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Leah blanches. “But?—”
I step towards her but refrain from touching her again. “I told you we wouldn’t need to lie. My family will jump to their own conclusions because of what they see.”
I make a sweeping gesture.
Leah rubs a hand down her face.
“Have you thought any more about what I said?” I ask. “I take it you spoke to the girls about it?”
Leah sinks onto one of the stools positioned along the kitchen island.
“I did. I hope you don’t mind.” She looks at me cautiously.
I shake my head. “I take it they’re watertight. That if we do this, they won’t run off and sell our story to the press?”
Leah looks at me in horror. “No. They’ve been my friends since secondary school. We’re more like sisters.”
I nod, letting her know I trust her judgement.
“What did they think?”
I’m surprised at how much this has interrupted my thoughts. Waiting.
Leah’s shoulders sag. “I don’t know. They were surprisingly positive. It’s just?—”
“Just what?” I push.
“It’s just... I work for you. You’re now my landlord. If something goes wrong, I lose my job. Something I love, and my home.”
I pull out one of the stools and sit down next to her.
“We will have a legal contract. We can include helping you find another job if something goes wrong. As you’ve probably guessed, Caleb would employ you in a heartbeat, or Elijah, Kat. Any of my siblings.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“I can and I will. I promise if we do this and something goes wrong, and you feel you can no longer work for me—which I don’t foresee happening by the way—Then I’ll ensure there is no comeback on you,” I say, knowing I mean every word. I won’t let Leah suffer.
“What else is bothering you?”
I sense she has another question but is holding back.
I watch in fascination as colour creeps up Leah’s neck and spreads across her cheeks.
“We never, er, discussed...” Leah stumbles over her words. For the second time in as many days. My communications officer, the most adept communicator I know, is lost for words. I clamp down on the smile that threatens.
“Leah, whatever it is, spit it out.”
“How do you see me getting pregnant?” The words rush out in a flurry, and I have to take a moment to comprehend what she’s asking. “I can’t sleep with you... sorry, have sex with you. That would be totally unprofessional.”
I bite the inside of my lip to stop myself from laughing.
I take a deep breath before carefully choosing my next words.
“I thought you were thinking of artificial insemination.”
Leah visibly releases the breath she’s been holding.
“That’s what I was thinking,” she says, giving me a small smile.
