Mara's POV
Elias' hand closed around my wrist before I even found the strength to step away from him. One moment I was blinking at him, startled, my mouth still tasting of mint and acid, and the next he yanked me back into the restroom and shut the door with a sharp slam.
"What did you just say?" His voice was low, dangerous—so quiet it felt louder than a shout.
I swallowed hard. "Elias, let go."
"No." His grip tightened. "Say it again. Say exactly what you said."
"I didn't mean—"
"You said you might be pregnant with my child." His jaw clenched, eyes searching my face as if he could peel my thoughts apart. "You remember that night. You've been lying to me this whole time."
I jerked my hand free. "Let me be. I didn't lie—"
"You did." He stepped closer. "You stood in front of me pretending you forgot everything."
"Because it did mean nothing." My voice cracked, betraying me. "It was a mistake, Elias. One night. One stupid night, and I didn't want anything to do with it."
"That's not what you said five minutes ago." His stare dropped to my stomach. "Are you pregnant?"
My pulse hammered. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" he repeated, breath uneven. "How long have you suspected it? How long have you been hiding it from me?"
"I'm not hiding anything! I'm stressed—my body's stressed. I don't even know if it means anything. I wasn't thinking straight. I might be wrong, I might not be pregnant for you."
His nostrils flared. "You should have told me."
"And then what?" I snapped. "What would you do? Accuse me of something? Drag me to a doctor? Announce it to your mother? Elias, I don't even know if it's real. I'm not sure yet. Please—let's not talk about this again."
I brushed past him toward the door, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back.
"Let's go to the hospital," he said.
"No." I shook my head, fear gripping me. "I don't want to believe I'm pregnant for you."
"Neither do I," he cut in coldly. "We can only be sure if we check."
The coldness of his words pushed me a step back. He dragged a hand through his hair, pacing once, twice. "We are talking about this again. Thoroughly. After my meeting."
"We don't have anything to talk about," I muttered.
His head snapped toward me. "What do you mean we have nothing to talk about?" he barked. "You drop a bomb like that and think we can just walk away from it?"
"I didn't drop anything!" I shouted back. "You dragged me in here like I committed a crime!"
"Because you lied!" Elias' voice slammed hard against the wall "You've been walking around like none of it happened—like I'm the only one who remembers!"
"Because I wanted to forget!" My voice cracked again. "I wanted to erase that night and everything that came with it!"
His eyes narrowed. "Including the possibility of a child?"
"That's not fair!" My chest heaved. "You think I planned this? You think I wanted this?"
He opened his mouth to reply, but a sudden knock interrupted us.
"Sir? Sir, your Zoom meeting with the Chicago client starts in two minutes," Richard called nervously. "They're already logged in and waiting."
Elias closed his eyes, jaw tightening with frustration.
"Sir?" Richard knocked again. "We only have a minute and 48 seconds to start."
Elias didn't move. His stare stayed locked on me.
For a moment, he seemed like he would stay. Ignore everything. Ignore the client.
But then he exhaled sharply and stepped back.
"This conversation isn't over."
I pressed against the sink as he opened the door.
Then the door shut, and the silence swallowed me.
My hands trembled as I steadied myself on the sink. My breath came in uneven shudders. I wasn't pregnant. I didn't believe I was. But fear whispered the worst, and I said it aloud. And he heard everything.
I splashed water on my face, wiped my mouth, and forced myself back into the PR department.
The room was buzzing—laptops open, papers everywhere.
"You rushed out earlier," Vivian said loudly, for everyone to hear. "Everything okay? Or are you… sick?"
A few people glanced up.
I ignored her. "Daniel, take the designs you've finished to Floor 12. The director needs approval before noon. Grace, sort the guest list into VIP categories. The ones in red should go to Security."
Vivian scoffed. "You look pale, Mara. You sure you're fine? People who vomit randomly usually aren't."
I turned slowly to her. "Vivian, if you're done monitoring my body, go monitor your reports. They were due yesterday."
Her expression shifted. "I was just trying to help."
"One more 'help,' and you can help yourself out of this department."
The room went silent.
Vivian clicked her tongue and walked away.
I continued giving instructions, pretending my hands weren't still shaking. Thirty minutes passed before I excused myself and stepped into the hallway.
I dialed Clara.
She picked up quickly. "Mara? How are you doing? I was about to text you."
"Is Dad okay?" I asked immediately.
Clara paused. "He's fine. Eating well today. Even smiled. Why?"
My eyes softened. "I just needed to hear that."
"You sound tense. What happened?"
I leaned against the wall. "Clara… can I ask you something?"
She hummed, listening.
"Do you think it's possible I'm pregnant for Elias?"
Clara went quiet for a second. "Mara… you're still thinking about that?"
I swallowed. "I just needed to hear it from someone."
"The test you took last time was clear," she said gently. "It didn't show any sign of pregnancy."
My breath caught. "You're sure?"
"Positive."
Relief hit me so hard my knees weakened.
"Oh, thank God," I breathed.
"Mara," Clara added softly, "you need to stop torturing yourself. That night happened, yes. But you're not pregnant. You're just scared."
I nodded even though she couldn't see. "Yeah… maybe I am."
The call ended. I sighed and reached for the PR department door.
But before I touched it, a voice behind me froze my fingers.
"Mara."
David.
He walked toward me, looking tired but determined.
"Listen," he said quietly, "about earlier… I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I shouldn't have yelled."
"I'm not in the mood, David."
"I know. I know you're not. But let me talk."
"I said I'm not in the—"
He grabbed my arm—not hurting me, just stopping me. "You keep shutting me out. I'm trying to explain. I didn't mean those things I said."
"David, let go. Please."
"Not until you hear me. I'm sorry, okay? I'm—"
"David."
The voice cut through the hallway like a blade.
We both turned.
Andrea stood a few steps away.