#Bonus 2.1: Hunch

{This part takes place after Chapter One-Two-Five: What Reason.}

‘No, don't leave!’

Elizabeth wanted to scream the words at Olivia's back.

Did it make sense for her sister to leave her with her stalker without even glancing back just because her kids fought?

Either way, the door closed, and tension hung in the small space.

With a sigh, Elizabeth closed the lunch boxes and moved to the door, but Christopher's body remained blocking her.

"Excuse me? You are the size of an oak tree, move.”

“Are you pregnant?”

At the abrupt question from Christopher, Elizabeth’s stomach sank.

“I’m on birth control. Are you trying to find a way to keep me by your side? Isn’t that too sad?”

Christoper removes a box from his back pocket that he places in front of me.

A pregnancy test kit.

“Let's take the test together.”

“This is an invasion of privacy.”

He shrugs at my instant response.

“I don’t mind watching you pee.”

“I do. I mind.”

Elizabeth stresses with a frown.

She wasn’t sure, but the ghost of a smile touched his lips.

“Fine. The doctor will be here in two minutes, so stay here.”

“What? So, wait, why were you suggesting to watch me-”

“Because it's fun that way.”

Her lips parted before they closed again.

“Anyway, I just need you to sit still for a bit.”

“Because you need me to be pregnant?”

“Because I follow my hunches.”

Christopher finished as he closed the door, trapping them inside and sitting on the couch next to it.

There was a clear look in his eyes that hung like a dare: ‘try slipping past me’.

“And a hunch is telling you I'm pregnant.”

Elizabeth asked again; the sweat on her pam felt vivid as her gaze scoured the room for another exit; there wasn’t one.

Who the hell designed this boat? How did they get a safety permit?

“My wife mentioned it in a fit.”

Christopher added.

“Your wife, the pathological liar?”

Elizabeth asked, hoping she could defame her way out of the situation.

“Some bloodwork is all I need, and then you'll be free.”

“You mean if I do the test, you won't follow me around anymore?”

“Y- mmm, I will be in Italy.”

“That’s not a yes, Christopher.”

Christopher dropped his gaze and leaned his head back. It was clear that this was the only answer he would give.

“If you promise to stop following me around, I'll pee on that stick.”

“I don’t need your consent to draw blood from you. Also, that was a joke, but if you want to pee on a stick, go ahead. I’ll watch.”

“You are…. I just said I’m squeamish, and even if I am pregnant, which I am not, what makes you think it's yours?”

His gaze turns to me, and he smiles.

What is that supp-

Finally, a complaint that Olivia had uttered flowed to her mind.

‘Can you believe he did that? Samantha was my private secretary, my person. Do you have any idea how dirty I feel knowing that she was working for him?’

“You’ve planted someone on me.”

It wasn’t a question.

She had told no one except Daniel and Olivia that she was pregnant, but she had told everyone that she was going through a dry spell.

She tried hard to find instances where she might have let something slip, but nothing came to mind.

“Hello, everyone; sorry for the delay.”

An older man, from his accent, Italian, walked in with a warm but tense smile.

The only word that went through her mind was ‘fuck’, but even that felt like it was an understatement.