Page 33 of Revenge

“Thank you.” I shake his hand.

“My pleasure. Please call if you need anything, Mr. Manarch.” He continues to the exit as I exit my office. Shit just keeps getting better and better.

It’s not even eleven in the morning, and I could use a drink. This shit with Fiona is stress I don’t need. It makes me wish again that Ava was carrying my child. Things would be simpler. Ava wouldn’t put me through this bullshit. But we all have things we wish were different.

I sit at my desk and turn on my laptop. Work is my only consolation these days. I look at the hotel numbers to find they’re growing at a faster rate than I anticipated. I’m thankful I never got a chance to share information about the purchase with my father. He would have found a way to insert himself into the business. Right now, only my lawyer and Oliver know about it. At this point, I see no reason for my father to know. I lose myself looking at numbers and emails about Manarch Industries. As long as I’m working, I don’t need to think about anything else. There’s a knock at the door, and looking at the camera, I see it's Oliver.

“Come in, Oliver.”

My door opens.

“How’s Fiona?” he asks as he enters. I called him to tell him what had happened with Fiona since we were supposed to meet after my workout.

“Being Fiona,” I say with an exasperated sigh.

He chuckles and asks, “What did Dr. Smith say?”

“She isn’t taking care of herself, and he thinks she’s drinking.”

“Shit.”

“I want the house free of all alcohol. Have anything here taken to the guardhouse. Makes sure everyone knows that no one is to bring any alcohol in.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

I close my eyes, trying to ease the headache that’s already forming.

“I’m going to spend more time in the house making sure Fiona is doing what she’s supposed to. I’ll need you to be on call in the event I’m unable to leave the house.”

“It’s for the best. You know Fiona doesn’t care about anyone other than herself. I’m not sure the child is the exception. At least with your presence here, you might be able to control her actions.”

“All I care about is my child.”

“I know. This is the only way you can protect the child.”

“From the moment that child is born, I’m done with her,” I say more to myself as I let out the breath I’ve been holding.

“Everything will work out.”

“What’s the latest on Eros?” I ask, changing the subject. I’m tired of talking about Fiona.

“Everything’s the same. Our father hasn’t made any sudden decisions as of late, and Cillian seems to be away on business. At least it’s the story going around.”

“And the men?”

“Better. Morale seems to be improving, and there haven’t been any recent fights. But we’ll have to wait and see if things change once Cillian reappears.”

I want to ask about Ava. Is she happy? Is she safe? But I don’t. That door needs to remain closed for now. I can’t bring her home. But once my child is born, all bets are off. I’ll divorce Fiona and marry Ava. I can give her the happy ending she wants and deserves. I just need her to hold tight until my child is born.

Chapter Eighteen

Ava

The weather is finally better, and the sun is shining. I’m over this five-day streak of rain. It was so depressing. I’ve practically only been to work, so it’s nice to finally be outside, even if it is for laundry day. Lisa keeps trying to get me to do a pickup service or let her do it. It’s thoughtful, but I’m pregnant, not ill. The laundromat is only a few doors from our building. I’m perfectly safe, and besides, I don’t want to waste my day inside the apartment.

“Hi, Ava,” Betty, the laundry attendant, greets me warmly.

“Hi, Betty. How are you?”

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