TIFFIN 3

53

It seemed the swat team didn't have all their ducks in a row. That, or I just didn't understand how long the process worked. Days soon turned into weeks, with nothing about visiting the compound again.

I grew restless amidst my tough pregnancy. 

Tough was an understatement. 

As the months stretched out, it became harder to hide my belly. When I hit the four-month mark, I had grown to the size of what seemed like a small watermelon and a pain in my abdomen occured.

The doctors said it was rare, especially for someone of my stature and I should alert them if any spotting occurred. 

This worried me.

Spotting was considered normal, wasn't it?

Fuck.

What if it turned out me being pregnant wasn't meant to be?

What if I had a miscarriage? 

But wouldn't that be for the best? Single mothers suffered, after all. 

Oh, who was I kidding?

Month after month I grew more invested with the life I had created. I knew without a doubt I would do all I had to to keep them safe.

I referred to my baby as them because, despite the offers, I didn't want to know the gender. 

Not yet. 

I wanted to revel in my imagination some more.

Rumors by this stage had begun to spin.

Everyone in the office knew the big boss was pregnant, though with whose baby they had no idea.

I had been invited to several last-minute interviews where they demanded to know the father, but I refused to say a thing. 

Unfortunately, rumors that Cole was the father spread, much to my dismay. After his display of affection on camera many months ago, people weren't able to let it go. 

Speaking of which, I worried I really had scared both Cole and Eli off with my shocking revelation.

I didn't see them much and when I did try to wave and make conversation, they couldn't get away fast enough.

I really needed to stop oversharing.

One afternoon at the office I had planned to sit at my chair, prepared to sulk at my computer when a knock sounded, taking me by surprise.

Visits were rare these days. 

I sat up, cradling my small belly. 

"Come in!" I shouted gruffly. 

Two faces I hadn't expected appeared with wide grins on their faces. 

Cole and Eli. 

What did they want?

"Is there something I can do for you fellas?" I asked with a frown. 

"Absolutely not," Cole replied happily, "All you need to do is sit and listen. We have something for you." 

I furrowed my brows, staring in consternation. 

"Forgive me if I don't feel very comfortable with this ambush." 

Cole recoiled as if I'd slapped him. Eli, however, kept his ground. 

"Ambush?"

I huffed, too impatient to make my point. 

"You two haven't been the kindest to me. After having cake at my place, you went on ignoring me and giving me glares."

Eli flushed. 

Good. 

"No, no, sweetheart. We never meant anything by... listen. We were keeping our distance, but only because we didn't want to spoil anything, little mama. In fact, I congratulate you."

Cole cleared his throat, placing a tightly bound box on my desk. 

"Open it. It'll explain our absence perfectly."

I took a deep breath before grabbing a pair of scissors. 

What lay inside took my breath away.