The CEO Takes a Wife(38)
“Olivia?” Alex demanded, then when she didn’t answer he took the phone out of her hand. “Felicia, what on earth did you say to Olivia?” He listened, then his eyes shot to Olivia and his jaw clenched. “How the devil did that happen?” he growled. Felicia must have spoken as he paused, then said, “Yes, I’ll look after her.”
Olivia was only partly aware of him hanging up the phone.
“Olivia?”
She looked at him then. “How could they, Alex?” she choked.
His eyes darkened. “I know, sweetheart.”
She bit back a sob. “I don’t want the world to know about…about…It’s private.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Shh.”
She went willingly, leaning on him for a moment, accepting his strength, before giving a shuddering sob. She wanted to cry but wouldn’t give them—any of them—the satisfaction.
And then something hit her.
It was so obvious.
She pulled back, the words bursting from her, her nerves stretched to the limit. “I bet it was your father. He wants to get rid of me. He wants you to marry someone who can give you a child.”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you hear yourself?”
It suddenly seemed more than plausible. “You told him, didn’t you? You told him and now he knows and—”
“Don’t be bloody ridiculous. I didn’t tell him a thing.”
“Then it was one of your brothers. That’s why they were here the other night. You were telling them the whole thing, weren’t you?”
He shook her lightly. “Stop it! No one knew but you, me and your mother.”
She gasped, his shake hurtling her back to their surroundings. “Oh God, I’m sorry, Alex. I don’t know what came over me.” Heavens, she’d gone crazy for a minute there.
“It’s understandable,” he said, but there was a stiffness to his shoulders that hadn’t been there before. He got to his feet and stood looking down at her, keeping a distance now that she very much regretted.#p#分页标题#e#
She hesitated, measuring how to explain it all. “I wonder how the media found out about it? Someone had to have told them. My mother’s just as confused as we are.”
His brow rose. “Maybe someone from the doctor’s office in New York?”
“Yes, that’s possible.”
His eyes hardened. “Or your ex?”
She sucked in a sharp breath and considered the possibility out loud. “Yes…but why now? He knew it was unlikely I’d ever have a child. He could have told them about it years ago.” She shook her blond head. “No, he’d come out of it smelling less than roses. Eric wouldn’t want that,” she added cynically.
“No, I don’t suppose the bastard would.”
She was surprised by the comment yet not. The thought of Eric always set her on edge, too.
She mentally pushed Eric aside. “I just don’t understand why the papers need to print stuff like this. Why do they need to cause people pain? Isn’t it enough that we have to live it?” she whispered, then gave a ragged sigh. “I guess I should be used to it.”
He made a harsh sound. “Whoever leaked that bit of information had better watch out. I’ll hunt them down. They won’t do it again in a hurry.”
He looked so angry she was reminded of how fiercely this man protected his own.
“Alex, I know I got it all wrong about your father and brothers, but what were you and Nick and Matt speaking about the other night? You went to see your father yesterday morning, too. I heard you on the telephone telling him there was a problem.”
His angry expression faded and concern replaced it. “Dad’s not well. We were discussing how to push him gently into retirement.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Oh boy, I really got it wrong, didn’t I?”
He held her gaze for a minute, seeming to delve into her thoughts, but then he broke eye contact and glanced at the clock. “Speaking of my father, I’m going down to the study to call him. He needs to know. If we don’t tell him, the media will. No doubt they’ll be hanging around the office today.”
Dismay filled her. “That’ll mean they’ll be at the boutique, too.”
“Yes. Perhaps you should stay home today and not leave the apartment.”
She nodded woodenly. “Okay. And I’ll phone Lianne and tell her not to go into work either.”
“Don’t turn on the television,” he said, heading for the door. “Do some work or just try and relax. I know it’s hard.”
“Okay.” Her throat closed up and her heart cramped. “I’m so sorry for causing all this trouble, Alex.”