The Sheikh's Quintuplet Baby Surprise by Holly Rayner

Author:Holly Rayner [Rayner, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-16T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Nicole

Out on the sidewalk, Nicole glanced around her as yet more people walked by, avoiding eye contact at all cost. How could she live in one of the most densely populated cities in the world and still feel totally alone?

Deciding that work would serve as a distraction, even if it hadn’t really since she’d returned from Al Qazar, she walked at a leisurely pace toward the office, taking her time as she imagined the five children fighting for room inside her womb.

“What am I going to do when you all start kicking?” she asked out loud, ignoring the strange look she received from someone walking in the other direction.

People talked to themselves in New York. It’s just what happened.

She strolled into the lobby and took the elevator up, heading straight to the studio without looking for Kadeen. It was a habit she was trying to break.

Nicole walked up to the portrait, its restoration now nearly finished, and picked up a small varnish brush. She stared into the dark eyes of the Sheikha, eyes that haunted her day and night, whether those of the painting or those of her wayward employer. She thought about Kadeen, then, and a fresh wave of nausea crashed over her. Unwilling to fight on, her body collapsed, and she plummeted to the floor.

“Nicole!”

Imogen dashed into the room, kneeling down in her pencil skirt as she held her hand against Nicole’s forehead, like that would help anything. Still, she was there, and at the moment, Nicole was ready to lean on any available shoulder.

“Are you all right? What happened?”

Nicole looked up into Imogen’s deep blue eyes. There wasn’t an ounce of insincerity in them, which was unusual. Perhaps she could be trusted, just this once?

“I’m pregnant,” Nicole breathed, and Imogen gasped.

“Oh my—” She broke off. “I knew there was something up. Oh Nicole, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because…because Kadeen is the father,” Nicole moaned, regretting the words even as they poured from her lips.

Imogen went rigid, though her expression was unreadable.

“I shouldn’t have said anything,” Nicole continued, panicking. “Imogen, he doesn’t know. You have to keep this to yourself. We’re not involved in any way. He wants nothing to do with me!”

Imogen pursed her lips, her expression morphing back to one of sympathy. “You poor thing. Of course he doesn’t. I warned you the first day you started here, Nicole. What were you thinking? Never mind. Now is not the time to ask such questions. When did you find out about the baby?”

“Babies. There are five of them,” Nicole groaned, sitting up and rubbing her closed eyes.

“Five! My goodness, he certainly has strong stock, doesn’t he?”

“He will have nothing to do with it. Promise me, Imogen. Promise me you’ll keep this to yourself. I’m already looking for a new job. I’ll be out of your hair before you know it, and you can continue on without me getting in the way.”

Imogen made a cross sign across her bosom. “I promise, Nicole. Now come on, we need to get you home,” she said, her tone uncharacteristically compassionate.

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