Enslaved By Him

Chapter 3: The Past Holds You

Hex hated when she had to put her modeling on hold once she started showing around month 5. Not even loose dresses could hide the roundness of her belly anymore.

Though she had quite a bit in her savings, she still wanted a day job while she went on hiatus. Not only would it save her from being bored out of her mind, but it helped her move around.

The job she picked may not have been glamorous, but she enjoyed the fact it was stress free. It was a little hobby store called 'The Gallery' that dealt in tabletop games and trading cards. She dealt mostly with hormonal teenage boys who fantasized about having a chance with her, despite the growing belly.

Keith, her boss, was another story though. They had been flirting for months, though they had never made any initial moves to forward anything beyond their work friendship. He wasn't particularly handsome at first glance, but the more time she spent with him, the more she found him endearing. His dark hair fell in a straight waterfall to his shoulders that were broad, but not exactly tone. He was average height and his fashion style was more of a pop culture t-shirt and jeans. He was simply uncomplicated unlike the father of her child. Her favorite thing about him was his sense of humor. He always had her laughing and they both loved cheesy b-rate horror movies.

No, he was perfectly normal. Easy. And the best thing about him was that he was undeterred that the bun in her oven had a deadbeat father. She refused to think about Dimitri very often. She even went as far as to unfollow him or any trendy hashtags that he was likely to show up in the morning he tossed her out. Any reward ceremonies she was invited to, she turned down because she hadn't wanted to see him. The only image she wanted to even remotely remember was the one of pure shock when she clocked him and even then, nearly seven months later, she barely even thought of that. Dimitri was nothing more than a sperm donor as far as she was concerned.

As Hex grew closer to her due date, Keith absolutely refused to let her pick up even the lightest boxes. He had insisted she take maternity leave, which she refused. Now that she was a week overdue, he was downright hysterical. "Back off, Hex!"

He thrust a finger at her as she went to grab a package the UPS driver left. She sighed and held up her hands in defeat. "I'm pregnant, not terminal, Keith. The box isn't even 5lbs."

Keith frowned and snatched the box from over her shoulder. "Don't you give me attitude woman! I'm your boss so I determine what you can and can't do! And I say you can't! I couldn't win with you over staying home this last month so you deal with it!"

Hex rolled her eyes but smiled as she took her seat at the front counter behind the register just as the front door chimed, notifying her of customers. She could never see who they were at first because there were many bookshelves that hid the front door. The soft chatter that followed told her that it was more than one man. "Welcome to The Gallery guys! Let me know if you need anything!"

She started to get up to greet them, but Keith planted a firm hand on her shoulder and scolded her with a simple look. She had to laugh because he would make a great dad. "Fine, fine! I'm staying here!"

He pointed at her and narrowed his eyes. "You leave that seat and your ass is going home! Test my gangsta' woman!"

She laughed when he swirled his head and snapped his fingers. "I said fine! Go check that in and bring me the paperwork so I can put it in the system."

Satisfied that she wasn't going to budge, Keith disappeared behind the EMPLOYEE ONLY door that led to not only the break area but the back stocked products.

Hex pushed her thick wavy curls back out of her face and turned to look at the two men that entered her store. Unease settled over her immediately. One man looked like he was straight out of the Viking tv show with his blonde hair and beard. He was f*****g massive. Maybe even close to seven feet tall. There was a coldness about him that stole away any potential beauty and made her place her hand over her growing belly in protection.

The other man looked downright pleased with himself. He was the most beautiful Indian man she had ever seen. His facial hair was expertly trimmed to precision and his dark eyes glittered with amusement at the boxes on the shelves. He wore a suit that probably cost more than her car.

What the hell were these two doing here? They clearly were not the usual type to come in here. She frowned as they approached her and for some reason she felt as if they knew her, but she couldn't recall a time she had ever seen them.

"Well hello beautiful." The smaller man said with a dazzling smile. Those perfect pearly whites probably caught many women's attention. It was wasted on Hex.

"Hello boys. Something tells me you're not here for yourselves." She wasted a smile on him like a good customer service representative should even though it made her skin crawl.

The massive one frowned at her and crossed those massive arms. "What makes you say that?"

Hex arched an eyebrow and made an effort to look him up and down. "My usual is age 10-17 who barely understands how basic hygiene works. You both reek of expensive cologne and designer clothes. Not to mention you look like you belong in an action movie instead of my humble little dork shop."

That earned her a small grin from the man. She had a feeling he didn't do it much. "A woman who isn't dumb. That's refreshing."

The smaller man laughed and patted the big man on the shoulder. "He told you she wasn't."

He?

"Who's 'he'?" Hex asked but now a growing suspicion anchored in her gut.

"Why, the father of that precious cargo you're carrying. Dimitri sends his regards but unfortunately he had to leave the country on personal business. My name is-"

She cut off the smaller man because she felt a rage worthy of the god of war. "He's been watching me? Are you f*****g kidding me? After all the s**t he said and did to me?"

The surprise on both of their faces told Hex that neither of them were privy of their friend's cruel words. Or maybe they just hadn't expected her to be angry? If so they were dumb as hell. She was a heavily pregnant woman after all.

"He lowkey called me a w***e twice! The first time was when he tossed money at me the night after he f****d me and the second time was when I tried to tell him I was pregnant SEVEN months ago! Now you're telling me that he's been f*****g stalking me this whole time? Get the f**k out! I told him that night I decked him that I'd raise this baby by myself and I mean it! I don't want nor need someone like him corrupting my child!" By the time she was finished she was nearly screaming.

Keith appeared behind her and she hadn’t even heard him. "Hex is there a problem here?"

She adored how he didn't even sound scared. Keith may not have the money or the muscles these two had, but he wasn't intimated very easily. She never understood where his confidence came from, but she appreciated it. "No. These two were just leaving."

She said it in a tone that told them they had no choice about it. It made the large one grin from ear to ear. "I like you, rabbit."

The smaller man frowned a warning at his friend. "Yes. We were just leaving. We just wanted to let you know Dimitri will be coming home to speak with you soon."

"Dimitri has henchmen to do his bidding now, huh? Well you can tell Dimitri that he can go f**k himself! I don't want anything to do with that asshole! And if he shows up at my job I'll call the police and report him for harassment!" Hex went to toss a small box of cards, but Keith managed to grab her before she could let it launch.

"I think it's time you leave boys." Keith growled it.

The tall one glared daggers at Keith that made her shiver. "See you later."

Then they both just sauntered out faster than they came in. Only when the bell chimed did they both let out a breath they had been holding.

"What the f**k was that about?" Keith laughed nervously which surprised her. He had been scared apparently and this man didn't scare easily.

"Sperm donors friends. f**k! I thought I had put him behind me but it seems he's been f*****g watching me!" She ran her hand through her hair and let out another heavy breath.

"That's called stalking Hex. You need to file a police report." Keith's dad tone made her smile.

"Right, with what evidence? This place doesn't have cameras and even if they would take your word for it, I can't just go and accuse him of f*****g stalking. It would be self sabotage. His fans would eat me alive." Hex curled her arms over the counter and tried to lean down but couldn't because of her belly. She was always forgetting she couldn't do things like that anymore despite the pain and discomfort.

"Fans? What is he like a celebrity or something?" Keith asked with another nervous laugh.

Hex had never told him before exactly who the father was because honestly, she thought she'd never have to. After she last saw Dimitri, she thought that he was behind her. Out of her life forever. She held out her hand. "Give me your phone."

Keith handed it to her without hesitation. He had a two year old model iPhone that ran slower than molasses but he loved the damn thing no matter how much she gave him s**t for it. She pulled up his Nstagram page for the store and searched for Dimitri. It wasn't hard to find. She clicked on his profile and handed the phone back to him without allowing herself to see the most recent photos he had posted. She didn't want to see.

"Jesus Christmas Hex…" Was that fear? "This guy is a celebrity! He works with some of the largest fashion designers! This guy is the father of your baby?" His mouth was open in astonishment which annoyed her.

"Yep. And he's an asshole. Thus why I want nothing to do with him. Fucker thought I was after his money and accused me of lying to him. Said he can't have kids. Which is laughable! The one time I have s*x in over a year and I get knocked up by the 'sterile' jackass!" She rolled her eyes just as her stomach rolled.

"Whoa…" She sucked in a breath, hand on her belly and eyes wide.

"What? Is the baby coming?" His voice went up a few decibels and the hysteria of it would have made her laugh if she hadn't just had another sharp pain that made her cry out.

"I-I don't know. Maybe?" She bit her lip when another wave of pain nearly curled her toes, making her scream.

"STAY THERE! I'LL GRAB THE VAN!" Keith ran to the back to grab his keys just as she felt an explosion of moisture run down her legs.

"Keith?" She yelled back to him.

"I'm hurrying Hex!"

"My water just broke!" She screamed it just as another contraction hit her because that's what it had to be.

"f**k!"

Though she was in pain so intense that she could barely think straight, she felt an overwhelming amount of joy to know that she was about to meet her child. Her son.