---
"The test results came back positive.
"Congratulations, Madam! You are six weeks pregnant."
"Oh no! Pregnant?," Reina thought.
"Doctor, please can we run another test? I just need to be sure."
"Yes madam, we can, if that's what you want. But this test is accurate. Why are you doubting it?"
"Doctor, I had sex just once, and we used a condom."
Doctor Ralph chuckled. "Madam, although very low, there are chances of getting pregnant even when you use a condom."
The doctor agreed to run another test for Reina but it still came out positive.
Reina was devastated.
She left the hospital and flagged down a cab to take her back home.
As soon as she got home, she ran to the toilet and emptied the contents of her stomach. After heaving, the tears came.
"How do I take care of a child at this stage of my life?
How do I summon up the courage to walk up to him and tell him I am pregnant for him when I clearly insisted he use a condom—and he did?
What if he rejects this baby?"
The thought of it sent shivers up her spine.
But why do good things come when we least expect it?
Having a baby is a good thing but right now?
I don't think I'm ready to take care of another human.
Hell, I haven't even sorted myself out.
Am I even mentally strong to do this?
And I cannot tell mum about it, she'd be so disappointed in me. She lamented breaking down in tears.
But getting rid of the baby is not an option, I would never do that.
No matter what happens she said as she placed a protective hand over her womb, I would raise my baby even if it means to do it all alone.
"I have to tell him though," she said out loud,
"He has a right to know about this pregnancy
Although not planned, we did this together."
If he rejects it, then I will resign myself to my fate.
But first, I need to get a job to survive.
With a baby on the way, I can't keep letting myself drown in self-pity.
I am not lazy. I am hardworking and smart, and I have an outstanding distinction in business management.
I will apply to Rylans Enterprises. After all this time, he should have gotten over his obsession with me and be kind enough to grant me a job offer in his company.
Reina resolved to go see Arthur, the man she had one-night sex with the next day.
Following her meeting with him, she would go in search of a job and with these two tasks to carry out in mind, she felt at peace and believed her situation would result in a positive outcome.
"I should probably tell Diane about all this.
At least it would be better than trying to sort it out alone.
I can't tell her about Arthur though, at least not yet.
Knowing Diane, she would force me to get married to him next Saturday, as if it were that easy," she scoffed.
"At least she would be excited at the thought of being a Godmother to my child," she said smiling to herself.
After a few minutes, she laid on her bed and finally drifted off to sleep.
************
"Woah, the sun is extremely hot! Even this weather is not on my side today," Reina sighed.
She walked into the building and was greeted by the receptionist.
"Hey, ma'am, how can I help you?"
"Thank you, I'm here to see the CEO, Arthur Koker."
"Okay, ma'am. Do you have an appointment with him?"
"Uhh, no, I don't. But if you could just please tell him Reina Pratt is here to see him, I'm sure he would grant me an audience."
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I can't do much for you if you don't have an appointment."
"Please, dear, you have to help me. It's really urgent, and I can't make this trip twice."
"That's why you should have made a reservation before coming."
"Okay, can you just put a call through to him? Tell him who I am, and if he refuses, then I'll leave. That's the least you can do for me, please?"
"Hold on."
She dialed a number.
"Hello Sir."
"I'm in the middle of a crucial meeting, Paige. Why are you distracting me?" Arthur roared over the phone.
"I'm sor… sorry to interrupt, sir, Paige stammered, but there's someone here to see you. Her name is Reina Pratt. She claims her case is urgent and that you'll really want to see her."
Silence.
Reina? Arthur thought. How long I have wished I could see her again. Everything I did to find her, and it just felt like she disappeared off the face of the earth.
And now she was in his building, requesting to see him?
"Wow, so miracles are indeed real," he said to himself.
"Mr. Arthur?" Paige called.
"Yes, Paige. I can't leave this meeting right now, tell her I'll see her immediately after it's over—if she can wait."
"Okay, sir," Paige said and hung up.
"Miss Reina, he has agreed to meet with you if you're willing to wait until he's done with his meeting. Mind you, it could take a long time before he's finished."
"Oh, I don't mind. I'll wait as long as possible."
"Okay, Miss Reina. Do make yourself comfortable in the lounge."
"Thank you, Paige."
Reina couldn't help but notice how rich Arthur's building looked.
Who in God's name did I have a one-night stand with? This looks surreal! For heaven's sake, these are the kinds of offices I see in movies.
She crossed her fingers and said a little prayer in her heart.
"I hope he accepts the baby. At least my child's upbringing won't be a problem financially."
—--
"Ma'am, Mr. Arthur will see you now," Paige said, tapping Reina awake.
Oh my God, I can't believe I slept here!
"How long was I out for?" Reina asked.
"For about three hours, ma'am. I chose not to disturb you," Paige said.
"Damn these pregnancy hormones," Reina cursed under her breath.
"If you would walk with me, ma'am. Mr. Arthur is expecting you now."
Together, they walked down the lobby and took the elevator to Mr. Arthur's office.
Reina was fascinated by the rich decor of the building.
"Twenty-four stories," she exclaimed as they got to the top floor.
"Just how rich is he?" she asked herself.
They finally reached his office, and by this time, Reina was feeling very exhausted.
She hadn't eaten all day and had only managed some crackers to keep from throwing up. But that was hours ago, and now her stomach was growling in hunger.
She also doubted she could get anything down without throwing up again.
"I wish I could just sleep a bit more right now, I'd be just fine," she thought to herself.
Just then, Paige knocked on Mr. Arthur's door, and a clipped voice called from within, "Come in."
"Hello, sir. This is Reina Pratt. She has been waiting to see you since 12 p.m.," Paige said, ushering Reina in before turning back to her office.
*************
Reina stepped into the room, and she couldn't help but notice how gorgeous he looked.
Everything she had been trying to suppress for the past six weeks came rushing back to the surface.
She could feel the magnetic pull that always drew her to him.
She immediately broke eye contact.
"Focus, Reina. This isn't what you're here for," she reprimanded herself.
Just then, her eyes slid down to a framed photo on his desk.
A little boy and a beautiful blonde woman smiled in the picture, and standing tall beside them was—Gorgeous Mr. Arthur.
"What?!" Reina screamed in her head as the realisation of what she had just seen hit her like a truck.
She felt herself sway.
And then—she crumpled to the floor.