Accidental Pregnancy, page 14
“That thing,” he snorts, gesturing at my stomach.
I gasp and curl my arms protectively around my stomach.
“You want me to abort?” I ask, feeling sick.
“Yes,” he says.
“No!” I burst out.
“Are you sure?” he asks warningly, tapping the folder.
But, this time, I’m not going to be swayed. I back away, horrified by everything that’s happening. I feel sick.
“I won’t,” I croak. “Absolutely not. I’ll break up with Lyle. I’ll do your paperwork for a whole week. But I’m not aborting this baby. It’s mine.”
Huh, look at that… I do want this baby. The sheer protectiveness that went through me at his words took even me by surprise. The tiny figure in my stomach has barely started to form, but this baby is still as good as any other person in life.
My father looks at me. He’s searching my face.
“Fine,” he says after a moment. Grab your things and then head home. There’s no need for you to be here today.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and stand.
“Yeah, sounds good,” I say.
Somewhat. It’s hard to forget that I still have to break up with Lyle. But at least I keep the child. Everything else isn’t permanent. But this is.
Still…
What do I do now?
“What are you still doing here?” my father asks sharply. “You can go. We’ve said everything that needs to be said.”
“Right,” I say numbly.
I leave the office. I stumble into the elevator. It doesn’t feel quite real. I hear my phone ring out with a message, and I glance down. It’s from my mother.
“Everything okay?”
Tears come to my eyes, but I hold it together. I lift my chin and march through reception, nodding at the employees as I go. I make it all the way to the nearby bus stop.
And then I fall on the bench and cry.
People stare at me as they go past, but I can’t bring myself to care. My world is falling down around my ears. I have to break up with Lyle. My father would never accept a relationship with him. That means I have to choose between the company I’ve always dreamed of taking over, and a man I’ve only been together with for a few weeks, but a man I’m falling in love and who I’m having a child with.
The choice is unfortunately clear. My shoulders shake as I dial my mother’s number.
“Hey, Mom,” I say thickly when she picks up.
“What happened?” she asks.
“Do you have to ask?” I ask rhetorically. “Dad happened, of course. He wanted me to abort the child.”
“What?” my mother yelps. “He what?”
“I convinced him to let me keep it,” I assured her. “Even if he said no, I would have just pretended, so it wouldn’t have mattered. But…he wants me to break up with Lyle.”
“I was afraid of that, honey,” she sighs. “I hope you told him where he could shove his ultimatums.”
“I wanted to,” I say bitterly. “But he’s got something that could potentially ruin Lyle’s company. He says he’ll bring Lyle and Energy Plus Co. down if I don’t break up with him. I don’t know whether or not to believe him. But he sounds very serious.”
My mother goes quiet.
“Mom?” I ask.
“…I think you need to believe him,” she replies reluctantly. “Your father… He’s got a few terrible tricks up his sleeve. He isn’t above blackmail and threats. I’ve seen him bring many fledgling companies to the ground with nothing but a few words to the right people. I wouldn’t test him, if I were you.”
I swallowed. Part of me had hoped my mother would do something. But it seems that even this, last, refuge has finally failed. My mother has known my father for a very long time. If she thinks he’s serious and capable of following through on his threats, then I need to believe her.
“Right,” I say quietly. “I understand. Thanks, Mom. I…I need to call Lyle.”
I hang up before she can reply. I don’t want to hear anything else. Any platitudes would be false and ridiculous.
I take in a deep breath and dial Lyle’s number.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lyle
As far as I’m concerned, things are going perfectly well.
Amanda and I have cleared the air.
We’re back together.
And we’re having a baby.
I still can’t quite wrap my mind around that one, if I’m honest. I flop down on my large bed. A huge grin spread across my face, and I can’t get rid of it. Nor do I want to. I feel amazing.
I’m going to be a father.
If I’m even half the man my father was, I’ll be good with the kid. I’m not too worried about being a good role model. I learned from the best, after all. My parents taught me everything I needed to know before they passed away; they showed me courage, humility and strength in different forms. It’s thanks to them that I can be so successful with the company that they left behind for me to deal with.
I look over at my desk. Photo frames are littering it. Many of them are of me and my parents; some are from my childhood, others from when I was a teenager, and, the last ones, taken only months before the crash that took their lives. There’s a couple of new photos there, though; a snapshot that Amanda and I had taken at the zoo, and a beautiful shot that I had captured of Amanda looking into the sunset, a peaceful look on her face. It excites me to think that my own family photos will soon join those of my parents and I.
“A family,” I breathe.
I close my eyes and smile. It’s a nice thought. I’ve been without family for a very long time. Navigating this world on my own has been terrifying and lonely. Now, though, with Amanda and the unborn child at my side, I know things will be a lot better for all of us.
As if my thoughts summoned her, my phone rings and I look down to see that the caller is Amanda. Concerned, I sit up. Amanda had said that she was going to speak to her father about us today. She was worried about it causing problems with the deal. I really hope that won’t be the case; I want the collaboration with Tech Square Inc. more than anything. We’re so close to achieving it, too.
“Hey,” I say, picking up the phone.
A sob greets me.
“Amanda?” I ask, alarmed. “What happened?”
“Um… Things didn’t go well with my dad,” she says quietly. “He…tried to tell me to abort the baby.”
I’m stunned. To think that any father would tell his daughter to do something like that…! That’s a choice that needs to be made, not forced into.
“I changed his mind,” she continues. “Just. Well, more that I completely refused.”
“That’s good,” I say.
But why is she so upset?
“Lyle… My father is a businessman,” Amanda says. She sniffles. “He might not be as powerful as you are right now, but he is powerful. And he has a lot of contacts in several industries.”
“I…see?” I say slowly.
No, I don’t see. Exactly why is she telling me this? And why are her words making a ball of dread curl up in my stomach?
“What I mean is that…when my father makes threats, he follows through,” Amanda continues. “He’s powerful enough to cause a lot of trouble.”
My heart drops.
“Did your father threaten you?” I demand.
“Not…not me,” Amanda says weakly.
And, abruptly the answer becomes clear.
“Me,” I say in sudden realization. “He threatened me.”
“And your company,” Amanda says miserably. “I don’t know what he has, exactly, but he has a file of information that he threatened to release. He said it would ruin you.”
I try to think what that could be. But I’ve only owned the company for two years. I have no idea what dark secrets it might be hiding.
“So…what did he ask for?” I ask, dreading the answer.
I don’t really need to ask. I already know what he told her to do.
“He said we need to break up,” Amanda says. “For real this time. I’m sorry, Lyle.”
To think, only moments ago, I was so incredibly happy because things had finally gone right for me.
“It’s… It was either break up with you, or watch you get ruined,” Amanda continues. “I couldn’t do that. And…” She hesitates before forging ahead. “For years, I’ve wanted to become my father’s successor. Not doing as he asks now might…”
“It might take you out of the running completely,” I finish.
“I’m sorry,” she says again. “I know it sounds selfish, but…”
“You told me, didn’t you?” I say, trying for humor. “You said work was your priority.” She doesn’t laugh and I sigh. So much for that. “Amanda, its okay. We’ve known each other for a month, if that. I’m not going to ask you to pick me over your lifelong dream, you know. I completely understand.”
“Part of me wishes you wouldn’t,” Amanda admits.
“Would you feel better if I was angry?” I ask.
“Yes, no… Maybe?”
I chuckle.
“Well, if it makes you happy, I am angry,” I inform her. “Just not at you. Sorry, but your dad is complete asshole. He should feel lucky that he and I aren’t the ones dealing with this collaboration; I would have kicked him to the kerb.”
I hear a snort from Amanda. It isn’t quite a laugh, but it’s progress, at least.
“I can’t even imagine my father being fired,” Amanda says. “He’s always the one that does the firing.”
“Not with me,” I huff, encouraged by her lighter tone. “I’d fire him so quickly he wouldn’t even know what happened.”
That was definitely a giggle. I grin, pleased.
“Well, anyway, just hold off on breaking up with me again, please?” I say. “It was hard enough last time.”
“Why?” Amanda asks slowly.
“Because my heart can’t take it,” I sigh dramatically.
Got a laugh on that one!
“Lyle,” she says in between chuckles. “Come on, what are you planning now?”
“Nothing…yet,” I say. “It’s just a small idea. Let me work on it and get back to you, alright? Trust me?”
There’s a pause. And then…
“I trust you,” she says quietly.
“Then don’t go breaking up with me just yet,” I say, grinning. “If all goes well, we won’t have to break up again unless we want to.”
Though, I’ll do everything in my power to prevent that. Now that I have her in my life again, I’m going to be a lot more careful about letting her go. Amanda is carrying my baby, and she’s quickly become a very integral part of what I want out of life. I can’t imagine her not being in it anymore.
It’s a little scary how quickly she has become so important to me. Sometimes, when I stop and think about it, I don’t understand how it’s only been a few weeks since we met. But we were two damaged, overworked souls striving to please our families and the world around us. It shouldn’t be so surprising that we clicked together so well. And now, with the potential arrival of a baby, we’ve been pushed together even tighter than ever.
“Okay,” Amanda says. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but let me know if you need my help.”
“I will,” I assure her.
We hang up and I take in a deep, steadying breath. There’s a lot to organize, now, in very little time. While I kind of understand Alan Simmons’ antagonism, it’s gone way too far. His daughter is an adult who can make her own choices. He doesn’t get the right to try and force her to do things she doesn’t want to do.
If Amanda honestly wanted to break up with me, then that would be a completely different matter. But she doesn’t. And I’m going to fight for her.
I won’t let anything stand in the way of us being together, now. Not even Alan Simmons.
Alicia looks up with a smile as I enter the office. But it fades into a more serious expression when she sees the stern look on my face.
“Is everything alright?” she asks.
“No,” I say bluntly. “Please call Brandon up to my office, along with the staff that he currently has working on the alliance with Tech Square Inc.”
Alicia looks at me, startled. But I’m through my office door before she can reply. I don’t have time, now, to banter or answer questions. I need my instructions followed to the letter if I’m going to get this organized before the end of the day.
Barely a minute later, my intercom crackles.
“They’re on their way,” Alicia says. “What’s happening, Lyle? Is there a problem with the alliance?”
“Not yet,” I say grimly. After all, who knows what is going to happen after this? The alliance might even be in danger right now if Alan is that angry about his daughter and I getting together. “Please don’t ask anything more, Alicia. I promise I’ll talk to you about it later.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Alicia says. “I’ll send them in when they arrive.”
“Thank you.”
I straighten and stretch. My muscles feel stiff from how tense my body currently is. Things are moving quickly now. I promised that I would do something about this. When both Amanda and, apparently, Marie are at a loss as to how to handle Alan, then I’ll step in. I may not know the man as well, but that might just be a boon. I’ll be able to say what’s on my mind without fearing the consequences.
Also, I’m hoping that speaking to him as a potential business partner will help, too. Somewhere beneath all his resentment and bitterness, the soul of the businessman that built Tech Square Inc. up from the ground must be within Alan. Maybe I can appeal to that side of him.
Failing that, I’ll appeal to him as a father. No matter how angry he is, or how strict he is, surely he cares about Amanda’s happiness.
I shake my head. Thinking about what to actually say to Alan is the last part of my plan. First, I need to figure out a way to meet him. I can’t imagine Alan accepting a meeting with me any time soon, but I’m not taking no for an answer on this one. If he has any hope for this alliance between us to succeed, then he’ll agree to a meeting.
My intercom crackles again.
“They’re here,” Alicia says. “I’m sending them in now.”
“Thank you,” I say, and stand up straighter as my door opens.
“You must like me, sir,” Brandon jokes as he enters the room. “You keep calling me up here.”
I crack a small smile. It’s clear that Brandon is worried, and the four men and women he picked from his team are milling behind him. I glance over at them all. Yasmine Woods, Daniel Beachley, Aaron Holt and Manny Timbs… The four of them are among the best my company has to offer, and I was more than happy to transfer them to work on the new product.
I sigh and sit, gesturing for them to do so, too. They muddle around the chairs for a moment before they also take a seat, Brandon sitting at the front as their spokesman.
“First, I need to apologize to you all,” I say, looking at each of them in the eye. “I’m sure Brandon has told you about my relationship with Amanda by now?”
They all nod. I’m not surprised; the company gossip mill is incredibly fast.
“Yesterday, Amanda and I sorted ourselves out, but we have met a new problem,” I say. “Her father is not happy. Unfortunately, this could put our entire collaboration at risk, from this moment on.”
“You think Alan Simmons might pull the deal?” Brandon asks, aghast.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I haven’t heard anything from him yet. I assume he’s thinking over his options at the moment. I didn’t expect that starting a relationship could put everything you’ve worked toward into jeopardy. We’ve reached a point in our collaboration with Tech Square Inc. that should have thrust us both forward… Unfortunately, I don’t know what’s going to happen from this point.”
“So…what do we do?” Brandon asks, frowning.
“First, I would like the five of you to keep working on this project,” I say firmly. “You’ve all done a fantastic job. Even if the alliance falls through, the five of you will continue to head the project. What I need you to do now is come up with plans for if the worst happens and we’re left to continue on our own. The project will become a mess of property issues between the two companies, but I’d like the five of you to forge ahead and choose suitable people to continue working with you. Don’t worry about any of the details with Tech Square Inc.; your focus should be solely on this product.”
The small group nods solemnly. I breathe in deeply.
“In saying that, I will be organizing a meeting with Alan myself,” I continue. “For now, all meetings with Tech Square Inc. will go through me, so Amanda and her team will not be here until we figure out what’s happening. I’m sorry if that pushes your timeline back.”
“It’s alright,” says Manny, shaking his head. “We understand.”
“Thank you for telling us,” Yasmine adds.
“We’ll continue working on what we can,” Brandon says, standing. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.”
I smile grimly.
“So will I,” I say.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amanda
As I had expected from the moment my father told me to break up with Lyle, my meeting tomorrow with Energy Plus Co. was canceled without warning. The staff who were working on the project with me are obviously confused; no one knows what happened, and neither my father nor I are talking about it just yet.
I definitely don’t want them to know that this alliance might fail because I slept with the boss of the rival company. It’s hard enough as it is, sometimes, to be in management in this company; many of the other employees tend to assume that I only got to my position because of who my father is. They have no idea that I’ve had to work twice as hard as any of them to get where I am.
To add insult to injury, however, my father called me up to his office an hour ago. I expected to be chastised again. What I didn’t expect was that he had cleared off the unused PA’s desk, and he directed me to sit at it.
