After throwing up, I felt so confused and worried. My mind was spinning over the idea that I could maybe be pregnant. That seemed impossible, right? Just one crazy night in Vegas with Nico couldn't have led to that.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to find out for sure. If I really was pregnant, that would make my fake temporary marriage situation even more complicated and messy.
I felt shaky as I searched online for the nearest drugstore that was open late. I pulled on a baseball cap and baggy sweatshirt, not wanting Nico or anyone to see me just yet. I tiptoed out of the penthouse and hurried down the street.
At the store, I nervously bought two different pregnancy tests, wanting to double check. Back in the penthouse bathroom, I peed on both sticks with trembling hands. Then I set my phone timer and paced around, feeling so anxious while I waited for the results.
When the timer finally dinged, I took a deep breath and looked at the tests. There it was - two undeniable positive results staring back at me. I felt lightheaded as the reality sank in.
I was definitely pregnant. With Nico's baby. The guy who just a day ago was a total Vegas stranger that I accidentally drunkenly married.
My head spun as I tried to process this new bombshell on top of everything else. How was I supposed to tell Nico, the wealthy guy stuck in this contract marriage with me? What would he think? What if he didn't want a baby from a drunken fling?
I pictured his cold, calculating businessman face. He probably didn't want any kid getting in the way of his career and riches, let alone one conceived under such bizarre Vegas circumstances with me.
Feeling tearful and overwhelmed, I sank down onto the bathroom floor, mind racing. I couldn't even fathom what Nico's psycho jealous girlfriend Gabriella might do if she found out too.
This was all so messed up. Just last week I was happily single, getting ready to be my bestie's maid of honor. Now here I was, temporarily married to a billionaire stranger and unexpectedly pregnant with his baby.
I pressed a hand to my still-flat stomach, wondering what I was going to do. This baby complicated everything even more than I could have imagined possible.
Part of me wanted to hide the positive tests and keep it a secret for as long as I could. The other part knew I had to be upfront with Nico, no matter how explosive his reaction might be. We were in this bizarre marriage together, even if just temporarily.
Either way, I could feel my world shifting again, getting messier and crazier by the minute. Just when I thought the Vegas drunken mistake had maxed out, a surprise pregnancy proved there were still fresh layers of chaos to come.
As scared as I felt, I knew one thing this was my baby too. And no matter what insanity was still headed my way, I was determined to protect it, for better or worse. I just hoped against all odds that Nico might somehow be open to the idea of an accidental addition to our accidental arrangement.
I paced back and forth in the lavish penthouse living room, my heart pounding harder with each passing minute. I knew I had to buck up and tell Nico the truth, no matter how he might react.
When I finally heard his footsteps in the hallway, I froze, clutching the positive pregnancy tests in my trembling hands. Here goes nothing.
"Nico?" I called out in a small voice as he entered the room. "We...we need to talk."
He stopped short when he saw my pale, stricken expression and the tests in my grip. His eyes instantly narrowed with suspicion. "What's going on?"
I swallowed hard. "I...I'm pregnant. With your baby." The words felt surreal leaving my lips.
For a long beat, Nico simply stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then his face darkened with anger. "You've got to be kidding me," he bit out through gritted teeth. "This is some kind of sick joke, right?"
"I wish it was," I whispered, feeling tears prick my eyes. "But I took two tests and they were both positive. I'm telling you the truth."
Nico's hands raked back through his hair as he absorbed this new complication, frustration radiating from him. "Unbelievable," he growled. "Of all the reckless, irresponsible things... How could you let this happen?!"
My cheeks flushed at his harsh accusation. "It's not like I planned this! We were both drunk messes that night, in case you forgot."
He opened his mouth to retort but I plowed ahead, wanting to get all my fears out in the open. "And I wasn't sure if I should even tell you, with the way things are between us already. What if you don't want this baby? What if it ruins everything for your career?"
Nico stared at me for a long moment before exhaling heavily and sinking down onto the couch, suddenly looking utterly drained. "You don't think I've already been asking myself the same questions?" he asked, more resigned than angry now.
I tentatively moved to sit on the other end of the couch, not wanting to push too far while he processed everything. "I know this is...shocking," I said carefully. "Believe me, it's not exactly what I envisioned my future looking like either."
He shook his head slowly, still looking slightly shell-shocked. "A baby," he murmured, almost to himself. "With you, some stranger I still barely know, all because of one idiotic drunken night."
An uncomfortable silence stretched between us, weighing heavily. "Look," Nico finally said, "I'll be honest , the idea of an unplanned kid thrown into the mix here terrifies me. I've worked my whole life to get where I am in business. A baby could derail everything."
My heart sank at his words, feeling like a hammer blow. But then Nico looked up at me, his gaze softening slightly. "With that said...I don't think I could live with myself if I tried to pressure you into anything regarding the pregnancy. This nutty situation is as much my fault as yours."
He let out a deep exhale, some of the tension leaving his broad shoulders. "I guess all I can say is...I'm in shock, but I'll support whatever you decide to do moving forward. I will take responsibility of the child till the contract is off and beyond.
Relief washed over me at his words, even though the path ahead seemed utterly daunting still. At least he wasn't outright rejecting the pregnancy or blaming me entirely. We really were in this wild mess as unexpected partners now.
"Thank you," I said softly. "I know this changes everything, but I promise I'll do whatever it takes not to jeopardize the contract or your career. This is my responsibility too."
Nico nodded slowly, still looking somewhat shell-shocked but also thoughtful, like he was already strategizing how to handle this newest curve-ball fate had thrown our way.
And just so you know, this doesn't change anything.
This marriage stunt remains the same. I am only doing this for the child.
My rules remains the same.
I sigh and nodded.
One thing was for certain our simple yea long arranged fake marriage had just become infinitely more complicated with a very real baby newly added to the picture. No longer was this just about maintaining appearances to satisfy immigration authorities.
An innocent life was now caught up in the aftermath of our reckless Vegas decision too. Which meant we would keep seeing eachother even after the contract has been terminated , Nico and I were going to be bound together even more over the next year, whether we liked it or not.