“Mum, Starry meet my girlfriend.” King nervously introduced his mother and grandad to Laura as they entered the hospital room where she was admitted.
Your girlfriend ??? Laura exclaimed inwardly. “Your girlfriend?” This time around it was the doctor shooting him a quizzical look. “I never knew you had a girlfriend. In fact you never mentioned.” Dr Narcos cheerily added. I never knew I was his girlfriend either!!!! Laura’s whole head was spiraling out of control. This cannot be happening. —Not with everyone here! He’s going to find out I’m pregnant Last I remember, I was his house keeper! who may or may not have had a one night stand with him. One evening moment of weakness in his office at work! Okay maybe not a moment of weakness. And now I’m ended up in the hospital as his girlfriend?. She mentally argued. Few hours ago she was rushed into the hospital after she collapsed in his house, the doctor was about speaking to them as it seemed like there was a problem when King’s Mother and Grandad walked in. Apparently they were to come visit him that morning but since he called to say he was at the hospital for an emergency, they decided to meet him at the hospital instead. She hurriedly turned to look at her Uncle sitting by the side of her bed with a scowled expression. “Dad, I have no idea what he’s talking about.” Laura shook her head hard. Her cousin Maddie who sat by the other side of the bed just couldn’t mask her amusement. She cleared her throat and got up to greet them quickly as she extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Maddie. Her cousin. And that’s my dad, her uncle.” she smiled and pointed at the man talking in hushed tones with Laura. Maddie gave Laura a pinch under the cover prompting her to say something. “Oh uhm hi good morning Mrs McGorritth…” Laura forced a casual tone before casting a warning glance at her cousin. King’s mother walked up to her on the bed and cuts her off immediately “Darling, we’ve seen you around the house a few times Yes?” She turned to Starry, for a confirmation who in turn eagerly nodded. “And please call me Lana, It’s so nice officially meeting you. But not in this state of course.” King’s mum added with a grin. King who had been pacing the room began to speak, a little breathless this time. “So, Doctor? You were about saying?. Can you make this quick I have somewhere to be.” Of course. Laura couldn’t help but stare at him with wet eyes. “You said miss Ferguson here is your girlfriend and well..?” The doctor asked again more cautiously. King gave an off hand shrug before interrupting “And the point?” He whipped out his phone to end a disturbing call. The doctor looking totally baffled turned to ask Laura who immediately pretended to feign similar nonchalance with a little shrug. “Great. Since everyone is here then, this should be a cause for celebration.” Dr Narcos said with a silvery laugh. No.No.No.NO. Laura, practically expiring out and trying to stay calm began to cough out loud as she reached for Maddie with pleading eyes. “Uhmm Doc, can we not do this now?. Maybe later? Maybe never?” Maddie interjected in a rush. “Oh? With the situation of things I actually do think now’s the best time.” he insisted. “Is she sick? Dying?” King echoed impatiently. “Dying? No not at all.” Dr. Narcos chuckled as he stepped forward to pick up his stethoscope on the table. “On the contrary. Laura is pregnant.” The words came tumbling out. There was a pregnant silence. The doctor was the first to speak, his face creased with excitement “Congratulations to you both.” He walked over to where King stood stiffened by the door to give him a pat on the shoulder— “And king, I’m so happy for you. Here comes your silver lining at last.” He said. King shot Laura a doubtful look. Before leaving, Dr. Narcos spoke for another twenty minutes as he wanted to address Laura on the risk her fibroid could pose to her and the pregnancy. All semblance of nonchalance vanished from Laura as she began to wail internally— and the man in question has been acting cold towards me ever since that night. I’m beyond fucked!. Dabbing the sweats all over her face her uncle, Dave asked gently “Lau, are you just going to stay quiet?” Laura who was momentarily speechless, fighting the lump in her throat and the tears that threatened to pour down, she stole a glance at King as he dragged his Mum and Grandad to the other side of the room to talk. She couldn’t quite make out what they were arguing about but it was getting heated and King seemed to be clenching his fists and his jaw rather too hard. His grandad, Starry kept on trying to get him to calm down but he wasn’t having any of it. And just before his mum could stop him, he stomped out of the room not even bothering to give Laura a look. Shit. “Lulu you don’t have to cry. Please don’t cry my honey.” Maddie pleaded as she moved closer to her, wiping the tears that were now falling freely. “I’m so sorry dad. I’m so sorry. I— it wasn’t supposed to end like this— I’m sorry.“ Facing Dave who couldn’t mask his perturbed look any longer, Laura managed to say with her cracking voice. Tightening his arm around her, Dave replied encouragingly “I’m not all that mad at you Lulu, we’ll find a way around all this. I’ll talk to him.” “My darling, please please stop crying.” Lana rushed over to Laura, wiping the tears on her cheeks. “You have no idea how much of a blessing this is to him. I don’t even see why you should be sad.” She said with a polite smile. “Laura, I think it’s best I officially welcome you to the family.” Starry’s mouth curved into a smile as he spoke. Wait. She wasn’t sure she heard correctly. “Well if it’s that much of a good thing, why did he have to react like a mad cow?” Maddie snarred as she countered. “He couldn’t even say a thing. He just stomped out.” She added. “Darling, I know the girlfriend stunt he pulled earlier on was fake. So I don’t expect you to play the part. I love you already Laura, you really have no need to be worried.” Lana assured. “And for the fibroid?..” “I uhmm always knew I had it.” Laura admitted as she began to sit up on the bed. “Dr. Narcos has been a long time family doctor, so you’re in safe hands.” Lana commented. “It’s just .. Lu, I think we should have told him earlier on.” Maddie worried. “You both were already aware of the pregnancy?” Dave demanded almost angrily. Laura could only offer an affirming nod before the door swung open and a fuming King walked in. “You knew? You knew about this?” King exclaimed as he hopped with frustration. He gave a low laugh before finding more words “So you were going to keep this away from me? And then what? Blackmail me.? Stunned at the hurtful accusation Laura yelled back at him— “Blackmail you???” “Well why didn’t you say anything for the past one week! Instead of pulling that dramatic stunt at my house. Are you that desperate?” “Like telling you would have changed anything?” She asked arguably, challenging him to dispute the fact in the presence of everyone. Did he really say stunt.? “And for fuck sake! I slumped! I fainted! I collapsed! I didn’t pull any stunt.” she barked back not being able to hold her tears any longer. King took a long pause glaring hard at her, his eyes piercing deep into her blue eyes contemplating if he should apologize for the unruly behavior since they had sex. At some point he chastised himself for being unfair but his mind always somehow drifted back to what he heard. Even at that, right now he just wanted to hold her tight, kiss her face and comfort her in the most loving way he could. “Right.” He said before walking out again. Slamming the door.“I’m getting rid of it.” Laura announced as tears ran down her cheek. “We’ve been going over this for two hours Lu. Two whole hours!. Why won’t you just calm yourself down.” Her uncle exclaimed. “And the McGorritth I’ve known is responsible. He’s probably just having a hard time taking it all in.” He added in a bid to convince. Right. The onus is on you to defend him? “Oh please! everyone knows about his promiscuous lifestyle. I can’t afford to complicate my life any further. I cannot have this child. I won’t. I don’t care what any of you have to say.” She protested. Ever since they got back from the hospital the previous day, Laura had been arguing upon getting rid of the pregnancy. All what her Uncle— Dave, her Friend— Lucia and her cousin Maddie were saying weren’t helping. “Lucia, say something. Talk to her. She’ll listen to you.” Exhausted from the whole back and forth Dave pleaded. “I honestly don’t understand why she is so adamant. Isn’t he the same man who helped
RECAP FROM TWO WEEKS AGO… “The 30th of this month would make it the second year I’ve been working as your house keeper sir. Long story short, I wish to ask for an increase in my salary.” Taking a deep breath. She Paused, said a little prayer and continued “with due respect I’ll also love to remind you for the umpteenth time, my name is Laura and not Miss Cotton. Sir.” Laura didn’t mind the stares as she walked off to the bus station— these Washington heights folks never mind their business— still practicing the salary increment pitch she hoped to deliver to her boss first thing that morning. With the sheet of paper in her left hand and her bag hanging over her right shoulder, she had been going over the pitch for the last fifteen minutes. Silently praying she doesn’t miss the M2 bus and this goddamn! sweat doesn’t ruin her shirt. What if he isn’t in a good mood today? Not like she was scared of him— at least that’s what she chose to let her 23 year old self believe— it’
“Did you say something?” He rested his two hands on his hips as he turned fully to face Laura. “Miss cotton? Did you say something” he asked again, this time much more demanding. Fiddling with her shirt, looking everywhere but at him hoping she was the only one hearing her heart pound this hard—this shit better not rip out. She tried coming up with a decent excuse but he beat her to it. “I believe you said nothing.” he stated, matter of factly. Daring her to say otherwise. He smells nice too. Damn! She nodded in agreement. Briefly meeting his gaze before angling her head to look at the secretary who was now dialing something on her phone and struggling to get into her dress. Still mumbling incoherent words, Stephanie glanced at Laura with a bemused look as she headed for the door. Ready to drop a whole trailer load of bullshit before Mr. McGorritth stopped her. “The door. Stephanie.” He seethed through clenched teeth. “Fine. I’m leaving. But don’t call me. I promise
You know what they say about practice makes perfect. Well, Laura had been standing in front of her dresser with just her yellow lace pant and bra going over her salary increment pitch again.“Okay the 10th time is the charm” she breathed out—that’s what you said ten minutes ago going over the third time.Knock knock.Knock— “lu ohhh I’m sorry…”Throwing her hands in the air “Dad!! You need to knock. And even at that. You need to wait for the magic word!” “I’m sorry miss. I was just checking to see if you were ready. I’m making coffee and pancakes, would you like to have any before leaving?” Trying to stifle his laugh he called out to her again.“Laura?”“Yes. Yes dad. I’ll be down in five.”Few minutes later she was sitting on the kitchen stool stuffing her mouth with the pancakes. Every morning she either had a rough start or an eventful one. But thanks to her old man and Maddie who still tried to get her motivated for the day.“So you were saying?” Downing her last cup of coffee.
Lucia and her two kids have been struggling to make it through life daily. With Estelle as her eldest child who just turned fourteen last month, her little boy Chris would be turning 9 before the year ends. It’s been three years since Laura took a liking to Lucia’s family, doing everything possible to help and sustain them.Lucia is a single mum juggling different jobs as she try’s to fend for herself and the kids. These days she draws and paints from time to time, and whenever Laura goes to see them she picks up on drawing too with Lucia. Estelle also draws really well and just last year she was to go for an art competition when she got diagnosed with a heart condition. She has a hole in her heart.“I’m outside Lucia, are you in the hospital building?” “Yes. I just stepped out to get something for us to eat. Did you come with the pies?” Asked Lucia.“I told Estelle you were coming and she’s been talking my ear off” sounding excited.“Let me find your ward first.” Laura ended the cal
The thing with being extremely wealthy is that everyone wants to have something to say about you. It seems as if their two cents matter —well public opinion does matter in the grand scheme of things— but this generation has made it an unwritten rule to always have their eyes on the rich. It’s an obsession people these days use in order to get through their shitty lives. An evasive obsession. Art of escapism?“Mum did you call me this morning because of the loads of nonsense these tabloids have to say about me?” King spoke with a glint of unbelief in his voice.There’s a lot of smoke in the air and every where seemed to be in a frenzied state right now. Thank goodness his building is not a affected, just the back of his office and he’s trying to join in salvaging the situation. Yet! his mother chooses this moment??.Cutting her short as she tried reasoning with him “I really don’t have time to do this with you ma, you are very much aware fire from the next building found its way to th
"Maddie!! I can't find it. I can't find it. I have almost turned the whole room up side down." Laura sobs into her phone half yelling and panicking "Look Lu, you need to calm down. It's just a ring. He won't even notice, and didn't you say he told you his guests would be arriving anytime soon? You need to leave the house." Pacing round the room she replied "Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I'm loosing my mind Madds" "Girlllll you can't have a break down right now. I'm too high for this. I was about charging my vibrator when you called back." I need to do away with this girl. "Do you think he heard all what I said about him in the kitchen? Is this some sort of trap now to get me fired and killed? MADDIE TURN THAT VIBRATING MACHINE OFF!!" Shouldn't you be at the cafe working right now? Why the hell is there a vibrator for goodness sake. She started off laughing "This is the millionth time you'll be asking me this. And yes my dearest Miss cotton I think he eavesdropped on our conversation. But I
“What is your secretary doing in my office and why won’t you stop blowing up my phone?” King demanded with a grunt as he stormed into Brian’s office.King stared at him from where he stood holding a scowled expression. Wondering why he’s never serious.“Alright. For your first question, I took it upon my self. As the kindhearted friend that I am..” He gestured with his hands— “To lend my secretary to you for the time being, before you get yourself one.”Lend? Since when did we start lending each other our staffs. “You are welcome.” Brian quietly said as he swiveled around on his seat.“Andddd for the second question. Thank you very much for that question by the way.” King began to stomp out of the office — “I’ll be in my office when you are ready to tell me what this ‘supposed’ urgency is about. And please get that overly clumsy girl out of my space.”Brian got up immediately to block him from leaving. “I was just about getting to the second question, why are you always so agit