The Baby

four

kalani depradine

Grayson invited me to his office building. I have an ultrasound today and Grayson preferred we meet at his office and head there together. So I arrived at the front desk and the clerk was already familiar with who I was despite this being my first time here. It made me feel the slightest bit important. She gave me instructions to his office which I followed. It was on the highest floor and at the end of the hall.

This building is everything futuristic and modern. The only colours used are black and white, with the fair exception of glass. Things are sleek and clean.

In the elevator was a man who asked for the floor number. He was dressed in a special uniform, apart from everyone else who just wore business attire.

"Do you have to do this all day?" I asked after he pressed my button. My eyes rested outside, being able to see through the large window in the elevator as it rose up. We were getting higher and higher into the sky.

"Yup," his voice was filled with how annoyed he was. Not with me, but with the occupation he is stuck with.

I smiled before leaving the elevator. I walked to the end of the hall like instructed. When I got there I didn't think to knock but instead walked right in. Immediately, I regretted my action because he was arguing with a woman.

Tall model figure with a tight short red dress that matched with black pumps. Her blonde beach wavy hair was messily tied up, exposing her formed jaw. When she turned to look at me her lips were stained with red and eyes were an icy grey. My body filled with some unfamiliar emotion.

"Great you're here. Let's go," Grayson stood from his desk seat. He looked eager to get out of here and end whatever conversation they were caught up in.

She blocked him from leaving. "Are you gonna be polite and introduce me to your friend?" She laughed a genuine laugh. It was scary and powerful. She was asserting her dominance.

"Alright. Kalani, this is Bria," he introduced the two of us. His temper was slowly being lost the longer we stayed in this office. The air was thick and choking me with every breath. Something about rich people just makes me gag.

This is his fiancé he's ending his engagement with? She's drop dead gorgeous. Why would he not want more than a contractual agreement with her?

"It's nice to meet you," I gave her a small smile. I looked at the time on my phone then looked at Grayson. We're already 15 minutes late for our ultrasound.

Having no interest in continuing our awkward encounter, Grayson pulled me by the arm out of the office. His grip on me remained firm as he led us to the elevator. He kept apologizing. Apologizing for how weird things were. Apologizing for putting me in an uncomfortable position. And apologizing for making us late. I quickly accepted it just to shut him up.

"She's really pretty," I took a glance at him. Seeing her made me even more curious why he slept with me. I'm not typically an insecure person. But it's not my looks which make me feel this way—I know I'm beautiful. It's my status, or lack of.

His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed a huge heap of air. "I guess. I've seen better. I've done better," he looked at the time on his watch.

"Wow. You are a real dick," I muttered, scratching my eyebrow that was suddenly itchy.

Grayson is a charming man. He's aware of his attractiveness and enjoys using it to his advantage. But he's also arrogant and cocky and self absorbed. He's convinced the world revolves around him. He's also convinced he's better than other people. He's convinced they're below him because of his status. Because of his money. His parents are partially to blame. They convinced him to believe you can do whatever you please as long as you have money.

"I beg your pardon?"

We left the elevator.

"It's guys like you that are the reason girls are insecure and constantly look down on themselves. You make them feel like they're not good enough. Like they don't meet your standards. And that's why girls are so competitive with each other. I don't understand why girls fight over douches like you," my mouth worked on auto, not thinking about my words before they left my lips.

I didn't expect to say all of that, it just came out but someone had to tell him. I wouldn't be standing beside him right now on my way to an ultrasound if his child wasn't in me. In any other universe, I would never associate myself with people like him.

His eyebrows rose to the sky as we stood outside, waiting for his car to be valeted to the front. "Excuse me?" He looked down at me like he was ready to spit in my face. I kept quiet. With a large sigh, he opened the passenger door for me.

"Honestly, I just hope we have a girl. So if a guy like you breaks her heart, you'll finally get a glimpse of reality." I forbid anyone ever breaking my daughter's heart.

"You know, I think I like you much better when you're drunk and on your knees," he smirked, glancing at me while he drive. My palms moistened, questioning what that comment was supposed to mean. But for some reason it made my heart race. I let out a laugh of disbelief. Nothing about it was funny. It only added to his egotistical personality.

"Well I think I like you better when your mouth is either shut or between my legs."

A smile spread on his teeth. He has dimples. Deep and so adorable. I hate that a man like him is so attractive. It's unfair. "I could arrange for that."

"Never gonna happen," I emphasized every word, making sure he could never get the wrong idea about things between us.

"We'll see." He's an optimistic man.

"No there's nothing to see."

Grayson is far from my type. Our lives are so different. A relationship between us would never work. There is no denying his attraction. And it is clearly what made me sleep with him that night. Or it was the liquor. Or both. Either way, I could never date him.

He parked the car and we got out to enter the building. I am filled with excitement. I've started trying to make the most out of this situation. Regardless of whether I never wanted kids, I'm going to have one. So I need to radiate only positive energy for this baby.

I checked us in and a doctor was quick to bring us to a room. This doctor was different from my last, thankfully. She was a little bit older with a ring on her finger. But that ring didn't prevent her from admiring Grayson.

Her eyes traced him like a map she had every intentions of memorizing. Her body was unsteady. I rolled my eyes, laying on the bed and rolling up my shirt. Clearing my throat, I grabbed her attention. Her cheeks were flushed pink, revealing how embarrassed she was to be caught staring. She applied the gel on my stomach and went on to do her job.

Grayson's face quickly lit up. For someone who said they don't want a baby, he seemed happy and there was no hiding how amazed he was to see the baby.

I brought my hand into his, squeezing it when I noticed how starstruck he was. This moment is special. A special moment typically shared between couples in love. Despite that, I was happy to share this moment with him. Happy to have someone here with me, even if they don't want a baby.

The appointment ran longer than it did my first time. Grayson had so many questions. I had no idea he thought all this through. There was an analyzed list in his mind he had every intention of reading off to her. So many questions. I should've been annoyed. But instead I was so happy to see how invested he is. It warmed my heart.