Page 40 of His Assistant

I go to the desk and check in. They give me a glass of cucumber water and have me sit in one of the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in.

Then, I’m called back. The hallways are lit in a soft, pink-ish glow, and the exam room manages to somehow be cozy. The nurse hands me a very comfortable gown to change into and tells me Dr. Greco will be right with me. I don’t know what fairytale I’ve stumbled into, but I could stay all day in this office.

“Ms. Bellini,” Dr. Greco calls softly when she steps inside. “How are we doing today?”

“Oh, I’m great,” I answer lamely. “This is a really incredible office.”

She smiles warmly.

“Thank you,” she says. “I believe that reproductive care is as important as any other form of self-care. Why should it feel scary and sterile? This is one place where women should always feel pampered.”

“I really do.” I smile. “So, long story short, I’m pregnant, and I’ve come to have my first checkup.”

She smiles and nods. “Congratulations,” she says. “Unless you aren’t happy about it. In which case, we can absolutely talk about your options.”

I smile stiffly. “I’m not sure how I feel,” I tell her honestly. “It’s all been really confusing.”

“That’s totally okay,” she says, patting my hand. “We’ll get you set up with an ultrasound.”

I go through the motions as a nurse brings in the ultrasound machine.

“Let’s see here,” Dr. Greco says softly, looking at the screen. She moves the wand around my stomach slowly until we both hear a faint, but strong thumping noise.

“There you are.” She smiles. “That’s baby’s heartbeat.”

I stare at the screen. I can’t really make out anything, but I hear the thumping. That’s my baby. The reality comes crashing down on me and I start weeping. Dr. Greco hands me a box of tissues.

“It can be very overwhelming for new mothers,” she says kindly. “Have you told anyone about the pregnancy yet?”

I shake my head.

“That’s totally understandable, and I can recommend a great counselor if you’re not sure about what you want to do. Talking about it really does help calm you down in the early stages.”

“I’m keeping it,” I say, surprising myself.

There’s no way I can give it up now. I heard its heartbeat. It’s part of me now.

“Then, let’s get you scheduled for another appointment. We’ll also get you set up on our patient app, which will give you all the resources you need about nutrition, exercise, and everything you can expect. We also have several referrals if you need anything.”

I can’t help but hug her. She laughs at the unexpected contact and awkwardly pats my back.

“You aren’t alone, Sofia,” she tells me kindly. “We’re in this together.”

I wipe my eyes and nod. Once she’s gone, I get dressed, grab my things, and go back to work. All of the confusion and fear is gone now. I’m going to keep this baby. I’m going to be a mom. Of course, once I step back into the lobby of Vieri Holdings, I also have to figure out what the hell I’m going to do about Dominic. Having feelings for him is one thing, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to co-parent a child with him.

My doubts only grow when I get back to my desk and see his door closed. I think about knocking, but as I get closer, I hear shouting inside.

“You’re being sloppy,” the voice says.

I can’t place it exactly. I know it’s one of Dominic’s frequent visitors. Not Rafe, I know his voice well enough by now, but I’m struggling to remember who.

“I know what I’m doing,” Dominic shoots back.

I’m just about to back away from the door when I hear my name.

“Sofia is like your kryptonite,” the man says.

My blood runs cold. I really shouldn’t be listening to this, but I can’t make my legs move. I need to hear what they’re saying.