Pregnant

JASMINE'S POV

My feet feel sore standing two hours straight and it pains me that the meeting is far from being over.

I should have gotten used to it since I've had this secretary job for like two years. Chad found me this job through his connections shortly after we began dating.

This company is the second largest in the city. Chad's company is the largest but he didn't want me working with him in the same company. He said tongues would wag unpleasantly and he'd be accused of mixing business with pleasure.

With these reasons, he offered the job to Amelia instead and got me a job here. Back then, I had no problems with him working together with Amelia. I trusted her with my life. Right now, I feel so stupid for ever doing that.

"Jasmine?"

I look up, and realize the meeting has ended. Half the hall is empty now, and my boss, Mr. Logan, is standing in front of me. Seems he's trying to go out and I'm standing in the way of the door he wants to go through.

But then, there are two doors in here and he chooses to go through this one. It's fine. He's the boss.

"Sorry, sir." I bow, moving away from his path. He snorts and walks out.

He's just about Chad's age and just as arrogant too. They used to be classmates, and business friends so I guess it makes sense that they have similar characteristics.

We head to his office and he slumps on his seat, while I drop the files on his table.

"Here's the list of the potential investors. Just as you asked for."

"Good."

I nod, bowing my head. "Excuse me, Sir…"

"I heard you and Chad broke up." He chips in, making me freeze for a moment.

Hot tears well up in my eyes as my heart is reminded of the wound it got. It's been a month since that incident.

I tried forgetting my mistake with the stranger and got more focused on saving my ruined relationship with Chad. I was willing to forgive him. That's how desperate I was.

I texted him a million messages but none of them went through. He already blocked me on all socials. He moved to a different apartment and I lacked access to visit him. Amelia seems to have moved in with him because she never returned to our apartment. She didn't even come for her clothes. She won't answer my calls either. They both decided to ignore my existence. And I've cried myself to sleep every night for the last month. It's crazy that I wanna forgive them. But then, staying mad at them is eating me up. I just want them back into my life. That's all…

Then again, it's my private life. And my boss has no right to discuss it with such insulting reluctance.

"Are you available now?" He asks again.

I look at him, unsure of what he's saying. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, don't play dumb, Jasmine. You know I've been on your case for a year. But you brushed me off because you were dating Chad. So yeah? Are you available now that he already dumped your ass?"

Tears choke me and I tremble in my miserable fight to keep them down. "He didn't…dump…my ass…"

"You sure about that?" My boss grins, and then tosses his phone to the table. Closer to my reach. "Then why is he getting married today? To another woman?"

"Wh–what?" Blood drains from my face at the news. I dread taking the phone but I wanna be sure this isn't a joke.

"See for yourself." My boss says with a mock smile. I pick up the phone and see it's a wedding invitation from Chad to my boss.

He's getting married today to…Amelia?!

"You a dumb bitch, Jasmine." My boss laughs, checking his wristwatch. "Right now, he must be about to take his vow. And you have no clue."

"Excuse me!" I dash out of his office before he could finish his sentence. Grabbing my bag from my desk, I race out of the building. Anxiously flagged down a taxi and headed straight to the venue. It's a private building. One of which is owned by Chad's family.

I get off as we arrive and head to the building. There are guards at the front door and they quickly stop me before I can touch the doorknob.

"No, Miss. You can't enter. You're not on the invitation list." One of them says with a terrifying hoarse voice.

"I know. But Amelia's my best friend and Chad…"

"Miss Amelia specifically gave orders not to let you in. I'm sorry but you should leave."

That right there crashes my heart into bits. Amelia…ordered that I shouldn't be let inside? First, she steals my boyfriend and now, she treats me like some trash?

How could she be so mean? What did I ever do to her? All I've ever done is love her like any sister would.

I trudge down to the sidewalk but I'm crying profusely and it's making breathing a little too hard. Then out of the blue, a crazy twirling sets inside my head, causing me to lose my footing and the last thing I know is my body colliding harshly with the ground.

*****

I wake up to beeping sounds and immediately figure out that I'm in a hospital. My body aches a bit and I'm highly confused as to how I got here.

What happened to me? The last thing I remember is leaving the venue in tears…and then the crazy twirling effect in my head. The little aching in my temples and arms reminds me how hard I hit the ground.

Then who brought me here?

Like on cue, the door opens and a man in black, Italian suit steps inside. It takes a minute for me to recognize him.

"Jason…" I gasp. He's Chad's best friend. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello, Jasmine. It's nice to see that you're okay. I was getting worried, you know." He smiles, hands in pocket.

I try to make sense of his words and it dawns on me. "You…you brought me here?" I take in his attire and it makes sense now. A perfect best man attire. Did he ditch the wedding to bring me here?

"Yes. Fortunately, I saw you when you fainted outside the venue. What were you doing there, Jas? You know better than showing up there."

Again, I'm back to sobbing. "He's getting married to my best friend. How could they both be so cruel? How?"

"I don't know but you gotta get your shit together. You need to move on."

"I don't know how!"

"Then figure it out. For you. For your child. The doctor said you're a few weeks in."

His words blow up inside me like a timebomb. I'm literally shaky and short of words. My hand goes to my stomach, rubbing it gently.

"I'm…I'm pregnant?"

"Yes. You are. So that's why you need to get a new life. You can leave this city, this Pack. Go somewhere else. I can take care of funding for your new life. Whatever it is you're gonna need…"

"Why? Why would you wanna go through such stress for me? You want me out of Chad's life for good? You think I'm gonna try to ruin him with this pregnancy?"

"No, fuck no. And just so we're clear, Chad might be my best friend but I don't agree with how he treated you. And if I'm willing to go out of my way to help you right now, it's solely because that child is his. And I'm too excited about it and wanna start playing my big uncle role to the child."

I take a minute to absorb his words and they seem honest. Gives my anxiety a bit of rest.

"It is his child, right?" He adds in a very pointed tone and it forces me to rethink.

"Sure…" I pause, as memories of that night with the stranger cascades into my mind. Michelangelo. I don't remember him pulling away. Which means he did release inside me…which also means…

Oh dear goddess. Panic washes through my face.

"Is there something wrong?" Jason asks worriedly.

I can't tell him about Michelangelo or the night we shared. He said it himself. He's only willing to help me because he thinks this child belongs to Chad.

I can't lose that. I already lost too much. I can't lose the one lifeline I have right now.

"I'm fine. And yes, it's his child." It's a necessary lie, I try convincing myself, so I don't feel too guilty about it.

"Good. You can leave in my private jet. To New York. I already have an apartment waiting for you. And a job. All you gotta do is tell me when you wanna leave."

With a deep breath, I say the word on my lips. "Tonight."