Her Russian Billionaire (A BWWM Russian Oligarch Interracial Romance) by Imani King Page A

opposite of that. Plus, Lex loved my figure, just the way I was.
    I had been devastated at the time Scott broke up with me. All of my plans for the future had revolved around him. Once I had pulled myself up after the breakup and rededicated my life to becoming a doctor, I had promised myself that I would never sacrifice any part of me for another person ever again. And I was going to keep that promise now, even if the person asking for that sacrifice was really great. And Lex was really great—but he wasn’t worth losing any part of my career over. No man was.
    Which was why I couldn’t afford to have a baby. Not now and maybe not ever. I continued to remind myself of this, even as images of Lex playing tea party with a beautiful little girl or fishing with a cute little boy, both with his grey eyes and my kinky dark brown hair, kept resurfacing in my mind. They caused a little pang in my heart, even as I pushed them away.
    I was interrupted from these treacherous thoughts when the doctor reentered my room, a smile on her face.
    “So,” she began, “Your test is negative. But,” she raised her finger when she saw me begin to smile, “I need to repeat the test one week from today, to make sure. This early, the test could be negative, and there is still a very small chance you might be pregnant.”
    I knew she was right, and there was still a possibility, but it was a tiny one, and it was as if a weight had been lifted off my chest. I felt like I could breathe for the first time in over a month as I heaved a tentative sigh of relief. At the same time though, I wasn’t completely surprised by the tiny ping of disappointment that accompanied the relief—the regret I felt at not being able to see Lex with a little son or daughter. I shook my head, willing away all that foolishness.
    “Oh, wow, I don’t even know what to think right now,” I replied, feeling tears welling up in my eyes. I honestly didn’t know if they were from gratitude or disappointment. “And,” I continued after a moment. “I’m still late. My period is never late.”
    “Well, like I said, you could potentially be pregnant, even though the early pregnancy test is negative. Also, have you been under a lot of stress lately?” the doctor asked.
    I couldn’t help but laugh at her question as I thought over the last few months.
    “You could say that,” I answered finally.
    “Well,” she replied with a smile, “that could delay your period too. Once we know for sure that you’re not pregnant, we could put you on birth control, it’ll help sort you out.”
    “Sure,” I replied, knowing I needed to make sure a mistake like that never happened again. “I would really like that.”
    After finishing up with my doctor, I made my way up to Lex’s office to tell him the news—however un-finalized—and apologize for the way I had acted the night before. The stress of a possible pregnancy was still on my shoulders, but the first negative pregnancy test was certainly reassuring. I could afford to be a bit more understanding.
    “So?” Lex asked as I slipped in and sat down across from him at his massive desk.
    “My first test was negative, but the doctor wants to do another one in a week,” I announced with a smile.
    Something like disappointment washed across his face for a split second before morphing into a grin of his own.
    Surely he doesn’t want a child , I thought to myself, even if he claims he is willing to raise one.
    “That’s great!” he replied after a second. “When can we celebrate?”
    “Soon,” I answered. “But first… I wanted to apologize for the way I acted last night. I was exhausted and stressed out and I reacted poorly. I’m sorry.”
    “I understand,” Lex said. “Things got a little heated, we both reacted badly. So I’m sorry as well—for my part in it.”
    “All is forgiven,” I said with a smile. “Now… about that celebrating.”
    “I was thinking,” Lex began, a crooked grin on his face,