Wrong Injection

CHAPTER 31

Two months had passed, and I stood naked in front of my long mirror, admiring my five-month bump. I couldn't help but smile at the gentle curve of my belly. "You're getting bigger and bigger," I cooed, rubbing my belly as I walked to grab a dress from my closet.

After getting dressed, my phone rang. It was Bella. "Hi, Bella," I answered, walking out of the house to head to work. My restaurant, which had been open for two months, was finally thriving. I felt grateful for Bella's support and blessing, which had made this dream a reality.

"Hey, how are you feeling today?" Bella asked.

"Good, will you pass by the restaurant today?" I replied.

"Of course, Gabby will be coming with me. We've decided to have dinner at your place," she said.

"Awesome, I'll be expecting you guys. Bye," I said before hanging up.

As I hopped into my car, I felt grateful for the success of my restaurant. Despite being new, it was thriving. Life had taken unexpected turns, but I was learning to embrace the moment.

Sultan was noticeably absent from my life now. We hadn't spoken since our encounter at the hospital with Veronica, and he hadn't reached out as promised. I had mixed feelings about it, but I had made a vow to myself not to contact him. He had broken my trust, and I wasn't willing to give him another chance to hurt me.
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The morning sun cast a warm glow over the room as I stretched and glanced at the watch on my nightstand. After a quick check of the time, I headed into the bathroom to start my morning routine. I turned on the faucet, grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste, and began brushing my teeth. I made sure to cover all surfaces, including the front, back, and sides, as well as my tongue. After brushing, I swished some fresh mouthwash around my mouth, gargling and spitting it out before rinsing.

Feeling refreshed and all dressed up, I headed to my restaurant. As I pulled over, one of my waitresses hurried over to welcome me. "Hello, Ma'am," she said with a smile, taking my bag from me.

"Good morning," I said, walking into the kitchen. "Any customers so far?"

"Yes, two couples came in for breakfast," she replied.

"Speaking of breakfast, I haven't had mine." I realized I hadn't eaten yet. But noticed the chef was absent. "Where's the chef?"

"I think he's in the washroom," she said.

"Okay, tell him to prepare breakfast for me when he returns," I instructed, heading out of the kitchen.

"What would you like for breakfast, ma'am?" she asked.

"Anything's fine, just surprise me," I said with a smile. "I'll be in my office."

As the lunch rush intensified, I stepped out of my office to lend a hand to my overwhelmed waitresses. With the restaurant packed, I figured I could help out since I wasn't tied up with any pressing tasks.

One of my waitresses approached me, saying, "Ma'am, the gentleman at the far end is asking to speak with you." I followed her gaze to a man who caught my eye with a warm smile and a wave. I returned the gesture and made my way over to him.

"Hi," I greeted.

"Hi, I'm Jack," he introduced himself.

"I'm Milani," I replied.

"Nice meeting you, Milani," he said, his eyes scanning me briefly before widening in surprise as they landed on my baby bump. "You're pregnant," he stated, clearly taken aback.

"Enjoying your meal?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Yeah, it's great," he replied.

"Glad to hear that," I said. "You asked to speak with me?"

"Yes, please sit down," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him. I nodded and took a seat. He called over one of my waitresses and asked her to clear his table. Once she finished, he turned his attention back to me.

"You're beautiful," he said suddenly, catching me off guard.

"Thank you," I replied, feeling a bit uneasy.

"This is actually my fifth time visiting your restaurant," he said. "I've always wanted to talk to you, but I didn't know how to approach you." We both laughed at his admission.

"Thanks for being a regular customer," I said sincerely.

"Yeah," he nodded. "I must admit, your partner is a lucky person to have a beautiful woman like you."

I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, but I don't have a partner," I said truthfully and he raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, Milani, you don't expect me to believe that?"

I chuckled. "I'm being honest, but I'd appreciate it if we didn't discuss this further."

"Of course, I'm sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay," I said, glancing at the watch on his wrist. "I'm afraid I have to go now. It was nice talking to you, though."

"Friends?" He extended his hand for a handshake, and I took it. "Friends," I agreed, smiling. His handshake was firm but gentle.