What She Doesn't Know

Chapter 6

"Thank you, Isa," Janice praised as Isabella brought over a blanket to cover more of her friend who shivered on the couch. "This really means a lot to me."

Isabella smiled kindly at her friend. She had two cups of tea in either hand as she sat down at Janice's feet. She gave the hot cup to her friend as the movie started playing on the screen. It was the least she could do for her since she's been sick for an extended amount of time.

Janice's naturally tan skin had been unnaturally pale. Her cheeks were tinged pink by the fever she was sporting. There was a bucket next to her on the ground.

"Did the doctor have any insight as to what could be the cause for this sudden sickness?"

Janice sat up a little bit so she could speak directly to her friend. She figured Isa had made an assumption as she usually did, and she was usually correct. Clearing her throat, she responded, "As you know, Daniel and I have been trying to conceive a child, and we were finally granted our wish. I'm pregnant."

Isabella was ecstatic for her as happiness flooded her bloodstream. She set her mug down on the coffee table and wrapped her arms around her friend in a manner so as to avoid splattering the tea everywhere.

The both of them giggled uncontrollably at the news Janice had divulged. Isabella questioned the amount of time to which Janice explained that it has been about three weeks. All Isabella could do was stare in wonder at her friend's stomach.

As a nurse who specialized in the NICU, never before had she been this excited to hear about pregnancy.

As the two of them finally settled down in their excitement, Isabella returned to her seat with tea in hand. Janice pushed a piece of stray hair behind her ear and expressed her sympathy for not being able to work the day before due to being sick.

Isabella was quick to calm her down. "It wasn't too bad. Besides, you'll never guess who I had lunch with."

Janice thought for a quick second. "Hm, I'm not sure. Enlighten me."

A devious smile crept up the corners of her lips. "Dr. Christian Hans."

With wide eyes, Janice sat up even more on the couch. She placed her tea down on the coffee table before she shrieked like a school girl. "Woman! You can't just drop that kind of news on me."

"And you dropping the news of your pregnancy is different because..."

"It makes all the difference! At least you suspected it! Dr. Hot-Stuff doesn't have lunch with just anyone. Tell me every detail!"

Red colored Isabella's cheeks. She hadn't felt like a teenager in such a long time. The last time before her wedding she felt this way was when Leonardo had asked to take her on a date. He had been so polite the entire night; she knew she was going to marry him that night.

She spilled every detail down to the specifics of how she compared him to her husband to the small gestures he had taken.

As Janice took in the information, she had to remind Isa about the implications it could cause between her and her husband's marriage. Isabella was quick to remind her that they were going to get lunch on Monday for professional reasons only.

Janice thought back to the schedule and realized that Dr. Hans never before worked on Monday. She was about to inform Isa about this when the front door opened.

Isabella sighed. "I'll tell you more in a bit. I have to take care of Mr. Moretti."

A slice of pain reverberated through Janice's chest. Isa would always refer to her husband by his shortened name that only she was allowed to call him. Although Dr. Hans was a fantastic doctor, he was just as fantastic at playing games.

She recalled a rumor about him soiling the marriage between Sarah Jenkins and her husband. Their marriage wasn't even close to crumbling until Hans came along and bulldozed through their life.

Isabella and Leonardo's marriage was already on rocky ground; she couldn't fathom the kind of damage he could inflict upon this shaken marriage. After Isabella returned from taking care of Leonardo, she would advise her to steer clear of him.

Perhaps she should inform Leonardo about the little weasel that was slowly but surely about to ruin their marriage.

++

Derek entered into the cozy home of Mr. Moretti with Rafael leading him. His eyes roamed the walls, the floor, the little to no pictures, and finally a woman who greeted Mr. Moretti with a chaste kiss on the cheek.

His question was answered when he noticed the diamond ring on the woman's left hand. He hadn't realized he was married. The thought of marriage never truly crossed his mind when it came to Mr. Moretti.

"Rafael," the beautiful woman greeted the man in front of him with a warm smile. She walked over to him with confidence. Rafael took her hand and kissed the back of it.

The woman's attention moved to Derek. His cheeks flushed as her eyes made contact with his own. They were a deep blue that he could find himself swimming inside of if he had the option. He noticed the grimacing glare he was receiving from Mr. Moretti which reminded him of who the woman before him was.

She held out her hand to take which he did with a firm grip. As a child, he remembered his mother telling him to always shake a person's hand with firmness so as to appear confident. "Hello, I am Mr. Moretti's wife, but you can call me Isabella."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Isabella." His smile reflected on her own lips.

"I hope you don't find my husband too boring. He has a tendency to become that way."

His jaw practically fell open. He had never enountered someone who would speak in such a way in regards to Mr. Moretti. His eyes cast over to Rafael who silently shook his head as a warning to him.

Derek cleared his throat. "I'm sure if he stays on that track, I'll be able to liven his day up."

Isabella laughed out loud. It was a mixture between a sincere and sarcastic laugh to which Derek didn't know how to feel. "What's your name?"

"Derek."

"Well, it sure has been a pleasure meeting you, Derek. I have to get back to nursing my friend back to health. Don't allow him to bore you to death." She winked at him before retreating into a different room.

He was confused by her behavior. Was she not aware of what her husband's job actually entitled? Why had Mr. Moretti allowed her to openly disrespect him in front of company? Was she, Isabella, as she introduced, his only weakness?

Then again, he didn't display an ounce of emotion as their introduction took place. He just stood there as he witnessed everything. Granted, he had glared at him when he was caught openly admiring his wife's beauty.

"Follow me," Mr. Moretti said as he motioned with his head to continue in his direction.

Like a lost puppy, Derek obeyed the command.