“Oh, no.”

“I’ve got to head out there,” Slavik said.

“Let me come with you.”

“No! You’re staying here. Don’t argue with me. I can’t take care of you and do my job. Just stay here.”

He stormed out of the penthouse suite, and I stood alone.

No one was around. I wrapped my arms around my waist.

The door opened, and in walked one of my bodyguards. He averted his gaze, and I glanced down to see I was still dressed in my pajamas.

I left the corridor, going to the bedroom. The bed was made as I’d done it after I got up. A force of habit. Sitting on the edge, I stare at the door. My birthday. Yay.

Tears filled my eyes, and the taste of Slavik was bitter on my tongue. Getting to my feet, I rushed into the bathroom. I grabbed the nearest toothbrush, dolloped on a good amount of paste, and got to work on my teeth, trying to wipe the memory from my mind. With my gaze on my reflection, I couldn’t help but look at my stomach.

I finished brushing my teeth and lifted my shirt, turning to the side. I had to be going crazy.

There was a bump. Not a huge noticeable one, but I saw it. The bump was there.

Slavik had distracted me from finding out the truth. I needed to know if I was going to be a mom, or what any of this meant.

Dropping my hands, I changed into a pair of jeans and a large shirt. I slipped on a pair of pumps and left the bedroom.

“I need you to take me to a pharmacy,” I said to the guard. I couldn’t remember his name, I thought it was David or something. After everything that happened with Sergei, I didn’t get close to the men who guarded me. It was safer for me to just be who I was, away from it all.

He pulled out his cell phone.

“There is no reason to call my husband. He doesn’t need to know his wife requires lady products.”

The man … paled.

What was it with men and lady products? It was as natural as breastfeeding.

“You’re going to drive me to the pharmacy. I can go in and be out in a flash. No big deal.” I forced a smile to my lips.

“Mr. Ivanov needs to know.”

“I know, and you can tell him after, okay? He is busy at the moment, as I’m sure you’re aware. Do you want to be known as the guard who interrupted my husband’s journey with details of his wife’s purchases at a pharmacy?”

I talked really fast, trying to get my point across.

This could backfire.

I wanted to find out if I was pregnant before I even let Slavik know I was. If I wasn’t, no big deal. If the stick read yes, then my life was about to change.

The guard hesitated, and my patience ran thin.