Afraid to Love ✔

Part 13

Mia

"Okay Z, when is it? No! I will do it! Who told you to reschedule, put it back!" I can't believe him.
"My hotel. Check her assistant and Mr. Change...No! Don't care! Do what I said!" Her face turns red.
"Lau! What's wrong?" Larry sounds concerned.
"Only if Matt says it's necessary. DON'T!" She takes a deep calming breathe, "Fine."
"Not sure. I will hit you later." I tell my brother before hanging up.
Her voice is shaky and almost a whisper. "Grow a pair! Stop crying! Find my sister!" She disconnects the call.
"I have to take a meeting in fifteen minutes, do you feel up to waiting it shouldn't take long or I can find you afterwards?"
"Let's go." I offer my hand and she takes it.

Laurent

A few minutes later she is wearing a nice crisp white blouse, knee length white skirt and white stiletto heels. Her makeup is subdued and her hair is in a neat pompadour and bun. She looks amazing. Matt set up equipment and monitors, then disappears. Mia set up her laptop then starts the meeting standing in front of the monitors.
"Good afternoon." Her voice is colder than normal.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Mora." The dozen or so gentlemen speak in unison. She clears her throat, "Ms. Mora is attending to other business. I will be conducting this meeting."
"Apologies, we were expecting-" The youngest looking of the guys speaks but Mia cuts him off.
"The reason for this meeting is each of your divisions has fallen short of projections. Some of you by more than 50%. Unacceptable. You have until the end of the quarter to exceed your projections by half or-" Mia pauses when one of the older men interrupts.
"You wet behind the ears little..." He stops when Mia walks over to her laptop, "No, Misterrrr Williams please continue, I'm very interested in your input." She smiles politely.
"You think you can threaten us? Threaten me? You don't have any authority to do anything!"
"My apologies at the misunderstanding. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Mia Bonaparte." Mr. Williams cut her off while most of the men reacted like they were slapped across their face.
"That means nothing, you're just a spoiled little bitch, that's never gotten her hands dirty, you have no idea what it takes to run a business! Now you here trying to play big dog with the big boys. Here's some free advice, leave the men to handle their business. Go catch a sale or something. Better yet, why don't you go tend to the needs of your boyfriend over there he looks backed up, that is if you two don't have a hair or nail appointment to get to." Mr. Williams sneers. Mia covers her smile.
"Mr. Williams, thank you for your input, I will take that under advisement. Now if I may continue." She types something on her laptop then returns her attention to the monitors. "Unlike Monsieur Bonaparte, I thought I would take a more positive approach by allowing the leaders of the divisions who are failing, a chance to show they can still be of value to the company." Mia moves back to her original spot. "Mr. Williams, please meet Mr. Fugit, one of Bonaparte Enterprises best account analysis and assistant to the CEO of Bonaparte Enterprises."
"Monsieur Fugit." She nods at the gray hair, slight, gentleman wearing a black pinstripe suit.
"Mademoiselle Bonaparte." He nods politely.
"He is there to assess your efficacy as a leader and conduct an indepth audit your division's finances. Based on his report and recommendations, the CEO will determine if you will continue working for this company. Please meet Mr. Blanchard. Mr. Blanchard will be replacing you as division head." Mr. Williams was about to argue when Mr. Blanchard hands his a document. He looks it over and blanches.
"Is there something you want to add, Mr. Williams?" Mia sighs. He shakes his head no.
"If anyone else have a question, complaint or wish to further discuss the deadline and/or new projections please forward your email to the CEO. This meeting is adjurned." All the monitors go dark except one the guy that she interrupted at the beginning of the meeting.
"Madam?" She frowns at him.
"Mia. It's good to see you. I wanted to let you know I sent an update report this morning. We have already exceeded projects."
"I know Miguel, I saw your email during the meeting. Please give my love to your mom, we missed you all at the family party, I hope she is well."
"Just a bug going around, and I will. Take care of yourself. Love you baby girl."
"You too, Promito. (Little cousin)" She ends the video then sighs closing her eyes. I hold my hand out to her. "Mia?" She opens her eyes and her eyes soften when she looks at me. She loves me and I love her. I just need her to admit it. Before she can take my hand her phone rings again.
"Hello? Speaking... I see... I appreciate the update, please have her call when she's able. Thank you, Mr. Change." She sinks on the couch beside me dialing an international number.
"Zoe, Mai is in the hospital, seems she's has developed an unexpected uterine growth that also afflicted Mom but she's fine and resting comfortably. No, they aren't keeping her...Paris, yes that's the one. No clear her schedule. I will handle the rest... Bye Zoe." Uterine growth? Sounds serious, I hope she's okay.

Mia

"Tell Larry, tell him... everything, but assure him she will be fine." I pat his hand as my phone rings again. I roll my eyes.
"Hello?" I sigh.
"Hello my Pet. You sound tired, long day?" My eyes widen as I hear his voice, jumping to my feet.
"Hold on, please." I move to the other room and close the door.
"Where are you?" I whisper.
"Aww Pet, don't tell me you miss me, I'm touched." He croons. I hate when he does that. "Don't worry baby, you will see me soon." He hangs up. They let him go and now he's looking for me.

Larry

I called Mai a few times but it goes straight to voicemail. Laurent texts telling me Mai in the hospital with some kind of growth. He say she's resting and ok.
I check our schedule, we don't have another break for months. Maybe I can talk to Lau when he get back about cancelling a few workshops to see her.

Mai

I wake up in a hideous hospital gown with a monitor on my finger and an IV in my arm.
"Hey, you're awake." Zoe smiles at me holding my hand.
"What happened? I don't have time for this. I have meetings to-" Zoe stops me from getting up, which is probably a good thing because the still feel awful.
"Calm down Mia is taking care of everything. You need to lay down and relax."
"Mia? I'm dying aren't I? You can tell me. What is it? Lymphoma? Pneumonia? Pleural Edema? Tell me!"
"Calm down! Mia wants to talk to you."
"Z? Is she finally awake?" Mia sounds serious.
"Yes Mia, I am. Tell them to let me go! I have meetings and -"
"Mai, calm down it's not good for the babies."
(Silence)
What? No, I can't be, well I can be, but I can't. I am too young to be a mother. What am I going to do well with a little poop factory? All the crying and ruining my clothes and wait - "BABIES?!" Zoe nods handing me an envelope with a disk and pictures. I stare at the pictures speechless.
"Breathe, you will make a great mom, you've been mothering me for years. I look forward to the change." Mia laughs.
"You're not funny." I grumble.
"When do you want to tell the father? Do you need me-" Larry? Yeah he's going to be...uh. I sigh.
"No, don't say anything."
I could hear her disapproval through the phone. "Well he's going to be calling to check on your 'unexpected uterine growth' at some point. Just don't lie. Okay?"
"You're going to tell Laurent aren't you?" I ask.
"I will check on you later. Love you." She hangs up before I could say anything else.
"Zoe I need to go. I have to tell him in person before Mia blabs all my business." I plead.
"Already set just waiting on the discharge papers." He waves in the nurse who takes the needle out my arm and turns off the monitors.

Several hours later

I sigh and knock on the hotel door. Mia answers the door with a smile.
"Right on time. Come in." Mia pulls me into the twins' room then freezes glaring at the 'bell boy' holding my bags.
"Just put those there." Mia hisses, "Congratulations you found me, if I see you again, I'm calling the police."
"Mai! Are you okay?" Larry rushes over to hug me.
"I uh," I glance back at Mia. "I think I should sit down." Mia shuts the door and locks it.
He helps me sit down, "Can I have something to drink?" I feel like I'm sweating buckets.
"I will get it." Mia jumped up.
"We don't have any alcohol, but I can run out-" Larry offers.
"Mai is fine with water, right?" Mia interrupts.
"Actually, can I have" Mia gives me a stern look. "cold water." I fan myself.
"Here you go." She hands me a glass giving me a strange look.
"Tell him or I will." She hisses in my ear before giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"I brought a little, uh, something for you." I hand Larry an envelope feeling a little nauseous. I watch intently as he opens it and pulls out the disk.
He quickly pops it into the DVD player in his laptop and starts it. Mia sits besides me holding my hand. "What did he do to you?" She whispers. I shake my head, because as far as I can tell he didn't do anything.
After watching the minute long video showing I am pregnant with more than one haby, Laurent is wordlessly staring at his brother. Larry hasn't moved since the video started. (Above media) I am preparing to leave since Larry doesn't seem happy with the news. I don't blame him. I was floored too.
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Is Larry happy or is he upset? What do you think of Mia pushing her sister to tell him? How many babies are they having? What did William do to Mai?