CHAPTER 11

She would have to tell Dylan. There was no way around it now, with Adam looming large.

Chelsea choked down a sandwich before stepping into the shower. She could barely eat after Adam's visit. No matter how much she willed herself to forget about him, and focus on Dylan, her heart refused to cooperate. Her body was a traitor as well! No man had ever gotten under her skin like Adam Newman. He truly was a force of nature, and she knew if she continued in this vein, he would destroy her.

Running a comb through her still damp hair, Chelsea stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had just slept for several hours, but still looked as if she hadn't slept in days. Dark smudges were evident under her eyes, which also lacked their trademark sparkle. Men would be the death of her yet…well, one man in particular.

"Thanks Adam!" Chelsea's voice echoed throughout the warehouse turned loft. She threw on an extra large sweatshirt, which now fit snugly around her mid-section. She had to keep this baby in her tummy as long as possible to stall Adam. It would have been a stretch giving birth on her due date, but if she delivered even a couple of weeks early, the jig would most certainly be up anyway. Adam was forcing her hand now, and unless she could get him to miraculously back off, she would have to come clean. He was like a dog with a bone, so any chance of him giving up was remote at best.

Grabbing her coat and purse, and an overnight bag containing something to sleep in, one change of clothes and her toiletries, Chelsea headed out into what was shaping up to be an exceptionally cold and dreary day. She needed to clear her head, away from everything and everyone. She had some important decisions to make, and couldn't make them surrounded by reminders of Adam and Dylan.

….

Adam left Chelsea and Dylan's hovel in such an agitated state, he almost drove directly to the coffee shop to lower the boom on Opie Taylor. If she wasn't going to set him straight, he would. He was sick of the games, and thoroughly pissed off that he was being denied the right to be part of the pregnancy. Even if they were no longer together, he had every right to be involved in every single aspect of this pregnancy, from the doctor's appointments and ultrasounds, to the delivery itself. It infuriated him to think that Dylan had replaced him for these important milestones.

Instead of driving to Crimson Lights, he drove back to his penthouse and packed an overnight bag. He had to get away because he knew what he was capable of, and he never wanted to go down such a dark road again.

As he sped down the road in his Maserati, Adam laughed drily when he thought about how easily he could make Chelsea's body respond to him. Even funnier, the mere fact that HE could make her own body betray her, must be especially infuriating to Chelsea. She was probably climbing the walls right now, he contemplated, his lips curling up into a derisive smile. She wanted him, or at least her body did. His anger prevented him from having his way with her right there in Dylan's serial killer looking Buffalo Bill lair, but he could have, if he so desired. It would have been poetic justice to take her right there on that sofa bed too! Damn her for making me think like a Viking, Adam thought indignantly. She was obviously able to fool that simpleton of a husband, but he was nobody's fool.

Adam continued driving, deep in thought. His demanding father wouldn't stop calling his cell now, but he couldn't deal with him or anyone else. There was nothing left in the tank. Before he did something very Adamesque, he barked out Jack Abbott's name into the Blue Tooth in his car.

"Adam! What can I do for you?"

"Hey Jack. Sorry to call asking for a favor, but I'm asking for a favor. Any chance I can use the Abbott cabin?"

"Well, sure…is everything okay?"

"Yeah-well, not really.. I need to be alone, with no interruptions, before I go off the reservation. My old man is relentless, and…"

"Say no more. You know where we keep the keys hidden? Oh, and I just had my guy replenish the kitchen and bar, so help yourself."

"Sure, and Jack?"

"Yeah buddy?"

"Thanks."

"You got it! Anything I can do to help you hide from The Mustache."

His relationship with Jack had gone off the rails more than once, but they seemed to be on solid ground now. Adam valued their friendship because Jack was the only male friend he had. Actually Jack was his only friend period, since Sharon was back to despising him and Chelsea couldn't decide whether she wanted to scratch his eyes out or fuck him. At least she's conflicted Adam thought scornfully.

He would escape to the Abbott cabin, and blot out the world for a while- no Victor, no Melanie, no business, no Dipshit, and most importantly, no Chelsea.

….

She had some bittersweet memories from her last stint at the Abbott cabin, but it was the one place she could go to gather her thoughts, and no one would be the wiser. Adam clued her in a long time ago where they kept the keys, and she knew the place was usually empty this time of year, so she could gather her thoughts without having Chloe chirping in one ear, and Adam threatening her in another. She left Dylan a message telling him she had to go out of town to meet with a potential client, but would be back in the morning. She knew he would try to talk her out of it, and pepper her with questions, so she breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't answer his phone. She would try to smooth it over tomorrow.

She drove with a heavy heart as she thought about the mess she had created. She was confused and wracked with guilt for lying to both Adam and Dylan, but how could she ease out of a lie this big now? Adam was determined to learn the truth. She had to find a way to get him to back off or she would have to find the courage to tell Dylan before Adam did. Either way- she had her work cut out for her. Maybe she could just stay at the Abbott cabin forever, and raise her baby without interference from Adam and Dylan. If only, she thought wryly.

….

The Maserati's tires crunched on the gravel as he pulled his car around the back of the cabin. He wanted complete solitude and didn't want anyone to know he was there. Jack always kept the cabin well stocked, in case anyone had a desire to land there. Adam couldn't ask for a better friend. Once Jack figured out that Adam wasn't Victor, things began to ease a bit, and Jack actually decided to give him a chance. Jack hated his old man, and he couldn't really blame him. Victor wasn't exactly one of his favorite people either, but he loved him nonetheless. Most of the trouble he had with Jack revolved around Victor, so separating himself from Victor in Jack's mind, was no easy feat.

Adam threw his overnight bag in the main bedroom, and immediately headed for the bar. A good, stiff drink would do the trick right about now. After fixing a double scotch, he found his Bose noise cancelling headset, kicked off his shoes and collapsed on the sofa to the strains of his favorite alternative group, Radiohead. He smiled as he thought about how much Chelsea hated his music. Good, he mused! The scotch warmed his throat and chest, and relaxed his overworked brain. Closing his eyes, he let the music transport him to another place, emptying his mind of all stress. Nothing else existed except this scotch and Radiohead.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!"

"Adam…ADAM!"

He was rudely jolted from his little world, and momentarily dazed to find Chelsea staring angrily down at him, now clutching his headset in her hands.

Gathering his wits, he scrambled to his feet, but not before soaking his crotch with the expensive scotch he held on his lap. Reaching full height, his 6' 1" frame towered over her 5' 3" frame, making her feel even smaller in his presence.

He released a volley of expletives, more than a little irritated at the intrusion, especially from her. "What the fuck am I doing here?! Are you fucking kidding me with that shit?! Did Jack tell you I was here?"

"Jack? No asswipe! I came here to get away from you!" She wasn't the least bit intimidated by Adam Newman. He might give other people pause, but he just empowered her.

"Well, your brilliant plan failed," he smirked.

"Did you follow me?!" She demanded, her face transforming into a mask of contempt.

"Yeah, I followed you Chelsea, and somehow sneaked around you and came up the back. How fucking stupid," he muttered.

"Well LEAVE!" She spat contemptuously.

"Fuck you! You leave!" He retorted back equally furious, and roughly snatched his headset out of her hands.

She leveled a withering stare up at him. Flustered and failing a comeback she mocked, "What shit music are you listening to now?"

"What do you care? Just know that it's over your country-ass brain, so don't tax yourself trying to understand it."

Chelsea had nothing to say to that. Sighing heavily, she dropped down onto the sofa, weary from all the fighting. Hot, angry tears began to well up in her eyes.

Adam instantly felt like crap when he saw how emotional and fragile she was. He immediately sat down next to her, and reached for her hand. She was too wrung out to fight him.

"Chelsea, I'm sorry about that last comment. You know I don't think you're stupid, but your musical taste really sucks."

Chelsea quickly turned her face toward him to find him smiling gently at her. It was so hard staying mad at him when he was being sweet and funny at the same time.

Continuing to hold her gaze, he wiped her tears with the pads of his thumbs. She was struck by the complexity of this man.

She never could get used to his ever-shifting moods. She knew him as well as anyone could possibly know him, but he was difficult on a good day. He made it hard to love him, but God help her, she did, with her whole heart. She would have given him everything, but it wasn't good enough. Nothing ever was for Adam. He wasn't happy unless he was miserable. It swirled around him like a tornado, and she didn't want to get pulled into the vortex. Yet, like a small child curious about fire, she couldn't stop reaching for the flame…and getting burned.

"What are you thinking?" Adam quizzed. "You seem lost in thought."

"I am lost Adam," she choked on a sob as she said his name. "I don't know what I deserve, but I know I don't deserve this."

"Chelsea- " He took her face in his hands, and forced her to meet his gaze. She covered his hands with hers, and peered into his blue eyes.

"Adam, I came here to get away, and to be alone," she sniffled.

She could feel his breath lightly fanning her face, and she could see that he was clearly affected by her tears. Men usually were. She had these huge, almond shaped, chocolate brown eyes, and most men bent to her will when she turned on the tears. Of course, this wasn't an act. Not this time. He was wearing her down.

"I did too, but I'm not going to force a pregnant woman back out into the cold. There are three bedrooms in this place. We only have to share the kitchen, and then we can retreat to our separate corners. Deal?"

She didn't respond right away because of shock. Finally finding her tongue again, she replied irritatedly, "You're serious aren't you? How am I going to relax knowing you're here? The whole point of coming out here was to escape you and your threats!"

"Pretend I'm not- here. I'll let you borrow my noise cancelling headset and you can infect it with your country cra.. music if you prefer."

She eyed him suspiciously. He was up to something. He was ALWAYS up to something. "Well, It would get a reprieve from having to listen to your…what is that shit you listen to anyway?"

Laughing slightly, he responded, "It doesn't matter. Truce?"

She hesitated before taking the headset he extended to her. "This is crazy, but truce."