Best of Both Worlds

Chapter Twenty-seven

It had been a week and three days, since our huge fallout. My anger had dissipated, leaving me hurt and disappointed. He had so many chances to come clean to me but chose to keep it a secret. What kind of relationship thrives on secrets?

In this time frame, Nicholas showed up once at the apartment and Whitney threw a bowl of water at him, to get him away. She was furious that day when I told her everything that happened and still probably was till now.

These past few days had been hard for me. I'd spent them, moping around the house, missing Nicholas, chastising myself for missing him and then repeating the cycle. It wasn't just me who missed his presence. The baby wasn't as active as he normally was when Nicholas was around.

That aside, my body had been preparing me for labour in these few days as well, my Braxton hicks contractions were getting more frequent.

Today was Nicholas's birthday and they were having a party for him. I was supposed to be there because I was amongst the masterminds of the party. Two weeks ago, I was ecstatic to help plan this party, alongside Rosa but as things turned out, I couldn't be there. I couldn't even bring myself to wish him a happy birthday.

While I sat on my couch, having a pity party, I was informed that Camille was at the party, over the moon. Evelyn and Lucia were my informants and middlemen between Nick and me. According to my Intel, she was really playing the 'shoulder to lean on part very nicely, and she had been glued to his side the entire day. Not that I cared.

I lifted myself off the couch and waddled over to my room. Instead of moping all day, I was going to take a walk. After all, I needed some form of exercise to build up stamina in time for labour. I changed into a straight A-line gown and slipped on a jacket and a coat. I grabbed a small purse and filled it with my phone, house keys, my wallet, some tissue and other items.

As stepped out into the street, I tugged the collar of my coat over my neck, stuffed my hands into my pocket and began my walk on the curbside. The hairs on my neck prickled and all of sudden, it felt like I was being watched. I slowed down my steps and turned around. Other than a lady who almost bumped into me as I stopped, no one looked suspicious. I was probably imagining it.

I spent twenty minutes walking around before returning to the apartment. I tapped on the elevator button and waited for the door to open. The landlord finally decided to fix the elevator and it had been fully functioning since the beginning of the year. I was too tired to climb the flight of stairs back to my apartment as I had two false contractions hit me in the last twenty minutes. I just wanted to get into my apartment, put up my feet, rest my aching back and binge on 'The big bang theory'.

The elevator doors opened and I pressed my floor button as I stepped in. I moved over to the side of the elevator and leaned against the wall. The elevator started moving upwards as it would normally but then there was a sudden violent shake. I held onto the railings on the wall as the elevator jerked to a stop.

What was that?

With one hand wrapped protectively over my bump, I moved toward the elevator buttons and pressed my floor number. Nothing. I pressed the emergency button. Nothing as well. My heart rate picked up as I repeatedly tapped almost every button there was. What's happening?

"God, why did I even enter this thing?" I muttered to myself. I pulled out my phone from my bag and dialled the landlord. There was no cell service. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I banged hard on the elevator doors. "Help! Can anyone hear me?"

This is pointless. I stepped back from the door and glanced around the elevator. With every passing second, it began to morph into a cold metal cell box and I began to breathe faster. Calm down, calm down. I walked back to the buttons and tapped the emergency button over and over again.