Page 8 of Unfaithful

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COLE

I breezed past Elsa into my office, stealing a quick glance at my assistant, Lawrence, who narrowed his eyes at me in quiet disapproval. She followed me inside and shut the door behind her.

I dropped my messenger bag on my desk before turning to face her. "Why are you here? Did Sara send you?"

She smiled, shaking her head slowly. "No."

I frowned. "How many times have I told you not to come to my office unless Sara sends you? If you want to see me, I will come to your house. What more do you want?"

"I just missed you," she said softly.

I stared at her like she'd lost her mind. Maybe she really had.

"Elsa," I sighed. "You know we can't do this in the office. Besides, it's 9 fucking a.m. in the morning!"

She stepped closer, and my eyes instinctively drifted to her belly, like they always did. "It's not like we haven't done it here before," she said.

Yeah. We'd fucked in my office so many times I'd lost count. But that was in the beginning. We didn't do that anymore.

Not that it lessened the betrayal.

I had still fucked up. And I would carry the weight of regret and shame for the rest of my life.

This was exactly why I reassigned her to Sara's team three months ago. I just couldn't handle her anymore. I already saw her twice a week at her house; if I had to deal with her in the office, too, I might just go fucking insane.

I figured that with Sara as a barrier, it would be harder for Elsa to reach me since she'd have to go through her first.

And I knew one thing for certain, Elsa would say nothing to Sara. Because if she did, I'd be forced to choose. And she knew I wouldn't choose her.

But I worried that might not be the case anymore.

Her being here raised too many red flags to ignore.

"We also have a lot to talk about," she said, taking my hand and pulling me toward the sitting area. And I let her.

She sank into the seat and leaned back; her belly was too big for her to sit forward comfortably. I settled beside her, bracing myself for whatever game she was about to play.

"I'm due soon," she began.

I held my breath.

"You'll be there, right? You'll be right next to me? And you'll sign the acknowledgment of paternity at the hospital."

I nodded without hesitation. Of course, I would. I wanted my name on that birth certificate. That child was mine—my first. But as the realization settled in, so did the regret.

Because it should have been with Sara.

Her eyes dropped, feigning sadness. I knew her too well to fall for it. She was faking it just like always.

"I'm getting nervous," she murmured, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing.

I stayed silent. There was nothing I could do.

She was the one carrying my child. She held all the power.

"It's nerve-wracking, Cole. What if something happens to her? To me?"

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