My Boss’s Desire

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Serena

I ran to my room and locked the door. I sank to the floor, trembling as I wondered what would happen next. If I lost my job, my mother and siblings would be affected.

Why couldn’t I be normal? Why did I have to produce milk and be the only person Noah would accept food from?

I was still trying to make sense of everything when I heard a knock at the door. I got to my feet and stared at the entrance, still frightened.

“Serena, the doctor is here, and I need your help,” Augusto said in a calm voice. For a moment, I forgot that just minutes ago, he had been furious and seemed ready to fire me without a second thought.

Reluctantly, I opened the door and waited for him to come in. Augusto was holding a small bottle in his hands.

“I need you to express some milk for the test,” he explained, still watching me.

I simply nodded and took the bottle from him. I was about to close the door when he wedged his foot between the door and the frame, stopping me. Then he stepped into the room and looked at me.

“Sir, I need you to leave so I can do that,” I asked, gesturing toward the door.

“I have to stay. What if you switch the milk?” He sat down in an armchair, keeping his eyes on me.

“Sir, I’ve never done this in front of anyone before.”

He made no move to leave. He simply continued staring at me.

I glanced around and spotted the canopy surrounding my bed. At least the fabric was thick enough to keep him from seeing my breasts.

“Could I at least stay behind the curtain?” I asked, pointing toward it. “You’ll still be able to see my hands moving, and I’ll have a little privacy.”

I looked at him like a condemned woman pleading for one last meal.

“Just get it over with.”

He gave his approval but remained seated, still watching me.

I sat on the bed and pulled the curtain closed, concealing my body. I took a deep breath, but my hands were trembling like never before.

“You can do this, Serena,” I whispered to myself.

I had to get through this and make sure I kept my job.

I unbuttoned my blouse and exposed one breast. I positioned the bottle and began stimulating my breast, trying to get the milk flowing as quickly as possible. I wanted this embarrassing situation to be over with.

I prayed everything would work out, that I would keep my job, and, most importantly, that I would be able to continue helping Noah.

Once I had collected enough milk in the bottle, I covered my breast, buttoned my blouse, and went over to Augusto, handing him the container.

“All right. Let’s go to my room. The doctor is waiting there.”

I simply nodded and followed him.

As I climbed the stairs, I silently thanked God that we hadn’t run into anyone along the way. I wouldn’t have known how to explain the situation to Teresa or the other nannies. This could even change the way they saw me. Maybe they would start thinking I was some kind of monster for trying to nurse a child who wasn’t mine.

When I entered the room, I spotted a middle-aged doctor. Noah was in his crib, playing with his tiny hands.

Augusto handed the bottle to the doctor.

“Augusto, I’ll analyze the milk and send you the results by tonight,” he said, sealing the container and labeling the sample.

“How is Noah, Doctor?” I asked anxiously, my nerves getting the better of me. My palms were sweating, and I discreetly tried to wipe them on my pants.

“He’s doing well. He’s healthy. The milk hasn’t caused any apparent side effects, and he looks better than he did during his previous examinations.” The doctor put away his belongings before continuing. “Depending on the results of the analysis, I believe you can continue feeding him this way. It could be beneficial for him.”

I sighed with relief, feeling my body finally relax.

“Doctor, why do I produce milk?” I asked, taking advantage of his presence. “I’ve never been pregnant or had sex.”

I was hopeful that he might have an answer.

The doctor paused what he was doing and looked at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Augusto watching us as well, his usual serious expression firmly in place.

“This can happen to some women because of hormonal changes,” he explained calmly. “It’s called galactorrhea, which is the production of breast milk outside of pregnancy or breastfeeding.”

I hadn’t even known the condition had a name. I was surprised to learn that it did.

“Is it harmful?” I asked anxiously, hoping it was something harmless.

“Not necessarily. But it’s important that you undergo a medical evaluation so we can investigate the cause.”

I nodded. He closed his bag and looked at both Augusto and me before continuing.

“If you continue breastfeeding Noah, the stimulation may maintain your milk production. That’s why you both need to think about what you want to do.”

His words left me deep in thought.

“I’ll send you the results in a few hours. If you need anything, I’m available, Augusto.”

Augusto shook the doctor’s hand and nodded.

“Thank you, Doctor. I’ll wait for the results.”

He left the room with the doctor.

I remained there, thinking about everything that had happened. If I continued breastfeeding Noah, I would probably keep producing milk. On the other hand, if I stopped nursing him and sought treatment, perhaps I wouldn’t have to worry about wet blouses or embarrassing situations anymore.

The problem was that Noah might go hungry again.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice someone approaching me. When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I jumped in fright and clapped my hands over my mouth to stifle a scream.

“Easy. It’s just me,” Augusto said, stepping in front of me.

I pressed one hand to my chest and tried to steady my breathing.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Let’s wait for the results, and then we’ll talk about what to do.”

There was genuine regret in his voice over having startled me.

“All right. I’m going back to my room to rest for a while. Please call me as soon as the results come in,” I asked.

I was afraid something might be wrong with my milk and that it could pose a risk to Noah. My heart felt heavy, and my mind was making more noise than New York City traffic.

“I’ll call you. Get some rest, and then we’ll talk.”

He walked over to Noah, and I simply nodded before returning to my room.

I lay down on the bed and thought about everything that had happened, all the possibilities that might unfold from that point on, and how I would deal with each one of them.