned over his shoulder at her. “Just like your father.”

“Fuck you!” Nancy screamed, her face twisting as she flew up the steps to meet him.

“No thanks,” he said as she closed the distance to stand in front of him. “I don’t know where you’ve been.”

“Get out,” she hissed in his face. He smiled at her and took a deep breath before shrugging and descending the steps.

“You know, I feel sorry for that baby in you. I can’t imagine what kind of train wreck Michael would be if it weren’t for my influence. And you’re going to raise that one by yourself. Mmm. You’ve got the next great serial killer in there.”

“Get out!” Nancy screamed.

He laughed as he opened the front door.

“I’d say call me when it kills small animals, but you’re too proud. You’ll just sweep that under the rug, like Michael’s touching problem and your infidelity.”

“GET THE FUCK OUT!” she screamed, descending the steps to slam the door behind him.

Nancy lost track of time, staring at the door as she thought of all the ways she could make Jared suffer. The headache that started at the doctor’s had enveloped her. A sharp pain shooting up her jaw and sudden spots in her vision broke her concentration.

Her head swam, and she had to grab the wall to keep from falling. Taking a step back, she lowered herself into the chair by the console table. Her hands and jaw throbbed from clenching, and her skull felt like it was being beaten with a hammer. She closed her eyes and laid her head against the wall, taking deep breaths, trying to relax when part of her spoke up.

He’s right.

Her lip curled at that realization. Nancy opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

He made you what you are.

Letting her shoulders sag, she closed her eyes again and tried to play out the best way forward. She gave up after several minutes. In any path she could see or predict, all attempts to get back at Jared just ended up validating what he said.

Taking a deep breath, Nancy pushed herself out of the chair. She had to take something for this pain or she was going to throw up. Only a little dizzy this time, she started up the steps, leaning on the railing. Halfway up, she froze as a realization hit her. She lowered herself to sit on the stairs as it worked itself out in her head.

There was a path to prove Jared wrong. That path, however, required a massive sacrifice on her part and would be, in every sense, the long game. But it was the only way she could see forward.

A calm settled over her as she saw more paths branching out and working because of this. Taking a deep breath, Nancy finished the stairs and went to her bathroom. After taking some medicine, she went to her office and picked up the phone.

“East Valley Care, how can I help you?”

“Hi, this is Nancy Lanover. I need to change the nature of an appointment.”

“Yes ma’am, one moment let me pull you up,” the woman said. “Okay, the appointment for... March sixteenth?”

“Yes.”

“What did you need to change?”

“I’ll be keeping the baby, so I need to start regular visits."

“Okay, that’s a procedure date, not a physician's visit. I can cancel that and get you in the next available regular appointment if you’d like?"

“Yes, please.”

“One moment,” the woman said amid a flurry of clicking and typing. “Okay, I have an office visit available on the Thursday before. The eleventh at ten thirty am. Is that okay?

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Alright, I have you scheduled. Was there anything else you needed?”

“No, thank you,” Nancy said, before hanging up the call and dialing another number.

“Dunbar, Bass, and Rucker, how may I direct your call?” a squeaky voice answered.

“Christine, it’s Nancy Lanover. I need to speak with Dwight please.”

“Yes ma’am, let me see if he’s off his conference call.”

Nancy paced her desk while she waited. Dwight’s chipper voice popped in after a minute or two.

“Nancy! What can I do for you? We’re nearly complete on the drafts you requested.”

“That’s what I’m calling about. You can cancel them,” she said, stopping in front of the window.

“You wanted everything canceled? The divorce, the settlement, and reallocation of properties and trust?”

“Yes. All of it.”

“Oh. All right. Are you two sticking it out?” Dwight asked as Nancy stared out over the reds and browns that stretched to the horizon.

“I think we’ll be together for a little while longer.”