Carrying My CEO's Baby

My hands shook as it got to me, I couldn't believe what was just handed over to me right now.

I stared at the letter in front of me and I knew the content immediately, making the tears escaping to drop faster.

It was a perfect mistake, and last night was something I would rather not forget at all.

I had this sinking feeling that it wasn't because of the pleasurable feelings, but rather this paper on my hands that was being soaked in tears.

Just this mistake was enough to shake the tables of my perfect life, turning my life upside down in the process of getting that which my heart had once begged for.

The disposal letter in my front was enough proof to let me know that my personal contact with him was definitely bad luck.

Is it to start with the sudden sack letter? Though it was not my fault, but he still decides to blame me because I was the weaker one here.

I looked at the man I've admired and loved for years without being glanced at for even once.

Yes my boss, he was the one I'd admired and loved for years, an unrequited love for two years.

The funny thing here was that I was fully aware he was engaged to a lady that I could never be compared to one bit.

To pour more salt on that, he loved her blindly.

He's currently engaged and has a fiancée whom he loves, but who am I to question love.

I opened my mouth to talk in my defenses but nothing came out, instead my tears flowed out heavily.

“Boss…” I started, but trailed off once more, not knowing what to say.

My mouth feels so heavy, and I can't think straight presently as so many thoughts cloud my head.

After a while, and most, especially because of what I'd lose if by any chance I lose this job.

I regained myself and spoke up for the first time since all these, “Boss please, I promise not to talk about it but please, this is the only survival I have, I'm the only hope of my mom please”.

I pleaded with tears in my eyes as sobs began escaping my lips, the fact that he wasn't even staring at me was enough to let me know the fate of my pleas.

“Tasha” He called calmly, making my sobs stop immediately and then I paused to listen to him.

His eyes still on what he was doing, my presence since I entered here was not significant enough for him to stare at me.

He finally looked up and dropped what he was doing and stared at me.

Before I looked away in fear, I hoped he could see the pain and suffering he'd cause me if he sacks me now.

I dared not look directly into his eyes, so I immediately took my gaze away from his, looking down.

I can feel his eyes on me, and that made me very nervous and anxious to hear what he had to say.

“You know me very well, right?” He asked, making my heart thump hard against my chest.

No good statement would come out from what he'd just said.

“Yes boss” I answered, still staring down and scared of my fate.

“Then you should know I hate repeating myself” He said rudely.

“Clear your locker and leave the company in the next hour, or I'll do what I don't want to do” He muttered coldly at me, not caring at all.

But this isn't it.

It can't just end here! I felt like screaming at him as reality hit me.

How could I have forgotten so soon, my boss who had never smiled at me once was who I was expecting to pardon me?

It wasn't my fault but rather was a drunken mistake, we were both drunk last night and had slept with each other.

He had even taken away most prized possession as a woman, he had away my virginity, and now he is letting go of me in the coldest way ever.

I wasn't even asking for something that was bigger than he was or bigger than could grant, as all I was even asking for was my job.

Last night mood was perfect but I knew that it could be bad to him and his perfect reputation as his wedding was.

This is the only survival I have, I only have this job to take care of mom.

I sniff in and cleaned my tears.

I stood up and walked out of his office to mine.

Not only that, but I began to clear my locker and as I was doing this, my tears came rushing again.

Furthermore, I remembered everything, two years in this company are the best memories of my life and I can't help but felt sad leaving everything behind.

Likewise, I finished clearing my locker and took the box going out.

I saw his fiancée from the transparent glass, she was smiling at me and I sniff in.

I walked out of the company, ignoring all the stares of the employees.

Everyone had a pity look on their face though they didn't know what happened exactly, but they felt it was unfair to sack me.

I got outside and stop a cab, I got in and stared at the company one more time before the cab zooms off.

The car stopped at the front of my parent's small house.

Being the only child of my parents wasn't easy.

My dad died in a terrible accident and I only have my mom who is battling with lung cancer.

I'm still trying to earn the money for her surgery and try it if she will make it but here I was, nothing to depend on

The money with me is not even half of her surgery money.

I entered the house after paying the cab man.

I was home and jobless after successfully securing a job two years ago without problem.

I entered the house to meet it dead and quiet, I knew Mom was definitely somewhere around the house.

The piece and quiet was what I needed to comfort myself, having walked out of this house as an employee yesterday, I was entering it jobless.

One question I kept on asking myself was if the end result was worth it. The pleasure and moans, was it worth the exchange for my job?.

A night of pleasure with my boss! Ex boss where he couldn't even remember that he had broken my hyphen.

I remembered how he didn't even look at me once while sacking me, he knew my story but yet he did this all for the sake of keeping the rules.

Did I disgust him so much that he couldn't even tamper justice with mercy for my mom's sake.

I wondered what I would tell her, I was nothing without her so therefore I wasn't going to sit back and watch death snatch her away from my hands while I watched.

Like a zombie, I walked to my room before sinking on my knees and crying my heart out.

All for a night!, My subconscious kept on mocking me for years, I had always looked up to him with eyes full of affection and adoration.

At this point it was safe to say that I was stupid and in love with the devil himself.

After working faithfully for him for two years, he threw me out like I was trash and he had no value for me.

I heard footsteps making me stand up and practically run to my closet to wipe my tears away from the searching eyes of my mom.

Just as I dropped the cloth I had used to clean my tears, she walked in.

All thoughts and worries about loss of job flew out of the window as I saw how frail and thin she was looking and I couldn't help but ask, "Mom are you okay?".

She chuckled, pretending to be okay but I could see right through her.

It made me wonder how I much I had sunk into my job that I couldn't even recognize my own mom any more.

"Is there a reason why I'm not okay?" Mom asked playfully but I could see behind those fake smiles.

"Have you seen the doctor lately?" I asked her not pretending to flow along with her plain lies.

"Hmm No but..." Mom began but I stopped her immediately from selling those lies, when would she understand that she was so transparent as easy to see right through.

"But what Mom?" I asked her making her frown at me.

"You don't get to shout at me young woman, I'm not some baby, I'm your mother and I demand respect too".

That move also wasn't going to go past me either, "Mom, just promise me that you'd see the doctor" I said pouring my emotions into my words before hugging her tightly.

I would have probably cried on her shoulder but I had to be stronger than that for her.

She needed me most at this time and the best I could do was to smile and pretend all was okay.

Shortly after mom left, I laid on my bed thinking of how things ended up this way.

My mind began to carelessly wander towards the issue that led to all these, last night.

A party to remember was the theme of the night and surprisingly to me, it was indeed one.

A phone call immediately drew me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to present. With high hopes that it was probably my boss calling to inform me that he needed me.

Upon seeing the caller, I frowned and decided to let it ring because we had nothing to talk about anymore, she should be pretty aware that I no longer work for fiancee.

Mom would pop in my room once in awhile to check up on me and everytime she did, I smiled.

The night soon dawned on me and I quickly retired to bed to avoid mom's calls.

Tomorrow was another day to get a job even though I knew it would pay less, a job was still a job and was far better than being jobless.

_________________

Next morning

___________________

I woke up feeling lighter and hungry, last night after retiring to bed mom popped in an tried waking me up.

My stomach grumbled and make me frown, I was so hungry that everything was beginning to look like food.

Grudgingly, I walked downstairs and then straight into the kitchen.

Upon opening the fridge a paper fell off and I would have normally ignored it but then Mom's name caught my attention.

It was a doctor's report, if I can remember clearly mom's facial reaction to my worry and then to my question on seeing the doctor,she surely looked suspicious.

I could hold back from myself from peer inside and seeing the report I saw make my heart thump fast against chest.

I started reading out, "Patient have been diagnosed of high levels of white blood cells and low platelet, at stage four of leukemia…" I paused and frowned.

Stage four of Leukemia?

I wondered how bad it was and how long more, just leukemia alone had reduces her years of survival to 5 years.

My appetite disappeared and was immediately replaced with the zeal to work

It was this zeal that had me standing in front of a restaurant nearby after two after hours

There was something about this place that assured me that I was getting nothing here.

Starting from the way they had received me in and the rude remarks that was thrown my way before the interview.

I knew there was no way I was going to be called back here after the stunts that was being pulled in there, a tear slipped out of my eyes as I walked through the door

All these happened after a night with my crush and ex boss, my phone rang interrupting my thoughts.

I looked on ignoring the call and I was grateful that I had brought along with me a pair of sunglasses.

One part of my mind still hoped he was the one calling, that alone would show me that he had cared a little bit.

If not for anything but for the night we had spent together tangled together in each other's arms savoring the moment.

I let the phone ring not wanting to pick the call from anybody just yet and it could also be possible that it was Liam's bitch.

Looking for a job at a restaurant looked bad enough as i was once worked as the secretary of a billionaire, a job I took pride in.

A cat horned loudly behind me making me jump out of my toes in fright.

I turned to face the driver who had pulled up beside me, ready to give him or her a piece of my mind for doing that, what if I was hypertensive?.

The driver wind down making me frown visibly, "you don't look so pleased to see me Natasha" Arielle said, the way my name was came out of her mouth made me roll my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her, she no longer had right to boss me around as I no longer walked for her fiancee.

"Nothing, just stopped by at my cousin's restaurant" she said making my eyes widened

There was no restaurant on this street except the one I had visited to apply for a job.

I wanted to burst out laughing, Arielle was definitely referring to my failed interview here, she was the reason why I wasn't given an opportunity to get interviewed at all.

Why I was judged at the entrance of the door even before I spoke?.

"What do you want from me?", Wanting to leave here, the sun was damn hot.

"Why don't I drive you home?" She asked with a smile, it looked sweet but I knew Arielle was more like a wolf in the sheep's clothing and wasn't one to be trusted at all.

Even if she'd offer me a job immediately, I would decline because she was like the devil who would offer you the world but in exchange of something far more worse than it.

"No thank you, I'd rather pass" I replied and moved to pass when she said, "you'd rather walk under the sun to the bus station than accept a free ride".

"Do you hate me that much?" She asked making me frown as she added, "that you can't survive a minute in my presence".

There was something about the way she said it that made it feel like a dare. It was almost like she was saying 'you are so scared that you can't even spend a minute with me'.

With so much reluctant, I entered her car and almost sigh in relief as the air conditioner wiped away heat.

Arielle smirked before driving off, I was wowed by the interior of her car and honestly I didn't even know what car is this but it was beautiful.

"I called you today Natasha" she stated making me roll my eyes thankful for the coverage the sunglasses provided.

"And even a few minutes back" she added.

"Yeah and if you watched I missed it unconsciously" I replied before looking out of the window.

"Why?".

"Why?" I asked her back unable to understand if she was asking me why I had ignored her call or why I didn't checked the caller ID.

"Yeah, why? There has to be a reason as to why you are ignoring people's call Tasha" she teased.

Just then I knew exactly what she was talking about and was referring to, it was no doubt the fact that I was disposed from her fiance's company like trash.

I wondered how she got to find out?.

"What do you want?" I asked her looking away. I smiled immediately I looked out of the window, we were so close to my house and with the way she was going, I'd be home in a jiffy.

"Look no need to continue beating around the bush, whatever shit happened between you and Liam last night should be in the past just as your job has become a thing of the past" she began as she pulled up in front of my house.

"Just so you know my ears and eyes are everywhere and I'm fully aware of your mom's ailment or should I say condition?, Whatever!".

"Stay away from my man and I would stay away from your business too"

I scoffed in disbelief, could it be by any chance that I was actually called by her to be threatened.

"Are you threatening me?" I asked her making her laugh.

"Threatening you say, all I have to say for you is for you to stay the further away from Liam, the more you stay away from him, the safer you are, now get out". And that was what ended our conversation that evening

(Three days later)

It was three days since Arielle and I had that confrontation and I was so tired of staying home.

I tried calling up a few friends to find out if they had any opening or job for me and planned to give up if Sandy answer is negative too.

"Hey stranger" she greeted and without letting me speak, she said, "I wonder why you haven't called even after calling all of our friends".

I tried apologizing but I honestly had to response for her yet.

"There's a job offering and if you can met me in five, it's yours".

"You're kidding right?".

"Yeah tell that to me in two hours" she added before hanging up.

I ignored the nauseous feeling I had been feeling since morning and the lingering taste of vomit in my mouth.

I ignored mom and sneaked out of the house, what was going to my response to her If she asks why I skipped work all this while.

Liam was my past now and so was the depression I had almost fell into.

I was going to walk back to the top and hopefully higher than before, this job opening was a sign that the universe was indeed smiling in my favor.

Arielle POV

I watched her leave with a smile plastered on her face, wherever she was going to must be the cause of her smile.

She had no cause to smile after ruining my home even before it happened.

My wedding to Liam was finally fixed this weekend but yet she ruled his mind.

Liam even told that lousy friend of his that he was thinking of meeting up with her and give her back the job, he told them he felt pity for her cause of her mother's condition and he also got to find out she was a virgin before whatever they had.

He even compared me with her

He had compared me with this nobody and thought I'd let it go just like that?

In rage the first thing that came to my mind was running her over and driving off but then that didn't seem like the best way.

She wouldn't be able to feel what I was feeling and I knew the perfect punishment for sleeping with my man.

Her Mom.

Arielle's POV CONT'D

I laughed maniacally at my thoughts, Liam was mine and so was every other part of his body.

To have him ogling another lady when we haven't married yet was bad for me.

Ever since I overhead his discussion, it had my thoughts flying in so many directions.

I didn't come all this way to lose him to that thing, if it was a lady of better class and was way better than me, it would have been better but then it was her, Natasha.

I parked at the driveway and surveyed the area for a while before entering her compound.

For a moment I contemplated doing this myself as the possibility of this thing not working out as planned.

I wanted to do something that would break her so much that she'd hate the name, Liam.

A word was enough for the wise.

I walked towards Natasha's door and knocked. No one responded making me frown, I was pretty sure that her mom was in the house.

"Just a minute! I'm coming!" I heard her shout from the inside making me smile.

I heard her hurried footsteps before the door opened, the woman looked at me quizzically and then asked, "Uhm hello?".

"Good Morning Mom, sorry Mrs Banks, I'm Ari, Arielle in full, a friend of Natasha" I greeted.

The frown on the woman face surely meant that she was very suspicious of me.

"Okay dear, is there a problem?" She asked me with raised brows and I knew her next statement was to say that Natasha wasn't around.

I laughed softly and tried as much as possible to calm her suspicions, "I guess I'm not welcome here, I…".

"Sorry dear, pardon my manners come in" she said before moving slightly so I can pass.

"It's no problem mom" I said softly before entering the house behind her. The stench of poverty in this house made me frown.

"Hmm okay, I guess you are welcome to our humble abode, you don't look comfortable" her mom began before she added.

"I'm sorry for acting in that manner, it's just that Tasha has never mentioned any of her friends to me".

I looked at the frail and sick looking lady in nothing but disgust, she coughed softly and immediately I ran to her side in fake sympathy.

I discreetly thanked my stars that she coughed because I had no response for her honestly, my stay here alone was infuriating me the more.

She didn't stop but rather coughed the more, here I was thinking earlier on that it was going to be hard to kill her while the universe was in my favor.

"Let me get you water" I said sadistically but she was in a coughing fit to notice.

I walked towards the direction she had pointed out for me. This was all for a greater good, Mrs. Banks needs to go to rest and I was going to help her.

My reflection on the shining knife smiled back at me.

Natasha's POV

I knew that fate definitely had good plans for me because I got the job.

There was nothing much again maybe all this had happened for a reason.

My heart stirred in pain making me frown, what was happening?.

For some weird reasons I felt something bad was going to happen as it was going to happen now.

"Are you even listening to me?" Sandy asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I was just lost in thoughts" I apologized immediately.

She sighed and opened her mouth to say something before shutting it, "you look troubled, go home we'll talk later".

"I owe you ".

"Yes you do but only the living can speak" she said softly.

I smiled at her and hugged her muttering thanks.

Having a friend was good but a friend that understands you even before you speak was a blessing.

I said my goodbye before flagging down a cab.

My heart thumped so weirdly against my chest as he drove home, something was definitely wrong and I knew it but what?

I tried calling mom's line but then it kept on going to voicemail making me more worried.

As we approached the house I could hear sirens making my heart thumb and I perked outside to see cops car parked in front of my house.

I quickly got down from the cab ignoring the calls of the driver towards my house.

My Mom was the first person that came to my mind and immediately I let it out.

"Mom!" I called out as I ran, she was all that mattered in that house and nothing else.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but you can't go in there" I heard someone said while holding me back from entering the entering the house.

"My mom is in there!!" I screamed before running away from their hold.

I haven't gone far when I saw someone being wheeled out in a stretcher.

I held my breath hoping my mom wasn't the person being wheeled out in a stretcher even though my mind was ringing otherwise.

As I saw the face of the wheeled out person, my heart crashed into pieces and my eyes shut before my legs gave way for me to slump.

I could hear them rush towards me and pick me before I could fall but my subconscious mind was still on mom.

How come she was dead?.

I was just about coming home to share the good news with her, we haven't even talked about what I had seen.

(At the hospital)

After spending a night in the hospital and I still haven't come in terms with the fact that Mom was dead and was never coming back to me.

No amount of tears could too, no amount of pleading too, she was gone and I was going to have to leave with it like that.

Upon waking up this morning, the police became my friends, asking questions and so much more.

They said it seemed more like a suicide attempt which I could understand, Mom didn't want a painful death so she made it more simpler for us.

All that filled my mind was the fact that she was dead.

"Ma'am are you here?" I heard him ask.

"I just want to go home" I said not looking at him but rather at the window, for some reason it seemed so attractive to my eyes.

My mind flew to our last interaction, we didn't even have enough time to talk but yet she's gone, just like that.

"Ma'am" I heard the pestering policeman call out again.

"My mom would never commit suicide just so you know" I said quietly.

"She was so sick but would never want to end her life like that, so do your work as expected, stop these questions you have been asking me this".

He then excused himself and as he left the doctor walked in alongside Sandy.

Seeing Sandy made me burst into tears, another batch of tears as memories filled my mind.

Sandy talked to the doctor while I just sat down lifelessly staring into blank space.

She took me home afterwards, she didn't stop there but rather helped me with lunch alongside soup and made sure I eat it.

While I slept, she finally left.

It took me a while to finally come to the terms that mom was indeed dead and was never returning.

A call woke me up and sleepily picked up the call without looking at the call ID.

"Hope you aren't in bed" I heard Sandy say making me jolt in bed before answering in negative.

"You need to clean up yourself, it's been two days baby girl" she said softly before adding, "even for no one but for her".

We talked for a while before I finally decided to heed to her words.

She was right on every ramification, and sitting idle at home wasn't going to bring back the dead.

I walked down the stairs and tried pushing back the memories that tried blinding me.

After tidying up the house, I walked to the sitting room only to gasp as something pierced my leg.

I stared at the ear ring after picking it up, it looked so familiar to be ignored and moreover mom and I weren't fans of it.

I gasped as it hits me, the threat, Arielle, she was the one with the ear ring the other day.

So many questions were swirling through my mind as I wondered how it got here.

It couldn't be that she, I gasped in realization.

There was only one truth here and the last person my mom saw before passing away, she was definitely the culprit here.

Arielle was my mother's killer?.

So many things ran through my mind and I immediately called the policewoman she had met at the site.

I informed her of my findings but I realized this people wanted absolutely nothing to do with this case.

They didn't want to even further it and I was even advised to do so too.

According to the female cop, my accusations would be taken with levity since there were no concrete evidence to back up my suspicion .

More days seemed more like months and a week after moms death, the burial plans began.

I went back to the place I had gotten a job even though deep down, I knew there wouldn't wait till I was done mourning and I was right.

After a night with Liam , my whole world had turned upside down and leaving me in turmoil.

I decided to move, especially if the house kept on bringing terrible images and making me run crazy.

Somewhere far away even away from Sandy because it was beginning to seem like I was a burden.

At the Burial scene, it was just a few people are present even Sandy was absent too and I honestly didn't blame her.

"Natasha" I heard the priest after mom was laid to rest.

I stopped and turned back to face him.

"A word before you go please".

I nodded and sat down, after him. "How are you faring?" He asked staring at me like he could see my soul.

"I'll be fine father" I replied smiling softly. He stated at me for a while and I immediately bursted into tears and poured out all my fears and feelings.

I wasn't okay at all not even a tiny bit.

As I cried he blessed me with words that touched me, that made me believe all wasn't lost and moms death was not the end of my life.

After the burial, I held an open house and the outcome for the house sale wasn't encouraging one bit.

"Six million dollars" I heard someone say making me gasp on surprise and so did the rest.

A lady with a scarf and entered, staring straight at me she added, "six million dollars and we'd talk about its price in private". She then took off her scarf, I frown seeing her

"Why are you here?" I asked standing up and walking where she stood.

"Why don't we talk in private?" She whispered.

"We have nothing to talk about you murderer" I said wishing no one was here so I'd teach her a lesson, she would never forget.

"I didn't kill your your mom!".

"Do you think 500,000 dollars would take you anywhere?, Or is six million dollars small, I'll double it then".

"What do you want in return?" I found myself asking as the offer was just too good to ignore.

"I want you to go, leave here and don't ever return".

"Are you scared your darling Liam is going to leave you for me?" I teased making her snarl at me.

"Don't push it, are you taking the money or not?".

I stared at her for a while before nodding making her smirk, "that's better".

It was a though Arielle wanted me out as soon as she could make it happen because I was handed over the cash immediately.

Although it was to my distaste, she was with me while I booked my flight and had even sent people to escort me to the airport.

A phone call before the plane took off pulled my attention away from the window.

"Am i speaking with Ms Natasha?" I heard the caller ask.

"Yes, who is this if I may ask?" I quired back.

"Oh it's Doctor Savvy, you had checked In a few day but to my surprise you never returned to take the results of your test as your friend said you would".

"I'm sorry, what!!" I asked in confusion.

"You are pregnant, Mrs Natasha".

Natasha POV

It's been a month since I left home, a month since mom left me to the hands of this cold world.

Now I'm a mom, carrying the future of someone in my womb.

And he wasn't even aware of it, not that he'll care although I had played a part in it.

I didn't even want him to know, he didn't deserve to know after what an affair with him had caused me.

Waking up early in the morning was becoming a problem for me already.

I arrived to work late again, and I knew I will soon be queried. I sneaked into my office and was about to sit down when Lisa startled me.

“Your late coming is turning to a routine, you will soon be queried” Lisa said with a sad smile

“I know Lisa but you of all people know that I am not doing it intentionally” I replied.

“How are you and the baby doing” She asked after pulling me into a side hug.

Meeting Lisa on the plane was one of the best thing that have ever happened to me.

I was broken and shocked that I had given my virginity to a man that cared less and now I was carrying his baby.

Almost immediately his call came in, he called me and the call make me break down on plane though I didn't pick up.

She was there, that stranger that had comforted me and let me stain her shirt.

We began buddies after that, turns out that she was heading home and I had no way to stay so she agreed to accommodate me.

She helped me to me to get a job in the entertainment industry as an editor.

“I haven't gone for checkup to know how the baby is” I replied.

“And yourself! How are you coping with the job and the pregnancy” She asked again.

“It's getting hard day by day, I am finding it hard to cope with my job and my cravings are increasing day by day” I said.

“Why don't you quit for now” She said.

“I can't possibly quit now, this is my only source of income” I replied.

I agree that working with pregnancy was very hard as much as stressful but quitting this job was not an option.

I needed it to take care of my baby when I deliver.

“But you have saved a lot that can cover up expenses when you are dew, right now, you need to stop stressing yourself and the baby” Lisa added

"Okay, I will think about it” I replied.

I knew deep down that what she was saying was true, I am getting close to my delivery date.

I decided to submit my resignation letter tomorrow.

Lisa recommended a Yoga class for me, I guess she didn't want to hurt my feeling by telling me I was getting fat and at a very fast rate, but I knew myself.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I knew I was adding in size, rapidly making me look ugly.

I accepted the offer and started Yoga classes, it was easier than I thought, I also felt welcomed.

I was on my way to the class, Lisa said she will meet me there.

Entering the place, I sighted Lisa she was with someone, I waved and few minutes later the class started.

The class was half way gone when Lisa walks up to me with a guy.

"Wassup babe, you look hot" Lisa says and I blush but didn't reply her.

I was still curious as to why the guy was staring intently on me.

"So sorry I didn't introduce you, meet my friend Andrew" She said again finally introducing the guy.

'Nice to Meet you Andrew" I said.

"The pleasure is mine beautiful", He replied and I smiled at him before looking away while Lisa talked with the instructor.

The Andrew guy seemed to find something on my face because He was staring and his stare was making me so uncomfortable, I couldn't help but ask, "I'm sorry but Is there something on my face?".

He chuckled softly before asking, "sorry but I'm I making you uncomfortable?". I nodded my head at his question

"It's just that your beauty is ravishing and I can't resist asking you to spend the evening with me".

"Smooth, do you like to say that to all pregnant women you meet?".

"No you are definitely different " he said with a chuckle.

"I doubt because I'm pregnant and so are they, I'm married" I said bluntly before folding my hand under my boobs.

"No ring, just one dinner and you won't regret it" he said looking at me as though he could see my soul.

I opened my mouth to give him a befitting reply when Lisa came back.

"So where were we?" She asked.

"I just want to go home" I replied staring straight at Andrew.

"I'll take you on that date, we will see", I gulped looking at the sincerity in his eyes before looking away.

Liam's POV

I can't understand why Natasha's phone wasn't going.

It's more than a month now and her line is not going through, I had called her after I heard what happened to her mother but she didn't pick up, I looked for her everywhere but it was like she went hidden into a deep hole

I am lost of ideas now, she is not living in her formal residence, and I am confused at what to do.

“Give me her file” I said to my new secretary, this will be the 20th secretary I'm hiring after firing her.

The rest are fired cause they either tried seducing me or they irritate me without reason.

“Am sorry sir, but her file still holds her former residence” she said.

I was getting frustrated already, had I known I wouldn't have sacked her.

I finally decided to meet Arielle, maybe she would have a hint of where she went.

I went out and got into my car, I drove straight to her house.

We had to cancel the wedding few days because I caught her cheating on me, I love Arielle so much but she broke my trust.

Since then, we didn't held a tangible conversation except her always trying to beg me.

The engagement wasn't broken up since the two families still want us together, to them, we are still In love with each other.

I got to her house in no time and drove in, I parked my car and went in knocking on her door, she opened it and rolled her eyes realizing it was me

She was confident I wouldn't be able to marry another lady except her

“Hey, did you by any chance know the whereabouts of Natasha” I said not even sitting down

“Don't tell me you are searching for Natasha” She replied with a frown

“Yes am I, can you now answer my question” I gave her a cold glare

“Quit looking for her darling it's useless” she said smiling.

“What do you mean by that” I asked her?

“She is gone, gone forever and would never come back” She said as she walked out on me

Liam's POV

For some weird reasons, Arielle's words didn't suit well with me, and it made me wonder if she had a hand in her disappearance.

“What did you do?” I asked her rushing to hold her arm tightly as so many thoughts ran through my mind.

She couldn't have had enough money to go so far, so where was she?

It was a mistake, I had let her go, and I was regretting it every day.

Arielle smirked before staring at me, “We are to get married this weekend and here you are talking to me about that bitch …” I interrupted her with my hands raised, I controlled myself and glared at her

Arielle stares at me in shock, how dare she call Natasha a bitch?

"You are the only one fantasizing about the marriage that'll held this weekend, I have nothing to do with it, cancel it to save yourself disgrace" I said

“So my suspicions were right then, you really fucked her and can't get over her pussy” she screamed at me with tears rolling down her eyes.

“Where is she?” I asked with my hands tightening around her arm ignoring her

“You are hurting me” she said, making me release her and when I did, she sat up straight.

“We are not getting married until you get a hold of your stupid emotions, and you know what that means”.

Without looking at her, I walked out of her house, making sure I banged the door after her.

I let out a series of curses in anger and frustration.

Where the hell are you, Tasha?

And why was I feeling this way?

Natasha's POV

The ride back home was filled with their chatters and honestly all I wanted was the comfort of my bed.

I eyed Andrew one last time before shutting my eyes, the sun was so hot and yoga had done a perfect job in wearing me out.

He had suggested having dinner with him this very night, he was just too confident for my liking.

No I hated his gut, but I couldn't even help but compare him with Liam, my heart was for Liam alone and to top it I was carrying his child.

Their discussions didn't concern me at all as it was filled of talks about their school days and all I wanted was sleep.

Without any care in the world, I closed my eyes and slept off.

“Tasha, Natasha” I heard someone call over and over again, making me stir in annoyance.

"Tasha, wake up, it's time for your date” I heard Lisa say.

“I'm not interested in going out with your friend” I answered with my eyes still closed.

“Just for this night, Tasha” she cooed, shaking me slightly.

I groaned and turned to face her, “I already told him no, so what the big deal here”.

“Andrew isn't one to give up”.

“Why do I sense that you have planned this all?” I asked her, eyeing her suspiciously.

Lisa shrugged, making me frown, “my opinion doesn't matter in this, right?” I asked her and she nodded.

“A date won't hurt and if you hate it, I promise not to push you to do it again”.

I sighed before getting down from the bed, “on one condition"

“If it's food, then do not worry, it's already ready” she interrupted me saying.

“That's an insult Lisa, why would you ever think I wanted to ask you for food” I ranted and just before she could apologize, I added “but that's what I wanted by the way”?

She burst into laughter, making me pout and ignore her while walking to the bathroom.

I wasted no time in taking my bath, as I was trying to avoid thinking of Liam now.

No matter how hard I tried, Liam still filled my thoughts I way or the other, it was as though he was stuck there.

Lisa helped me with my makeup and dress, but at the time she was done I couldn't recognize myself in the bathroom anymore.

“I don't think I feel well at all, Lisa” I said to her, making her laugh.

“Madam, you are going for that date and there's no going back, it is now, not later” she said sternly.

While I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I heard the shutter of her camera.

I sighed, and my eyes traced my body down to my round and bulgy stomach, "Lisa..." I began.

“I don't think I look so nice at all”

“I feel like I'm fat, and my stomach is making the dress looks so weird on my body and …”

“And you are beautiful, Tasha” she said before coming to stand behind me.

“Liam is such a fool for letting you and your mom would be so proud of baby” she said staring deeply into my eyes.

“You are beautiful and a strong woman, life threw stones at you in form of Liam and your mom, but you are standing”.

“It's normal to add weight in some places, but then you can't remain tiny while another life is growing in you”

I fanned my face as tears threatened to spill, “oh Lisa, you are trying to make me cry, and I'm not supposed to”.

“Crying makes you beautiful”.

“Do you really think so?” I asked, staring down at my stomach.

“You and I know so”.

“Is this you telling me this, so I could go out with your friend?” I said sniffing.

“Nope, this is me barring out the truth to you the way it is” she said before smiling at me and just then a horn blared pulling me out of our thoughts.

“Your date is here, be good, Natasha” sh said before leaving me in front of the mirror and going to open the door.

I stood at my reflection, I was undeniably looking exceptionally beautiful despite the pregnancy and bulgy stomach, but I still felt unwell.

“What the hell are you doing here, baby?” I heard her shout, pulling me out of my thoughts.

My heart thumped against my chest as I approached the only door that separated me to room, to the living room.

Before I could open the doors, the door opened, making me freeze as my eyes meet his immediately.

I watched in delight as his eyes as his mouth opened and let out a "wow".

Lisa excused herself, leaving both of us in the room, and his stare left me hot.

I just stood while his eyes analyzed me as though he wanted to eat me more, “you are staring”.

“Do I look so bad that you are speechless?” I asked, scratching my neck.

“I'm sorry” he apologized before flushing red as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“You look ravishing and perfect” he commented, and I found myself getting hot over just that comment.

“Now you are the one leaving me hanging” he said, making me blush.

“Aren't you guys going to start heading out?” I heard Lisa ask, making us snap for our trance.

With a smirk, Andrew walked up to where I stood, and I slipped my hands into his shyly before we walked out of the house.

He helped me in and after waving at Lisa, he drove off.

“So you finally agreed to come, I was beginning to think that I would go alone”.

“You made Lisa give me no choice” I said coldly.

“Oh” the smile on his face immediately banished, and he added, “I thought you were interested in me for real”.

“You are not that bad” I said, feeling bad that I had ruined the mood.

“It's just you just came to me like you are desperate”

“Well I'm actually desperate, and you are so damn beautiful” he said, making me turn crimson.

“Where are we heading too?” I asked, making him to smirk before talking, “where do you think we are heading to baby?”.

Baby?

He just called me baby so smoothly.

Suddenly, my eyes caught paparazzi and so many parked cars, making me wonder what we were doing here parking alongside them.

“Where are we going?” I asked him once again wanting to hear from the horse's mouth.

He immediately parked before getting down and helping me out as soon as we came down, they immediately came with their flashing lights.

This was no dinner date and from the picture I was seeking here, this was definitely a fashion show.

“Mr. Andrew” I started hearing from all corners, making me feel very weird.

They all seemed like they were crawling on my skin, and I wanted to be far away from them.

He held me closer and whispered, “you are fine baby, I'm here”

From the questions that, Andrew was rather a big and influential man in the fashion industry.

How come I was never told that I was going out with a man who owns Deluxe brand?

One of the most expensive brands in the world, there was only one of their designs anywhere.

We had alighted from the car holding hands and looking more like couples, so it was no wonder why the paparazzi were all over us.

I leaned into Andrew warmth to avoid my face being too captured, their looks were making me uncomfortable.

“At least smile” Andrew said as if he was enjoying the show I had out in for him.

“A warning would have been nice rather than starting off with lies” I said through gritted teeth.

“I'll make it up to you”.

“You had better” I said, making him chuckle.

If the outside was beautiful, the inside of the hall was like something I have never seen.

And if not for Andrew staying beside me, I would have stood at the entrance gaping like a fish.

As soon as we step in, all eyes turns and faced us, pulling me into another world of discomfort.

Whispers began passing through the hall, and I knew it was because of Andrew's arm interlocked with mine.

“She's pretty” I heard one say.

“Pretty, she's a goddess, which even looks perfect with him”.

“Shouldn't we invite her to our Saturday club?”

“Or we could go to Yoga today?”

“Who knew Andrew could date this kind of spec, he was always hanging around with sluts”.

I frowned and stares at Andrew, who seemed to be enjoying the show we are putting on.

“Sit back and relax, you'd enjoy it” he whispered.

How could I be calm when literally almost everyone here was talking about me, and some were even staring at me without shame?

Every so often, I was being referred to as his wife, and I honestly didn't know how to feel about that.

Feeling the need to ease myself, I excused myself from Andrew's boring talk to go to the ladies' room to freshen up.

Being a sweet man, Andrew offered to escort me to the bathroom too, but I begged him not too.

We were already creating too much attention, and I was trying my best to avoid it.

As I was in the toilet, u heard ladies enter, making me stop.

There was no way I was leaving this stall if they don't leave first.

“Did you see the lady who had walkin with Andrew?” One asked, making me freeze and become more curious as to what they thought of me.

“Yes and damn she's beautiful and as much as it has always been my dream to date him, they suit each other” the other one commented.

“And to think of it, she's pregnant, right?”.

“Is she?”

“If she's then pregnancy doesn't seem that bad anymore” one of them said before the rest burst in laughter.

They chattered more about me, making me wonder if they had nothing else to discuss.

I waited for a while hoping they would leave and when they don't, I stopped out.

The shock on their face made me want to laugh, as they couldn't even conceal it by closing their hanging mouth.

I washed my hands and walked out after muttering a short greeting and as if it is that made them snap out of their trance, they immediately asked for a picture.

Andrew's face made me smile as worry was too evident, it made our show look real.

If this is what being with Andrew felt like, then it wasn't so bad after all.

After walking around and acting like a couple I soon became tired of our charade and asked to go home, which he honored.

As he drove home I told him about my encounter with the other women in y e bathroom, making him laugh.

We shared the reactions to our closeness at the party, and as we spoke I could see the live Andrew had for show business on his face.

“What are your thoughts on giving them what they want?” He asked me suddenly.

“What is that?”.

“Marriage, Natasha, let's get married”.