Overpaid For Her

"I am not letting him off. Once I get what I need from him, I will give him the final blow. He might think he is getting ahead because of the promises of promotions and money, but that won’t happen. He is so greedy that he won’t even see it coming. I will never forget how much shit he has made me go through.”

"Won’t he know you are bullshitting him?"

Hector didn't seem stupid to me. Arrogant and evil, yes. Stupid, not really.

Nicholas placed my head on his shoulder. “We were friends for a long time. He knows my weakness, but I also know his. I know how he functions and what makes him drool. Willow, believe me. I have my ass covered even if Hector finds out I am screwing him over.”

I relaxed against him. He sounded so confident, and I knew when he put his mind to something, he always got it. I was just going to chill out and trust him. "Did your father call you today?"

I felt his smile against my neck. "Yes. He gave me everything I asked for."

That warmed me inside. If nothing else, this situation had brought him and his father together again. Or at least talking again. I turned my head and kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you more."

I grinned before responding. "Only because you're bigger."

.

Over the next few weeks, Nicholas continued his crusade to gather as much evidence as possible and to get as many allies as possible. Or at least ensure they were not on Simon’s side.

He kept me in the loop enough to abate my worry but usually avoided giving me too many details. It was actually a nice and peaceful time, free from worry and drama. Nicholas and his father were talking and it seemed like the problems between the two of them were slowly disappearing. I hoped after all the drama passed, the problems would be gone completely.

Finally, the charity benefit arrived and Nicholas stood around, reading yet another book about pregnancy and pestering me as I put on my dress.

"Did you know that during pregnancy, the average woman's uterus expands up to five hundred times the normal size?"

I stopped braiding my hair, scowling over to find him staring at my stomach. "Do you mind? Quit staring at my uterus."

His eyes quickly moved up and met mine for a second before he buried his nose in the book again. I huffed and finished my braiding.

Five hundred times the regular size? That seemed really excessive to me.

He distracted me again when he lifted his shirt and started patting his stomach.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing." He dropped his shirt. "It's just that it says here men sometimes get pregnancy symptoms too. Like morning sickness and cramps and other things."

I rolled my eyes and turned back toward the mirror. I'd never been in favor of book burning, but I was strongly considering it at that moment.

"You had four eggs this morning, right?"

Did he have a death wish? I glared over at him, grinding my teeth. "What's your point?"

"It's just that it says here there are some suggestions that baby boys secrete a chemical which causes the mother to eat more during pregnancy."

That's because boys are trouble. Then they grow into men, and men are more trouble.

"Are you saying I'm eating too much?" I looked down at myself. Only in the last few days had it become noticeable the baby was beginning to show, and that was only when I was naked. I had gained a few pounds, but mostly in my hips and boobs. Nicholas said he loved it, but maybe he didn't.

I was a fat cow and I was only four and a half months along. I'd be wearing his clothes before nine months came around.

"I'm absolutely not saying that." He came up behind me, wrapping me in his arms and rubbing my belly.

"But you can tell I've gained weight." I met his eyes in the mirror.

"I think you get sexier every single day."

I snorted. "Yeah, right."

"You do." He nuzzled my neck. "When you get home, I want you to keep in these braids and leave on the heels."

I laughed, not able to stay angry with him. "Of course, you would have some fantasy running through your head." I shrugged out of his arms to finish my makeup. "I'm just hoping to get back here in one piece, without being eaten by the sharks."

His eyes narrowed. "I wish I could be there with you. Promise me you won't let anyone get to you."

I sighed. "I'm just going to stick by your mom and pray not to see Rosemary."

We both knew that wasn't likely. She was supposed to be there, along with many other Quentin society princesses. I just kept reminding myself it was all for a good cause.

"Just remember, we hold all the cards now. They don't know it yet, but both she and her father will soon get what's coming to them."

I nodded and smiled, wanting to be strong. It was one thing to feel safe and secure at home, but it was different trying to maintain the upper hand when you felt out of your element. I was going to be on Rosemary's turf and she would have the home-field advantage. She had a way of making me feel like I was a kid playing dress-up.

After a few more encouraging words and hugs from Nicholas, I met Clara downstairs in her car. I clapped when I saw her costume. “You look like a beautiful witch, today!”

"I thought it was appropriate," she said, patting the seat next to her as I got in. "I'm going to stick my broomstick up Rosemary's bum tonight if she gets near you."

I giggled, not accustomed to hearing the prim and proper Clara talk like that. And bum? Who really said that? I was definitely going to use the word when I was with Nicholas later.

"Hopefully, she will remember her manners and not make a fool of herself in high society." That's what I kept telling myself anyway.

Clara grabbed my hand and squeezed. "Well, don't worry about a thing. We're going to have fun."

And she was right. I was blown away from the moment we walked in the door. Every inch of the ballroom was decorated. I'd never seen anything so festive.

Clara kept my arm in hers the entire time, introducing me to all her friends and gushing like a proud mother would. Several times I blushed and stammered from her praise, but it felt so good. It had been such a long time since I'd had any kind of motherly attention, and I was lapping it up.

"Do you see anything you like?" she asked as we were perusing the silent auction tables.

I pursed my lips, glancing over everything again. There were a few celebrity "dates", but those didn't interest me. The pampering packages at local spas were interesting, as well as the private dinners catered by famous chefs in the area. My mouth watered from the descriptions of a few, and I placed a hand over my rumbling stomach.

I was hungry all the damn time.

I made a few bids, with Clara guiding me on how much to offer before we finally made our way over to the interactive area and took over a booth. There were several different games and activities for all the kids to partake in, and I was having so much fun playing, I almost forgot Rosemary was anywhere in the vicinity.

But she just had to make her appearance known eventually. She sauntered up in her sleek costume, flanked by two other women dressed like they were playing her minions. I laughed to myself at the irony.

I finished handing out candy to a few more kids, before standing tall to face her. Clara was at my side in a flash.

"Ms. Hewitt, is there something you need?" Clara's voice was ice cold, addressing her before she ever said a word to me. I was truly surprised. Yes, I knew Clara hated her, but I figured she would at least disguise it until after Nicholas had confronted Simon.

"Clara, it's so good to see you!" Rosemary's tone was sweet and phony as hell.

"I wish I could say the same," Clara said.

Rosemary seemed as surprised as me, stepping back a little. "I hope Jefferson and Nicholas are doing well."

Clara lifted her chin. "Nicholas has never been so happy. We are lucky Willow joined our family."

"He overpaid for her, but hopefully he'll get his money back." She sent me a smug smile before turning her attention back to Clara. "I saw Nicholas not too long ago and he seemed quite stressed. I'll drop by again soon to make sure he's alright."