2

Throwing back the now lukewarm tea in one gulp, I empty my cup before standing from the chair, and walking past the kitchen island. Apparently, I’m not allowed to use the kitchen stools anymore for I might fall from the two and a half foot high stool and hurt myself all because the skirt of my dress got tangled with the legs of the stool I was sitting on last week, causing me to trip and bump my hip a little against the island. 

I didn’t even try to argue that I’m not that accident prone, I should just be glad it didn’t get me banned from the kitchen again. 

Just as I’m about to place the cup in the sink, Laura appears from somewhere and relieves me of it. “Let me help you Ms. Lola,” she says. 

I don’t try to tell her it is just a cup and I can rinse and put it away myself. It’ll just fall on deaf ears like every other complaint I've made in the past month. 

Also because Maria will give them a hard time when discovered, and she always finds out somehow, if I didn't know better I'd think there were cameras somewhere in this house, and so the girls have found creative ways of getting me to agree the let them do even the littlest things. 

“Thanks, Laura” I give her a soft smile instead which she returns.

Before now, they would let me do little things around the house if I pushed it, but since word of my pregnancy got around the mansion? I’m surprised I am allowed to bathe and feed myself. 

That how bad it is.

Pampered is not even the word. 

At one point Niko even considered moving our rooms from the top floor to the first floor. I reminded him that he renovated the top floor making it a single wing after he became boss because he liked his space. And after insisting I liked our rooms and have gotten used to being in what feels like our own part of the house and didn’t want to move he relented, for now. I wouldn’t be surprised if I woke up one day and saw an elevator though.

It is getting ridiculous.

“I’m going upstairs” I inform no one in particular, bunching the material of my sundress in one hand. As I leave the kitchen, I see Maria quickly hand over what she was doing to Laura to follow me. As I’m no longer allowed to be by myself after getting lost in the garden two weeks before, it is not my fault that the damned thing is built like a maze and I’d didn't think to carry my phone. 

I allow it because Niko had been so distraught when they found me, having rushed home after Maria called him to report I’d been missing. Insisting some pregnant women are prone to nausea, and I could have felt sick, fallen and shattered my head like a coconut, or hurt the baby at some point with no one around to aid me.

It is as though no one believes I can take care of myself anymore.

And Niko almost killed Ivan, as my new guard, he was to have eyes on me or know exactly where I am at all times so there's that. I’m sure wherever Miguel is he’s relieved he doesn’t have to deal with me anymore. 

How things have changed. 

it's only been what, two months? and everything is much the same and very different. I often wonder how much things will change in the months to come.

In our rooms, I open the balcony linked to our bedroom that looks down to the pool. Breathing in some fresh air and scrolling through my contacts with one hand, when I find the name I am looking for, I hit dial.

It rings once, twice, three times, and on and on, I think she’s not going to answer but at the last moment, it clicks and her voice comes through, sounding cool.

“Lola, Good afternoon” My mother-in-law always has a way of giving off an elegant, yet passive-aggressive countenance. I dont know how she's able to achieve it but sometimes, I envy her that.

“Hi Eva, so I wanted to run something by you,” I say skipping the pleasantries, knowing she wouldn’t mind. 

“Okay, what is it?” Does she sound skeptical?

I put it plainly “I want to work” 

She scoffed over the line “Pardon?” 

“Work, you know, be productive” I gesture with my hand that isn't holding my phone to my ear though she can’t see me. 

There is a few seconds of silence as she processed my idea. “What did Niko say about this?” 

I take a deep breath running my fingers through my loose hair, “Haven’t told him yet. I just thought about it, and I need your help” 

“No, you don’t, because he’s going to say no and rightly so” her tone is sharp. Once again, both she and Gianna are on the same page, and I have to silently wonder, how? They aren’t even friends, it is amazing how they sound alike sometimes. 

While Eva has no friends in particular, the women in the family try to stay on her good side. 

“And why would he do that? Niko is very supportive, you of all people know that” I felt the need to remind her after the previous capo passed, Niko give her a building and helped her move out. 

He freed her. 

“He has always let me do whatever I wanted so long as it doesn’t get in the way of my duties, why would this be any different?” 

Eva loses a loud breath through the speaker before saying“This is different Lola and you know it”

“How so? Hmm?” 

“Simple. You are his wife, for you to work would seem as though he is incapable of providing for you” 

I roll my eyes at the notion, of course, it always has to come down to the inane rules of the family “Niko doesn't care much what people think and-“ 

“What brought about this?” she cuts me off “You already have a job, Lola” 

“And what is that?” So help me God if she said be a good wife to your husband I will scream. 

“Being a mother. Should be starting in about a few months” 

I groaned out loud, “Eva! Not you too. I’m pregnant, not invalid, I can still do things” I try to explain. 

The week that followed my eventful return from Chicago, I dont know if it was the trauma I want through of my brain just needed the confirmation of pregnancy, and morning sickness became a thing as though a switch flipped in my hormones. Thankfully nothing too extreme, and I could still keep food down after taking the ginger tea my mama sent over religiously every morning.

But I’ve felt better in these last few days, no morning sickness whatsoever, just an increase in appetite, all my appetite, Niko was pleased with the new development though, sometimes, we don’t make it to our room before I’m already undoing his buckle and pulling his hips between my legs.

She goes on talking like I didn't say anything “When the child comes, you’ll be so busy you won’t have time for yourself. That’s a full-time job on its own” 

“I know I will be busy when the baby is here. But what about now?” the birth is still five months away, I can’t keep this up for five months, staying in the mansion every damn day, I don’t care how large and beautiful the house is. 

I will go crazy.

I am healthy, the baby is healthy, Dr. Andrea is here every week to make sure of that, and my health is not in any danger whatsoever. I dont get why everyone insists on treating me like a child that is unaware of her own capacity. 

"Come on Eva, I am asking for your help this time" 

“How about this, discuss it with Niko first. Then you can start planning. But I think we both know that is not going to happen” 

I frown as doubt swerves in me, Eva is often right about a lot of things, she is experienced, and has a way about these things, I’ve taken her advice on how to handle what is expected of me numerous times “Way to kill a girl's dream, Eva. Thank you very much” the snide in my voice can be heard from a mile away.

“I try, have a good afternoon,” she says cooly and hangs up.

“Rude” I glare at my phone for a moment before slipping it into my dress pocket. 

No wonder the wives in the family think she’s a bitch, at least they only think I’m a snob, somedays I don’t know which is better? They would never say it to our faces but I see it in every smile and polite laugh. The well wishes and air kisses when I am in their presence.

Eva, is always happy to give as good as she gets, telling me the ones to watch out for even after greeting them as though they were long-lost sisters. At least the invitations for wine and cakes stopped coming after a while, and when necessary Eva is always happy to attend on my behalf like last month, one of the prominent families welcomed a son. As Capo's wife, I should have at least paid them a visit by now with gifts but I'm staying away from public eyes due to my condition so Eva stepped in for me.

Slipping my phone into my pocket, I lower onto one of the lounge chairs needing to think for a bit, I cannot deny that Gianna and Eva made valid points, doesn't change what I want though and I know I can make this work, I know I can. 

The question is would I be able to do it without getting help, Eva seems to have washed her hands, she doesn't even want to know the ideas I have. 

Not five minutes later, a yawn escapes me and my eyes begin to drop, I’ve things to do, plans to make, and I’ll do that, after a short nap. 

Yeap.

Just thirty minutes of shut-eye, then I'll do some research on how to start a business, and event planning as a whole, I will be needing all the information I can get if want to do this. I cross the short distance to the bed, toeing off my sandals, I crawl to the head before sliding under the covers, I remove my phone from my pocket, tossing it on the nightstand before settling on a pillow.

I’ll probably need lawyers and permits I think…? You always need one for starting a business.

But I got this, I think, a small smile on my lips as my eyes fall closed.