Between The Lines Of Power

Chapter Three

Chapter 3

Alice

“You are what?"

“I... am... pregnant...” I felt my entire body vibrating as I said those words.

The room fell silent. He still looked calm and composed while I was freaking out.

“I... I’m sorry. I’ll get rid of it, I promise.” My voice was barely above a whisper fear gripping me.

“You are not getting rid of my child, Alice.” His voice was firm but gentle.

Did I hear him right, or was my mind projecting what I wanted him to say? Because there’s no way he just said that.

“Are... are you being serious?” I asked, unsure if what I heard was real.

He walked toward me. “When did you find out?” His voice was completely calm.

“Today.”

“So, how are you feeling?”

“I feel tired and dizzy.” Why didn’t I just say fine? I just had to push my luck.

“Do you want to keep the baby?” His question caught me off guard. I hadn’t really thought about it until now.

I had been so carried away, thinking about what his reaction would be like that I didn't consider the fact that I was becoming a mother.

“I don’t know...” I lowered my head. I wasn’t ready to bring a child into this world. God, I was so confused.

He crossed the distance between us, lifting my head up with his finger. “Look at me, Alice.” I lifted my head slowly.

I locked eyes with him, and suddenly, it felt like all my worries disappeared. My eyes landed on his lips. Alice, focus, I reminded myself.

If I hadn’t been so obsessed and stupid, maybe I wouldn’t be in this position right now. Oh, but I was.

“It’s a simple question. Do you, or do you not, want this child?”

His chosen was making it hard for me to breathe or even think straight.

“I... I want to keep the child,” I whispered.

“Our child,” he corrected me.

This was actually real. Dean was actually going to take responsibility for the pregnancy. How was he not angry?

I had expected him to kick me out of the office and for me to lose my job but none of that happened. And I was so grateful.

“I know nothing about raising a child,” I breathed.

His hand slowly caressed my stomach.

“Me neither,” he smiled, raising his head to look at me. “That is exactly what would make us great parents.”

God, I wanted to kiss him right now.

“But won’t this affect your campaign and the upcoming presidential election?”

He paused for a moment before replying, “I don’t care if the news gets out.”

I knew this was going to affect his chances of winning. Once the blogs got hold of the news, it wasn’t going to be pretty.

He was sacrificing everything for the baby.

“Are you excited?” Why did I have to ask questions like this? I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut.

“I am,” he smiled, cupping my face in his hand, caressing my cheeks. His touch sent shivers down my spine.

“I know you’re scared, Alice, but you’re not alone. This baby is my responsibility too.” The way he spoke so calmly and reassuringly took all the fear away.

I’d only seen this side of him once and that was the night he made love to me.

“Thank you,” I said with a small smile.

He pulled me into his arms, placing a small, lingering kiss on my lips before wrapping me in a warm hug.

"You need to go home and rest," he said, pulling away.

"But we have work to do. What about the campaign?" I asked, surprised.

"Alice, allow me to take care of that. Just go home and get enough rest."

He was cute when he was caring, but I was fine and I wasn't going to leave my job, not when I was most needed.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm needed here," I stood my ground.

"Go home or you're fired."

The words came out firm, leaving me speechless.

"But... but—"

"Shhh." His hand found its way to my mouth again. "No buts..."

"Just go home, rest, and I'll be there in a couple of hours. Then we can talk about everything, and you can start planning on moving in with me."

Moving in with him? This was all happening so fast... but I wasn’t hating it one bit.

I finally agreed, and he led me to the door.

"But you don't know where I live," I said, standing in the doorway of his office.

He grinned, tilting his head slightly. "I know exactly where you live, Alice."

Of course, he knew.

"See you in a couple of hours," I smiled at him before walking away.

In the taxi, I looked out the window, reminiscing about everything that happened in his office.

It still didn’t feel real but it was. He didn’t reject me. I saw the excitement in his eyes, even when it was hard for him to show it.

I placed a hand gently on my stomach, and I couldn’t hold back the smile spreading on my lips.

I left the hospital with so much fear, but now I had hope and I was happy. I wasn’t getting rid of my child, and Dean was taking responsibility.

Once I got to my apartment, I just sat there, watching the clock like a hawk. Seconds were turning into minutes, and minutes into hours.

Why wasn’t he here yet? Had he gotten cold feet?

No... that was impossible.

I paced back and forth in my apartment. I looked at my phone. He hadn’t called, and he still wasn’t here.

It was probably the campaign keeping him. And it wasn’t just because of the baby I wanted to see him.

I... enjoyed being around him.

I stood by the window, looking out. The street was quiet, occasionally cars would pass but none was his.

I walked out of my apartment. It was starting to get dark, and he wasn't here yet. Or maybe he got lost

probably.

I was walking, not sure where I was going. I just needed some air, and maybe when I got back home, he would be there.

When I passed a particular alley, everything felt too quiet, so I quickly turned on my heel and started walking back. That was when I heard it.

A van door pulled open, and three masked men walked toward me. I tried to run, but a trash can cut my leg, and I fell to the ground.

They didn’t say anything as they came closer. Fear spread through my body like a poisonous venom.

“Please don’t hurt me,” I begged, scooting back my heart racing fast in her chest, but they kept moving in, closer and closer and that was when the kicking started.

I felt the pain from everywhere. They kept kicking and hitting me, even as I begged them to stop.

I tried screaming, but no one came to my rescue.

I held my stomach, but I felt the kicks land on my belly, plunging in harder and harder. I tried to say something, anything to protect my baby.

I felt the hits from everywhere, and slowly, I couldn’t feel anything anymore...

just the darkness taking over.