Cat made a call to her foster mother the next morning. Eric was working out in the apartment gym. She thought about going to watch him, but had figured this was the best time to contact her mother. Grabbing a cup of green tea and her phone, Cat let herself out on the balcony. Putting the cup down on the table and sliding the door shut to the apartment, giving her the privacy she needed to have this conversation. Taking a seat on the edge of a chair.Dialling her mother’s number, the phone rang for some time, and Cat was about to give up when it was answered on the other end.“Hello.” came Dawn’s cheerful voice.“Hi Mum, it’s me.” Cat said, picking up her tea and taking a sip.“Oh, Cat honey. It’s so good to hear from you. I was going to call you today myself.” Cat could hear in her mother’s voice she was happy to hear from her. “How was the charity event last night?”“It was good.” Cat replied after a moment’s pause.“I remember. You’ve previously stated they can be tedious. I hope las

The next morning, Cat told Eric she wasn’t feeling the best. Her head hurt. “I’m thinking of taking the day off.”Eric looked at her face. “You do look pale. Do you want me to call a doctor?”“No… No… I’m sure it’s just because I’m tired. I didn’t sleep very well last night.” With that, Cat wasn’t lying. She hadn’t slept well. It wasn’t the reason she was having the day off. Cat knew it was a fine line. She would confess all tonight, she had decided after her meeting with Alex. Regardless of what Alex wanted, she was going to tell her husband the truth.“Are the babies moving too much at night?” He said, taking her hand in his across the breakfast bar.Cat shook her head. “No, not that.”“Cat, I think you might be taking on too much with the house and work. Plus, you won’t let me get a cook in here.” Gesturing with his hand to the kitchen area. “You have to remember you are carrying twins. Don’t bring my mum up again. She only carried one.”Cat skillfully flipped the omelette onto the

“One thing I did listen to my father about was birth control. I come from a very rich family. We had to be careful. I had always asked a lady if she was on the pill, but not all women tell the truth, so I have always used a condom. That’s why your story was such a shock to me. I have had women claim before I was the father of their child. It was always about money. It was never true, or so I thought.” Alex rubbed his free hand down his face before continuing. Looking again at Rebecca, slightly embarrassed by his next words. “I slept around a lot in my twenties. I was what you would call a man whore or hound dog. It becomes very boring as you get older.”Alex picked up his water to have a drink and was about to go on, but the waiter came over to take their orders. Cat ordered the chicken scallopini with only sparkling water as a drink. Cat liked the fact that Rebecca ordered more than just a salad. They both ordered the Mushroom risotto with a bottle of Siduri Sanda Barbara Pinot Noir.

“Eric,” Cat exclaimed in surprise, “how did you find me?” She knew she appeared guilty, and indeed she was, for having ditched her security detail and then leaving the apartment building against better judgment. But his discovery of her location puzzled her; she was certain no guards had tailed her. Then realisation dawned on her swiftly—there was only one possibility, and it stung that he hadn’t sought her consent. “You are tracking my phone, aren’t you?” Cat accused him.Eric, who had been glaring at Alex, turned sharply at her accusation, fixing her with his intense gaze. “You can say that now when I find you having lunch with Alex McDonnell. You lied to me. You told me you were sick. Cat, you don’t look sick to me, just guilty.”The fact that he had installed a tracker on her phone made her feel violated; she wasn’t an object to be monitored. How dare he lo-jack her? She hid nothing on her phone, so she always left it out. But if he intended to use a tracking device, he should have

Eric stormed back into his offices, making Jo look up in surprise. Seeing his face like thunder, she hesitated for a moment before saying.“Eric, there are messages.” Jo charged ahead.“Not now.” Eric snapped at her, not even looking in her direction.“Some are urgent.” Jo persisted.“Jo, fuck it, I said not now.”Jo flinched at his harsh tone. Eric didn’t pay any attention. Heading straight to his office, slamming the door shut with such force it vibrated throughout the room.Jo frowned after her boss. Normally, if Eric was angry, he would go deadly quiet. Not this seething, visible anger. “Wow, I wonder who pissed him off.” Maybe she should message Cat and find out if she knew. Jo lined up Eric’s messages and sent him an email instead.Eric walked back and forth in his office. Cat had been behaving differently for days. Behaving oddly and guiltily. Now he understood why.It had shocked the hell out of him when Peters had called to say he had checked the apartment and found Cat missin