Five

Everest

I smiled to myself as I went through the sales book. The improvement in sales got me so happy as I have managed to meet my target for the week. I don’t have to worry about getting a raise.

Due to low sales, I haven’t been able to meet my target in the past month and this affected my dream of going to the university as I am always left with nothing after paying my dues to my stepmother.

I asked my boss for a raise and she has promised to give me a raise if I manage to meet the target she sets. Holding the sales book closely, I couldn’t stop smiling as I looked at it. This will be the first step to fulfilling my dream.

Suddenly I felt a bile rise in my stomach and I rushed to the bathroom to puke for the fifth time that day. I don’t know what I ate that has upset my stomach for the whole week. Everything I eat comes back out as vomit. Nothing stayed in.

Last week I was down with a terrible fever, but I couldn’t dare to skip work for fear of reduction in my salary, and the effect it would have on my university dream. I could hardly eat , and everything I managed to get through comes back out.

I poured cold water on my face and returned to the shop. However, I was stunned to find Elena waiting for me.

I looked at the door and back at her, wondering why she was here.

Elena has never visited me before. Not even once. Besides, eight weeks ago after I stood in for her at the hotel, and she came back home with a complaint that I had stirred up trouble at her workplace, she stopped talking to me.

Which makes me wonder why she has come?

That day thanks to Elena’s complaint my stepmother was so mad that she made me sleep outside in the open sky on the terrace on the bare floor for three days, but at least she was merciful enough to let me bathe and dress up in the house.

Even Elena wouldn’t stop yelling every time she saw me. She would cuss and hiss, and call me names.

I tried to think of the reason why she could be there but I could think of nothing.

“I’m here to help you,” she muttered as if she could read my mind.

I frowned as I watched her come closer. She had an envelope in her hand which she waved in the air as she approached me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, ignoring all she said before.

“To help you,” she repeated, putting me in a state of confusion.

I mean what help could she possibly render to me? And why would she want to help me? Elena hates me and she never ceases to show how much. What does she stand to gain?

“To help me?” I asked again to be sure that I heard right before.

“Yes,” she nodded before passing the envelope to me.

I looked at her and raised my brow as I took the envelope from her. I was about to ask what was in the envelope when my eyes caught the word positive. My eyes scanned further and I saw that it was a pregnancy report in my name, and it was positive.

I looked at the results and back at Elena wondering what she was up to but when my mind did the math I understood the possibility of being pregnant. I mean, I had unprotected sex with that stranger and I have been feeling sick in the past week, and battling with terrible nausea. It all adds up now.

I had gone to the hospital for a check up, and I had asked that the results be sent to me. How did it end up with Elena?

As if to answer my thoughts, Elena smiled as she shifted on her leg. “The hospital called to ask for the address where the reports should be delivered and I gave them,” she shrugged. “The rest is history.”

I couldn’t close my mouth or stop staring at the paper. My stepmother will kill me for sure. I don’t even have a boyfriend. How do I explain this pregnancy?

My body felt like it had been drained of all energy. I felt dizzy and had to hold the chair to keep myself from falling.

“Easy there, dear sister. I’m here to help,” Elena deposited her hand on my shoulder.

I raised my head to look at her, knowing that she wouldn’t do anything without a motive. Yet, my mind couldn’t stop thinking of the trouble that lies ahead.

I lead a pathetic life. Is it right to bring a child into such a life? What if my stepmother decides to throw me out?

“Huh?” I scoffed bitterly. “How?”

“Good,” Elena took a chair and placed it before me, such that she was looking straight at me. “We are siblings, so it's only right that we help each other,” She said as she took my hand in hers.

I couldn’t utter a word. My mind was jumbled so all I did was stare at her.

“You know that Prince Caleb is my mate and we plan to get married,” She began, her eyes looking nowhere else but at me. “However, his parents have decided that we can only be together if I attend the academy.”

I wonder why Elena is sharing this information with me, and why she thinks that she could help me by telling me.

“You know that Caleb is royalty and he would give me money as long as I asked,” Now she squeezed my hands. “.…And I can keep your secret from my mother,” She paused as if thinking of something.

“I’ll keep your secret from mom, help you flee, and give you money to start afresh in another city,” she paused again and locked our gaze.

At this point she already has all of my attention. The offer was tempting.

I will do anything to keep my stepmother from finding out about my pregnancy. I have always nurtured the thought of fleeing home just to get a better life, but what would I do alone? And without money?

Elena is offering me all of this, but at what cost?

I knew that she wouldn’t be here if she didn’t have a motive, so I wonder what she wants in exchange for the help she offered.

“I can do all these for you if…..” she left her words hanging again, this time she stood up and turned away.

Desperate, I stood up too.

“If?” I asked, and she turned to look at me.

“If you would attend the Luna academy in my place.”

A loud knock on the door startled me awake. I looked around and realised that I was alone. There was no sign of Elena.

I sighed in relief and smiled to myself. Even though I was still weak from vomiting so much. I struggled to go see the incoming customer.

However, I was shocked to see a uniformed man standing at the front desk.

"I have a letter for Miss Everest," he said.

The man was dressed like the palace guards, leaving me to wonder why someone from the palace would have a letter for me.

"Yes, I'm standing before you," I replied with my hand outstretched and ready to receive the letter.

"Here ma'am," he handed the letter to me with a bow.

"Congratulations, you've been chosen to attend the Luna academy."