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“You broke up with ood for each other What changed?”

“Nothing really,” he said “I just heard your voice today and you sounded so distraught It tugged at my heart and I realized how badly I wanted to be here for you I didn’t want you to be alone I wanted to wrap you up in my arms and hold you and make it all better”

“I don’t get it,” I said

He kind of laughed and said, “You don’t get what, Vick?”

“You’re not angry that I slept with Alexander and that I’m not sure if the baby is yours or his?”

He pulledthat happened between you and hiht?” I nodded and he said, “It was my fault That’s why I’m not mad, Vick I pushed you into his arms I doubt that the baby isso well for a feeeks before we took our break, re sex”

I thought about it then He was right If this was his baby, I’d be close to threeand not be showing any other signs, could I? “Jason, I’ot you involved in any of this I just didn’t knoho else to call You’ve always been there for me…” He kissed me on the side of my head and shushed me

“Don’t apologize for calling me, babe I will always be here for you and the little man, mine or not, okay?”

I wanted to ask who he was and what he’d done with Jason I couldn’t believe he was being so easy-going about any of this He stepped back and looked down at rateful, I’m just a little confused”

“I understand,” he said “Let’s get some food in you and then we’ll take a look at those papers You need to keep your strength up” I wasn’t sure if I could eat, but I illing to try My poor stomach was bone dry

We sat down and ate and drank cider I thought it was thoughtful of hi without alcohol or caffeine Maybe he really did care… just a little bit anyways When we finished eating he helped me clean up which was also out of character and then he said, “Okay babe Where are these papers?”

We went over to the couch and sat down, side by side with our knees touching I hadn’t really thought nancy I thought I’d lost all feelings for hi here like this I didn’t kno badly I needed someone to lean on until he showed up

I handed hih them Jason was a physical therapist; not an attorney but he was a suy After a few minutes he said, “Yep, basically what he wants is for you to agree to an abortion and to never speak to anyone about this… so a gag order to all parties involved In exchange for that, he wants to pay you a hundred thousand dollars It’s a bunch of crap”

“I’ an abortion”

He kissed the side of ain It was really nice “Of course not, babe I know you don’t believe in that Had it turned out to be mine, I would have never asked you to do that” How did he suddenly know for sure it wasn’t his? My hackles were back up just a bit “But he’s not even just asking, he’s pressuring… al He doesn’t want to take any responsibility for this He wants to hide behind his rich boy shield and let you take all the heat for a paltry hundred grand Vicki, do you knohat this guy is worth?”

“A lot,” I said

“Yeah babe but really, do you kno much?”

“No”

“Forbes azine estimated his net worth at two billion last year” I nearly spit out the cider I was drinking

“Damn! How does a thirty year old man make that kind of money?”

“For one thing, he started withinveste, the article says He owns a piece of every major electronics company in the world Every tiets a check, basically”