CHAPTER 4

"Well? Check it already so that we can join the rest. We are about to be called to serve the guests." Julie pleads with me because I have been reticent to check the damn thing for a couple of minutes now.

My heart is throbbing in a marathon pase inside its cage. I am growing weak every single second that passes by. I can't breathe properly. The anxiety and uncertainty of what lay ahead if this turns positive is killing me.

I swear I have never felt this worried and sceptical in my whole twenty-one years of age. I am a nervous wreck, but as Julie said, we have no time. We just sneaked out as the Mazurs engaged in welcoming their guests and I am sure they are done with the formalities and salutations by now.

With a throbbing heart and feeble legs, I stroll a few centimetres into the bathroom where the kit is laying- the kit that holds the fate of my life from this moment on. My life from now on depends on what the results are. I would like to make a brief prayer, but aside from racing against time, I think this is something that doesn't involve God. It doesn't. It's all about me and Ray, and our blind love.

With an oscillating sweaty hand, I grab the kit, and clench it as I lift my head to the skies. I dare not murmur a word. I just needed to feel God's presence in my life right now- that will be an assurance that despite the outcome, nothing will go wrong. All will be well.

"Come on, Irma!" Julie fondles my shoulder, urging me to end this anxiety once and for all.

And I heed to her plea.

I open my palm, both our eyes rushing to the kit.

At first glance - I flinch, combatting hard the cold chills threatening to immobilize my body. The ozone layers must have closed up a bit, limiting the air. I hold my breath.

I few blinks, and then I sprint my eyes to the kit again. It's still crystal clear.

I would love to discharge the breath I am holding, but I suddenly forgot how to breathe. My head spins a complete degree, reality sinking in savagely.

"Oh. My. God! Irma!" Julie clamours in disbelief.

"I...am pregnant!" I whimper in an assortment of feelings and notions. Suddenly I feel something close to fear, and my uncertainty skyrockets again.

I am pregnant?!

"But, he loves you, right? You are sure of his love, right?" Julie queries.

She is in the same shocked state as me.

"I am." I respond, faintly, concealing any doubts I may have about this. He loves me, but he is not ready to profess our love to his family. That complicates everything. Everything.

"I hope you are right, and that Mr Rayson will handle this well. Otherwise, I do not want to imagine what will happen, Irma." Julie says, and that stings like hell.

I get where she is coming from. If Ray doesn't take the mantle and take full responsibility, I am doomed. Perhaps for good! Worse will be his family learning about this pregnancy. It will be a total disaster.

"I don't know what you are planning, but you need to tell him asap. You both need to sort this out before it blows out of proportion." Julie adds.

I know, and that is it hasn't already. I should talk to him soonest. Maybe the baby will give him the courage he needs to face his family.

"I will. I will talk to Ray tonight after dinner. But just a pinky please, Julie, don't make the mistake of telling this to anyone. No one should know about this, okay?"

"Know about what?!"

Shit! Double shit!!

We both snap at the door where Ray racks, tall and bold, calm and cold, exuding glamour, dominance, and sovereignty like always. This look can leave any woman drooling over him even without him making an effort. He is pure enchantment. A total charm to any straight woman.

And his strides when he moves like now, echo with glueing sparks, glueing you to the spot, waiting to be devoured.

"What is that that no one is supposed to know?" He queries as he seals me beneath his adorable tall frame, his eyes scanning through mine, his sweet pheromones threatening to lure me into committing another sin right here.

"Excuse me, Sir Rayson. I will leave you two alone." Julie says, throwing me a look that says "This is the right time" before she strides out of my room.

Is it?

"Babe? What do you want to talk about after dinner?" He queries again, while I am battling with my inner self.

Hug? How much did he hear?

"Did... you hear anything else?" I implore, earning a cocked eyebrow from him.

He eyes me for a while, studying my face like he is studying for a final exam. I swallow hard, averting my gaze from his eyes a little.

"Yes!" That summoned my gaze back to him. We lock our eyes. "Why? Is there anything you didn't want me to hear?" He implores, locking the gap between us.

I shake my head in a bold move, as if I am not lying. So he heard?

I fall into his arms per his invite. He embodies me in his loving arms, tightening his hold on me as if he will never let me go. Which I hope he will never do.

After a long moment of intimate hugging, he pulls away, but keeps me in his embrace and I savour this moment with all that I got. It feels so sweet. It's pure heaven to be in his arms like this.

"Why did you come here?" I ask, snuggling closer to him, jerking my head a little from his comfortable chest and peering up to meet his eyes.

"It's getting intense out there. I just needed this." He responds, pulling me away a little as he searches for my lips.

I don't demur. I am still wondering why he is not saying anything if he indeed heard it all, but I push that thought aside, and right this for now. His kisses always blow my mind. They calm me in every situation. They always work like magic, and today is no exception. I get lost in it. We both do, until we can no longer breathe.

We break away, sloping our heads against each other as we gasp for air, trying to steady our breathing.

"You've always handled such meetings and events well. What's different today?" I implore between rocky breathing, caressing his jaws with my thumbs.

"Everything is different today." He responds faintly, searching my eyes.

That spewed masses of curiosity in me.

"Everything? What's bringing about this difference?" I implore.

He takes a long blink, and heaves out a very heavy sigh that worries me more. This seems so heavy. But what could it be?

"It's not like anything I have handled before. This is different. It's...complicated." The heavy weight of his tone explains just how heavy this load is.

I don't know anything about striking and closing deals, but I know he is good at what he does. If this is a deal, no matter how complicated it is, he will find a way around it.

"I don't know what it is, but I trust in your wisdom and capabilities. I know you will handle it well." I solace, hoping I can get a smile from him because I can't bear seeing him this way.

"What if I mess up? What if I make a wrong decision?" He queries.

Huh? Since when has he ever made a wrong decision business-wise? I haven't heard of such a time.

"I trust you, Ray. You've never failed. This won't be your first. I am sure you will do great out there. And whatever decision you will make will be the best. I believe in you." I say.

"Thank you, babe. I love you. Whatever happens, know that this guy here loves you so much." He responds.

Even if I am already pregnant, Ray? Hang on. Why isn't he still saying anything?

"And I love you more, Ray." I say.

He pecks my lips.

"Alright. Let's talk after dinner? In my room?" He queries.

"Okay. I have something sweet to tell you as well." I chirp, grinning from ear to ear, coercing a smirk from him too.

"Mmh. This must be really sweet. Mind telling me now? I can spare a minute for you." He says.

"Mmhh. Nah! After dinner, baby." I tease.

"Can you give me a clue then?" He pleads, and now I am getting a feeling that he really didn't hear the pregnant part of my conversation with Julie.

Well, great! I will surprise him!

"It's a surprise. Don't ruin it, babe. See you in your room tonight." I kiss his jaw and pull away from his hold. "Now go and finish up with the Mauricios." I add.

"Okay. Tonight." He winks, and turns to leave, but after a few strides, my idiotic grin is cut short by him turning to me. "Can I ask a favor?" He asks.

"Mmhh. Anything." I respond, cloaking my smile.

"Could you please, not come to the table until the guests leave?"

What? How can he ask me this? Better yet, why?

"Why?" I ask with a broken voice.

"Just trust me on this. Please?" He pleads, and again, the uncertainties and curiosity surge in.

Why doesn't he want me to go to the table? Is he that ashamed of me even though nobody knows about us?

"Irma?" I don't know how got back here, but he is standing before me right now, his arms travelling to my shoulders to soothe me into this.

I jerk away, creating some distance between us. His arms hang in the air as his eyes bore deep into mine with shock.

"I will try not to, but I won't abandon my chores just because you don't want to see me." I state, fighting back the tears.

"You know that's not true. I wouldn't be here if..." I raise a hand as he attempts to take a step closer. He stops. "Babe..."

"Honestly, you are hurting me, Ray. So much. The truth is that I don't get you, but save your explanations for tonight. Go!" I fire, not even blinking, and neither are his cute miserably eyes winning this time around.

"I'll see you tonight." He says, and dashes outside, slamming the door behind him.

Weighing between slamming on the bed and fathoming over this whole situation and returning to my duties, I go with the latter. I have lurked extremely much today. I don't want to seem incompetent.

I drag my confused self outside and walk directly to the kitchen.

Sauntering inside, I find the girls in a heated argument, but their voices are at bay.

"No way! I don't want to be the one to die for everyone." One of them says.

"Come on, guys! The more time we are wasting the bigger the scolding we will get." Another one says.

"How about you do it, Jane? You are the die-hard among us." Another one says, catching the attention of everyone as they nod their head in concurrent.

"Of course, I am the toughest and the only bold one here. I wouldn't mind doing it, but on second thought, there is a lazy ass here who hasn't done anything since morning." She turns to me. She has always been on my neck. "She's doing it. We did all the work. Let her do it." She adds, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Do what?" I cluelessly ask.

"We served everything but forgot the chicken. It's right there. Since you have done absolutely nothing today, deal with Madam Mazur. Take the chicken to them before she badges in here and fires us all." Jane adds.

She must be basking in glee knowing that I will surely get it from the madam. Screw this bitch!

But you know in a way, she's partly right. I didn't do anything in the morning. And I wasn't here to help them serve the guests. So, how about I forget Ray's plea for now and do this? Besides, I won't even stay there for thirty seconds. I will just place the chicken on the table and rush back here. He won't even notice me.

I grab the chicken, and make my way out of the kitchen.

Climbing the stairway to the dining area, I catch sight of everybody composed in their seats, their eyes on my knit in shining armour as he pens something down on a document. Perhaps a signature? I scorn the sight of this Mauricio's miniature resting her hand on my man's shoulder, but I cloak my rage with the exhilaration that Ray was able to pull through this one. He seemed oddly and worryingly tense earlier.

As he hands the paper to Mr Mazur, they seem like a bulk of papers, rambunctious cheers erupt in the area.

"Deal!" I Mazur says as he closed the booklet, the cheers stopping as he adds. "We now have a merger. The wedding between Rayson Drew Mazur, my son, and Tarah Brianna Mauricio, is henceforth set to hold on the 15th of next month! The..."

Wait,

Wait,

Hell, wait...

A merger?

Ray?

And Tarah?

A wedding?!