bright. It glared off the white

e closet and throwing clothes into them. She needed to leave. Staying

nt door

d to be here. He usually staye

he same suit from last night, but the tie was go

hen he saw t

said. It was a stat

ot looking at him. She folded a sil

lked further into the room. "You do

nning. I'm

nd, but her hand knocked over her purse. It fell off

And a long, white plasti

egnanc

ered loudly against the wood, sliding t

. His eyes tra

is t

ng impact on her knees. She snatched the test up, shovin

instant and sharp. He crossed the room i

s low, dangerous. "Bank transfers?

pull her hand back, b

ow

sh, Julia

ur hand,

acked against the wardrobe now. Sweat pricked at her h

ed a dis

le. She doubled over, clutching her lower abdomen w

e gasped.

down at her, confusion

What

thless. "It's... it's my period. I

sitting on the floor. She kept the plastic stick balled tight in h

Sterling uncomfortable enough to back off. If she had he

pping back as if burned. He ran a ha

you need

. "Just... painki

ace was genuinely pale from the morning sickne

sweat on her brow, the shaking hands. He let out a

ent

rotest, he scooped h

could smell the stale scotch and the faint, cloying scent

ered, squeezing her eyes

id, but there wa

he mattress. It wasn't gentle, but it wasn't rou

o his usual coldness to mask the moment of intimacy. "How are y

ce into the pillow.

looked at her curled form, at the fi

said darkly. "Don't let me find

d and wa

Then she scrambled into the bathroom. She smoothe

hen shoved it deep into the bottom of the t

spered to the empty room.