Chapter Two - Xavier Miller
1303 Words
Alicia got to a nearby motel where she made plans to spend the night. She walked into the building and went to the counter to make enquiries about their charge for a night, but her awful appearance made the receptionist scowl at her.
“I'm sorry, but we don't let beggars in,” the lady said. “You can go back outside once the rain stops though. I'm not some heartless monster to kick you out right now.”
Alicia stood there and watched as the receptionist returned back to using her phone. She was wet and truly looked homeless, but right now being insulted by a receptionist was the least of her worries.
She brought out her card and dropped it on the table, she still had access to the joint account she had convinced Kelvin to open for the both of them and was hoping she could pay for a room with it, but to her surprise it didn't work.
“The card was declined ma'am. Are you trying to steal from someone?” The receptionist asked again with a scowl on her face.
“Are you joking? It can't be. That's my husband's…” she caught herself saying the words and quickly stopped.
“How much is a room again?” She asked the young lady.
“Thirty dollars,” she responded.
Alicia went through her pulse and realized that she was very low on cash. Kelvin had always told her there was no need to carry money around to avoid getting robbed, so she usually paid for everything with their card.
There was only fifty dollars left in her purse so, Alicia decided to spend the night at the motel and go back to her Grandma the following morning.
She passed the thirty dollar note to the receptionist and she handed her a key.
“First floor, room 37. You're spending only a night here so you'd better not get comfortable.”
Alicia dragged her bags up to her room and shut the door behind her. She fell on the bed and began to think of Kelvin and Camilla. Her heart was filled with rage and regret, but mostly she was hurt for losing the man she loved.
After crying once more over her failed marriage, she wiped her tears and soon went to bed.
The next morning, she had her bath and got dressed. There was only more place left for her, and that was with her Grandma who never approved of her marriage to Kelvin.
She checked out of the hotel as quickly as possible to avoid being thrown out by the receptionist. With only twenty dollars left in her purse, she attempted to flag down a cab, but it zoomed right past her.
She turned to cuss at the driver and accidentally stepped into the road. Without warning, a speeding car forced its brakes as it approached her, and when she turned and saw her life flash before her eyes, she fainted.
Alicia woke up in a hospital bed and there was a nurse checking her vitals. She couldn't see the room clearly, but she knew where she was by the smell of antiseptics and drugs that creeped into her nostrils.
“What happened?” She muttered with the little breath she could spare. “Why am I here?”
“You got into an accident,” the young nurse said to her. “It's nothing serious, but you're lucky.” She continued, pouring a glass of water and taking out a medicine tablet for her patient. “If he hadn't seen you on time, he would have run you over.”
“Who?” Alicia mumbled, holding her hand against her head as she struggled to sit upright on her bed.
“Your husband,” the nurse answered and held out the glass of water and medicine to her.
Alicia's heart smiled at the mention of her husband. She thought Kelvin had come back for her, that he loved her still, but when the door to her room was opened, the doctor walked in with his notepad, accompanied by a broody looking young man.
He had smokey eyes that almost made him look gay, but yet his firm masculine features were a wonder to behold. His beards were perfectly trimmed, and his long hair, beautifully packed into a ponytail.
“Um.. where's my husband?” Alicia whispered to the nurse.
She giggled and pointed to the man standing beside the doctor. Alicia's eyes burged right out of their sockets as she stared in awe at the stranger before her.
“Can she go home now?” He asked with the most tender voice, it made her heart melt.
“Yes she can. Ensure she takes her drugs and eats plenty of vegetables. Her condition is very delicate,” the doctor responded.
“Huh? What condition?” Alicia asked with urgency. “What am I not being told?”
The doctor looked at the man standing beside him and he simply nodded his head before he said to her. “You're pregnant.”
Alicia’s laughter echoed within the room and everyone stared at her in surprise.
“Is something funny?” The doctor asked her.
“You guys are joking right? And who the hell are you, posing as my husband?” She questioned the man that came in with the doctor.
“Your husband,” he responded. “I'll be in the car outside waiting. The nurse will bring down once she's done checking your vitals,” he said and left the room.
Alicia turned back to the nurse. “I'm not following that man anywhere. I don't know who he is,” she said. “I can't be pregnant, especially not for that monster” she whimpered, referring to Kelvin - the father of her unborn child.
The nurse placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. “He'll take good care of you.” She assured Alicia and gave her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
She helped her down the stairs of the hospital and guided her down to the car. It was a black SUV with a family crest that she knew all too well. The Millers, a popular family in the city known for their wealth and affluence.
Alicia got in the car and rubbed her hands against her tummy.
“Is the baby kicking already?” He asked her, without sparing her a glance.
Alicia turned to him. “Who are you? What do you want from me?” she asked.
“Xavier,” he answered. “I'm Xavier Miller, your husband.”
Alicia laughed. “You know what? I'm not doing this.” She turned to open the door, but it was locked.
Xavier twisted the car keys and the engine came roaring to life.
“What the hell are you doing?” She barked at him. “I'm gonna call the cops!” She threatened.
He scoffed and handed her his phone. “Go ahead,” he said confidently.
Alicia gulped. She wondered why she was stupid enough to actually get into his car in the first place. She should have fled for her safety the very moment she had the chance, but now she was in the clenches of another monster.
“What do you want from me?” She begged.
“You'll find out soon enough,” he said and drove off.
Alicia was scared, she had been hurt enough by Kelvin, and now she was stuck with a complete stranger claiming to be her husband.
She searched around the car and realized he was with her purse. She couldn't contact anyone, even her grandma, so she closed her eyes and prayed to the heavens to keep her and her unborn child safe.
- Writer
