TWO BUNS IN THE OVEN

SONIA’S POV

I'm filled with horror as I stare at the visible two lines on the pregnancy kit indicating that I am indeed pregnant.

Oh no. Christ! No no!

What have I gotten myself into?

It has only been a week since the entire fiasco with Shaun and… I can’t even bring myself to mention her name. And then there’s also my encounter with the stranger who I haven’t been able to get out of my mind till this day. But that won’t be a problem anymore from henceforth. I stupidly went and got myself pregnant for a stupid mad who wants nothing to do with me.

Screaming, I throw the kit in my hand across the room in frustration, anger or shame… I don’t even know which emotion to put ahead of the other as I just let the tears stream down my face.

My phone rings somewhere outside the bathroom but I ignore it. The one person who has called me relentlessly through the week has been Jessica. Whatever she has to say, she can shove it right up her ass and if she still has anything left to say after that, then she can shove the rest up Shaun’s ass as well.

I keep ignoring my ringing phone until it begins to ring for the fifth time. Jessica has never called more than twice in a row. Multiple times a day? Yes, but never this much.

I sigh, pick my sorry self up from the floor and exit my bathroom. Quickly grabbing my phone from the bed, I let out a frustrated breath on seeing my Father’s name on the screen.

“Yes, Father,” I start as soon as I pick his call but he’s way ahead of me as he rambles incoherent words into his speaker that I have to briefly get my phone away from my ear or risk losing my hearing. If I sigh any further today, I might just faint. “Good morning to you to, father,”

“Good morning, Sonia?” He asks unbelievably. “Do you even know what the time is? Are you still in bed?”

No I’m not. I just lost track of time due to unforeseen circumstances, but I’m not telling him that.

“I don’t live under your roof anymore, Father. What I do or don’t shouldn’t concern you.”

Knowing him, I picture a muscle in his jaw twitch. He doesn’t like when I talk back at him but the strain in our relationship is all his fault. He couldn’t even wait for a year to pass to mourn my Mum properly before remarrying exactly two month after. And ever since then, he has gone through three more wives, with his current one being the fourth. I might act unbothered by his actions but it really does bother me every minute it crosses my mind.

“Well I hope you’ve had enough of your independency because that’s about to end.” I don’t miss the slyness of his tone.

My heart flops. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m giving you 30 minutes to get out of bed and get your ass down here. The clocks ticking.”

“Look, today’s not a good time…” But I keep mute because then I would only be talking to myself since he ended the call as soon as he was done speaking.

I quickly sprint into the bathroom to get my shit together and in record time, I’m in my car, headed for my Father’s mansion. Through the duration of the ride, I can’t help but try to understand what he meant by ‘hope I’ve had enough of my independency.’ Is he making me come back to the house because I can’t and won’t be doing that. Not especially now that I’ve got a huge problem brewing in my belly. I know that’s a harsh thing to say but the only other solution is to get rid of it before my father finds out else I’ll be screwed.

Arriving the mansion, I park in my usual spot and make my way inside and straight to his office. My heart is thundering in my ears as I grab the door handle and pull it open but stop in my track when I see two men in black suit, undoubtedly men of our world – standing right in front of me. I step aside, making way for them to pass before walking into my father’s office.

“Oh great, you’re here. And just in time.” He says, looking away from his expensive wrist watch.

Pulling a seat out, I get right into it. “What am I doing here, Father?”

“Recognize the men who just stepped out of here?”

I squint my eyes. “Uh no. Am I supposed to?”

“Those fine men were sent by Mr. Sandoval.”

A shiver passes through me on hearing that sacred name. My father is one of Mr. Sandoval’s subordinates and Mr. Sandoval is the biggest mafia crime lord in Mexico, feared and respected by all. It’s nothing new for his men to troop in and out of here every day but if my father is asking me about them specifically then something else must be going on.

“What did they want?” I bring myself to ask, even though I fear that I may not like the answer.

“You.” He states so abruptly that his word makes me freeze in my seat.

“What do you mean by he wants me? Isn’t he married?” My voice quivers which only makes him to laugh.

“Of course he is. But that doesn’t mean he has no other powerful friends that are looking to get married.”

“What are you saying?”

“What I’m saying, little one, is that, Anthony Romano has shown an interest in marrying you. And I’ve said yes to his proposal.”

“What? You can’t just let that happen.” I scramble up from my chair, my heart thudding. “I don’t agree.”

“If it were up to you, he would’ve asked you, wouldn’t he? But it isn’t up to you and as your father, I say you will get married to him. Now get out of my office.”

“I don’t even know the man.” I mutter, already feeling defeated.

“When has that ever been a problem in our world?”

“Father, you can’t do this to me.”

“I can and I will, Sonia.” He yells at me, standing up as well. “You are my daughter and I have made this decision in your best interest,”

My best interests, my ass. He only cares about money, saving his company and being one of the people with direct access to Javier Sandoval. In other words, more power. No wonder his wives keep leaving him. The only person I blame is my mother for not taking me with her.

“Now what you’re going to do is call that rich boyfriend of yours, break up with him, and get ready for this new change. We deserve it…” My father pauses on seeing the shock written on my face. “What, you didn’t think I was going to let you leave my home without keeping an eye on you, did you?”

I’m tempted to ask why he let me date Shaun if he knew we were together but I don’t because I already know why. Shaun is a rich business man and my being affiliated with someone of his status means it’s a business opportunity to him. I should’ve known.

“But enough of that already. As long as you weren’t foolish enough to lose your virginity, everything should go as planned.”

I can only stare in horror as he takes his seat once more. How could I forget about the sacredness of virginity in our world? Except I did and not only did I give it away, I got a souvenir along with it.

Shit.

I assume my seat once more so I don’t faint when I say my next words. “Well I can’t marry him since I’m… pregnant.”

The silence in the room after my revelation is deafening. I watch as my father’s face morphs from shock to disgust. “I hope you’re just saying that to get yourself out of this situation and not because you actually mean it.”

“You can hope all you want,” I stand and grab my coat and purse. “No sane man in our world wants another man’s used goods, father.” It hurt to refer to my situation in such manner but sadly, that is how it often is around here.

I’m already at the door, about to leave when his quiet and venomous words stop me in my track.

“You’re an embarrassment of a child, Sonia. Unfortunately for you, you’re not my only child and perhaps you forget that,” He spits. “I can’t kill you but what I can do is pull your inheritance and cut of your funds. You have yourself to blame for this.”

I leave his office not just angry but disappointed that my own father could use such hurtful words at me and threaten to pull my inheritance and money. But the very next morning, I discovered that my father wasn’t just bluffing and throwing threats to calm his ego. An empty bank account and termination of inheritance email were staring right back at me, crowning me a broke and pregnant woman.