The CEOs pregnante maid

I didn't know

The slap she gave me across the face was strong, making my skin burn and tingle, and the noise echoed around the room. I looked into her eyes, but refused to cry. For a moment, I saw weakness, regret and sadness in her gaze, but when I looked again, that trace was gone, and there was the Madeleine I had known.

- You're nothing but a spoiled brat, no wonder I've always preferred to keep my distance from you. However, you can hate me for all eternity, I don't care. I know that one day you'll thank me, and this conversation ends here. Now go upstairs and stay there, I don't intend to see you until tomorrow, I'll send your dinner up to your room. And be prepared, you'll be up early. - She sat back down in the armchair, her back to me.

I ran upstairs. I sat on the bed, but I didn't cry. I was tired of everything. I thought about running away, leaving. But where to? I had no close relatives, Vivian and Alice were going to college, I had no options. - I'm sorry," I whispered to myself, rubbing my belly. Later, Summer offered me some food. I refused, I was so sad and tired that I lost myself in my thoughts and once again fell asleep.

I woke up to a loud bang on my window. I got up, opened the curtains and looked out. Vivian was on the balcony, knocking on the wood.

- Vivian? What are you doing here at this hour?

- Can you open up? - she said, rubbing her arms up and down, as if to warm herself. - It's cold out here. - And she smiled.

- Yes, of course. - I opened the window and Vivian walked through with ease. - Well, what's so important that you couldn't call? - I smiled sweetly and sat down next to her.

- I'm sorry about that whole scene at the hospital. - She looked sad. - I shouldn't have said those things to you. I was rude and cruel.

- It's okay, I shouldn't have lied either.

- I should have realized that you weren't ready to tell me what had happened. And also that you weren't expecting this baby, it was as much of a surprise for you as it was for us. And how did it go with Luck? Alice told me you'd been there.

- Not well, actually. I think I hate him," I said dryly, feeling the bitterness rise in my throat.

Actually, I didn't think I did, I really hated him

- Luck has always been such a prick. I'm sorry I didn't warn you before. - She sighs sadly. - I never thought it would get this far.

Her statement burns in my cheeks.

- I'm sorry about this afternoon. I couldn't stay, Nicole, I'm sorry. I heard you and Madeleine, I couldn't help it.

I made the mistake of looking up and seeing the sadness in your eyes

I gave her a half-smile and held her hands. - It's okay, Vivian, there's nothing we can do.

- What do you mean nothing, Nicole? You have to fight, do what you want for once! Aren't you really tired of trying to be good and nice to everyone?

- It's not as if I've never done anything I wanted to, since what brought me to this situation was my choice. It was sleeping with Luck that got me into this situation.

- I know, but an abortion, Nicole? You don't know, this can all be so terrible!

I turned to look at her eyes and found them full of tears.

- I... I didn't want to either... but you know, you heard Madeleine... I don't have any options, I don't have any close relatives, I don't have enough money in my savings account to support myself and a baby. Besides, she has to block my account. I can't count on Luck, let alone Madeleine... I'm going to have to take this baby away. - The last sentence came out of my mouth and I felt sick to my stomach at the same moment. I looked at Vivian, her shoulders shaking slightly as she sobbed beside me. - Hey, you can't come here and cry like that... Please, Vivian, this is all getting too hard for me," I said in a shaky voice, feeling my heart breaking into pieces.

- A year ago, when I went on vacation with my family, they took me to a private clinic. I'd only just found out, I was just over a month old.

- Oh my God, Vivian! - I put my hands to my mouth when I felt the first tear roll down.

- I've ruined everything, Nicole. And if I could go back in time...

Vivian didn't finish her sentence. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if the memory was too painful; her shoulders continued to shake as she cried. I wiped her tears away with the back of my hand. Then she continued:

- I was in love with John. We ended up getting involved the summer he went to Alice's house.

- That summer?

Vivian nods.

A ball grew in the pit of my stomach, sadness tightening my throat. She was my best friend, how could I not have noticed?

- You know, I always had a crush on him. He looked so virile in that leather jacket, even though he looked like a damn stone in my shoe, I knew... somehow I knew that he wanted me too. A few months passed after we came out to my parents and his aunt and uncle, and then I found out I was pregnant. I told my parents, who didn't take it very well. They said that a baby would hurt me and John, who was getting a contract with his band. They insisted that if I went ahead with the pregnancy, it would destroy his future, and that even if I had this baby, things would be difficult for me. John didn't come from a wealthy family, he was on his own, and what he was earning at the time wouldn't be enough to support us. And there was no way he was going to accept anything of value from his rich uncles. He had dreams and plans, and keeping him pregnant would have put an end to any chance of a better life. I considered telling him, but my parents stopped me. A few weeks later, they came up with that unseasonable "vacation trip". That's when it happened. - She sighed deeply and continued. - I was young, I was eighteen and I didn't have a relationship with John, there was no time for that, although I know that what we experienced was real. My parents didn't even let me tell him, they just took me there and, in less than four hours, it was over. I don't remember anything, it was painless. But when I woke up and realized what I had done, I had a hysterical breakdown. I-I... I couldn't believe it.

They'd taken away the most precious thing I could ever have. I was angry, disgusted... I called John and told him everything. He didn't believe me, and landed the next morning at our vacation home. It was terrible, I was shattered, and he broke the rest of me when he said that he hated me and that I should never look for him again. It broke my heart, I really loved him and there was nothing more I could do.

I was stunned, how had I never known that? How had I never realized? I remember that summer, John was Alice's first cousin, he was always very nice to me, but with Vivian... He even nicknamed her "Satan". Vivian was never easy, but it was unnerving the way they fought all the time.

They clearly didn't get on. And then suddenly everything changed, they couldn't get away from each other. Both Alice and I suspected that they had had something, but for me it was just s****l tension, not anything that deep. After a while she had her vacation out of season. I thought it was because of her love disappointment. My heart ached with her story. Poor Vivian, for one moment she'd had it all and the next there was nothing left.

- After that, I actually went on vacation. I spent two weeks in Italy, and that time was good for me, but it didn't and won't heal this emptiness here. - She said, putting her hands towards her heart. - And my father gave me my silicones. - She winked at me and let out a sad laugh.

- I'm sorry, Vivian, I didn't know you'd been through this. I

could have given you strength, I don't know, I could have done anything.

- It's that strength that I'd like you to have in yourself. You can, Nicole! For the first time in your life, you can choose what you really want! I know, I know... I think about what I've been through every day, and it hurts so much. So I tell you, if you really want this child, you have to fight. You have to...

- Vivian, I want to, you know, but I... I can't.

- Yes! Yes, you can! You're just as capable as Alice and me! And that's why I'm here. - She held out the bag, which I hadn't seen until then, and said: - Here's the solution.

I looked at her as if a giant question mark was stamped on my forehead. She opened the bag and showed me a card.

- Mr. Colleri Tunner. - I read it out loud and then looked at her, still not understanding.

She smiled broadly.

- "Yes," she said calmly. - About eight years ago, my father saved a man from captivity. He didn't recognize him at the time but later came to recognize him as Colle. He's a former SEAL and owner of the multi-million dollar Security Enterprises. He said that he would do anything my father needed, at any time, just one call and the problems would be solved.

I tried to speak, but I lost my voice.

- Err... uh... that Security Enterprises?