#Chapter 47: Secrets Amongst Friends

AVA
After today’s filming ended I decided that I needed to clear my head. I was constantly thinking about my lineage. I did not know much about my mother. Hell I knew nothing about my father.
And I was more afraid that my baby would grow up not knowing anything about our family. I did not see myself talking to Jacob anytime soon. I tried to push those thoughts out of my head; the last thing I needed was unnecessary worry and stress.
I finally decided to tell Sally that I was pregnant and she was surprisingly overjoyed. I invited her to lunch as a thank you and apology for putting up with my mood swings.
“So how have you ben feeling,” Sally asked me.
“Well to be honest—”
“Good afternoon ladies, my name is Gale and I will be taking care of you for this visit. Can I get you started with drinks nad appetizers?”
The young man was really sweet with his interactions with us. Sally and I quickly ordered our drinks and explained to our server that we would look at the menus.
“Back to what you were saying. I know you have been feeling under the weather and I wanted to make sure you were doing alright.” Sally said.
“That’s actually what I what to tell you. Even though you and I have had a few hiccups I do value and everything that you do for me. You are like a friend that yells at me to eat less sugar.” I said trying to hold my laughter in.
“Well as a friend you should listen to me more. But I notice that you aren’t orderly that sugary crud you usually enjoy.” Sally said as she took a sip of water.
“Well I wanted to keep my intake of sugar and caffeine down. If not I’ll be up all night and morning sickness has me miserable enough.” I said.
“Yeah well as an actress….did you say morning sickness?” Sally said. Her eyes quickly grew wide as I smiled and nodded. “Oh my goodness, my shining starlet is having a little star.”
I could not help but l;augh as Sally reach over the table and hugged me.
“Yeah I wanted to tell you and apologize for all the moody outbirst I have ben having lately.” I said as Sally let go of me and readjusted herslef in the seat.
“Well how can I be mad at you when you are working and pregnant. Why are you working and you are pregnant!? I need to speak with Elijah.” Sally said as she began to grab her purse and search for her phone.
“Sally that is not necessary,” I said as I gently grabbed her hands halting her frantic search. “Elijah already knows and he and I discussed that I would slow down on my roles after the filming was finished.”
Sally stooped what she was doing and gave me a disheartening look. “Ava, I have to ask is the child—
“It’s not Mr. Connery’s.” I said. I had to use his formal name as he was my boss. It did break my heart to hear myself utter those words.
“IO am not judging you, I just don’t want to think that he was taking advantage of you.”
“Don’;t worry Mr. Connery is not that type of man. He has been looking after me since we reschedule the renovation of the studio.” I said.
I had told Sally one o0f the reasons why I had been staying with Elijah after house sitting for him was that my studio needed to be remodeled however the process kept being pushed back. While Sally did not seem to believe me I told her that I decided against the remodel because of I did not know it would take so long.
I noticed that Sally breathed a sigh of relief. “I am glad to hear that. No offense I never suspected it but with all the rumors that were forming due to your friendship with Mr. Connery were unsettling.”
I began to frown. Lily and her posse were becoming something of a nuisance. She did not like to admit that I was a more sod after actress than she was. She blamed it on my promiscuity for my constant wining of roles.
I pushed it out of my mind. I did not need the anxiety. I refused to let that harpy’s slander get to me.
“There are also a new batch of models and actresses and one in particular has latched herself to Lily. I believe her file said her name was Christene but she goes by Sissy.”
I felt the water I was drinking congeal in my throat. I became overstimulated with this new information and I began to cough and choke as a result. Sally quickly got u0p and patted my back. When the waiter arrived she advised him to grab a ginger-ale or sparkling water for me.
After a few film pats to my back and clearing my throat it was like it never happened. However I now had a new problem.
Sissy was a she-wolf that was apart of Elijah’s pack. Had he known she came here? He had to give her clearance.
“She is only here for a week as a temp to learn the workings of the entertainment. She does not seem truly interested in acting or modelling to be honest.” Sally said.
I tried not to let it bother me but learning that Sissy was in the human realm made me uneasy. She knew I was pregnant and she apparently had a grudge against me. She saw me as a threat to her potential relationship with her Alpha. And a threaten wolf could lead to them being pushed over the edge.
“I am sure that Sissy just wants to weigh her options between Moon Entertainment and other agencies. She is so young that her talent could be an asset to anyone that is willing to sign her.” I reassured both of us.
I did not want to admit that I was frustrated to learn this information from Sally and not from Elijah. He wanted no secrets between us, but I feel that he should have given me a heads up about Sissy.
That is until it dawned on me. I wanted to kick myself. I had never told him that Sissy was gunning for me.
Trying to put it out of my mind I decided to distract myself with the news that IU had given Sally.
“So I wanted to keep m,y pregnancy a secret while I am filming. I was wondering if that was possible to hold off announcing until I start showing or until after I give birth?”
Sally took a long pause. The waiter came over handing me the ginger ale and asked if we were ready to order. He took our order and promptly left us.
“I do not see why not. There are a lot of actresses and people in the business that do not want the public to know about their personal life. I would advise that we discuss when you should halt your acting until after you recover from birth.” Sally said.
“Makes sense, and I will discuss this with my doctors.”
“Doctors?” Sally said in confusion.
“Oh right, I have been seeing friends and family during trips and I wanted to make sure I had another doctor during those visits.”
Sally nodded and expressed that she was proud that I was taking cautionary measures for my health and the health of my unborn child.
I smiled at the praise I was getting I felt like I needed for so many reasons. I was doubting myself in this pregnancy. I even doubted if Elijah would want to be with someone like me. I was a rejected wolf that was had mixed blood running through her veins.
Dread and doubt began to consume me. All of a sudden I felt a hand graze the skin of my hand. I looked up to see Sally given me an encouraging smile.
“I will be with you every step of the way.”