Chapter Nine
1556 Words
"Here," Randall says, sliding an envelope across the table. "Sign this."
I eye him, making sure not to let my eyes stray too far. He's stern, much different from when he's away from work.
Maybe that's the facade he puts on for his colleagues. His brown hair is coiffed, like always and he's in a three piece grey suit. How fitting.
After yesterday's mess -with the story of him and I being pregnant and getting engaged, got leaked Randall suggested that I come by his office.
For an agreement, he'd said. Contract signing in other words. But I am not going into this blindly.
I look down at the table then straight into his eyes. And still, nothing.
Clutching onto my bag tightly, I ground my jaw, tapping my fingers on the table and side glance his assistant.
"I'd like to read through it first." I say with my chin defiantly tilted up.
Randall stands up, and for a moment I'd forgotten just how tall he really is.
"Knock yourself out." He smiles softly. With a hand on the buttons of his blazer he gestures to his assistant. "If you have any questions, Joy is here."
That being said, Randall leaves the room with Joy in tow.
Isn't she supposed to help me with this?
I take a deep breath as I sit down on the mustard yellow couch.
I look around the pristine office and contemplate sitting at his desk. Pursing my lips I push the thought aside and get started with the contract.
I skim through it first. Marriage contract, it says on the front page, with both our names in bold.
Agreement. . .
Property.
Income.
Insurance.
Inheritance.
Child support.
Spousal support and maintenance.
Maintenance?
My eyes narrow as I read and it's only then I realise that this is basically a prenup.
At the end of every two pages there is space for my signature, he has already signed along with a witness. I wonder who's the witness. Maybe Joy?
A few minutes into the contract I feel that familiar discomfort of a full bladder. s**t! This is the fourth time today.
Argh. I immediately stand up unable to hold it in. Unfortunately for me, I did not bother to ask for the bathroom.
I hope Joy is somewhere close by.
I'm put at ease when I see her small frame huddled over a pile of papers.
Smiling, I ask her for the restroom, she points in its direction and I scurry towards it.
When I'm done, I pull up my pants and stand to flush.
I'm chilled to the bone as I watch a mocking dark red clot of blood swell in the toilet. I want to flush and walk out as if I didn't just see that but I'm rooted in place with my heart in my throat.
I feel myself shake uncontrollably.
The bathroom door suddenly opens and I instinctively flush the toilet. It's only then and there I feel phantom cramps in my abdomen. With a hand on my chest, I hold my stomach hoping to feel something other than the pain.
And as I take a deep breath, I convince myself that there's no reason to worry, that it's normal. That I didn't just see that, my mind is playing tricks on me.
I force a smile for the woman at the window while washing my hands. Her brown hair hangs over her face as she lights a cigarette and I take it as my cue to leave.
Back in Randall's office I stuff the contract into my bag and rush for the exit.
I need to get out of this place. My stomach is still unsettled, faint cramps rousing in the depths of my abdomen.
What if I'm having a miscarriage? No, not my baby. I can't. God can't do this to me now.
Just yesterday I'd gone for a scan and seen my baby growing in my stomach. He can't take her away from me. No!
A hot tear slips down my cheek as something chips at my heart. I could lose my baby. What if-
"Kira?"
I freeze, my pulse racing and I'm afraid. I'm barely at the elevator when he calls me. The distance to the exit looks tempting but I know better than to run and leave Randall hanging.
But what if he knows. And if he notices that I'm crying?
God, that's the least of my worries.
Sniffing, I wipe at the tears on my face before turning around.
I'm ready to plaster a smile on my treacherous face but fail miserably when I see the woman standing next to him. I glance at Randall for some sort of explanation but instead he frowns and again he's stoic as he looks back at me, eyebrows furrowed.
My heart skips a beat and I'm sure he knows something is off. But f**k him, i need to get out of here.
"Mom," he says, still looking at me. "This is Kira Pierson, my wife to be."
"Maddie's sister?" She quizzes with an arched eyebrow. "Maddie Pierce?"
Mom? I haven't even agreed to this, or signed the contract.
And she knows Maddie? Of course she knows Maddie. Who doesn't know Madilyn? She's practically engage to her son. . .her other son
My thoughts stray and I can't help it as I think about the baby. . . my baby. My little girl.
It takes a lot for me to fight back the tears burning my eyes. My heart thuds vigorously, falling to the pits of my stomach as guilt eats me up.
Wrinkles form at the corners of Mrs Michaelson's blue eyes as she smiles, clasping her hands in admiration.
I'm caught off guard when she pulls me into a tight hug. I try to relax as her fruity, citrus scent overwhelms me.
"So you are the girl my son knocked up," she says, pulling away from me.
My eyes widen and shame consumes me as I look to Randall for help. If only I could disappear into thin air.
"Mom," He grumbles. "We talked about this."
"Oh hush," she grins wickedly, glancing between her son and I. "This is going to be fun." Then she looks at me, "Call me Celia and try not to get carried away. One son should be enough for you."
"Damnit mom."
I gulp and open my mouth to say something. Celia and Randall look at me expectedly but nothing comes out. I look down at the ground, clutching at my bag for dear life.
Fuck my life.
This is why I hate surprises.
"When is this wedding happening?"
"Five weeks time." Is Randall's abrupt, inconsiderate answer. It's enough to make me snap my neck looking at him. "Maybe if you were at the meeting you'd know all of this."
Uh-uh, I'm not doing this. Not now.
Not today.
Not ever.
I take a step forward ready to excuse myself but Celia's raised voice makes me purse my lips and cower.
"I told Michael I'm not stepping into that house as long as that little she devil is there." She says with a hand on her hip.
I frown, curiously. She devil?
I watch, anxiously as Randall pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I can't do this with you."
"Don't even think about it," is Celia's daring answer. She softly smiles at her son. "Make me proud."
I let out a deep breath when she finally leaves and my nerves calm.
"Five weeks?" I raise a daring eyebrow at the man before me.
"I was going to tell you." He says.
I feel a burn in my chest and I can hardly breathe. "When? After the wedding?!"
Five, f*****g weeks. What the hell?
"Let's talk about this in my office." He says softly, trying to grasp my shoulder.
I pull away from him and I lose control. I can't do this. I let out a sob and I swear his face breaks a little.
He takes a step towards me and tries to hold me again."Let's take a sit, Kira, relax."
"No, Randall!" I scream, pulling away from him once again. I take a step back. "No."
"Kira, you're making a scene." He looks around the place, pointedly.
"I'm tired Randall. I want to go home."
Maybe I can sleep this off.
Maybe I hallucinated it, the blood.
There is no way, that can't be my period. I can't bleed when I'm pregnant.
My thoughts eat me up as I stand before Randall, heaving and broken.
I look down, nervous and when I look into his hazel eyes I lose hope. "I don't even know if I'm really pregnant."
I leave before I say anything else I can't take back. Randall doesn't call after me or run or anything, I watch him stand there, a series of emotions running through his eyes as the elevator doors slowly close.
Maybe I shouldn't have said that to him.
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????? ?ℎ? ????:
She said, I'm too young to drink. Too green to think. You say these things and it wears me out
__
I honestly have nothing to say today,
Otherwise...
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- Writer
