I watch Darren move around the office while I sit behind my desk. Last month we finally came to an agreement that I could move back to my office. However, I didn't think he would always be in here. The dinner at my dad's house had Darren on edge ever since. He didn't tell me what Selena said, but I could read between the lines. She wanted him. If I wasn't in Darren's eyesight then one of the guys was hovering around, they think I don't notice, but I do. Also, the security around Croakington Estates has been amplified, to say the least. I notice patrol cars are doing more security checks. I asked Darren did Selena try anything and he always tells me no. So I pretend to act like nothing is secretly happening.

Darren moves around the office with grace, talking on the phone. I've never been so fascinated or intrigued by a man before. The more I learn about Darren, the more time we spend together—the more I'm falling down the rabbit hole. He doesn't know it yet, but I've fallen in love with him. I'm madly in love with Darren Reed. I would like to think he's in love with me too, but we haven't said those three words to each other. I want to say it first but with my pregnancy hormones, I don't think I could mentally handle a rejection.

"...I won't be able to attend." Darren sighs placing his hand on the window. He stares out at the view of the city, sighing again. "My fiancée is pregnant and will have our daughter around that time."

Every time I hear that word my heart skips a beat.

Fiancée.

He refers to me like that when he talks to others, yet he hasn't proposed to me. I would be lying if I said I didn't want him to propose to me. The thought of not being able to spend the rest of my life with Darren is unsettling. We've been doing so well together, lately. I've come to know what makes him tick and doesn't. Cassie has told me to just come out and tell Darren how I'm truly feeling—I said I tell him when the time is right, but I can never find the right time to say it.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Darren's dark brown eyes glow warmly as he smiles at me.

"It's nothing just spacing out." I shake my mouse, waking up the computer screen. "Everything okay on your end?" I ask.

"All good. Just some projects coming up Chase wants me to attend, but it's too close to your due date." He answers taking a seat across from my desk. "I will not miss my first child being born." I know he probably didn't mean to sound pissed, but he did. I wonder if he would ever like to meet Zoey again. It must be something that haunts him, knowing all the love you poured into a child that you thought was yours, wasn't.

"How many trips have you turned down?" I heard my coworkers talking in the lounge area one day. Darren has been turning down countless meetings, sending other people in his place. Also, Charlotte may have mentioned that Chase wasn't happy that Darren wasn't attending the more important meetings himself. Darren looks at me debating if he should lie or tell the truth. "I know you have been turning down a lot of work trips and you shouldn't. The baby and I are fine and we will be fine." I answer for him. The last thing I want us to be is toxic and start lying to each other when we shouldn't be.

Darren takes a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair.

"What happened that night with you and Selena? I need to know because that's when everything started to change with you. I can talk to my father about it. Selena is really all bark and no bite. She might be a little mental but she has never done physical harm to me before. If you are worried she is going to do something to me—no the baby she won't." I really hate that Selena hasn't been a part of my life for years, but now within months, she is the cause of such drama.

"I don't want to talk about that." He doesn't meet my eyes.

"But we need to talk about it. I'm not Rapenzul you cant lock me away forever. I'm my own person and I would love to freely walk around without the guys hiding around." Welp the cats out of the bag now.

"You won't be locked away forever, just until the baby is born and then you are free to do as you please." He pauses. "Wit--"

"So, you are doing all of this because of the baby, not me?" I cut him off.

"Thast not what I mean, Alsie." He gets up from his seat, moving towards me. Turning my chair around he squats down in front of me. "Shit, baby please don't cry. The last thing I want you to do is that." Well too late shithead, your words cant be taken back. I want to yell at him.

"B-but you sa—"

"I love you Alsie and the last thing I want you to think is that all of this is for the baby. It's for you too. If you would have let me finish, as I was saying you won't be locked away forever, just until the baby is born and then you are free to do as you please but with me by your side." He takes my hands into his.

Is he about to propose?

Oh my days, I think he is.

"Alsie—"

"Boss, I need those papers signed, Vincent has sent Kenza up here about five times now—am I interrupting something?" Caroline barges into my office. Darren groans at her intrusion and I can't help but let out a frustrated breath too. Caroline seriously has a problem knocking on doors. "Uh, I guess—yeah let me try this again." She walks closing the door behind her. She knocks on the door.

"She is going to be the death of me." Darren stands to his feet.

"Wait, what were you about to say?" I reach out grabbing his hand.

"Nothing," he bends slightly, wiping my face. "Stop crying, it pulls at my heart seeing you with tears of sadness." He kisses my forehead as Caroline knocks on the door once again.

"Bosses, it's me, Caroline. Can I come in? Of course...I knocked this time." She opens the door. Darren takes long strides toward Caroline ushering her out of my office. He tells me he will be back for me before the workday is over.

Damn you, Caroline!

****

"Boss lady, you have a call on line three." Caroline's voice comes through the speaker. I press line three, it's probably Cassie yet again. I don't understand why she just doesn't come up here. It's not like she lives that far from the building. Hell, she even works closer to here too.

"Good afternoon, Alsie Alexander speaking."

"Alsie,"

"Selena? Is everything okay?" Well, this is different. Selena has not once called me—ever actually. Not even when we use to live together. So something has to be wrong. "Is my father okay? Selena say something."

"If you shut up for a second I would be able to say something. Now, are you free to have dinner with me tonight?" she asks.

"I'll see if Darren is free tonight and let you know."

"Oh no, without Darren. I would like to just talk to my sister over some steak."

"I don't know about that Selena. I think it's best if Darren comes and you can bring your husband too. I'm too far along in the pregnancy to be without him in public." I cringe after the words come out of my mouth. I'm not believable at all.

"Alsie, do you think I will do something to you? For crying out loud I'm your sister and you're carrying my niece or nephew. I may be many things, but a murder is something I am not. If you don't want to go out just say that. I was stupid for call—"

"Fine. I'll come without Darren. Just text me the address and time. I can't wait to catch up and talk." I rush out. I was being too paranoid and probably all for nothing. Like she said she may be many things but she would never go that far. After all, we're going to be in a public place.

"Perfect, is your number still the same?" she asks.

"Yes." Of course, it is. I called you on it a few months ago, I want to add.

"Okay, I will send you all the details in a bit." She says before hanging up.

Wait, how did she know where I worked? I didn't tell anyone that I worked here beside Cassie and she doesn't speak to anyone in my family. Well shit, maybe this dinner is a bad idea.