Chapter Six: When I Asked Nicely

Drake paced endlessly agitated by the reality of what he had done, he waited desperately for Amelia’s call but it never came through.

“I can't overlook this”.

He whispered to himself and got out of the office.He was certain it was his child but he was still confused on how to handle the overwhelming situation.

He got into the elevator and it felt like it was taking forever to reach the ground floor.When he finally got there, it was as he assumed,the rumor of Amelia being a pretentious slut had filled the air.

Some of his staff sank back into their serious work mode when they saw him but the customers couldn't care less,they kept dissecting the issue further and somehow—-it hurts him.

Drake zoomed off the office premises without an actual clear destination in mind.

Was it supposed to be the hospital? Or her home?

The only clear thought is that he had to see Amelia.A thought occurred to him,he picked up his phone and dialed Maya’s number but unfortunately,she kept dropping the call.

He gave up after the third time and focused solely on driving,even if he had to drive through the whole of Los Angeles,he was definitely going to see her today.

***

Amelia scrunched up on the couch, she placed her hands over her head and focused her vision on the floor.

“Amelia, you have to say something,the internet is about to blow down over you”.

Maya said painstakingly,she was moved to tears, she knew her sister all too well and her virtuous ways made it all too confusing.

“Leonard still loves you,I knew he betrayed you but since you are carrying……”

“It is not Leonard’s”, Amelia said at last, cutting off her sister's word.

“What!”

Maya couldn't believe her ears,her sister had always kicked against two timing but if what she was saying is true,then there has to be an encyclopedia worth explanation behind it.

She was about to demand an explanation when her phone rang loudly,Maya looked at the caller id,she was in no mood for work and she cut the call.Her phone rang loudly again and again,pure rage took over her thinking and she let out a frustrated yell.

“Cant this freaking Mr Harris take the clue that I am in no mood for work?”

“Drake Harris?” Amelia asked, getting agitated.

“Yes,he is too workaholic, I wouldn't have taken his offer if you hadn't pleaded I should”.

Amelia felt something stir inside her,she could sense why Drake was desperately trying to reach out to Maya.She felt stupid,Drake had never shown interest in any woman since his wife's demise,she wasn't going to force the baby on him now.

“It is his Maya…..my pregnancy is Mr Harris ‘s”.

Maya felt her face fall, this was going to be a disaster.Amelia deserves better than the messy situation she had gotten herself into,not when it was the Drake Harris they all knew.

“Wow! too many surprises in a day”, she said to the wall avoiding Amelia’s gaze.

Amelia felt herself shrink,the boldness with which she had appeared on the live interview earlier that morning had dwindled, replaced by a woman lacking in confidence.

She explained everything to Maya while stuttering in between her words.It was okay if she gets judged by her but there can't be any secret anymore,can there?.

“So, if I am attentive enough,you willingly donated your virginity to that heartless widow that we all know?”

“Amelia! this is beyond me”.

Maya said giving her that look, the one she detest the most.Maya had always been perfect from the start,she made rational decisions which had taken her to the peak of her career and gotten her engaged to one of the most sought after bachelor in all of Los Angeles.

“I am going to abort it,” Amelia said.

“Don't be ridiculous sis,the whole world knows about it now,you could have done better with using a contraceptive pill at least”.

“You aren't helping here Maya, yes! I was stupid, okay but I ……”

Amelia burst into uncontrollable tears and Maya felt guilty,she drew her closer to herself and patted her back,she started tearing up too,her phone kept blaring endlessly but she was in no mood to talk to anyone yet.

“I have failed our parents,”

Amelia said amidst tears, Maya kept pacifying her but stopped along the line,the careless banging on the door raised her curiosity.

There were only two people capable of such a barbaric attitude; Leonard Lang, her ex fiance or some nosy reporter who is eager to improve his paycheck with an exclusive story of the unfortunate news.

Maya contemplated ignoring it,not too many people know their current location as they only come over during their leisurely private times.

Amelia tried to pull herself together,what happened to taking control of one’s mood that she had taken many years to learn with a yoga class.She was going to have to own up to her mistake eventually so why complicate things.

She disentangled herself from Maya's embrace and asked her to check on the person at the door. If Leonard had shown up to torment her,she was definitely going to lose it all on him.

Maya stood up abruptly and walked to the door camera while Amelia went to the kitchen to pour herself some fruit juice.She returned with a tumbler in her hand and Maya turned to face her.

Color had drained from her face.

“It is him,” she whispered.

Leonard!

Amelia knew it and it infuriated her more but to her surprise,Maya nodded dismissively pointing towards the door camera.

Amelia moved closer and her heart thumped loudly,the tumbler slipped from her hand and the liquid splattered everywhere, she felt a sharp pain on her leg but couldn't dare care about that.

It is him! He had found her.

The only man that had ever broken her resolve and the one who had gotten her life totally messed up.

“The freaking widower!”.