A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

Certain that was who was paying a surprise visit, Julian turned to the elevator with a forced smile just as the doors opened. The last person he expected to see stared back at him with beautiful huge eyes, her gorgeous reflection caught in the many mirrors.

“Nina? What in the hell are you doing here?” he asked.

“We have to talk,” she said, and stepped inside the suite, clutching her bag like she expected him to move forward and take it away from her.

A blast of anger and desire erupted within him, both vying for prominence, both confirming he was far from over her.

“You should have returned my call instead of coming. I missed yours and when I called back you didn’t pick up.” he said.

“I thought about it, but then I decided that this was something that needed to be said face-to-face.”

He didn’t like her grave tone or the tension carving lines in her face. What did she want to talk to him about? This definitely wasn’t about work. It was personal. She had made a decision regarding them. She had moved on. Was she here to make him feel even worse than he already did? The questions were driving him crazy.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“So talk,” he said, striving to be light but failing as the words came out clipped. Sharp. Cold.

She took a shaky breath. Then another.

He took an instinctive step toward her, his insides twisting with concern now. She looked pale. Tired. Terrified.

Something was very wrong.

“Very well,” she said finally. “I’m pregnant.”

———————-

Julian wasn’t quite sure what he expected her to say, but that didn’t even make the top five. He prided himself on his iron control of his emotions, but that admission nearly brought him to his knees. His gaze scanned her body with exacting detail, but her clothes prevented him from seeing the evidence that proved her claim. He wasn’t even sure if there was any proof yet. But yet here she was. Nina was pregnant.

He frowned. “What does it have to do with me?” he asked.

Nina froze, unable to believe he had just asked that question. She had known this was going to be a big deal for him. It was for her too. She had known he might have a hard time processing that information, seeing that he probably wasn’t ready to be a father, but that question, well, she was not expecting him to ask her that.

She stared blankly at him. “Well, I’m telling you because it’s yours… Obviously. The baby is yours. Why would I be telling you about it if it had nothing to do with you?”

He gripped the towel harder. “I don’t know… I mean. I know we didn’t really use protection when we were together, but I just assumed that… I mean… You are a woman, and most of the time, you guys take pills to prevent stuff like this from happening… You were on the pill right?” he asked her.

Nina lifted her hand to her hair and dropped it again, looking worried. “Julian please….”

“Oh look, you know the word ‘please’. How surprising. Honestly I was beginning to think that the only words you could say to me was ‘Get out’ or ‘leave me alone'”

Nina decided to ignore that comment, so she continued. “I was,” she said. “I was on the pill, but according to the doctor antibiotics could reduce the effects of the pill and I took some…. I didn’t know this would happen. If I did I wouldn’t have… Risked this.”

He nodded his head, but she could see that he wasn’t really concentrating. She could see that he was thinking hard. What was going on in his head? She wanted to know so badly, but when he finally spoke, she realized that she definitely would have preferred it if he hadn’t spoken at all.

“How am I supposed to be sure that’s it’s mine” Julian said carelessly, “When I know that you have been going on dates with other men”

Nina gasped, and her eyes became misty immediately, but she wasn’t going to cry. She had to be strong from now on… For herself and for her baby. She wouldn’t let anyone get to her… Including him. “I just told you that I’m pregnant for you, and this is what you have to say. Julian, I knew that we haven’t been in a good place for a while now, but do you really think so low of me that you would even think that I would be pregnant for someone else and then say it’s yours? How? How and why would you even think of such a thing? Do you really think I’m capable of doing something like that? I know this is a big deal for you… It is for me too.. I’m still shocked and trying to get used to the idea that I’m going to be a parent, but I’m sorry that I came to you.. I really am, but I have done the right thing by telling you about it. Do whatever the fuck you want, Julian. I honestly don’t care”

She turned around immediately and went straight for the door. She heard him call her name but she didn’t even turn back. Those tears were going to fall soon and she wasn’t going to let him see.

It was only when she got inside her car and was driving home that she let the tears fall.

——————-

The doctor was very nice. She smiled at Nina as she lay in the examination room and Wendy smiled back. It was her first check up and she was a bit nervous and excited at the same time.

“Are you comfortable?” the doctor asked her.

Nina grinned. “If I said I was, would you judge me?”

The doctor laughed. “No. No I wouldn’t. So, will the father of the baby be joining us soon?”

Nina shook her head. “No he won’t,” she replied. “It’s just me”

“Alright. Please relax and I will be right back. Just give me some minutes” the doctor said before she left the room.

Nina lay back and stared at the ceiling. After that conversation from hell with Julian, she had gone home and cried her eyes and silly heart out. Julian had called several times, but she didn’t pick up. He had even stopped by the apartment but she refused to let him in her room. Eventually he left and then sent a long text about how sorry he was for being insensitive, letting her know that he would be with her and was ready to help her with anything if she needed him.