Marriage by Bargain - Book 2

Chapter Two

Naia

I decided to spend the day at the house with Lia so she wouldn't have to be home alone like she usually was. I could tell that my confession had brought a whole new level of closeness to our relationship and I wanted to bask in that feeling for as long as possible before having to face her husband.

"We should do something," I said to her from my spot on the floor.

She shifted to her side on the couch and looked down at me, I could tell she was thinking but just using me as a focal point. Lia's face was so expressive that I saw the exact moment she came up with an idea.

"Let's go to the doctor!" She said excitedly.

"I know you're preggo and all but doctors aren't exactly my idea of fun," I replied scrunching my nose at the thought of going to the doctor's office.

"No you goon bag!" She said punching my arm, "I meant let's go to my doctor and find out the baby's gender!"

"Ohhh! That's a great idea! Then we can start decorating the nursery and shopping and stuff!" I said finally catching on to her excitement.

She called ahead to make a last minute appointment while I rummaged through her pre-pregnancy clothes to find something to wear. I was broader around the hips where she was tall and slender. I eventually settled on a short, lavender print dress with a flared hem. It fell about three inches above my knees where it would have fit her at mid thigh or a bit below that. I flopped onto her bed fully dressed while I waited for her to get ready. She came out in a mint green maternity dress that was cinched just below her bust and nodded at me, indicating she was ready to go.

I winced as Lia clutched my hand in nervousness. The doctor had just rubbed that gel stuff over her belly. I had to admit that I was pretty excited too, I'd never had a close relationship with the pregnant women I've encountered so I was never given this opportunity to be up close and personal during all these stages. The doctor turned up the volume on the monitor then started to move the device around on her belly. I was slightly confused as nothing happened at first.

"Is it broken or-" I began to ask when suddenly a whirring and thrumming sound filled the room.

Lia clutched my hand, "what is that!?"

"That's the heart beat,"the doctor said with a smile.

I smiled then furrowed my brow, "doesn't it sound a bit off though?", I asked.

"It does," he admitted, "let's take a look."

My heart started racing, terrified that something was wrong with the baby, I could only imagine how panicked Lia was. Then again it wasn't hard to guess since she was cutting off the circulation in my hand with her vice-like grip.

"Mrs Giordano, you need to relax or you'll cause the baby to become distressed," he warned.

She only barely loosened her grip on my hand as we both kept our eyes glued to the screen. I was so focused that I almost immediately dismissed what I thought I saw until it came on screen again.

"Ohhh my God!" I yelled in terror.

"What! What is it?!" Lia asked in a panic.

"I think I know exactly what your friend has spotted," the doctor nodded with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Will someone tell me what's wrong with my baby?!" Lia cried out, dangerously near tears.

"No need to cry Mrs Giordano, there's nothing wrong with either of your babies," he reassured her.

We both looked at him in utter shock, "what did you just say?" Lia asked in a reverent whisper.

"I said both your babies are fine,"he repeated.

Lia and I looked at each other with wide eyes at what we had just discovered.

"Oh my God, you're having twins!" I said in a shrill voice.

"This will definitely distract Damian from your news," she said while I nodded quickly in agreement.

The doctor told us they were both boys and gave additional Lia instructions on self care to ensure the babies would arrive safe and healthy. We left and went to the mall immediately as Lia wanted to look at baby things now that she knew what to expect. The day flew by quickly and we didn't return to the house until almost four, which meant we had to order out for dinner since there was no time to prepare anything before Damian got home.

We were all sitting at the table once again and even though I had told Lia I found myself becoming nervous at the thought of telling Damian. We ate in silence for a bit, I know usually Lia would be chattering away trying to fill the silence but right now she was caught up in her own thoughts.

"So Xanaia, are you ready to tell me why I had to leave my wife at one in the morning to come pick you up?" He asked nonchalantly, I jumped at the sudden sound of his voice.

I took a deep breath and decided that stalling wouldn't change the reaction he had so I might as well get it over with. I saw Lia tense up, preparing to calm him if she had to.

"Well last night after I left here I went clubbing, bumped into someone and ended up going home to bed with him," I said with a pause, "I've been trying to convince myself it was just a heat of the moment thing but honestly I can't make myself regret it. I mean I feel guilty because of how terrible he's been to you guys, but I don't regret it. So there you have it!" I finished, only to be met by stony silence.

Damian's face was blank except for the muscle ticking in his jaw. He ran a hand over his chin, and opened his mouth to speak when Lia finally decided to the join the party.

"We're having twins!" She announced unceremoniously.

Damian did a double take before exclaiming in happiness and puling her into his arms. It was clear our distraction plan worked, or so I thought.

"We will be discussing this tomorrow morning, but for now we need to celebrate," he said glancing at me briefly before turning his attention to his pregnant wife.

I sighed in relief, I didn't care how short it was. I was glad for the reprieve.

Zandre

The meeting with Damian Giordano had gone well and I was quite satisfied with the contract we had drafted. We had decided to make it straight forward and I guaranteed my partnership no matter what the outcome of our little mission. This didn't worry me since I was confident that neither of us were men who would accept failure.

I reviewed the contract yet again while picking at my dinner and sipping wine. I knew there was nothing wrong with it since we had formulated every detail as a team and went over it more than once but I was just too anxious to sit quietly and eat. The silence was deafening and emphasized just how empty my life was. I found myself wondering how I had lived this kind of life for so long without going crazy, I mean yes there were parties and women but I always returned home alone not wanting any passing fancies to taint my space. Yet when Xanaia had agreed, after much coaxing and teasing, to leave with me there was no other place I would have settled on taking her but here. Little things like those only confirmed to me that I didn't want just another lighthearted affair with her. I wanted the whole nine yards, which only made me more determined to have her, she would cure my loneliness with her vibrant personality not to mention her soft, luscious body. I smiled to myself anticipating when next I'd be able to hold her in my arms. I hoped Damian would work hard at this so it would be soon, it had only been a day and already my patience was wearing thin. I had to contain it though, if I rushed this it was highly likely that I'd jeopardize any chance I had with her.

Patience my boy, all good things will come in time, I thought to myself as I cleaned up my dinner things and went to prepare for bed.