Read Online After The One (The One Series Duet) by Danielle Allen - Free Book Online

glass desk.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I told the team we were engaged and want to get married on January first.” He let out a ragged breath.
    My eyes widened.
    Do they not want him marrying me or something? What could be this bad?
    “Okay…?” I said slowly.
    “They reminded me of my contract… which says I’m required to report my engagement to Robert Brady.”
    My stomach fell as the sinking feeling consumed me. I shook my head as the memory of Robert Brady’s parting words to us came flooding back, confirming Julian’s concerns.
    “If we get married when we want to get married, we have to…” His jaw tensed and tightened as his voice trailed off. It was as if it hurt him to continue the sentence.
    “No no no no no.” I shook my head vehemently as my insides threatened to come to the outside.
    “I’m sorry, Zoe,” Julian whispered his apology. “If we get married before the two year mark, Robert Brady owns the rights to my wedding to you.”
    My eyes stung with tears even though I knew I wouldn’t let any of them fall. “I didn’t sign anything giving them access to my life. Does that matter?”
    He shook his head. “I’m not sure. They’re looking into it, but it doesn’t look good. They think the only way we can get married before the baby comes is to do a…” He cleared his throat. “Wedding special.”
     

Chapter 4
     
     
    I sat in my parked car in the garage for a few minutes while I gathered my thoughts Tuesday evening. With my eyes closed, I sucked in a deep breath.
    If I can make it through the rest of the week, I won’t have to return to work until next year.
    I didn’t tell any of the partners I was pregnant. I didn’t know how to broach the subject, especially since I was looking at an almost four-week vacation.
    They can find out when we announce it to people in general. I’m not hiding anything; I just don’t need to spend the next four weeks worrying about how they are trying to get away with firing me. I need to tell my family first and they will be here in two weeks. I’m getting married in three weeks. Then I’m going back to work. I’ll work my ass off and then when I start showing, they will know. I don’t need to stress over how they’re going to react. Why should I even have to deal with that? My body is a vessel and I’m creating life. This same body has walked in and out of their prestigious glass doors day in and day out, busting ass to prove myself for over a year now. They may have gotten away with pushing that one paralegal out, but they will not do that to me. I know my rights and Title VII’s pregnancy-related protections include my right to tell or not tell whoever the fuck I want—
    “Zoe?” The knock against my window scared me and I gasped, recoiling from the noise.
    Looking into those amused grey eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Julian.” I pushed the car door open carefully as he backed up. He reached his hand out for me, helping me out of the car. “You scared me love. Thank you.”
    “I saw.” He searched my face. “Everything okay? Did the partners take the news well?”
    I didn’t tell them, I answered him silently.
    “Yeah, I’m okay.” I smiled at him. “I’m happy to be home though.”
    “I missed you.” He kissed me softly before grabbing my workbag and laptop case. “I’m ready for this week to be over.”
    My face lit up. “I was just thinking the same thing! The only thing that kept me from wallowing in how much I missed you was the fact that after Friday, for three whole weeks, it’ll just be me and you.” I wiggled my eyebrows for emphasis.
    Chuckling, Julian opened the door that led into the house and I followed behind him. As we walked in, the sound of his phone violently vibrating against the counter disrupted the quiet solitude in the air. He placed my belongings on the counter and then turned around to face me as he answered the call.
    “Hey Beverly. Did you—” Julian’s sentence broke off as he