Be Your Everything

s i x t y n i n e

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Luke asks me as we drive to Modest Management's office for our meeting with Miss Baker. The moment I've been dreading most is quickly approaching, and I still have no idea what I'm going to say at the meeting.

"No, but I guess I'm never going to be ready." I swallow back my nerves and pray that this meeting goes somewhat well. Breaking this kind of news to Baker isn't going to be pleasant, but news that I'm pregnant is bound to cause a press nightmare, so we figured it would be best to start planning for that aspect of all this right now.

"I'll be there with you the whole time." Luke promises me. "We can even tell her together if you want."

"She hired me to get you good press," I remind him. "I hardly think that this is what she had in mind."

"Regardless, we have to make the best of the situation. At least, once we tell her, she can handle the press so that it's not on you." Luke pats my hand for reassurance as we pull into a parking space.

"Let's get this over with." I take a deep breath and push the passenger door open. Luke walks around the car and helps out before taking my hand and leading me inside. "Thank you for coming with me. Baker still scares the living daylights out of me."

"I wouldn't leave you to deal with this alone." Luke assures me. "You're still one of my best friends. I'm not going to abandon you in the wake of.. you know..."

"Yeah," I chuckle at his discomfort, "I know."

We walk into the building and straight to Baker's office without another word. She's already seated at her desk with her latte in her hand when we come inside, so she motions for us to sit down while she sips her coffee.

"Good morning," I squeak to ease the tension, but as per usual, Baker is all business.

"Let's get started then, shall we?" Baker looks between me and Luke impatiently. "I'm very busy today, but you said this was urgent."

"Something's come up that we thought you should know about," Luke begins, but freezes and looks to me to finish explaining the situation.

"I'm pregnant," I blurt out, but Baker remains calm, almost pleased.

"I can't say that this is ideal," she shrugs and sets down her coffee, "but as long as you two plan to make a public display of commitment to each other-"

"Sorry, I'm late," Calum pushes the door open before Baker can finish her thought, but his timing couldn't be better. I didn't want to suffer through this meeting without him.

"Calum... I didn't realize you'd be joining us." Baker forces a smile and gestures for him to sit in the last remaining chair. "Is there a reason for your visit?"

"I mean, I think I should be here to talk about my kid," he explains, and Baker's eyes grow wide at the realization.

"See that's the problem," I admit in shame, "Luke isn't the father, Calum is."

"So tell me, Miss March, how do you intend to take care of the situation?" Baker narrows her eyes in scrutiny, but I don't know how to answer her question.

"I uh, I don't know," I answer uncertainly. "That's kind of why we're here. We have no idea what to do."

"Well, there's a few options out there," Baker informs me. "There are procedures that can be scheduled discretely, but I am aware of a pill that will eliminate the issue in a much less invasive manner."

"Are you telling her to get an abortion?" Calum looks horrified, and as soon as he says it, my face changes to mirror his.

"I see no alternative," Baker says nonchalantly. "Miss March has three more months of her contract. Carrying your child when the world believes that she and Luke are happily in love is simply not an option."