Chapter 0002

Gerald

I thought I'd be happy to see her, but I wasn't. I was able to check her stomach without her noticing, and there was no indication of a lump.

She did get rid of it, however. "It's good to see you again, Gerald," she says, her voice steady and her grin stoic. I decided to play along and give her one of my amused smiles.

“Look who fell from the skies," I exclaimed as I walked downstairs, my chest naked.

I was just waking up, still dressed in the ash sweatpants I'd worn to bed the night before after a long day of work in my office. I never stop working.

"I'm glad you're still very welcoming," she spat out before I could reach the floor.

“I'm surprised you still haven't changed your lock"

“Ah, did you let yourself in for too long while waiting for me? Why didn't you come upstairs?"

“I didn't want to wake you up, Gerald. Besides, I just got in.”

“Where have you gone this time? "Paris or Berlin?" I observed the smile that slowly spread across her lips before she replied, "Morocco." That is where I went this time. Why are you so concerned?"

"It's not a major problem, Caroline. You know I've always been the one that cares about your location.

“So it's not about your unborn baby?"

The smile I had been pretending to wear went instantaneously, and I decided I was not going to play this dirty game any longer.

“Why are you here, Caroline?" I asked plain forwardly.

“I just came to see you Gerald and. . . . . ."

“There's no reason for you to see me from now on, Caroline"

“I think there is," she says with a mischievous smirk tucked at the corners of her lips. I started my mouth to respond, but stopped as she raised her hand and snapped two fingers, as if calling on someone.

A tall young woman walked in, wearing some thick garments over her chest, her arms tightly wrapped over it.

It looked just like how a lady would carry a kid, but I didn't totally comprehend until she entered the room and I could see everything properly.

I noticed a baby's head among all the heavy cloth wrappings. The baby wasn't completely new because it could raise its head and stare at me, its face searching mine as his lips folded up, as babies always do.

My heart stopped pounding the moment I saw this, only to chose another event right away. She didn't abort the baby? She had a baby but kept it away from me?

My gaze shifted from the baby to the black-haired woman before returning to Caroline.

This woman was simply unbelievable. She would do anything, including the most terrible things. Was it a year since we last saw each other at that restaurant? I'd entirely forgotten about her and didn't realise how quickly time passed.

She smiled at me and said, "I couldn't do it, Gerald; I couldn't get rid of it. I suppose I still have a heart, huh? But do you know what I can't do right now? A mother. That is why I brought you this baby."

I just stood there, stunned and looked at her, speechless for the first time in my life.

"I'm sorry, Gerald; I'm not ready to be devoted to one man, which is why I can't consent to this marriage. I have a lot of work to accomplish before I go, and I'll be flying directly to France. I just received a business proposal, and it's substantial this time.”

She goes to the other woman, carefully takes the baby from her, and begins heading towards me.

When she got close enough, I could see the baby's face in greater detail.

I could not distinguish whether it was a boy or a girl. It had large hazel eyes like mine, little and heavy lips in a gorgeous style, and pale Expresso blond hair on its head.

The skin was as pale as Caroline's. But it was gorgeous.

“This is your kid, Gerald. I don't have a name for him yet, so you can do that," she replied, dropping him into my arms. I craddled him hard against my chest to keep him from falling.

This was my first time carrying a baby, which terrified me, but I surprised myself by doing an excellent job.

"This is his Nanny," she continued, pointing to the black-haired woman again.

“She's going to stay and help care for him." I know you don't know anything about babies. My gaze shifted to the other woman, who smiled at me. It irritated me.

“No," I said as Caroline started rushing for the door. "I think you should go together, I can take care of my son."

Caroline comes to a halt, places her hand on the door, and smiles at me before opening it.

“Caroline?" I called, and she stopped. "Don't come back," I told her. She shrugs her shoulders and walks out, with the other woman following behind her.

I looked through the glass walls of my home and saw Caroline walk to her car, get in with the Nanny, and drive away.

I returned my attention to the infant in my arms and felt a weird draw towards him. I expected to be angry at this gorgeous tiny thing, but I wasn't.

If anything, I wanted to make him happy. I wanted to do everything for him. But I wasn't sure what I was meant to do. I hugged him harder and decided to phone the only person I was close to.

My best pal is Carlos. I dialled his number, and after a long ring, he answered.

“What's up bro?" He spoke, his voice indicating that he was still waking up.

"Hey I need you at my house right now, Carl, I have a bit of an emergency"

"Emergency?" I could hear the ruffling of his bed sheets as he sat up. "You're not coming to the office today?"

“I doubt it. Just get here, please." I ended the conversation before he could say anything else.

Flipping my phone on the white lounge, I took cautious, careful steps up the steep stairs so as not to disturb the baby.

As soon as I started up the stairs, I realised I should have taken the lift up to my room to avoid bothering the baby. But it was too late to turn back; I was already halfway there.

When I reached my room and hit the auto opening button, the doors slid apart, allowing me to enter.

“Welcome into my room, kid," I said him, surprising myself. I was amazed when I heard him coo, and I wondered whether he had just responded to what I had said.

Was he pleased to be here? Was he telling me he missed his mother? I doubt he would; she probably hasn't had time for him since he was born. I paused before the mirror and turned to face it.

I noticed the baby's reflection as he looked away into the room. I had no idea what I was doing or why I had accepted the baby in the first place.

I had no idea how to raise a baby. Neither did Carlos. He was a fucking bachelor—a dumb one.

Fortunately, one of his whores has not pinned a baby on him. I rubbed my face, annoyed. Just then, the infant began sobbing. I went into a panic.

What was I supposed to do now? Caroline did not leave anything for him, no food, nothing. How was I expected to know what he's eating now? This is totally messed up.

I spent the next ten minutes racing around the room, trying to get him to stop weeping, but things just grew worse. I then went downstairs to find him something palatable in the kitchen.

I tried to locate him some milk as soon as I opened the refrigerator, with one hand still securely gripping the baby who was beginning to calm down.

Just then, I heard the door open and Carlo yell my name. "I'm in here!" I yelled back.

"You? In the kitchen? You had a woman in there or something?" He says this as he enters into the kitchen, pausing when he notices the infant in my hand.

“Larry, what are you doing with that baby? Whose baby is that?!"

“He's my baby, Carl," I responded simply. He didn't say anything for a time and simply looked at me.

“Caroline?" He enquires, amazement in his eyes and voice.

I nodded, "She appeared this morning with the baby. She said she wasn't ready to be devoted to a man in the name of marriage and couldn't be a mother yet.

"That girl's crazy, Larry, I always told you that" I looked down, remembering how Carlos never liked her and would constantly tell me she was only wanting my money.

I had always dismissed that saying since I knew Caroline better than anyone else. She enjoyed working for herself and not being dependant on anyone. And that was the issue.

“Are you planning on keeping him?" Carlos enquired, and I gave him a murderous gaze.

“He's my son," I growled.

“Look I know but how are you going to take care of him?"

"I'll get him a nanny"

“A nanny? Of course not, Larry. You want him to grow up knowing another lady instead of you? You know what? I think we can take care of this, you and I; we'll do a good job."

I gazed at him as if he had just stated the most ludicrous thing I'd ever heard, and I was correct. He just said the stupidest thing ever.

How could he expect me to care for him while still working?

“What's his name?" I decided to put all of these ideas aside and find him something to eat first.

" He has no name yet, but I will give him one. What do babies eat?"

Carlos pauses to study me for a moment, and quietly falls.

Fucked up moron.

“How am I supposed to know that?" He spoke defensively.

“Forget it. Let's go to the baby store', I said to him before turning towards the lift. Carlos joined me, and we both went to my bedroom.

I quickly freshened up while Carlos looked after the baby. I suited up and took us to the baby store. I'd never been in this store before, and I was seeing things that seemed foreign to me.

I spoke with the lady behind the counter, and she was happy to assist me with the infant formula. She offered to help feed him, but I said it was fine.

When she enquired what his name was, I was shocked and simply gazed at him. Before introducing him to the public, I should have given him a name.

I was taken back for a second and spoke the first name that sprang to me.

" Larry," I responded with a huge smile. "His name is Larry." I knew I could modify it later, but he already had my name.