An Unexpected Romance

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Restless, Gema tossed and turned in her bed that night, her body exhausted but her brain just firing away. With a groan, she flopped onto her back and stared at her ceiling fan as it twirling around and around. Do I get on that plane tomorrow? Leave everything behind to take a chance that Vistos isn’t going to just get bored and throw me away? Or do I stay with Doug, and have a potentially mundane life? Doug wasn’t so bad really, she reasoned, except for the hitting….oh hell, who was she kidding. Living with a guy who went through worst mood swings that a psychiatric patient wasn't every little girls dream. It certianly wasn't what Gema dreamt of as a kid. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and got up, glancing at her clock as it blinked three in the morning. Doug was awful, there’s no way she could honestly go back to living like she was, submissive and weak under his control. But Vistos isn’t exactly the most affectionate person, besides, who knows if he even wants kids? What if he insists she get rid of it? Gema subconsciously laid a hand on her stomach as she rummaged in her fridge for something to eat. No way was she giving up her baby, but maybe Vistos wouldn’t mind it? Maybe he could even learn to like the idea of having a little mix of the both of them…maybe he could even learn to like the idea of marriage. Gema sighed wistfully as she fished a pickle out of the jar and bit into it, crunching away as she leaned against the cool door of the fridge. Married to Vistos? Oh Geez, that would be the life. A little boy with Vistos’ curls and his big golden eyes….she knew what she had to do. With a smile on her face, Gema headed back to her bedroom to pack; she was going to Italy tomorrow. 

*********

“Hi Claire, it’s Gema,” Gema spoke to Vistos’ secretary as she walked into the office she worked at the next morning, refreshed and invigorated. 

“Gema, hi, it’s been forever, how are you?” Claire replied brightly, and Gema smiled as she pressed the up button on the elevator. 

“I’m great, but I was wondering if you could do be a little favor. I know the plan was for me to fly ahead of Vistos to Italy, but I was really hoping to join him in London today? And then just fly with him to Italy next week, is there anyway you can get the pilot to change the destination without letting Vistos in on it? I kinda want it to be a surprise.” Gema explained, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button to her floor. She glanced around the elevator once quickly, making sure that none of her coworkers who knew Doug were listening. The last thing she needed was someone alerting him that his fiancé was about to run out on him hours before she did! Gema snorted, laughing to herself, and then focused on what Claire was saying in her ear. 

“That shouldn’t be too much of a problem, really, I’ll tell him straight away but….I have to ask, Gema, are you sure you want to surprise him?” Gema could hear the hesitation in Claire’s voice. “Mr. Stakolopous can be very….he doesn’t like surprises.” Claire blurted. “I’ve seen it happen all the time, Mr. Stakolopous doesn’t like to be on the outside of an inside joke, and he hates the unexpected. Even his bathroom breaks are on his schedule, Gema.” 

“I’m sure.” Gema said firmly. “For once in my life, I’m totally sure of what I want.” 

After getting off the phone with Claire, Gema went to her desk and started her work day, intent on getting as much work done before she left as possible. Who knows how long they could be in Italy? They might never come back to Manhattan. Hmm, should I quit my job? Gema pondered as she transferred phone calls and typed up memos. No, that’s probably a little premature. I’ll just tell them I have to go away for an emergency, she decided. Besides, this is practically an emergency, I mean, what if this was her last chance at happiness? She had to take it, with both hands outstretched, she was going to grab it and never let it go. The phone rang again and she answered it with the customary company response.