Karma is a Business

Episode 1 "It's time to end this, Ellie. I'm done with this charade of a marriage," Nathan McGregor's voice was head few minutes into dinner, shattering what was left of Ellie's heart. She was sitting across the large table, head bowed over her plate of red pasta and full glass of champagne. It was the night of their two years anniversary and she'd taken it upon herself to make something delicious. But now, he'd bluntly told her that their marriage had been nothing but a facade. Not that she didn't know that Nathan had married her against his own will, but she expected a little bit of humanity from him. Ellie raised her head, and with a small smile touching her bright round eyes, she nodded. "Okay. Why... don't we finish the meal, and then, talk about this?" Nathan stared at her, and shook his head. "Aren't you tired? Haven't you been humiliated enough? You need to least have the decency to quit when you're supposed to. We should get a divorce." Nathan probed on, forcing tiny tears out of Ellie's eyes. Quickly, she blinked them away, and sighed. She thought she was ready for this. She'd hoped that by the time Nathan brought up the divorce talk, she'd be ready. Just last night, she'd heard him talking to Caroline Adams, the only woman he'd loved from college. Caroline had left the country few years ago, and Ellie had been used as a consolation prize. She knew she was far from being loved, but she accepted to be his wife regardless. The love she had for him made her weak and vulnerable. She had known Nathan ever since their childhood days. Her father had been one of the workers at one of the McGregor's group of companies. "I... think we should at least have a peaceful dinner since it's our anniversary. Don't you think so?" Ellie spoke up after her brief reminiscing. "It's two years today, and that's why I've chosen today to let this all end. Coraline is back now, and we are getting back together." Nathan spoke again. He stood up on his feet, dropped the napkin on his lap, and started to walk away from the dinning table. "I'm pregnant!" Ellie blurted out, snapping up on her feet. She turned to look at Nathan, her breath hardening. "I'm carrying your child, Nathan." Ellie sniffed. Nathan who had already stopped on his tracks scoffed, and turned to look at Ellie as well. "What do you want me to do about that?" Ellie stared up at him, her eyes filled with an unbearable pain she didn't know she had in her. "What?" "Don't tell me you were expecting me to jump excitedly at the news?" Nathan asked, and gave a short wicked laugh. "Don't try to be funny, Eleanor. If you really are pregnant, then get rid of it. I don't think you would want to have this child all by yourself, because I will never be there for it." He added, and walked towards the stairs. He stopped midway again, and turned to look at Ellie once more. "My lawyer will be coming over tomorrow. The divorce papers are ready." He concluded, and disappeared out of sight. With her hands clutching her chest as though trying to keep it from falling out, Ellie returned to her chair, and all the tears she'd been trying to hold back came rushing down her cheeks. "No, no. This is not happening," Ellie wept, took her hands down the flat surface of her belly, and wept even harder. How could the father of her child boldly tell her to her face to get rid of their own child? How could he be so heartless? Half an hour later, after having a good cry, Ellie srood up to clear off the dinning table. She picked up her plate of unfinished pasta, and that of her husband's, and returned them to the kitchen. She was coming back into the living room when the door bell rang. With a slight frown on her face, Ellie stared at the door, and glanced up at the wall clock, wondering who was visiting so late in the late. The doorbell rang again, and quickly, she went over to check who it was. Getting to the door, she looked at the video doorbell, and the countenance on her face changed immediately. The bell rang again, and reluctantly, Ellie grabbed the door knob and pulled it open. At the doorway, a stunning and gorgeous looking Caroline Adams showed up. Ellie quickly took in her appearance, almost dazzled at the sight of her. She was a beauty to behold. She was dressed in a purple short gown that showed off her perfectly shaped legs, and white expensive heels that made her look like a runway candidate. Her curly brown hair was worn down, a light make-up on her face. Her eyes were blue green, with a small cute nose that looked similar to hers. They had the same round shaped lips, but Ellie was glad that hers were fuller. The last time she saw Caroline was at the McGregor company at the Dawton estate where her father worked. She had seen her together with Nathan in their college uniforms. "What took you so long to get the damned door open?" Caroline queried, glaring hard at Ellie. Not only she walked past her did Ellie see the pink luggage she came with. "Out of my way, bitch." Fighting back the rage that almost blinded her, Ellie banged the door closed, and turned. "What...are you doing here with that?" She couldn't stop herself from asking. Caroline, now in the spacious living room placed her bag at a corner, and turned to scrutinize Ellie with her perfect almond shaped eyes. "Did you just ask me that?" She sounded amused. Her angelic voice was filled with mockery. "This is my house. Why shouldn't I ask you that?" Ellie retorted, and folded her arms. "Didn't he tell you? That I was coming over tonight? And I'm pretty sure he told you about the divorce as well," Caroline drawled, letting a triumphant smile play across her red painted lips. Ellie smiled back, hiding the bitter rage that pumped her heart at that moment. "I can see you are well informed. Then it's certain he also told you I'm gonna be having his baby soon." She mumbled, and smiling softly, she touched the stomach. The look on Caroline's face hardened but for a brief moment. Quickly, she wore back her triumphant look, and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, what would I want to do with an information like that? It doesn't matter that you are carrying Nathan's child. You're gonna be leaving with it." Caroline spat into Ellie's face, turned and grabbed her bag before walking away. For a very long time, Ellie stood there, lost in her own world, lost in the thoughts of abandonment and despair. *********** "What was that b***h telling me earlier? She's pregnant?" Caroline attacked as soon as she got into the mater's bedroom where Ellie shared with Nathan. Nathan, sitting across the room on one of the sofas stood up, and walked towards her. "I just found out too, my love. Don't let that get to you, because it means nothing to me. I already told her to get rid of it." He spoke hurriedly. "Really?" Caroline pouted, folding her arms dramatically. "Of course, baby. Did you think I would ruin this second chance I'm getting from you? Nothing will be powerful enough to ruin this. We are getting married as soon the divorce is over." Nathan replied, and encircled his arms around Caroline's thin waist. He started to kiss her, but she pressed her hands against his chest, urging him to wait. "I need to freshen up first. I will be back soon." She smiled, and headed straight to the bathroom. As soon as the door was closed behind her, she dropped all act and wiped angrily at her skin where she was sure Nathan had touched. "That bastard," she cursed under her breath, and walked slowly to the shower room. With her arms folded under her breast, she took in the appearance of the luxurious washroom. The bathroom was less a room and more a sanctuary, a gleaming temple dedicated to the pursuit of opulent relaxation. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a private, sculpted garden – a riot of meticulously arranged orchids and exotic ferns. Every detail, from the hand-poured, artisanal soaps to the precisely angled spray of the rain shower, screamed of uncompromising luxury. The bathroom was as well crafted with soundproof walls. "This place is...simply divine," Caroline breathed out the words, and just then, she was interrupted by the vibration from her cellphone which she had tucked under her gown. She glanced back to make sure she was alone before connecting the line. "Are you really pregnant?" She whispered curiously into the receiver. "Yes, I am, Caroline." Ellie's voice sounded from the other end. She sounded frustrated, hopeless and helpless. "I had to step out of the house to make this call. Is everything going as planned?" Caroline breathed again and nodded her head. "I'm in the bathroom right now. But tell me, Ellie. Why are you doing this?" "To teach that son of a b***h a lesson. I'm going to make him pay for the pains he's caused me." Ellie spoke with the full venom sitting inside her. "Aren't you scared that this plan of yours could hurt you? Especially your child? It's his child too." Caroline mumbled. "I tried to stop myself by telling him I was pregnant but the bastard told me to get rid of my own child. The plan stands, Caroline. Get on with it."