Chapter 3 - Getting Pregnant.
ELSA ELKINS' POV, Three days had passed already since I had escaped from my supposed wedding, Daniella had taken a few clothing along with her to the agreed place with the help of Orlando on the day she had left to get the concoction, including a few hundred dollars, Even though I knew it wasn't enough to begin a new life, I was determined to make do with whatever I could instead of getting stuck in misery for the rest of my life. I had called my parents with a new phone to assure them if My safety and ever since then, they had not stopped calling. As I dwelled on the satisfaction I was beginning to feel from a profound sense of freedom, Daniella walked into the room, carrying a bowl of soup in her hands, snapping me off the thoughts that had gotten me busy. "I don't think anyone can find us here," I let out the thought that had kept me busy, Daniella's voice was calm and small as she responded. From her words, I could tell she was partly occupied in thought, "You never can tell my lady. You still don't know what Leonard is capable of," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. From the expression on her face, I could tell she was troubled by whatever it was that had plagued her, "He could turn the whole city upside down if he sets his mind on it." She continued, with an unmistakable note of certainty in her voice, handling the bowl of soup to me, Even though she was trying to pick her words with care, I couldn't help feeling scared by her words, which had also sent me deeply into thought, "But, there's a way to escape from him for good," her words came again, snapping me off my thoughts, "and that's if you're willing to do what it takes to be completely free from his shackles." She added, her voice distantly cold as she spoke, "Tell me about it," I requested, my tone ringing with anticipation as I spoke, disregarding the cold edge in her tone, Upon hearing my words, she leaned closer and said," I had heard, Leonard has a certain hatred for pregnant women," her words made me gasp in shock at such a great revelation, Seeing the expression on my face, she nodded her head, fervently affirming what she had just said. Somehow, her words had sent me wondering about the kind of man he was, I just couldn't find any reason to justify his hatred for pregnant women, "That's cruel!" I exclaimed, my words ringing with shock. "No matter how I think about it, he's just a crazy lunatic," I added gesturing with my hands. I was appalled by what I had just heard, and couldn't believe it. After a while, I shoved the thought of what she had just said behind, "How did we get talking about that anyway?" I questioned, wanting to steer the conversation that had gotten me spooked towards another direction, but Daniella stared on, her jaw slightly dropped in surprise. She didn't say any word to me. Just then, it occurred to me that we were talking about me, and my eyes widened in shock as realization hit me, "What?" I exclaimed, utterly stunned by what I thought she was thinking, "You don't expect me to get pregnant, or pretend to be pregnant for a whole nine months, do you?" My question tumbled out of my mouth in a rush, ringing with the disbelief I had felt, even as I raised my brows in a quizzical stare. "But that's the only way out of this, otherwise you'd never be free from his claws," she retorted, her words coated in certainty as she spoke, I looked into her big brown eyes and saw that she wasn't playing pranks, she had always been with me since young so I could read her like the palm of my hand, My head lowered as I came to terms with what she had just revealed, which made me stammer in response, "But I don't have a boyfriend." my tone taking a defensive measure as I looked for a soft landing, But her response came again in great exuberance, oozing the certainty in her heart, "That's not an issue, we could search for one," she said, her eyes glinting with excitement, which made my jaw drop open again, Seeing the expression on my face, she pressed on, "I know you are upset with your parents but deep within you, we both know that you still care about them and would want to get in touch with them as soon as possible," she said, looking into my eyes as she tried to persuade me, "So this is the easiest way out, you can still be close to them while you all settle on another means of repaying the loan." She added, After all the effort from Daniella to make me bulge, I finally succumbed to her words of enticement, "Fine!" I blurted out, exhausted from her continuous persuasion, "I just hope you're right this time around," I added, too exhausted to think clearly, "Of course My lady, when have I ever been wrong?" She replied, her tone ringing with cheerfulness as she spoke, "So what's the plan now?" I Inquired, wanting to get it done as soon as possible, "We don't have the money to pay for male services, so I think the best way to get it done is to search online, I strongly believe it'd be much easier to get along with an online friend, you could set up a meeting and get it done," She said, while I stared at her, stunned by her suggestion, The fact that she was talking about it so casually filled me with a great sense of disbelief, noticing my hesitation, she said, "What? I thought we've talked about it before?" she inquired, searching my eyes, while I remained silent, "Okay then," I replied, she quickly picked up my phone and without wasting another second set up an account on a dating app with a particular location, "What do you think about the description? What should I write?" She inquired, staring at me, I shrugged my shoulders upon hearing her words and said, "Just do it the way it pleases you." which made her lips curve upwards into a sly smile, "All done," She responded, basking in the euphoria of a job well done, My eyes popped open immediately when I saw what she had set as my description, "Desperate for marriage," it read, which rendered me speechless. "Why such description?" I asked, my tone ringing with disbelief, "That way, you'd only attract serious minded men," She answered almost immediately, her words dripping with excitement, and almost immediately, she stood up and went back into the kitchen. I lay down curled up on my bed as realization hit me, I couldn't believe I had resulted to such, just to escape from my father's debt, As the feelings lingered, I realized that my dreams of getting married to the man who would love me more than anything else were no longer possible, since I had settled for pregnancy outside wedlock just to be free from a man I never loved, which broke my heart and made my eyes well up with tears, And as Daniella left, I knew there ought to be another way out of it, I determined to search for another way instead of getting pregnant from a random guy, I was going to search for love instead and right there, I determined to open up my heart to love.LEONARD KISH'S POV,The words from my father kept running through my mind as I settled in the office that Wednesday morning, he had called earlier that morning depriving me of my beautiful sleep to inquire about my search for the lady that had disgraced us."You have to find her and preserve our image," he had said when I broke the news to him, "I can't allow your carelessness to damage the reputation I had worked so hard to build, we are the Kish and everyone should know us for what we are." He added. From his tone I could sense his displeasure,As I sat there pondering his words and brooding over my wrath, Sam walked into the office, the sight of which snapped me off my thoughts,"Any news about her location?" I Inquired immediately with anticipation in my heart, my desperation for a solution palpable as I spoke, but the expression on his face was a flood to a flame as it poured down on me, dampening every form of hope in me, He lowered his head, his hands crossed over his thigh
ELSA'S POV,My heart skipped a beat and my smile disappeared at the sight of Leonard standing right before me, I felt glued instantly, unable to say a word,My initial exuberance had eluded me and a sense of shame and disappointment washed over me, I got scared as cold ran down my spine,Right before me was the man I thought I had successfully escaped from, I couldn't believe I had been lured back into the lion's den after my careful calculations,From the smirk on his face, I could tell he wasn't oblivious to my coming, right then I realized I had been tricked,"What?" He questioned, his eyes gleaming with mischievousness as he stared at me, his smile had never left his face, Even though he was smiling broadly, his ice-cold eyes made him look like the devil himself, he seemed to be enjoying himself, Even though I was scared, I managed to hold back my composure, as I didn't want him to see through me."Aren't you happy to meet your husband-to-be?" He questioned, his voice dripping w
ELSA ELKINS POV,Without uttering another word, he grabbed my arm which I had wriggled free from his grasp and dragged me into the living room, his steps heavy with the determination that coursed through him,He slammed the door behind us, the sound of the crash reverberating in the spacious living room, echoing the wrath in his heart.Frustration and pain coursed through me as I followed him, unwillingly and powerless, into the lion's den, utterly submissive to his dominance.My struggle to free myself from his monstrous grip was like that of a prisoner struggling against iron chains, making me furious and desperate for escape, After struggling to free myself from his grasp to no avail, I let my frustrations out, "Let me go!" My voice betraying the urgency that had overwhelmed me,"Let me go you monster!!" I snarled, my teeth clenched in rage, but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears, as he matched on, adamant to his course, dragging me to the middle of his opulent living room, but
JESSICA ANNA YUKA'S POV,Anger and pain coursed through my veins, the intensity of which made my veins pop out, my grip on the paper that contained the plan tightened, causing it to rumble and wear out, My eyes burned, fixed in a particular point in space as I brooded silently with my teeth gritted.The refreshing air from the trees and stream that surrounded me, enveloped me, yet it lacked the efficacy to sooth my burning wrath, Immediately, I turned to Marcus my loyal attendant who had delivered the news to me, and was standing beside me, not oblivious to the ranging fire burning inside of me,His head was slouched as he shivered uncontrollably under my intense gaze, rendering him incapable of meeting my eyes,"How long has it been?" My voice rang with anger, echoing through the air as I slammed the question at him, my fury boiling over,"It's be...en th..." He began in a stutter which further fueled my fury,"Speak!" I barked with my fists clenched, ready to pounce on him. My voi
LEONARD KISH'S POV,With the victory from last night still new in my mind, my spine straightened as I stood before the dressing mirror that Friday morning, I gazed at my reflection and my eyes sparkled with determination,Since I had overcome the obstacle that posed a threat to my path, I felt a renewed surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins, energizing me to crush another day,As soon as I sat at the dining table, the delicious aroma from the elaborate spread filled the air, but almost immediately, my brows furrowed, and a sense of anger dampened my mood as my eyes landed on the elaborate spread at the other end of the dinning table,Instinctively, my hands shot out, and I signaled Butler Joe who was standing behind me at his serving spot,With his head bowed and shoulders slouched, he hastened to my side, "You called for me, Young Master," He answered cautiously, his voice tender and laden with difference as he spoke,"What is the meaning of this?" I questioned, my tone bear
MR YUKA LEE'S POV,Ever since the failure of Leonard's wedding, everything seemed to work for my favour. The members of Five Stars had been agitated, gradually moving towards Leonard's resignation as the league leader. A motion that had made my heart swell from satisfaction.Although I had remained neutral, refusing to take part in their active opposition, since I knew the leadership position would eventually fall to me if Leonard was removed.Right in my living room were seated Mr. Zeus of Zeus Corporations and Mr. Edwin of Edwin's multinational, both members of the League of Five Stars, who had taken it upon themselves to sought for a redress in the league."We can't continue like this. Never had it been heard that we had suffered such humiliation." Mr. Zeus expressed his discontentment. His tone rising with dissatisfaction as he spoke, while I listened without uttering a word, glad that it was working for my favour."Indeed!" Mr. Edwin chipped in, "It's an insult upon the League,
LEONARD KISH'S POV,"What an important meeting you're having right in your villa, Mr. Yuka!" I announced. My voice boomed with confidence as I took long strides to the empty couch on the other side of his plush living room,Elsa tugged closely beside me, her arm brushing against mine as she sat beside me just as I had instructed.The tension in the living room was palpable, their gaze fixed on us as if they had just seen a ghost. They clearly weren't expecting my visit, and the shock on their faces was undeniable.A blanket of shame had clothed Mr. Zeus, while Mr Edwin still had his straight face with an unreadable expression on his face.Sitting comfortably on his couch, I turned towards Mr. Yuka and inquired, "Were you talking about me?" His face had a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and I knew he was struggling to keep his cool.Just then, my eyes began to travel from one person to the other, with a smile on my face, although my question was directed to Mr. Yuka, who I was
LEONARD KISH'S POV,"Have you contacted Macpherson." I asked Sam whose attention was focused on the road, as he drove to the company that day.My gaze was fixed intently on the contract with Macpherson, which he had given to me earlier, meticulously tracing every little details. I had taken it upon myself to ensure that every term and clause was error-free, since I knew, signing a contract with Macpherson was going to earn me more ground and increase my chances of becoming the next Chairman of 'KishLee Corporation.'"Yes boss!" He beamed in response, without taking his eyes off the road.With the election for the ceo position scheduled, I knew I had to be meticulous and avoid any mistakes that Richard Yuka could exploit. The stakes were high, and I couldn't afford to leave any openings for him to capitalize on."Their secretary has confirmed that the meeting will proceed as agreed, and the contract will be finalized by two o'clock pm." His words came again, dripping with satisfaction
ELSA ELKINS' POV,Right at the Orphanage, my initial exuberance was beginning to resurface, since I had shoved every thought about Leonard aside.As I reached for the door handle, Julian's unmistakable voice rang out behind me, making my eyebrows rise in surprise,"Miss Elsa!" She called, her shrill tone slicing through the air. I hadn't expected to see her there, especially since she was supposed to be in school.I turned sharply, and my eyes widened as Julian hurtled towards me, her pigtails bouncing with each step. She stopped right in front of me, beaming with an uncontainable joy that caused my lips to spread apart in smile."Julian!" I exclaimed, "How're you?""I'm fine, Miss Elsa!" Julian chirped, her voice bubbling with excitement, as she gazed up at me.Since she wasn't in school, I feigned seriousness as I attempted to know the reason she had skipped going to school."Why aren't you in school? Where are your parents? Did you come alone again?" I asked, my brow furrowed with
ELSA ELKINS' POV,As soon as I was done, I hurried downstairs, towards the kitchen, and upon getting to the living room, I met Nanny Ruth, whose face was radiant with smiles, "Good morning, Nanny Ruth!" I greeted her, sharing in her warmth. After exchanging warm pleasantries, Nanny Ruth said gently, "It seems Leonard brought you breakfast." Warmth glinting in her eyes as she stared at me.I shrugged. After Leonard's attitude last night and his coldness that I was used to, I wasn't about to be swayed by that single gesture, no matter how thoughtful it seemed. "Well, he did," I answered, my voice as flat as my expression. "But there's nothing more to it," I added calmly.Nanny Ruth's eyes softened, and her gaze turned inward as my words sank into her. Her smile, although still present, whispered a gentle concern."I heard the both of you arguing last night," She began softly,"But I want you to know that Leonard is a good kid and not as bad as you think," she said calmly, her words ec
ELSA ELKINS' POV,The curtains on the floor-to-ceiling window had been pulled back, allowing the ray to fall on my face that morning.I squinted and blocked the ray with my palm. The brightness of the day made my lips spread into smiles. I sat up, my eyes half-closed as I stretched my limbs, feeling a renewed sense of energy coursing through me.Suddenly, my eyes flung wide open, and I snapped off my grogginess. My smile varnished as memories of the night before, came flooding my mind. In that instant, I felt my blood begin to boil as a renewed sense of anger - like blood, coursed through my veins.My head whipped around the room, my eyes blazing with determination as I searched for Leonard,But instead of finding him, my gaze fell on series of closed doors, and my brows furrowed.Just as I was about to leap out of bed to search for Leonard, the entrance door swung open, and Leonard strolled in with a broad smile on his face."Good morning Mrs Kish!" He announced exuberantly, his vo
ELSA ELKINS' POV,At that moment, I couldn't believe my ears. I poked my cheek to make sure it wasn't a dream, and yes, it wasn't. It was real, Leonard was standing right inside my room, giving me an absurd instruction."Leonard, are you okay?" I questioned, my sharp voice dripping with disbelief. "Does it look like am not?" Leonard's response came immediately, and for the next five seconds, I tried to find the words to describe how unreasonable he sounded, but I couldn't find any, which left my mouth hanging open in total bewilderment.My blood boiled with a mix of anger and frustration, while I tapped my head repeatedly, as I tried to put a peg around my surging anger.But Leonard wasn't perturbed a bit, instead, he let out a snort of amusement, even though I was on the verge of breaking,Ten seconds passed, but he stood rooted on his spot, and at that moment, I knew I couldn't take it anymore."Get out!" I said, gesturing towards the door, my gaze fixed intently glinting with fury
ELSA ELKINS' POV,After a very busy day with the children at the Orphanage - reading stories, and teaching dancing, the only thing I longed for was a beautiful escape. No sooner had I sunk into the soft embrace of my bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion gradually lift from my shoulders, than the knock on the door shattered the peaceful silence. The sudden sound was a jarring interruption to the rest I desperately needed, causing my eyes to fly open in irritation.Reluctantly, I stood up and dragged myself towards the door. As I opened the door, the sight of Leonard standing right at my doorway with a stern face made my brows crest,He was the last person I had expected to see, and I couldn't stop myself from wondering what he wanted."What do you..." I started to say, but my words were cut off as he pushed the door wide open and strode into my room with an air of confidence that made my brows furrow tightly,For the next three seconds, I struggled to comprehend what had just happene
LEONARD KISH'S POV,My steps were heavy with determination as I strode back to my office with Sam. With the weight of the shareholders' decision weighing heavy on me, I felt a heightened determination coursing through my veins and propelling me forward.I refused to be deterred, and not even Mr. Ricardo's staunch resistance could shake me off my goal. As far as I was concerned, his resistance had only fueled my resolution.As soon as I settled onto my armchair, I turned to Sam, whose erect posture and intent gaze conveyed his readiness. "What's the latest with Mr. Ricardo?" I asked, my voice firm and steady, bearing the weight of the situation.I knew I had to decipher the reason behind Mr. Ricardo's sudden change since it was clear he had picked sides with Richard. "Nothing much Boss. Apart from that day, he visited Mr. Yuka; they hadn't met again, except at Mr. Yuka's birthday party, which you witnessed as well." He answered, his voice firm as he spoke in a matching intensity.Hi
MR RICARDO'S POV,Mr. Gustavo's lips parted for a fleeting second, then he burst into a loud chuckle, as he settled into the sofa beside me."Mr. Ricardo, you've never changed a bit." he said, his voice tinged with humor as he spoke with a broad smile on his face, while I waited patiently for us to begin with a small smile on my face."What can I do for you, Mr. Ricardo?" Mr. Gustavo finally asked, his tone tinged with genuine curiosity, which sparked a low, rumbling chuckle from me.Since I had not visited to beat around the bush, I went straight to my purpose. "What do you think about procuring furniture products from our company?" I asked, my smile never leaving my face.Although I wasn't certain he was the one Leonard had contacted, I threw my question at him, which was an attempt to confirm my suspicion.Just as I had suspected, Mr. Gustavo couldn't contain his excitement, "Oh! I've seen the designs, they are great, and suit the standard of my rooms," his response rang out with e
Mr. RICARDO'S POV,My smile varnished as soon as I stepped out of the hall. Although Leonard had tried his best to keep the buyer under wrap, despite my deliberate effort to get him to say who he was.Deep within me, I couldn't shake off the feeling that his meeting with Mr. Gustavo of Avo's World the other day, had something to do with it, and since he had deliberately shielded whoever it was from me, I was going to take my chances.My mind reeled with countless thoughts as I strode towards my car, and as soon as I slammed the door behind me, I said to Bobby, who was already seated in the driver's seat, "Contact Gustavo. I need to see him now." "Okay, Boss!" Bobby answered, swiping through his official phone like a robot.He put a call across to Mr. Gustavo and handed the phone over to me after Mr. Gustavo had received it. I had just placed the phone in my ears when Mr. Gustavo's voice boomed in, "Mr. Ricardo!" He exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable,"What a pleasant surprise to rec
LEONARD KISH'S POV,Right in the board room were gathered members of the shareholders who had come for further deliberations regarding the ongoing project with J.K."Now that we've completed the initial stage of material procurement, we're gathered today to discuss the financing of the production phase itself," I stated, my tone firm, resolute, and unwavering, as I prepared to propel the project forward.Immediately, Sam stood up and distributed the document outlining the expenditures incurred during the procurement of materials and the proposed production costs,"Left on the fourth page of the document in your hands, you'll find a detailed estimate of the production costs and the required materials, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the project's scope and...""Leonard!" Mr. Ricardo's voice pierced through the thick silence, snapping me off my words.I turned sharply to my left, where he was seated calmly, to find the document on his desk and realized he hadn't opened it.My