Chapter Three

Vivian’s POV

 It's been a month since the one night stand with a total stranger and my shocking breakup with Sam. I had not healed completely, but I had no choice but to continue living.

My mom kept asking me about Sam, hoping to help us with our wedding. I could tell how happy she was to see her little girl get a man who could protect her and stay with her forever. And the happiness in her face just stopped me from telling her the truth every time I wanted to.

But recently she planned to meet Sam’s parents. It’s getting harder to cover this thing. Just imagining their expressions after knowing the truth would break my heart. Why did life treat me so harshly?

I was still drowning in my thoughts when my team leader came to my seat. She threw down a bunch of files and asked me to sort them out by the end of the day. Hell, that’s not even my job!

I could feel some of my colleagues snickering, but I wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. I took the papers in silence, but the smell of her perfume made me frown.

Was her perfume always so strong?

Suddenly I felt nauseous. It had happened a few times in the past week too, but I was to busy to pay serious attention to my personal feelings. I had been ignoring my health check, but it seemed obvious that I wasn't feeling too well.

At first, I assumed it was the ongoing demands of work that was weakening me out, but suddenly I found myself feeling extremely exhausted and nauseous very often. Despite my ailing condition, I still continued to work.

The scent of my team leader's perfume really got to me this time and I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, this time harder than I had felt before. I fainted at my desk while my colleagues looked on in shock. They quickly called an ambulance, and rushed me to the hospital.

At the hospital, the doctor ran a number of tests before finally announcing, "Congratulations ma'am, the test results show you're four weeks pregnant."

When I heard this pronouncement, I felt fear creep onto my spines. I knew for sure who was responsible, even though I had no idea how to locate him yet.

The doctor recommended that I take necessary steps to take care of myself and the unborn baby, advising me to start taking prenatal vitamins, eating healthily and taking it easy at work.

I was more of an introvert, having no close friends, so I basically decided to keep the news to myself until it becomes undeniably evident.

*****

Lucas's POV

"How's the company going, my dear?" She asked.

"Everything is fine, mum," I assured her.

I've been on the phone with my mum since I left my house, now I'm almost at the company and the conversation didn't seem to be ending.

"That reminds me, Lucas, how far about what I spoke to you about?" She started.

I already knew what she was talking about. No conversation ended between us without she hammering on the same one issue.

"Mum, I have no idea what you're talking about." I feigned.

"Yes you have an idea, Lucas. When are you going to bring home a girl?" I could literally see her frown in my head.

"Very soon, ma. Don't worry, very soon." I assured. "I have to go now, I'm at the office already. Bye ma." I rushed the words and quickly hung up. I knew if I didn't do that, she wasn't gonna stop talking.

Standing in front of the company, I looked in wonder at my creation. It had taken just a few years to build this company from the scratch up to this level and I applaud myself everyday for that.

Most of the time, I preferred working from home, overseeing the affairs without necessarily needing to move so much as a finger. But today I decided to visit the company, give myself time outside the confines of my luxurious house.

I walked in and was welcomed by my personal assistant who promptly walked me through my schedules and appointments for the day. I attested to some and cancelled majority of the meetings I had for the day.

"Sir, something of interest happened today. I thought you'd need to know." My personal assistant, Jane said as I walked into my office.

"What is it that you can't handle?" I raised a brow. I didn't need to be troubled with unnecessary details.

"One of our staff at the HR department fainted today and was rushed to the company's hospital." She explained.

"Okay, um, how is he now? Is he back to work?" I asked, feeling concerned.

"It's a she actually, her name is Vivian."

That name rang a bell, and immediately I remembered where i had heard the name. That crazy one night stand girl. The description from Jane matches perfectly and I was surprised to find out she actually works under me. Imagine her own surprise when she finds out the same thing, I was amused.

"Anyways, hope she's fine?" I inquired.

"Sir, the doctor confirmed that she is one month pregnant."

"Umm.. Okay... So how is her personal life anybody's concern?" I eyed Jane.

It didn't occur to me that a crazy unprecedented one night stand would result into complications such as this, but Jane took time in narrating to me and truly it was clear that the pregnancy belonged to me.

But, that doesn't mean I was ready for such responsibility yet.

"Jane, find a way to take care of this issue. I do not need anything disturbing me presently." I issued.

"Sir, this is your child we're talking about, I mean...."

I cut her short. "Would you raise the baby yourself then, since you care so much?"

"I'm sorry sir," she stopped talking.

"Pay her off to take care of the child herself, offer her money to get rid of it. Something, anything, I don't care!" I half yelled.

With a wave of my hand, I dismissed Jane and sat there lost in thoughts for more than 30 minutes.

I was brought back to reality by the ringtone of my phone. It was my mom. Again. Second phone call in less than six hours, I was getting suspicious.

"Hello ma." I said as l picked up the call.

"Lucas, please leave whatever you are doing and come see me right away. It is urgent." My mum's voice sounded troubled.

I was worried, what could have happened to her within a few hours that we just finished speaking on the phone?

I hung up and immediately rushed out, heading to her place. As I passed, I could see a smile on Jane's face, more like a feeling of accomplishment. I had no idea what it was for, and I didn't stick around to know why.

*****

The journey from my company to my parents house generally took 35 minutes, but I was there in twenty. Rushing in, I met my mum seated comfortably watching a television series on Zeeworld.

"Mum, what happened? Why would you scare me that way!" I raised my voice. I was becoming calm now that I knew she was actually okay.

"Who is she?" My mum's face beamed with joy, like she had won the lottery.

"Who's who?" I asked confused.

"Just a few minutes before I called you, your personal assistant called me and informed me that you had impregnated a girl. Who is she?" She asked again.

"Oh jeez, Jane!" I said slapping my face. Now it occurred to me what her smiles earlier meant. She must have called my mum to narrate the whole scenario to her. That snitch! I made a mental note to sack her the moment I return back to the office.

"It's nothing, mum. Must be some false allegations" I tried covering up for myself.

"I need to see her, Lucas. I want to see her, you have to bring her to me. I want her to live with you, so she can be well cared for until she put to bed." Mum spoke so fluently. I could read the firmness in her voice, it was as if she had plotted this whole scenario out personally long before now.

"Never!" I exclaimed. "Never will it be heard that a bastard child grew up in my house." I protested.

My mum gazed at him with a frown, obviously determined to get what she wants. She picked up her phone and started dialling a number.

"No problem then, if you can't do as I ask, I guess I'll just call Monique and explain to her that her boyfriend had inpregnated another girl in a one night stand episode." She threatened.

"Jeez, stop it!" I shouted and hurriedly collected the phone from her hand.

No, Monique must not know. I knew for certain that she'd break up with me immediately she got the news, and I really love her.

"If you do not want Monique to know about it, then bring this pregnant girl home. She needs to be taken care of properly." Mum pressed on.

Her threats were deadly and exact, I knew that for sure. I stood still contemplating which move would be smarter - bringing in a stranger with some unknown pregnancy under my roof, or risking my girlfriend finding out that I had a one night stand behind her back.

After a good number of seconds in silence, I finally spoke.

"Fine, if that's what you want. I'll bring her home but on one condition. After delivery, she leaves! Monique would be coming back in two years time, so this miracle pregnant girl has to be gone before then. Deal?" I offered.

"Whatever." My mum muttered.

I gazed at the ceiling aimlessly, wondering what in the world I'd gotten myself into. I was at a loss for words and didn't know what to do. My whole life just got complicated.