6~Zachary

I was tired, really tired. My trip has drained me so much, I just wanted to sleep and not do anything else. But of course I had to be in the office because it was necessary.

I had been working for a few hours when a knock came through. I scowled. I had specifically told my secretary to not let anyone disturb me.

"Come in!" I said and with curious eyes I watched the door to see whoever was behind it.

To my greatest surprise, it was Hannah. Wait, Hannah? I got on my feet in reflex. She had never been here before so there had to be something wrong.

"Hi." She waved, giving me a blank stare.

"What are you doing here?"

"I have something to discuss with you." She barely spared me a glance as she said so. Something had to be really wrong at this point.

I offered her a seat and went over to sit down on mine, eagerly awaiting her words despite having an expressionless face on.

"Here," she stretched a folder over to me. "I need you to sign these."

"What are these?" I slowly took the folder and opened it.

"Divorce papers."

"What made you change your mind?" As far as I knew, she wanted this marriage to work at all costs so what suddenly changed the narrative?

"Facts." Came her clipped reply.

I was more than happy than she wanted to end this sham of a marriage and though I'd miss our time together, it would do us both good to go our separate ways.

I opened the folder and brought out the pile of papers, grabbing my pen to do the needful. Just as I flipped through the first page, something stood out. It looked like an ultrasound. I picked it up reluctantly and examined it.

"That isn't supposed to be in there!" She exclaimed, trying it to grab it from me. I didn't let her have it.

She shut her eyes and groaned, "Marv..."

"What is this?" I asked.

"It's nothing. Just forget it." She shook her head and tried to take it out of my hand. I glanced at it again.

"Wait a minute. Hannah are you pregnant?" I asked with wide eyes.

She did not respond for several seconds. "Yes I am." She eventually replied.

I licked my suddenly chapped lips, “Is it mine?"

She scoffed and glared furiously at me. "Oh you think of me as some whore now because I let you touch me whenever you want?"

"What? That's not what I meant, I just-"

She raised her palm, "Save it, Zachary." Letting out a sigh of resignation, she said, “Yes I'm pregnant, the child is yours and I want a divorce."

"Why?!" I found myself yelling expressing a lot more emotion than I had intended.

"Well, because this marriage is an absolute waste of time. I can't continue like this and I want the best for my child."

"Our child." I emphatically stated.

"Sign those papers Zachary." She gritted out.

"Would you have told me?" I questioned her, looking straight into her eyes.

"Maybe." She didn’t blink.

"I need a direct answer, Hannah."

She huffed, "Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't have. Can you just sign those papers so I can get on with my life?"

"No." I closed the document and put in back in its folder. "I'm not letting you leave with my child. I have a responsibility-"

She cut my sentence short once again with an eye roll, "Don't be so dramatic. Now you want to act like the hero? Now you realize you have a responsibility towards me?" She shook her head in disbelief. “Just a minute ago, you were so excited to be free from me after getting all you wanted. Someone to warm your bed after a long day." She forced a chuckle.

Letting out a sigh, she gave me a pointed look before ending her speech, "Now because I'm pregnant you still don't want to let me be happy."

"Hannah think about our families." I said in a plea.

"Our families?! Did you think about them when you ignored me for more than half a year since you married me? Did you?!”

She had me stunned to silence. The way guilt seeped into my veins after that outburst was unlike something I had ever imagined.

She released a breath before staring back at me again, "Just sign those papers so we can all be happy." With that, she walked out of the office without sparing me another glance.

~~~

"You did what?!" I yelled into the phone. I was beyond furious. I felt betrayed.

"Man I thought you were cool with it?" He said, sounding confused.

"She's pregnant, did you know that?" I asked him.

"I had no idea." He denied.

"You went ahead and drafted those papers without consulting me." I accused him again.

"I thought you didn't want to be married to her."

"It's complicated." I sighed.

"Because she's pregnant?"

"Yes!" My exasperation got the better of me. I know, I'm a jerk. I didn't treat her right for so long and now that she wants to leave, I can't let her be happy. It's not that at all.

"I'm just wondering why you'll screw someone you claimed to not be interested in." He sounded amused.

"James, I don't want a repeat of what happened. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if it happens again." I said, sure that understood what I meant.

"You still haven't forgiven yourself for that and that's why you're about to lose this one." James always had a way of telling me hurtful truths.

I ran my hand over my face. "Dude, you're the professional here. Can't you convince her otherwise? I don't want this."

"I'll try my best but no promises." He said.

"Thank you!" I sighed in gratitude. It was something to hold on to at least.

"But as your best friend, I'll advise you. You better fix this mess and be a better man for her." He practically scolded me.

I scowled, "What are you talking about? This is about the baby."

"So you say." I could feel his smirk from the other side of the line.

"Get off my phone man." I hung up before he could annoy me further.

For some reason, James nursed this silly notion that Hannah and I had great chemistry and that we would be a great couple if I wasn't so stubborn. That was his opinion not mine. For me, I just wanted my child safe and sound. That was all that mattered at this point.