“I think it’s an ulcer,” Victoria told Maya Khan an hour later. She was sitting on the exam table in the private clinic, looking pale and defeated. “The stress, the coffee, the lack of sleep. It’s burning a hole in my stomach.”
Maya didn’t answer immediately. She was looking at a monitor, her face illuminated by the blue glow.
“It’s not an ulcer, Victoria,” Maya said softly.
“Then what? Hypertension? Alistair had high blood pressure,” Victoria panicked. “I can’t be sick, Maya. The board will smell blood. If I show any weakness…”
Maya turned the monitor screen toward her.
On the screen was a grainy, black-and-white image. A static storm of gray pixels, and in the center, a tiny, rhythmic flutter.
“That,” Maya smiled, pointing to the flutter, “is a heartbeat.”
Victoria stared. The room went silent.
“You’re eight weeks pregnant,” Maya confirmed.
Victoria’s hand went to her stomach. A baby. Another child. A sibling for Leo.
Joy flooded her chest, hot and overwhelming, but it was immediately followed by a cold crash of terror. She was the first female Chairman of Croft Enterprises. The wolves were already howling that she was too emotional, too soft, too distracted.
If the Board found out she was pregnant, they wouldn’t see a mother. They would see a liability.
“Oh god,” Victoria whispered, realizing the battle she was about to fight. “No one can know.”