Sous-Sus: Premier Jewels

Chapter Sixteen. No One Likes A Bully

ARIADNE

"Aria? Aria, where are you?" I heard Esmond's voice call from our bedroom.

"In here," I grumble from my current position. He opens the bathroom door to find me with my forehead resting against my arm, which is oh so attractively draped around the rim of the toilet seat.

"You look rough. Are you okay?" he asks, crouching beside me and placing a cold hand on my sweaty forehead.

"Great," I mumble, emptying last night's dinner and more. I was still dressed in my nightgown, my hair plastered all over my forehead. "I think the morning sickness finally kicked in. I must look so sexy right now."

"The sexist," he chuckles, kissing me on the cheeks. "You wanna call in? I can call in too? We can stay home and cuddle."

I sigh. "I would love to, but I can't. Mom is too curious, and she's gonna wanna know why I'm calling in sick. I don't really feel like coming up with a lie."

"You wouldn't have to lie if you just told her."

"No," I glare at him. "There is an embargo on this pregnancy until the 12 weeks. We've talked about this."

I wanna keep this pregnancy under wraps just in case anything bad happens. I don't want all the well wishes only to announce a loss a few weeks later.

"How are you gonna deal with the morning sickness?" Esmond wonders.

"I bought some nausea relief bands. When Teegan was going through this, she said it was  good."

"Alright, but if you can't handle it, call me, and I'll come to pick you up."

"Thanks, babe."

My body temperature eventually cools, and I feel a little more human again. I quickly brush my teeth, and Esmond follows me into my bedroom. The two of us get ready for our day.

"I thought we could stop off and get breakfast before work," he suggests, knotting his tie.

"Oh, I don't think I could manage breakfast," I tell him, applying a bit more concealer and blush than normal to give my pale skin a bit of color. "I don't even think I can handle a slice of toast." I shrug as I apply some mascara and squirt some perfume, only to grimace at the scene. "Yeah, I don't. I'll be wearing this perfume for a while. And it was my favorite too. I wore it on our wedding day."

When we're done, we head out into the cold. Instantly my nose and cheeks are red by the time we get to the car.

Kissing, we go into our separate cars before driving off.

Walking into the studio, I sigh at the sight of Mom. "Hey, Mom," I greet, forcing up a smile.

"Hi, Honey," Mom smiles at me before frowning. "What's wrong? Your face is pale."

I shake my head, settling beside her. "Nothing."

"You really don't look well. Maybe you should go home," Mom worries.

"I'm fine, I promise her." If Mom keeps looking at me with those eyes, I'm going to spill the bean. "I--"

"Hi, ladies."

I smile in relive at Coen's voice, only to frown at Ilse. "Why do you have an ankle boot on?"

Ilse grimaces, glaring at the black ankle boot.

Mom groans. "Oh no."

"The doctor said she has a grade A ankle sprain and that she should rest for the week so it doesn't get worse," Coen explains. "Maybe next week too."