Chapter two

Mr. Brooklyn was dumbfounded. He blinked for a moment before parting his lips.

"Fine"

Those words come out thick as if they were being forced. 

Then he continued "Do not think that I have given my concept yet. Get ready in two months. This lady here will be called to our hospital for a pregnancy test"  

He raised his head and looked at Crystal. His stares were shooting razors into her fresh skin and she tried as much not to stare back at him.

"But, if it is found out that it was just a scheme to get my permission, this girl will rot in jail. And as for you Mervin, I won't mind that you are my only son. I will disown you" 

His every word made Mervin shiver as he kept swallowing hard. Mr Brooklyn gave the two a last glance, before evacuating the hall. 

As if Mr. Brooklyn's stares were never enough, Mrs. Brooklyn's own was worse. She looked at Crystal as if she might swallow her alive. Mervin could hear Crystal's breath seize.

" Am watching you" she spat before following her husband outside.

Miranda's legs felt heavy. It felt as if her feet were glued to the ground. Her lips were sealed together,  only her eyes were watery. Teddy, Miranda's cousin who had been watching the whole drama from the congregation, walked in front and grabbed Miranda's hand. Even his stares carried a dangerous message.

He has had a crush on Crystal for years and she kept turning him down. Seeing that the girl he had a crush on had ruined his cousin's memorable day, he felt daggers stabbing his heart.

"You will regret this day forever" he fired slowly before dragging Miranda out the hall. 

Finally, Mervin took Crystal out of the hall into their awaited car. Leaving the congregation in awe.

*

Hours veered around into days and days into a week. Since that incident, Mervin had not appeared before Crystal. 

Probably, he was searching for a way to clear the mess he caused at the wedding, as Crystal thought. Even Crystal herself has had sleepless nights. 

It was hard to concentrate on the files piled up on her desk.

"Miss Crystal Blues, Mrs. Brooklyn requests your audience in her office" 

One of Brooklyn's numerous guards said. It took Crystal more than five minutes to find herself before Mrs. Brooklyn's office. 

She was hesitant to knock, yet she was afraid that if she didn't show up, she would have to kiss her job goodbye.

'Why is she suddenly requesting my presence?'

' Is she about to fire me?'

She had all sorts of questions as she stared at the door debating whether to knock or not.

'Of course, who would not fire me after making a fool out of my boss at the wedding? She can do anything to me for am just nothing but a poor pauper who can be tossed at will, by the rich'

Falling in love with Mervin was the sweetest mistake she had ever made in her life. Even if she had to turn back the time to the day Mervin asked her out when she was thirteen, she believes that she would have still made the same choice. 

Yet, all of a sudden, fear engulfed her. As she could not stop trembling.

~

Mervin had just printed out Crystal's resignation letter. The only way he could keep Crystal away from his mother whom he is sure will be verbally abusing Crystal if she stays was to turn in a resignation letter for her.

He stepped out of his CEO's office which was located on the tenth floor.

In the vast corridor, at the far end, he saw Crystal standing before the General manager's office. His mother's office. Before he could blink twice, she had already entered the office. 

He hastened his steps towards the door. Before he could bust into the office, his mind decided to eavesdrop.

"You requested for me, madam"

"I hope you are aware of why I have summoned you to my office"

Mrs. Brooklyn's voice lacked affection. It was never hidden that she was not fond of Crystal.

"Pardon.. me ma'am. "

"As far as I can remember, the company has never issued a vacancy whereby we needed someone to seduce our future heir," she said in a Stern voice. Mervin tightened his fist from the door.

There was total silence for like a minute in the room.

"Let me cut the chess. Name your price and disappear from my son forever" 

Inside the room, Crystal's face which was down, suddenly faced the lady who looked unworried or moved as she kept typing on her laptop. 

Crystal swallowed hard.

"Am afraid I do not understand what you are trying to say, ma'am" 

She was trying her best to be as polite as possible.

"When paupers like you close the line, it means you are trying to be Cinderella. I will save you from the troubles, just name your price. Twenty million, a hundred billion dollars? Just say it"

Crystal felt belittled. It seemed as if the sky had fallen apart.

 She knows she is just a poor orphan who is really in need of some gold to make her and her sister's life perfect, but not in exchange for love.

"With due respect madam. Not everything in this world can be bought with money. Am not shameless enough to exchange the love I have for your son with some petty dollars"

From the door, Mervin's body felt so sweet. He least expected that Crystal could stand up for their love.

 A curve of satisfaction formed on his lips as his face lit.

"Don't be a stubborn little girl" Mrs Brooklyn chuckled.

" I am sorry ma'am" Crystal faced the ground with her hands clasped together behind her.

In her tint mind, she was ready to be crucified rather than sell the love she had for Mervin.

Mervin knocks before going into the office. He felt that he had heard enough of the drama. 

The two looked amazed upon seeing Mervin before them.

 With his plain expression, it was clear that he eavesdropped their conversation. 

"Good morning Mrs. Brooklyn" 

That's how he always addresses her at work.

He dropped the resignation letter on his mother's table.

 In a blink, the woman takes a glance at the letter before resuming her typing on the laptop.

"And what is this?"

"Crystal's resignation letter"

He mutters.

 Making Crystal flinch. At once, Mrs. Brooklyn shut her laptop and faced Mervin with red eyes.

"What do you think you are doing?" She fired.

" Crystal here is currently carrying my baby, your first grandchild. Am afraid overworking will cause complications."  

To Mrs. Brooklyn, this was an ambiguous excuse. 

"Please excuse us' ' he proceeded by taking Crystal's hand and walking out with her. 

Mrs Brooklyn felt her heart beat increasing and there was a bitter sensation all over her body.

 She slammed her hands on the table while staring at the door with fury.

*

In the elevator, Crystal yanked her hand from Mervin and faced him with her arms akimbo.

" For Christ's sake Mervin. Why did you do that? How could you turn in my resignation letter without my concept?"

She half yelled as her eyes sent shooting razors into Mervin's eyes.

"Come on Crystal, I did that for your good." 

For her sake?

 When he knew that was her only source of income?

"Are you kidding me? If your mother processes that letter, how will I support my family? I will have to start from scratch again"

Her eyes were already sour. Tears were knocking to have an endless battle down her cheeks. 

Support her family? Out of the blue? 

Mervin has been the one supporting her and her sisters for years. 

They never lacked. Why all of a sudden would she say that?

"Mervin, for once, I wanted to be independent. I want to spread my wings and explore the world of economy on my own. Is that hard for you to set me free?" 

She had already started sobbing.  Mervin held her hands and stared into her beautiful ocean-blue eyes. She had been spoon-fed for a long time. 

All she wanted was to hold the spoon by herself.

"I cannot untie your wings, Crystal. Allow me to continue doing what I've been doing. I am afraid if your wings are spread, you might fly far from me. Please understand" 

He pulled her into his embrace and patted her back like a baby in its mother's warmth. 

Slowly, she let out all her worries, soaking Mervin's shirt with her tears.

*

The journey to Crystal's house took them a hundred hours. He dropped her off. 

Crystal invites Mervin into the house for a warm cup of coffee. He has been here on numerous occasions that he knew every corner of the house like the back of his palm.

"Cullen and Camilla will be back soon. I have to prepare dinner in advance"

She proceeded to her bedroom. Dropped her bag on the dressing table before walking to her closet for a change of clothes. 

She stripped herself from her overlapped skirt and shirt and replaced them with a baggy dress then she went out to meet Mervin who had a magazine in his hand. 

He picked it on the table.

"I will make your coffee in a second so I can proceed with dinner." 

She bypassed Mervin who just nodded in response. In a few minutes, the coffee was before him.

"Crystal, I have something important to discuss with you"

He dropped the magazine and took a sip from the coffee.

"Am all ears"

Crystal's eyes were roaming all over the kitchen in search of a perfect pot for the dish she was about to prepare. 

Her eyes landed on one aluminum average pot. 

She reached for the electric stove and turned it on before fetching a knife and starting to peel some Irish potatoes. 

"I thought it was only our doctor who would be running the test on you. I just got informed that Griffin's doctor will be available and that makes me use the only last card that we have" 

Crystal dropped the knife onto the sink before meeting Mervin in the living room. She sat beside him. 

"And what is your last card? "

Her eyebrows were raised making her eyes look larger than before. 

Mervin bit his lower lip and sighed." You have to get Pregnant For real, Crystal"

 Mervin finally spilled what he had been hesitating to say. 

Crystal felt as if her heart had been shocked by a defibrillator. She narrowed her eyes and swallowed hard.

 Then abruptly, she stood up and walked to the kitchen without uttering a single word.