My CEO's Blackmail Tape - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Daniel shot Nathan an amused glance, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "This is my cousin, Nathan Roscente!"
My entire body locked up in shock. Holy hell, the world really is ridiculously small. Daniel's company was collaborating with ours, and now Ethan Lopez—who had just joined Daniel's firm—was somehow Nathan's cousin?
"Seriously?"
"Dead serious. No question about it."
The tension in the room dissolved instantly. Seeing my relaxed expression, Daniel's face softened into an easy smile.
After a while, Ethan made his excuses, claiming he had other things to take care of. I nudged Nathan to walk him out. But before they even reached the door, Ethan threw an arm around Daniel's shoulders, practically leaning into him—and Daniel didn't even flinch.
A sharp prickle of irritation shot through me. Two grown men being that touchy-feely—wasn't it weird? But they were out the door before I could overthink it.
Maybe Ethan just looks up to Daniel like an older brother, I tried to rationalize.
When Daniel came back, I insisted we leave the hospital immediately. The antiseptic stench was suffocating.
He gave in, though reluctantly.
As we drove home, my gaze snagged on a pharmacy by the roadside. My stomach dropped.
Last night with Nathan… I forgot the morning-after pill. Over twelve hours had already slipped by. I'd heard the window was twenty-four.
Shit. What now?
Panic clawed up my throat. I wanted to fling the car door open, bolt into that pharmacy, and down the pill right there.
At a red light, Daniel turned to me, his voice gentle. "Evelyn, take a few days off. Rest at home. You still look pale."
I touched my cheek and forced a smile. "Work's been insane. Doubt I can get time off."
"Your health comes first. If you don't want to ask Nathan, I'll talk to him."
I waved my hands frantically. "No, no. I'll handle it."
Nathan kept cracking jokes about his business trip, laughing between stories. At first, I faked a chuckle, but soon my mind was too scrambled to keep up the act. I slumped back and shut my eyes, pretending to sleep.
Inside, my thoughts were a hurricane. Every passing minute tightened the knot in my chest—the risk ticking louder, the dread sinking deeper.
Back home, I scrambled for ways to get Daniel out of the house. I suggested groceries—he said we were stocked. I craved pizza—he insisted on making it from scratch. Then his colleague called, and I prayed he'd rush to the office. Instead, it was just a quick data check, over in minutes.
The clock mocked me—8 PM, then 9 PM.
I claimed exhaustion and ducked into bed early, planning to slip out once Daniel was asleep. But the second I lay down, he remembered unfinished work and headed back to his desk. He'd probably be there till midnight.
God, I'm screwed.
If I missed the twenty-four-hour window and ended up pregnant, there'd be no hiding it. My nerves were fried, but all I could do was lie there, motionless, playing possum.
Facing away from Daniel, I stared wide-eyed at the wall, wishing a morning-after pill would just teleport into my mouth.