I read over the piece of paper repeatedly, trying to make sense of it all. The only logical explanation that came to mind however, was some kind of illicit affair. However, that didn't make much sense either. Why would Leila be interested in Christian's father in that way? And vice versa? No. There had to be something more. Something I was missing. I would have to do some more digging. After putting the paper back, I spent some more time digging around, but I couldn't find anything else.

Carrick.

His name played over and over in my mind as I tried to conjure up a profile of him. Truthfully, I had barely exchanged two words with the man since knowing him all these years. He wasn't a particularly great talker, and as far as I was concerned, had little in common with Leila or his own son. In fact, Christian barely ever mentioned his father. It was obvious to any outsider that they were not close. Of course, there was another thought that popped into my mind. The most obvious and practical thought. An affair. There was not an infinite number of reasons a person meets up with somebody of the opposite sex in secret at 11pm. But even entertaining that idea, just for a second, filled me with nausea that had nothing to do with the growing baby inside me.

Eventually, I left the room and resumed my day. But all throughout, the note lingered in the back of my mind.

Christian came home around 7pm, and he was in a particularly good mood. As we sat down to dinner, he popped open a bottle of alcohol-free raspberry wine and poured us both a glass. Gail had prepared an elaborate meal pf beef stroganoff with sides and a baked raspberry and vanilla cheesecake for dessert.

"What's the occasion?" I asked, taking a sip of the wine. Of course, it tasted nothing like alcohol. Just a fruit soda, but it was still tasty.

"We're moving house," he replied.

I stabbed a piece of beef with my fork before taking a bite. As expected, it was delicious.

"That's not news," I told him.

He smiled at me. "We're moving before Christmas."

I put down my fork. "Before Christmas? But we've only got a few weeks."

This time, he grinned. "I know. I got more contractors on the job a couple weeks ago. Rotating between night and day shifts. 24/7 work has made it come along brilliantly."

"Can I see?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Christian wanted the house to be a complete surprise for me and as such, he was personally overseeing everything himself. I had not seen anything since the very first time.

He nodded. "When we move in next week."

"Next week?" I almost squealed, practically throwing myself into his lap.

He laughed, kneading my thigh and smoothing back my hair as he placed delicate kisses to my cheek.

"You happy?" He asked softly.

I nodded, feeling emotional.

His hands were tender as they stroked me. "I didn't want our first Christmas to be spent in this house," he said gently. "I wanted our own place. Somewhere new to make our memories."

"Me too," I whispered.


He pressed a tender hand to my belly as we practically star-gazed into each other's eyes.

"Hurry up and eat," he said softly, his lips grazing my ear. "I want to take you to bed."

I reached for my plate, eating faster than I ever had done in my life.


In the morning, I awoke to belly rubs and fluttery kisses filled with whispers and sweet nothings. My body aches, but in the best way possible. Last night had been much needed and Christian had been attentive in all the best ways possible.

"Good morning," he whispered looping the strands of my hair around his fingers.

I stretched; my eyes still closed as I smiled. I could sense the cold sunlight pooling in through the gaps in the windows and I turned to face Christian, grinning as he leaned into kiss me.

Apart from some scanty lacy panties, I was naked against the velvety sheets and Christian ran a finger down the base of my spine, making me shiver.

"We'll have an ever bigger bed than this in our new home," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "It's already massive Christian."

He kissed my neck. "Things can always be bigger and better. You'll be waking up in silk every day. A wardrobe so divine, it will rival the Greek goddesses."

I giggled and felt him grin against my neck.

"I've hired a whole new staff team," he then said, a little more seriously after a few moments.

I turned to face him. "Staff team?"

He nodded.

"Gail and Taylor will be relocating with us of course, but I've hired you your own personal bodyguard. Luke Sawyer, ex-military."

"Christian," I started, shaking my head, but he gave me a pointed look.

"It's non-negotiable Ana," he said. "I need you and I need our child safe at all times. I've also hired you a nutritionist, somebody to help Gail out with your specific needs now that you're pregnant."

I scoffed. Gail would hate that.

"What else?" I asked, a little sarcastically. "Do I have somebody to bathe you?"

He laughed. "No, that's my job. But you do have a personal shopper. Rebekah Valeska. She's worked with previous celebrities. She comes with an assistant too. They'll buy all your clothes and accessories and curate new things you like with you. I've also gotten you a hairdresser. For both of us, I've hired an interior designer to specifically help with the baby's room, clothes and decor. We'll discuss childcare when the time is right."

I sat up then, overwhelmed by it all.

"Christian," I said. "I appreciate everything you're doing for me, but I don't need somebody to pick my clothes. I don't need all of this."

I waved my hands in the air, gesturing to whatever this was.

He sat up with me, playing with my hair.

"I'm a public figure Ana," he said softly. "And if I break this deal soon with work, I'll be an even bigger public figure. I'll be a billionaire."

I looked at him then, my mouth hanging open. "What?" I asked, dumbstruck.

He just nodded. "This is why I've been so busy. I've been finalising an international deal to take over a firm in the UK. If it all goes well, my profile will be raised significantly. I'm not saying I'll be some celebrity, but I will be a famous face. Every billionaire is. A certain standard of living is necessary Ana."

"But what about all this shit with Leila and Gia?" I asked. "Won't that get dragged up?"

His look turned dark. "I'm working on it."

That's all he ever said about the subject, and I'd had enough. Instead of just nodding, this time I held his hands.

"I want to help," I said. "I don't think things are quite as they seem Christian. I've been doing some investigating and…"

I trailed off at the look he was giving me.

"Stay away from your Aunt Ana," he warned me. "She's unhinged and I have no idea how far she'll go to hurt you these days. I appreciate your help, but this is my mess to clean up. Not yours. I just want you to focus on being happy and healthy, okay?"

He ran his fingers across my stomach for emphasis, and I glowered.

He got up then, dressing quickly. "Come on, breakfast is soon," he said before striding out.

I watched as he left, feeling stupid and angry and irritated. Just because I was pregnant it didn't mean I was going to shut up idly and brush my hair and apply lipstick. I wasn't the kind of woman to waltz around a big mansion with a glass of champagne and an empty head. I would help. I would find out the truth, with or without Christian knowing.


The next week was busy. We spent hours packing up boxes. Christian had a lot of stuff, even if I didn't. All of Leila's stuff was boxed up and shipped to her address. I volunteered to help box her things, mainly so I could have a good reason to go spying again. Two hours into scouring her dressing room however, and I hadn't found anything apart from the note. Amongst the vast amounts of expensive clothes and shoes, there was…nothing. With a wave of disappointment, I realised that I was going to have to find another lead. There was nothing left in this house.

I was going to start with the first clue I had.

Carrick.

It took hours to convince Christian to invite his parent's round for dinner. He wasn't particularly close with them, that much was obvious. That was a story for another day, however.

"It's just one little farewell dinner," I insisted. "Before we move. I think they need to get to know me without Leila or my parents or anybody else there. Think of it as a do over. Your parents meeting your girlfriend for the first time."

He sighed, buttoning up his shirt.

We were leaving in the morning, and they were coming tonight, within the hour. I was wearing a modest black skirt with a green satin top. My hair was in loose curls, and I was nervous. Christian's parents did not like me, that much was obvious. I reminded myself however that whilst I wanted them to accept me, tonight wasn't about that. It was about finding out about Carrick.

"You're not close with your parents, are you?" I asked him, turning around and doing up his tie for him.

He looked down into my eyes with a suspicious look.

"Why do you say that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Do you not think it's obvious? You rarely speak about them. You never want to see them."

"That's not true," he said, irritated. "We're just…different."

I sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for him to sit next to me. He did so, albeit reluctantly. Christian hated opening up. I had to drag each emotion from him like drawing blood from a stone, but this is what would ultimately bring us closer. Form the foundations of a meaningful relationship.

"If we're going to be parents, you can't keep secrets from me," I told him, raising a brow.

He sighed.

"We used to be close," he said eventually, after a long moments pause. "You know I was adopted right?"

I nodded. Leila had mentioned it a few times, but I didn't ask for details. That story would be for another day.

"When I was young, they were my whole world. They had saved me you know? Brought me up as their own son. I had grown up my whole life thinking my parents were dead, but a few years ago, I found out that wasn't true. It's true my biological mother died, but my father…he's still out there."

My eyes widened. "Seriously?" I asked.

He nodded. "I found the documents in one of my parents filing cabinets. They knew. They knew he was alive all this time and they never told me. My whole life…" he trailed off. "I lost my trust in them after that."

I reached for him; his fingers brushed over the back of mine carefully.

"I'm sorry," I say, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

He kissed me back. "It's not your fault."

I went to ask him something else then, but he abruptly stood up, ending the conversation. I sighed.

Perhaps another time.


Carrick and Grace arrived promptly at eight. No siblings. It was just the four of us and we sat round the dining room table as Gail bought us out soup for starters and glasses of champagne. Mine was non-alcoholic of course, but Christian's parents did not need to know that.

"Thank you for coming," I said to them, taking a sip of my drink.

Carrick nodded curtly, not really looking at me.

"So, you're moving tomorrow?" Grace asked.

Her sharp gaze was piercing. As though she was looking right through me.

"Yes," I said. "You'll have to come and see it."

"We will. Big mansion, is it?"

I shook my head. "Not a mansion. We preferred something that actually felt like a home."

She looked at me as I said that, and I couldn't understand her expression at all.

We ate our soup in relative silence, making occasional comments on the weather or Christian's work. As the main course was finishing however, I knew this plan wasn't going to work unless I explicitly mentioned Leila, so in the end, I had no choice.

"Have you heard anything from my aunt recently?" I asked nobody in particular. I tried to make my tone sound nonchalant, but I wasn't sure I had achieved that. Immediately, both Carrick and Grace looked up at me suspiciously, and I could even hear Christian's fork go still as the words came from my mouth.

"No," Grace said. "Why would you ask that?"

I shrugged. "She's still my aunt."

Grace pursed her lips.

"Don't you think she's been through enough?" She asked.

"We all have," I said pointedly. "We've all been through enough."

"We don't need to talk about this," Carrick then said to me abruptly. I don't think he had ever addressed me personally before, so it definitely took me off guard. "It's not exactly good dinner conversation, is it?"

I studied him as he spoke. He definitely seemed on edge, yet he had been like that all night really.

"So, you don't keep in touch at all?" I asked.

Carrick eyed me suspiciously then, and I knew just from that that he knew something. Worse still, he thought I knew something.

"Why would we?" He asked, almost challengingly.

I shrugged. "You were her in laws for years. Her second set of parents."

He swallowed then, almost uncomfortably.

"Let's have dessert," Christian announced, swiftly changing the topic. I knew he would grill me later on the subject, but I was prepared for that.

But that was fine by me. I was finished anyway. I already had my answer and that was that Carrick was definitely involved.

I just needed to figure out how.