CHAPTER 7

~Audrina~

The sound of Mabel slapping her cheeks reverberated through the lobby, followed abruptly by a horrified hush.

I was startled to see her attack her with another one until the receptionist prevented the next, which made the other employees start talking behind their hands.

Mabel appeared to have the advantage when she abruptly withdrew hers and gave her the last one, which rang directly in my ear and made the receptionist recoil in disbelief.

“Madame, tell me, what have I done to deserve this?” She challenged Mabel, her eyes red with tears as her hand flew to her face in shock and pain.

Mabel scoffed, casting her a dirty look. “You’re seriously asking me that question? After speaking to my clients so rudely like you own the company, Or is it the fact that you blocked my slap?”

As if she didn’t care about her first offense, she countered, “That was assault, and I won’t stand for it.”

“Good,” Mabel responded, a wide grin spreading across her lips as though she had been dying for this moment to come.

“Turn in your resignation letter,” she commanded, her tone so cold and authoritative that it gave me goosebumps. “The company does not need an employee who talks nonsense.”

“And you should thank the goddess that my son wasn’t here to witness this rubbish; a sack letter wouldn’t have been the only thing you would have gotten." From the tone of her voice, one could tell that those weren’t mere threats.

But the receptionist’s eyes continued to blaze with anger before saying, “I’ll go alright, but first, I have one last thing to do.”

She suddenly threw herself at me, her fists flying out as she tried to hurt me again. Everyone was taken aback by the unexpected attack, and pandemonium broke out in the entrance.

"Get off me, you lunatic!" I yelled while exerting all of my might on her. But she was unrelenting in her attempts to tie me down, her grip tightening around my arms.

“Or else, what? You’ve already gotten me fired; what’s the worst thing you can do now?” She spat.

“Stop this madness and throw her out.” As we struggled with one another, Mabel gave the security guards a directive, and they hurried forward in an attempt to break us apart.

"Let go of her, now!" Amidst the chaos, one of the guards let out a loud growl.

But she would not back down; her angry face twisted as she lashed out at me. "You might have tricked Madame Mabel to think you’re innocent, but everyone needs to know how you are more of the devil’s first concubine.”

“You’re nothing but a pathetic lowlife!”

I clenched my jaw, a wave of rage sweeping through me. "You seem to mirror me too well, then," I shot back, struggling to break free from her grasp. "Attacking someone because you lost your job with your low professionalism? That's the lowest one you can get, don’t you think?”

But all she could do was laugh, and that laugh was so harsh and disdainful that it tense me. "I could get another job in the blink of an eye, but you are never getting to get a hold of that man you came to seek because you were dumped," she sneered, her grip tightening even further. "And you will pay for this humiliation!”

I staggered backward, my heart thumping in my chest, as the guards at last forced her away from me and also assisted me in standing up.

One of the guards was questioned, his face showing worry. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, still attempting to take in the events of the previous moment. "I think so," I mumbled.

However, as I watched her being escorted away by security, her expression twisted with contempt. I had just made another person my enemy.

“My dear, kindly have this glass of water.” She handed it over to me as she sat next to me.

“Cases like this hardly happen in our company, so please accept my sincere apologies for the embarrassment.” The tone of regret was laced into her tone.

“It’s fine, Madame; I’m used to people like her, and I’m only concerned about seeking out the man who gave me that check.” I equally informed her.

However, as she was about to reply, a familiar scent of pine mixed with musk filled my nose, causing my heart to race as if it were the first time.

He was here.

The atmosphere seemed to press in on me again as he drew closer, his features hidden by a mask, but, even with Madame Mabel by my side, the knot that was beginning to grow within me was not completely alleviated.

"What's going on here?" His voice muffled by the mask, he asked, but even in my slumber, I could recognize him as the man who had, for the first time, made me feel different.

His tone betrayed his concern as he took in the spectacle in front of him.

I wanted to reply, but as soon as I looked him in the eye, I felt lightheaded. The world appeared to revolve around me, and my vision became blurry. I fell to the ground as darkness engulfed me before I could grab onto anything for support.

I fell unconscious, and everything vanished, leaving just a lingering feeling of panic and confusion.

*****

I was lying on a supple surface when consciousness gradually returned, and I could hear the subtle murmur of voices in the vicinity. I groaned and tried to sit up, blinking quickly to try to get rid of the last remnant of dizziness that was still holding on to me.

Mabel's worried expression became apparent as she loomed over me, her fear imprinted across her features. "Thank goodness, you’re finally awake!”

“You scared us back there, you know; now take it easy and tell me how you feel now?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

“I don’t know... what happened?” I returned the question, as I was in a deep state of confusion.

But her next words sent a jolt of shock through me, scattering my thoughts like leaves in the wind. "My dear, there's something I need to tell you," she began, her tone hesitant.

I furrowed my brow, already aching to know. "What is it, ma’am?" I asked.

She took a deep breath, her gaze locking with mine. "You're pregnant," she announced, her words hanging heavy in the air.

I was processing her announcement when it felt like time stood still. Expecting a baby? My mind kept repeating the term, which made my spine tingle.

I struggled to find the right words, my mind reeling with disbelief. "Pregnant?" I repeated.

I prayed not to wake up and realize that this was actually my reality, since this had to be just another nightmare.