4. The Wedding

Shienna tapped her heels on the marble floor she was standing on. She had been waiting in the lobby for almost half an hour, but the man she was waiting for had yet to appear. She had purposely come to the office of the man she had spent the night with in Palmerston, Cook Island.

The receptionist had told Shienna to wait, but she felt her efforts were in vain. Shienna took her cell phone and dialed the number on the business card the man had given her.

"Damn it! Is he trying to avoid me?" she muttered, annoyed. She got up, stomping her feet through the men on security duty, standing in front of the escalator, making sure no one could access the metal box to get to the boardroom.

"Excuse me, miss. Where are you going?" the guard asked as Shienna pressed the button for the elevator to the 21st floor, where the room of the man she was looking for was located.

"I'm going upstairs to meet the owner of the company."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"I did a few minutes ago."

"Then show me the pass card."

"Pass card?"

"Yes. If you have received approval, you will receive a pass from the receptionist."

"Oh, I don't have one. But don't you recognize me? I'm the—"

"We know you very well. Who doesn't know Shienna Miller, the multi-talented diva? However, the rules remain the same. You must get permission from the boss to enter his personal space."

"Wait, wait! I don't want to go to the private room, but the office. This is not personal business."

The man did not respond but took out his cell phone and dialed someone. Before long, he returned his attention to Shienna, who was still standing, waiting.

"Mr. Sanders allows you to enter, Miss Miller. Please."

Shienna stepped into the elevator, which was not empty. A well-dressed woman wore a brooch with the company crest pinned to her chest. The elevator took them to the 21st floor, and the woman walked Shienna to a door that didn't look like an office.

"We have arrived at Mr. Sanders' office, Miss Miller. He is waiting for you. Please press the button that will connect you to him. Excuse me." The woman left Shienna and went back to the elevator.

Shienna adjusted her clothes, then pressed the button that connected to the intercom. Before Shienna could speak, she heard a loud voice, followed by the door opening.

A middle-aged man bowed and let her in.

"You've finally arrived," greeted a deep baritone voice. Shienna knew who was waiting behind her back. "Come on in. I don't have much time."

Shienna didn't have time to look around the room she was in. The man's words made her react, rolling her eyes and snorting. Her gaze fell on the tall, well-built man with the dapper appearance that guided her to follow him.

The man, followed by Shienna, entered a room. He invited Shienna to sit, poured vodka into two glasses, and placed it in front of his guests.

"Have a drink. I don't think you're here for work. Was the pay for your performance yesterday less than satisfactory?"

"I'm not drinking, and you already know it's not about work. Why bring up money?" Shienna snapped, sounding annoyed. The man sat not far from her.

"Then tell me."

"I'm pregnant, Bray. And I'm sure you know who should be responsible for this."

There was silence between the two for a long time. Shienna waited for Bryan's reaction while he had an unreadable expression.

"You're just quiet? Say something!" Shienna was getting impatient.

The man shrugged in response to his former lover's irritated statement. "What do I have to say? You convinced yourself that we didn't do it that night. And now, why are you asking me to take responsibility?"

"It's because—"

Shienna instantly could not continue her sentence. She didn't know what to say to make Bryan understand what she had come to see him for.

"Why? Don't you have an answer to my question? Does that mean you're just here to hold me responsible when I'm not the one who got you pregnant?"

"Watch your tongue, asshole! It's obvious you were on my bed naked that night."

"But you didn't believe me when I said that we had had sex that night and refused my offer." Bryan grinned, satisfied that he had stirred up Shienna's feelings. "Didn't I tell you I wouldn't make you an offer twice? Besides, that baby could have belonged to another man. How many months after that night? Three months, if I remember correctly. And the time was enough for you to sleep with anyone."

"Don't talk shit, Bryan Sanders! I'm not a whore who will sleep with just any man. You're the first if you wanna know."

"Ho ho... I just hit the jackpot!" he replied with a booming, mocking laugh. "Still, it doesn't guarantee anything, Miss Shienna Miller, the diva."

Shienna clenched her fists at Bryan's lighthearted reply. She got up, grabbed her glass of vodka, and poured the contents over the man's head.

"Okay. It doesn't matter if you don't want to take responsibility. I just wanted to tell you. If you encounter this kid someday, accept him because he's innocent. Excuse me."

With light steps, Shienna made her way out of Bryan's room. Her chest was tight, indeed. However, being modest was not her style. She had never begged a man to be her lover, but the opposite. So, for once, she wouldn't ask either, especially after seeing the man's reaction.

Unfortunately, Shienna had no idea what Bryan was thinking right now. He was weighing it up, from various angles, that it would be in his favor if he were willing to take responsibility for Shienna's pregnancy.

***

"Shie, there's someone here to see you," the assistant said hesitantly. She knew who was coming but said nothing to Shienna, who was practicing the cello in her music room.

"So early? Who?"

"Um, someone. He doesn't want me to tell you. Hurry up; he seems like a busy man and seems to be in a hurry."

Shienna got up and hurried to meet the man, who was already waiting in the main room with several people carrying trays.

Shienna frowned, unsure if she recognized the man with his back to her.

"Excuse me, did you want to see me?" she asked and clamped her mouth shut as soon as the man turned around.

"Did I startle you?" the man asked as he looked at Shienna with her eyes bulging and mouth gaping open in two palms. "Are you ready?"

"Ready? For what?"

"Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you a few days ago when you came. You left in a hurry before I had time to think. I've already prepared the hall and everything for our wedding. It forced me to pick you up here right away, worried that you'd run away if I contacted you first," the man said, still with a calm but icy demeanor. He didn't smile in the slightest. Very different from the man Shienna had known.

"You must be joking, Bray. You said—"

"Help Miss Miller to get to the car. Take her to the place I've prepared, dress her up beautifully, and then head to Gladiola Palace building W10 immediately. Do you understand?" the man ordered, cutting Shienna off.

The others nodded in response to the man's words, who had not taken his eyes off Shienna, who looked nervous now. Some people then guided Shienna while the man hurried to follow the other steps.

The man had to stop, too, when Shienna halted and faced him. "What are you doing all this for? And what are you going to do to me?"

"Marry you. I don't need to ask. I don't need your opinion, and I don't need to be responsible for you. My only concern is the baby—if he is indeed my flesh and blood. So, don't think that I'm trying to pursue you. Because my period of patience and begging for you is over," he said. Bryan then stepped over Shienna's body, but not for long. He stopped. "Do what we have to do. After the baby is born, you can decide whether to stay or go. One thing is for sure: if the baby is mine, then he will be in my care."