Chapter on
Chapter 69
Caleb
I’m not surprised that Leah isn’t talking to me. She was furiousth me before we got inside the car, and right now, the radio is the only thing keeping me company. It’s playing a pop song on low volume while Leah is staring out through the window, ignoring me while I drive. I can practically feel the waves of jealous anger radiating off her.
When we finally arrive home, Leal storms inside ahead of me. By the time I catch up, she’s already in our bedroom, slamming drawers as she changes out of her dress.
I hover in the doorway, unsure of my welcome. “Leah, can we please talk about this?”
She whirls to face me, and I realize she isn’t mad, at least not at me. Not anymore. “These hormones,” she says. “They are already driving me mad…”
I decide to venture inside the room and get off the wall with a smile curling my lips. “Pregnancy is hard for women, maybe even harder for us men having to deal with you guys.”
My joke doesn’t make her laugh. If anything, she seems even more sullen, and I hold up my hands and surrender. “That was a joke!” I say quickly, “Please don’t murder me.”
–
Leah’s shoulders slump, and she sinks down onto the bed with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Caleb. I know I’m being irrational. It’s just these damn hormones making me crazy.” She looks up at me with watery eyes. “I trust you, I do. But seeing that woman all over you…it brought out a side of me I didn’t know existed.”
I cross the room and kneel down in front of her. Her cold hands rest on her lap, and I place my warmer ones over them, stroking gently in what I hope is a romantic gesture. She immediately lifts her chin to meet my eyes, and I keep a smile on my face to show her that I’m not angry with her.
“It’s okay. Your feelings are valid, even if the hormones are amplifying them,” my eyes crinkle at the corners. “But how abour we forget about this drama and just head to bed? I’m tired and want to cuddle with my mama bear.”
Leah smiles back, and soon, we are spooning in our large bed while looking out through the large windows. There’s a crackling fire in the background while snow twirls down from the skies. It looks cold outside, and Leah shivers in response to just watching the snow and presses her butt further into my front. It makes my cock awaken, but I ignore my natural instinct to want her soft body since I want tonight to be romantic, not heated and filled with sex.
I close my eyes and breathe in her hair with a sigh. “I can’t wait to get married to you,” I tell her, and Leah squeezes my hands, which are resting on her pregnant stomach.
“Me too,” she mumbles, seeming to hesitate before asking, “Do you think my parents will come? They didn’t give us their blessing when I visited them.”
I hate how sad Leah sounds. Her parents might be assholes as far as I’m concerned, but they are still her parents, and since my wife is a kind person, she wants them at our wedding regardless of the history between them.
I tighten my arms around Leah, burying my nose in the nape of her neck as I whisper. I’m sorry for being so old. If I weren’t your father’s age, I bet your parents wouldn’t be so against us getting married.”
Leah sighs, snuggling back against me. “I’m not sorry that you’re older than me. It’s part of why I like you so much.”
“Oh?”
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Chapter 69
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“Yes,” she says. Call me crazy, but judging by her voice, I just know that she is blushing right now. “You’re more mature than men my age, and another benefit of you being older is that you have so much life experience. I feel like I can learn a lot from you. And…” She pauses, her tone turning a bit shy. “I also think your age makes you even sexier.”
A chuckle escapes sandalwood?“.
- me. “Right, your male leads are often older, aren’t they? Whiskey voices and cologne that smells like
“Oh my god, shut up! Stop reading my stories!”
1 press a kiss on her shoulder. “Never.”
Leah laughs softly, her body shaking slightly against mine. “You’re a jerk for reading my romance novels, you know that?”
“Mmhmm,” I murmur, nuzzling her neck. “But you love me anyway.
“I do,” she agrees, lacing our fingers together over her belly. “More than anything”
“Then stop complaining because your novels are the shit.”
can I request a divorce already?”
I playfully gasp at her audacity. “You little…! You’re not getting away from me!”
I tickle Leah’s sides, making her squeal and squirm in my arms. Caleb, stop!” she gasps between giggles. “I take it back, I take it back!”
Grinning, I relent my playful assault and pull her close again. “That’s more like it. You’re stuck with me forever, Mama Bears Leah settles back against me, still slightly breathless from laughter “Forever sounds pretty perfect to me.”
April comes along, and I stare down from my office on the highest floor, wishing I wasn’t working. Leah is supposed to try our wedding dresses today. I wanted to go with her, but I was strictly told not to. Apparently, it’s bad luck for me to see her before the wedding.
Hmm, I wonder if she is going to pick a modern or a traditional dress?
I stroke my chin, grimacing when a sudden pang of pain hits my head. I’ve been suffering headaches lately, but I don’t know why. Is it from stress? Work?
A knock on my office door interrupts my daydreaming. “Come in,” I call out.
A new assistant Janet pokes her head in. “Mr. Steele, your 2:00 appointment is here. Should I send him in?”
My
I rub my temples, the headache still pulsing. “Yes, go ahead.”
As Janet exits, a tall, distinguished–looking man in an expensive suit enters. He extends his hand to shake mine. “Caleb, good to see you again.”
1 stand to greet him, masking my discomfort. “You as well, Jonathan. Please, have a seat.”
Jonathan settles into the leather chair across from my desk as I retake my own seat. He crosses one leg over the other, looking perfectly at ease.
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Chapter 69
“So, what brings you by today?”
Jonathan smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Straight to siness, as always. I like that about you, Caleb.” He leans forward slightly. “I’m here to discuss the merger proposal we spoke about last month. Have you had a chance to review the
Terms?”
looked over the proposal. But I have some I nod, trying to recall the details through the fog of pain in my head. “Yes,/ concerns about the valuation and the proposed leadership structure post–merger.”
Jonathan waves a dismissive hand. “Minor details. I’m sure we can work those out. The important thing is this merger would be highly profitable for both of our companies. Imagine the market share we could command together.”
I frown, the pounding in my temples making it hard to concentrate. “I understand the potential benefits, but I’m not willing to rush into a deal that isn’t-”
A sudden, searing bolt of pain lances through my head, cutting of my words. The only human sound I can produce is a vulture–like gasp.
Jonathan sits up straight, alarmed, “Caleb? Are you alright?”
I try to answer, but another wave of agony prevents me from speaking. I slump forward, my forehead hitting the desk with a thud. Distantly, I hear Jonathan shouting for help.
“Janet! Call 911! Something’s wrong with Mr. Steele!”
Footsteps pound into the room. Jonathan is talking to someone, is it Janet? I’m too tired to figure out if she is the one Jonathan is talking to. My brain is mush, and the last image that its through my mind before I pass out is of Leah smiling at
- me.
Ө
AB
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