I Thought Three Was A Crowd

Chapter 10: Four and Under

I drove to work, tired and hungry. I hadn't eaten since the morning. Last night was literally energy taking. I could barely walk. I didn't get much sleep since we didn't finish until about 2am. I was running off of the energy of 4 hours of sleep and a cup of coffee. Not much to really do with that. I got to work and said good morning to my colleagues. I got onto the elevator and went to the top floor. That's where my office was. I mean, the boss should be on the top floor, right? I went into my office and sat in my chair and closed my eyes. I was slowly falling asleep when I heard a knock on my door. It was my assistant. She walked in with a stack of papers and folders in her hands. Great, more work for me.
"Good morning, Ms.Kelly." She said.
"Good morning." I said back tiredly.
She frowned at me, seeing that I very tired.
"Not much sleep last night, huh?" She asked placing the stack of work on my desk.
"No. Not really...it was my fault though."
"Oh. I thought we didn't get worked on a work night."
I laughed with a cry in my voice. She laughed, too. Jayla, her name, always made work fun. I don't know what I would do without her.
"Jayla?" I asked.
"Yea." She answered.
"What is all of this on my desk?" I said placing my face in my hands.
"This is about 50 lists of companies we are invested in. Their stocks and economics, and workers and managers."
"Why do I need this, again?" I asked sadly.
"Because you have to go through them and write a developed prediction of future plans for them."
"And when does this need to be done by?"
"Tomorrow morning, sadly." She frowned.
I sighed and wished her farewell. I stared at the work stacked on my desk fit about 5 minutes. I thought maybe I could sleep for a while and work later but that didn't turn out to be the plan. I had another knock at my door again. Jayla came in and told me I had a guest. I told her to let them in. A young girl walked in. She looked about 20 or 21. She had long flowing hair. Her skin was smooth and clear. Her body, skinny and well formed. She smiled at me and sat in one of the chairs in front of me.
"Hi. My name is Jazmine." She said extended her hand to shake mine.
I shook her hand and introduced myself.
"Hi. I'm Kelly. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
Jayla left the room and closed the door.
"So, what brings you to my office?" I asked.
"Well, I work for a company that is very fond of your business and we would like invest in your business operation."
This was very surprising. Most people that come into my office want either an investment or money to get their business started. It was kind of cool to be in the other side of the table.
"I would love that."
She smiled. We went on with the conversation and made some agreements and disagreements. This went on for about an hour but we eventually came up with a compromise. I love my job, I thought to myself. I am my own boss and can do as I please. Life couldn't get any better. Ha. It just got worse. I made it home and opened the door to the house. As soon as I opened the door, I heard yelling and screaming. Not in a intimate like way but a genuinely type way. It was mean and aggressive. I rushed up to the bedroom where Ashley and Jordan were on opposite sides of the room yelling at each other. Jordan, not out of his workout clothes yet. Not was Ashley out of her clothes she had worn for the day. I walked in and Jordan and Ashley looked at me. They looked back at each other.
"So, you're gonna tel her." Jordan said with an annoyed tone.
Ashley scoffed. What did they want to tell me?
"What is going on?" I asked confused.
Ashley sighed and walked over to me.
"I love you, a lot. And you mean the absolute world to me. I love Jordan too which is why I think this is best for us."
What was she talking about? Best for us? What does that even mean.
"I want a child!" She said suddenly.
I looked at Jordan and he had a serious look on his face confirming that she wasn't joking. A child. A baby. Why would she want a baby.
"Why?!" I asked shakily.
"Because...I feel that we need to grow in our relationship and a baby would help us become closer. And who doesn't want a baby."
Jordan and I sarcastically raised our hands.
"I want kids. But not right now." Jordan said.
"It's too much going on in our lives to want a child."
"I agree." I said.
"We aren't ready for a baby. Not right now."
Ashley frowned at me. I could tell she was hurt.
"So, when?" She asked sarcastically.
"Because I know that all of us will only grow in our work so when will be the best time." She started to raise her voice.
"Calm down Ashley baby." I said in a soft voice.
"No! Both of you don't care for my feelings. You only want what's best for each other. Forget Ashley." She yelled.
She started to cry.
"That's not how we fill at all Ashley. It's just right now isn't the time."
She ran out of the room balling in tears. I looked at Jordan and he knew how I felt about this topic. He knew it would hit me harder than Ashley. He came and wrapped his arms around me tight. That's why he argued. Because he didn't want me to feel this way. The way I was feeling now. In pain and heartbreak. Because he knew, that I couldn't take this moment. The moment when I would remember. That I couldn't have children.