Desdemona
I shut my eyes tightly,my hands remained clasped as I murmered my third Hail Mary. That was followed by a direct statement of my prayer.Prayer works. It always does. I let out a low breathe and flutter my eyes open.Prayer always works,except for this time and the other time.The results slapped me on the face for being reckless.I stared at the kit in my hand. It stared back.Positive. It's the fourth one this week and it still reads positive.I had plans on taking seven tests just to confirm but I think I have had enough proof to know I am pregnant.I drop my body to the floor and bring my knees to my chest, hugging them.If only I had stayed at the countryside then this would have never happened. A night with my boss would have never occured and his seed would not be growing inside of me.A knock comes. "Princess,your phone."I groan and hide the kit behind my back. "Come in,mother."I had zero energy to argue about the name at the moment."Hello." I pick up without checking the callers ID."I just realized that your name is Ariel." The familiar voice came from the other side but I still pulled the gadget from my ear to check.Yap! My boss.I burry my face into my hands."Yes." I reply not knowing what else I was supposed to say."Like princess Ariel?""What? No. I…" why did he even call me to discuss my name."Okay." And the line went silent.My hands curl around my stomach as I shut my eyes again and allow the memories off my mistake wash over me.__________One month agoTalk about the worst timing,his death was that.Out of all the days my father's soul decided to leave his body,it choose two days before the day I was to report to work. Hence the man's funeral was rushed and we postponed our mourning.Mother did not cry,not in front of me at least. But I knew she would do it sooner or later.I on the other hand was furious about his departure because how dare he. How dare he leave us before I got a job to be able to work on his funeral.Now,it's the day I am supposed to be reporting to work and everything is moving so slow.The car we hired seemed to be fighting itself. Occasionally it would stop and after much begging it would start again.Till it decided not to. Now here we yare,stuck in the middle of a road I only treaded once per year as I accompanied my father to his work.Never did I ever dream of moving from the serene countryside to the loud city,but,life happens. And after it happens,the next role is ours to play.I breathe in deeply and huff air through my mouth."Fix it." I get off and push my hair back. "You have to fix it." The driver whose name I was not familiar with got off. My mother followed."It will take hours to…"No. No. No.If I fail to report on time and it's the first day,I'd be messed up. I might even loose the job.This is bad. Real bad.I got to the other side of the road. My hand outstretched infront of me whenever a car came into sight.Four cars passed without any of them stopping. An hour has gone just like that. I glance at my wrist watch and start pacing up and down.Half an hour remaining for me to get to work. Half an hour with no car in sight.I squat and burry my face in my hands.I'm done for it.I hear honking from afar but don't bother to stand.Next thing I knew was my mother yanking me up while screaming in my ears."Okay. Okay." I push against her grip."Hello ladies."My mom tucked hair behind her ear. "Hello good sir."And just Iike that we got oursellvea lift to the city. I was dropped off at the company where the man was also going.I bid mother and rushed inside.Getting to the glass door,I stopped for a minute to level my breathe.In and out. I pushed the door and walked over to the reception area."Hello,I'm Desdemona Ariel…"The lady on the other side stood in a rush wthheer palm held out to me. "You're late." She snapped already on her feet.I followed her without a word. Shee took two lefts and came to a stop. The room was packed with men only. They were all in suits. A man approached us with a card,he handed it to me.I thanked him and we were off again.At the elevator,she pressed on 20.Great. I have a fear of heights and I'll be working on the twentieth floor.Amazing."You know what is expected of you,right?"It was all in the description and the last email I had received. "Yes.""Good." She walked out and I followed. She slid the white door open.Making sure her eyes were not on me, dusted off my feet and rushed after her in the modest way possible."Mr. Raven will be here in.." she looks at her watch. "A few minutes." With that,she walks out.I let out a sigh as I watched the door close.I don't think a manager should be here at this moment but, different companies, different rules.Maybe he wants to welcome me and tell me how he expects the best and nothing less.I take the time to examine the office that was fitted for me and my mother perfectly. The space is larger than the apartment we just rented. Books rested on the shelves and I wondered if he read them or kept them there for the sake.Glancing at the street through the glass, someone cleared his throat behind me.I turned and swallowed."Sir?" Shit. I did not mean to squeak."I see you've made yourself at home,lady Golding."I swallowed. "Um," I outstretched my arm to greet him.Not a professional move but it couldn't be unddone.He gave my hand a nasty stare and I dropped it by my side.He went behind his desk. "The keys are at the front office."My heart started beating faster. So this work comes with a car. I could use one because I've never owned any.I bowed. "Thank you,sir."He blinked. "For what?""The keys…" I laughed. "You're a generous man. I promise to do my best."He frowned. Then his muscles relaxed. "The keys to my car."My face went blank.There must be some misunderstanding. "Why would I need your car keys." And as an afterthought I added, "sir?""You do know what you were hired to do,right?""Yes. The manager of the…""My personal assistant. You do what I tell you to do."_______________And that is how I ended up working for my asshole of a boss whom I'm now carrying his child.EttieneShe was running late,again. The third time this week. I glanced at the clock as i fished for my phone.Soon as I dialed her number the door unlocked and there she was."Why does it seem like you are putting in major efforts to not look miserable?"She slid it close. "Because I am." She hurried behind her desk and got to work."You are meeting with your parents at the Lacasa hotel,and no,you cannot cancel or postpone this one." She announced not lifting her head from her work.Odd.She has not thrown me a nasty glare,not even once. Her eyes have not made 360 degrees turn and she hasn't looked to the side trying to buy time as she weighed her words.After long hours of silence. I close my tabs. "What is going on?"She lifted her head but averted my eyes. "With what sir?"The word sir rolled off smoothly from her mouth,it never does."With us."She sighs and takes off her glasses,which by the way,she has never worn. "There is no us,sir."The stress on the last part signified that
DesdemonaHe abused his power by commanding me to accompany him to his date. I sat next to him across from Myra who did not appreciate my presence.Of all the places to take your first date,he chose a club. Myra did not seem bothered by his choice so I guess I should not dwell on it.But seriously if you are taking a woman on a date then you should do something pleasant,a restaurant for example. Like they do in the movies."What do you do?" I ask her when Etienne looked like he had no intention of starting a conversation."I'm a model."I waited for more but she was done. Just that?"Is it enough? I mean,to pay the bills and all that."She chuckled and focused on Ettiene. "Where did you get her? She is so not your class." Etienne stopped swirling his drink and lifted his head."Say it again." His voice was the She covered her mouth and chuckled. When his gaze did not fall,she dropped her hand and took a sip of her drink.This is going to be a long night. I choose to occupy my mind w
DesdemonaMy gaze pierces through my mother, shooting daggers at her. She on the other hand was fiddling with the hospital's sheets. My body was trembling and the more I looked at her the more agitated I felt.I swallowed hard then opened my mouth to speak. The words formed in my head but refused to leave my lips. I tried again and ended up with a heavy sigh.The doctor walked in and assured me that mother is okay and she can go home.I called an Uber and the whole drive was spent in utter silence.Upon arrival,she took everything she had ordered to her room and came to the small living room. "Stop pacing up and down like that,you're making me dizzy."I scoff and roll my eyes."You had the audacity to spend almost all out money on designer clothes and bags,mother." It took all my energy to not scream at her."What? If you want to get a rich man,you must look rich yourself."I pinch my nose bridge while biting on my lower lip. "A rich,are you even…I'm so done with you."My eyes catc
DesdemonaEttiene decided he wants to have steak at this hour of the day so here we are at a restaurant, having steak.My heart is thumping against my chest. I rub my palm on my chest in an attempt to calm down but nothing. The father to my child is seated across from me and he does not know.I sigh and–"That's the fourth time you are sighing like that." He commented. "You okay?"Of course I am not okay.My brain is running in circles trying to pick a side. I could call my mother but then,I am not ready for an hour of preaching.I could tell Ettiene about the child. On that there are only two things that can happen. Either he says he will take responsibility or he refuses.The other option is to abort. In which I could lose my life together with the tiny thing.Oh and the last one,to ask him for money. The one he was offering after…I shake my head. Surely younger me would be ashamed of the thought itself."I need to tell you something."He put down the fork he was holding and focuses
DesdemonaI could feel mother's glare on me from where I was lying in bed."You are still beautiful so get out of that bed and go get yourself a rich man." She pulls the covers off my face. "Or a job because these bills are not going to pay themselves."I had informed her of me quitting my job and now here we are."Mom,leave me to rot away." I pull the blankets over me.She heaves a sigh and I feel the weight shift on the bed."You've only been in bed for a few hours." She uncovers me and wraps the blanket around herself such that I was unable to snatch it.I sit upright. "Tell me what happened.""I quit."She laughs then stops and frowns. 'wait. You're serious." Her eyes searches my face. "You are really serious."That's the first thing I said when I walked in here. Now I have repeated it and she still doesn't believe me.She jumps to her feet as if the news has bit her. "No. No." She is everywhere around the room and I'm starting to get dizzy.She stops. "No,dear. You are going to g
Five years later…Ettiene"What I don't understand is why we need an heir." I try to state as simply as possible.Father,opened flipped through the papers before him. I groan internally and shifted my weight on the couch. Sitting here is making me more nervous than our company's state is.From what is happening,I can proudly say that the marriage was pointless. Mr.David,who is Myra's father suddenly pulled out. She is unaware of it till now even though it had happened an year ago.My whole self wants to tell her so I can get to more important stuffs like finding Desdemona. Father on the other hand insists that she should not know.He finally lifts his head. "I'm growing old."I wait for him to continue but after sn outstretched pause,it was clear that he was done.'Why can't you adopt,like you did me?' The thought never leaves my lips to his ears. "What's the purpose of a child when the parents are not ready to care for it?"He sighs. A deep,long sigh that told me he was getting impa
DesdemonaOkay,whoever said parenting is a fun thing to do and you'll enjoy it is a liar. A huge one at that.I have a four year old chikd,whose to turn five soon and I am honestly losing my mind.Maybe I have already lost it."Molly,come on,you are going to be late for school.""Mommy,it's too early." She peeks to the clock flashing the bright red color. "It's only six!" She whines.She has learnt how to tell the time at such an early age and I don't know of I should be glad…if I should be,I am not. "Come one. Mommy has to go get you money for that new bag you want." Apparently has taken after my mother when it comes to spending.I call her nanny."Take care of her."I have a minute with a client and I am getting late. It's intentional so no worries."Yes,mom." She replies heading to the closet to pick out her clothes.I kiss Molly's forehead. "Bye, sweet cheeks."She chuckles and mumbles an 'eew' before covering her head."Love you,mommy." I hear her voice as I locked the door.I br
EttieneNo fucking way.Mm Mm. No way in hell. No way back to earth.She is not the owner of this company,she cannot be. I mean,she can,women can do things but…this?! Nope.I am not going to get help from her.Father received his phone while he was in the middle of a hearty conversation. His laughter filled my ear and it only acted as fuel to the anger boiling at my pits.How dare he be happy and all that."Her?! My personal assistant?""What?Uh,her. She is not your personal assistant anymore. She seiezed being that years ago.""This ain't happening." I was pacing along the corridor earning a few glances from the workers.I turned my face to the wall. "There must be another way.""I found that one for you. Go ahead and find another one if you can,Ettiene. But remember,time is running out."The energy was building up inside of me. My muscles felt tense and my body was so heavy I could offer it to another person to help me carry it.Time is running out…time for what. It was his idea t