Congratulations

“Get the proposal ready for Mr Khanna” Melanie ordered handing some files to Tiana

“Mrs Blackstone, our teammates are already into that

“Tell Joe to —” Preston opened her office door which took their attention to him

“Melanie, we need to talk.”

“Tiana, please leave us,” I ordered, looking at Preston.

“I’m sorry for what I said yesterday,” he apologized, walking toward my desk.

“Don’t come closer.”

“Melanie, I’m—”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. You were right. I don’t have a problem with you and Irena having sex.”

“You should.”

“Well, I don’t.”

“Mel—”

“Close the door,” I said, looking at the widely open door.

Preston walked to close the door. As he walked to the door, I immediately dialed Jethro’s number. As he answered, I hung up and dropped my phone on the table.

“Irena’s not my girlfriend,” he said as he came back.

“I don’t care.”

“About the pregnancy, it’s a—” My mobile phone began to ring, and he looked at me, his attention now on the caller. I knew who the caller was. All I wanted to do was pick it up.

“Handsome devil?” he muttered as I picked up my phone.

“Who’s that?” he asked.

“None of your business,” I said before picking up.

“Baby—” His eyes widened as he heard me say that.

“Baby? Melanie, are you sick?”

“C’mon, baby, I’m already missing you a lot,” although Preston wasn’t hearing what the caller was saying, he knew who it was — Jethro.

“You’d—”

“I can’t wait to come home to you, especially how you drilled me last night. I want it tonight too.”

“You’re going crazy?”

“Your touch drives me crazy.”

“I’ll send the doctor to your office.”

“No, I want you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, why don’t you pick me up from the office?”

“You want me to pick you up?”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

“Mel—”

“I love you.” I didn’t wait for a response before hanging up, my eyes never leaving Preston’s face.

“That’s Jethro. He’s such a sweet man, he can’t stay a moment without me,” I grinned.

“You—”

“He’ll be here any moment from now.”

“I thought you hated him?”

“I used to.”

“Yesterday, I—”

“After what you said yesterday, I decided to give our relationship a chance. What’s wrong with that?” I lied.

“Everything’s wrong. Did you have sex with him?”

“Yes. He’s my husband. It’s normal for married couples.”

“Go and take care of Irena and your unborn child.”

“I’ll make her terminate it.”

“The baby isn’t at fault.”

“Mel—”

“Please leave,” I pointed at the door.

“You’ll—”

“Get outta here,” I half yelled, and he left angrily.

***

In moments, Jethro’s car entered the building and stopped at the parking lot. Entering the building, I was already standing there looking at him.

I knew Preston was watching me. I’d gotten to keep up my words and make Preston believe that I’d started having feelings for Jethro.

“Baby,” I yelled, grinning, and scuttled toward him and kissed him on the lips, but he didn’t respond to it.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low like a whisper. “We’ll go to the hospital — I think something’s wrong with you.”

“I’m perfectly okay.” I caressed his cheek with both my hands. “Let’s go home.”

***

I couldn’t say a word as he drove us back home. I looked at him through the side of my eye. Where had I found the courage to do all that? How would I explain things to him? He wasn’t even looking at me.

Although he acted like he didn’t care to know why I’d done that, the truth was he really wanted to know. Calling him baby had been unusually surprising to him, and talking about his touch — which I hated the most — probably made him think I was mentally unstable.

He looked at me through the front mirror, and the silence made everything feel awkward.

As he stopped the car, I hurriedly went into the house, not wanting to talk, because I was totally blank on any excuse I could give if he turned to ask me about my strange behavior.

“Melanie, what’s—” he tried asking as he got inside the room.

“I’ll freshen up,” I scurried to the bathroom.

“Mel—” I closed the door behind me.

***

I woke up that morning feeling weak and sleepy, although I’d slept early to avoid Jethro’s questions. I’d never felt this way in my entire life. I rested my head on the desk in my office, wanting to take a rest. I just couldn’t control myself — I wanted to go home and rest, but couldn’t, because of a weakness I didn’t know the cause of.

I heard footsteps coming toward me but was too weak to lift my head to see who it was.

“Why don’t you take a rest at home?” Melissa asked. Hearing her voice, I brought my head up slowly.

“Melissa,” I smiled. “What brings you here?”

“Do I need a reason to see my baby sis?” she asked nonchalantly.

“Not really.”

“Melanie, are you okay?” she asked worriedly, seeing how dull I looked.

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” I nodded.

“It’s almost lunchtime. Let’s have lunch together.”

“I’m fagged.”

“C’mon, Mel,” she insisted.

“Fine.” I sluggishly stood up and left the office for a nearby restaurant.

“Waiter,” Melissa called for the waiter’s attention. He walked over and handed us the menu.

“Just pickles,” Melissa ordered, and turned to look at me.

“Uhmmm—” Just then another waiter passed with a tray of dishes. “I’m feeling queasy.” I immediately closed my mouth and ran to the restroom. Melissa followed behind me.

I began throwing up, and Melissa held my hair behind my ear while stroking my back.

“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.

“I’m just feeling nauseous,” I answered.

“Just that?”

“Weak and sleepy,” I added. Melissa grinned.

“Why are you smiling?” I asked, muddled.

***

It had been an hour already since Melissa took me to see a gynecologist. The doctor hadn’t come out yet since she ran some tests. I was beginning to get anxious.

Melissa had told me that I might be pregnant, but I refused to accept it, saying it couldn’t be possible. I was becoming more anxious with every passing second. Just then the door yanked open and the doctor walked in with the reports in her hand.

“What does it say?” The doctor walked over and sat behind her desk with a grin.

“Congratulations — you’re two months pregnant.” Her words hit me like an arrow.

Melissa collected the report and scanned it with her eyes.

“Congrats!” Melissa pulled me into a hug, not minding my shocked expression. “Thanks, doc. We’ll take our leave.”

“Get this drug at the hospital’s pharmacy — it’ll help in reducing her weakness, and in case of any complications, since it’s her first pregnancy,” she said, handing Melissa a note.

“Thanks.”