A Good Day

Ana and Scott pulled up to the venue for the open-air market. The driver opened the door and the bodyguards climbed out first. Then Scott followed and reached a hand to help Ana from the car. She stepped out feeling that the guards were excessive, but the venue was bustling, and the paparazzi could turn up, so she tried to ignore them. There was a breeze that was slightly chilly on her arms. When she rubbed at them, Scott helped her into her sweater which allowed her to be comfortable.

Scott offered his arm and Ana took it allowing him to guide her through the throngs. People stopped, staring at them as they passed, and Ana tried to ignore it. She was not used to being in the fishbowl. She knew that the two of them together presented quite the figure but what she didn't know was that Scott had been on the cover of the top business magazine in the world last month.

The Business Insider said Scott was worth Billions of dollars or that it listed his status as married but without his wife's name. The rumors had been going wild for a month about it from the highest of society to the everyday workers.

Now here they were at the market. His face was unforgettable and with her clearly well into pregnancy. They were wondering who his wife was and why he hadn't given her name. They were wondering why he hadn't announced his wife's pregnancy. Ana hadn't realized it yet, but this was a public claiming. No one would forget his wife's face or that she was expecting now.

Scott hid his secret delight at the response to him and his wife's presence at the market today. Paparazzi would undoubtedly arrive before they left allowing him to publicly announce his wife's pregnancy. Things were moving along nicely. He felt a twinge of something about this since Ana didn't know but steeled himself. Scott would do whatever it took to keep his family. He had every right to publicly announce his wife and child. It should have happened long ago.

Their first stop was a smoothie vendor where Ana ordered a strawberry-pineapple smoothie. Scott made a comment about worrying about the quality of the fruit and Ana told him to stop being elitest. He frowned at her. Ana then explained that food vendors were safer than restaurants because they had to pass health inspections every time they set up. The vendor smiled at Ana with appreciation. Scott had not known that and had never inquired assuming these vendors were able to go where they pleased with no accountability.

Still when the smoothie was presented Scott took a sip of Ana's before handing it over. He had not ordered anything for himself which he was sad about now because hers was good. Maybe later he would have one since he had likely already annoyed the worker.

The next stall had some wood cutting boards that were intricate and interesting but not necessary. They strolled lazily along the concourse perusing the homemade crafts and random oddities.

About halfway through the circuit Ana stepped into a booth that had intricately crafted baby items. Ana picked up a pair of tiny baby booties and her face took on a strange look. Scott had been looking the other way and had not seen her disappear into the booth. He thought he saw Nicholas but when he focused on the area he was gone.

Scott looked around not seeing Ana and had a brief instant of terror before one of the guards waved him over to a booth. Scott walked in behind her wondering what she was looking at and when he saw the tiny baby shoes, he could not help wrapping his arms around Ana to rest his hands on her stomach.

"Those are adorable." Scott told her in a gentle tone.

Ana glanced over her shoulder at him. "I haven't bought anything for him yet. I don't know if this should be the first thing, but they are so cute."

Scott's arms tightened slightly as his son kicked his hand. "I think it's perfect."

Scott looked at the crafter. "We will take them and the blue blanket, there." he said pointing to a hand crocheted blanket. The woman wrapped up the two items and boxed them before putting them in a bag. Scott paid her double telling her that her quality work was worth more and they stepped into the main strip.

Scott handed the bag off to a bodyguard and turned to Ana. "I remember some pretty tall talk from you about forcing me to eat an elephant's ear. Where is this place?"

Ana burst out laughing and grabbed Scott's hand dragging him to a vendor three places down and making him sit at a table. "Stay there." Ana ordered quietly and paid with cash, causing Scott to scowl but he stayed where she commanded. Five minutes later she sat down next to him with her prize.

"This is bread." Scott laughed.

"But it is big and thin like an elephant's ear." Ana explained. "It is also so good. Eat!" Scott pulled off a chunk of the cinnamon and sugar with butter concoction, realizing quickly that it was also drizzled in honey. This was going to be messy. Ana tore a chunk off and took a bite and it was so good. Scott was struggling to stay clean but watching Ana, he became distracted. He wanted to kiss her so badly it felt like a physical force. After a moment he took a deep breath and sat back.

"Are you going to try your elephant or not?" He chuckled and took a bite. It was really good.

Scott shrugged at her helplessly, grinning. "What's not to like. It's bread, butter, and sugar."

"Uh, huh." Ana answered happily.

"You'll get gestational diabetes." He prodded smiling.

"I so don't care, it's good." Ana continued eating the sweet treat. They continued eating for a while but came nowhere near eating it all. The bodyguards had food of their own so ended up throwing the rest out.

"I am so high on sugar I might float away. The baby is kicking like crazy. Mommy's sorry." Ana told her stomach standing up.

Scott walked up to her and put his hand on her stomach. He frowned, "is he supposed to be so active?"

Ana shrugged, "I guess so. I think he likes sugar."

"Well maybe we should hold off on any more of it for a few hours, huh?" Scott reached out and tilted her head up by her chin so he could see her face.

"All right." Ana nodded, stepping back slightly but then reached her hand out for Scott's arm. She ignored his heavy sigh.

A little while later, they came upon a man speaking to two women in a heated fashion. The man looked up as they went to pass.

"Mr. Devon, I did not expect to see you at the marketplace." The guards stepped in front of Ana, but Scott waved them off. This caught the man's attention.

He looked over Ana with a gaze that made her skin crawl and let out a low whistle. "If she were my wife Scott, I would keep her locked up at home too." His mouth made a clicking sound before he turned to speak to Scott directly though he kept glancing her way.

"Ana, this a business associate of mine, Mr. Kensington." He said quietly. Ana nodded.

"It seems congratulations are in order." Kensington said indicating Ana's stomach. "Do you know the big news yet?"

Ana frowned looking at Scott.

"He is asking if we know the sex?" Scott clarified.

"Unfortunately, not yet. The baby was shy." Ana smirked.

"Before you ask, the answer is no Kensington. I will not be using my child's gender to facilitate business mergers." Scott clarified.

"What? It would help if you had a confirmed heir." The man huffed.

"Still a no." Scott replied seriously. Ana reached out and took Scott's hand causing him to look at her quickly. "We are on my wife's time right now; you and I can argue about this later." Kensington gave Ana another long perusing look then he stalked off.

"I think I need a shower." Ana hissed. Scott led her further down the strip toward the park then stopped out of the way near the grass and pulled Ana into his arms. He waved the bodyguards over.

Scott spoke to the two guards his face was serious. "Mr. Kensington is not to get within twenty-five feet of Ana without me present, no exceptions."

Scott took a step back from Ana so he could look at her face. "Ana you are not to be alone with that man. If you walk into a room and he is there alone, leave at once. He is not a good person, and the rumors about him suggest he doesn't mind taking things against their will." Scott had been deeply disturbed by the way the man had looked at his wife.

"Why would you work with him?" Ana questioned appalled.

"Sometimes business puts me with shady characters." Scott explained.

"That doesn't mean you have to do business with them. Some people's money is worth a lot more than others." Ana told him, turning and walking away from him.