Six

KAREN’S POV.

My buckling knees sent me walking blindly down the corridors, searching for the elevator. Everything suddenly seemed compressing, and it felt like I'd puke or something.

I just needed a place to think. My head was on the verge of explosion, and if I didn't calm myself down, I'd just go crazy, and scream.

Walking into the elevator, I clicked the button numerous times, wanting to be away from all the people in suits, watching me walk clumsily.

The elevator began to move, and I closed my eyes, taking in deep breaths, trying to calm the raging storm in my chest.

Immediately the elevator stopped, I spilled out onto the highest floor, making my way to the door to the rooftop.

Once I opened it, a gust of fresh air blew past me, going through my hair and clothes.

I closed it, and walked forward, sitting on an abandoned box, as I stared into space, my eyes filling up.

I didn't know how I felt. Like… I felt so disgusted with myself. Like, how could I explain? I'd slept with Liam's father!

Not his brother, not his cousin, not a friend, but his father! The one who gave life to him, and worse, I'd found the man attractive.

I chewed on my nails with gnashing contempt. As if sleeping with him wasn't enough, I was pregnant for him.

How shameless. What would happen if Liam found out? Since he was Ashley's son, sooner or later, I'd have to meet him, and it would be revealed that I was his ex. What would become of me?

I dug my hand through my hair to and fro, not caring if I was ruining it. I was crumbling inside.

A baby! Damn, a baby for my ex’s father. I took in a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling for as long as it took to calm down.

Unbelievable. It was absolutely unbelievable. Let's say I had a father. What would it feel like if Laura slept with him?

Disgust swept through the corners of my soul.

What if she told me she was pregnant with my father's baby?

I let out a muffled scream, biting into my bag, unable to release the rage, and disgust I felt for myself.

Mr. Sanchez didn't even need to threaten me about not saying a word. I was the one who'd die to keep it a secret.

If word got out about what I'd done… gosh, just kill me.

I blew air through my mouth, trying to calm down.

“Okay, this… this wasn't your fault. Like… you didn't even know! It was just a stupid one-night stand, and it was all Liam's fault. Liam and Laura caused this.

I tried to console myself, by shifting the blame onto Liam and Laura, but I still felt rotten inside.

After blaming, and trying not to believe my situation, it finally sank in, and I just sat there, staring into blank space, as the breeze played with my hair.

I didn't think about work. They'd think I was late on purpose. I just preferred my mind blank than for it to start up again.

There was just silence— in and around me.

The reality of my situation had sunk in.

Pregnant with my ex’s father’s baby. I was doomed.

There were no two ways about it. I was disgusting, shameless, and an abomination.

After spending almost an hour on the rooftop, I dragged myself to my feet, and walked like a soulless being all the way to the office.

A few people stared, wondering if I was just arriving, if something had happened to me, and a few tried to greet me, but I ignored them all.

And at the door to the office, I began to straighten my hair, and suit, taking in a deep breath.

“Where have you been?” Ms. Lane asked the moment she saw me walk in, and I bit my lip inwardly, desperately hoping she didn’t have any work that would require me going to Mr. Sanchez’s office.

Please, for heaven’s sake, I already had enough of that for one day. If I saw that unfairly beautiful father of Liam's once more, I would just go crazy.

Guilt would turn me inside out.

“I’m sorry, ma'am. I had to deliver something to the boss.”

“Mr. Sanchez?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that Aria’s job?”

Quit the questions, lady. I’m at an exploding point.

“Yes, it is.”

“Then why did you do that?”

I sucked in air through my teeth, and breathed it out forcefully through my nose.

“I was meant to give it to him personally.”

Now, let me sit!

“And what was it?”

“It was personal, Ms. Lane.” Without expecting it, my voice rose slightly, and everyone took quick breaks from their keyboards to stare at me.

I took in two deep breaths.

Ms. Lane frowned.

“I’m sorry, ma’am.” I apologized quietly.

She didn’t say anything, she only began to take files forcefully from her table.

“Quit lounging around, and draft all these into the computer.” She said, and I looked at all the files. “I want them done by the end of today.”

“I should type all these out?” My eyes nearly popped. What the heck was she saying?

“Do you need me to repeat myself?”

Fine! If today was going to be a dickhead, then so be it.

My heels couldn’t help sounding forced as they knocked on the ground, leading me to her. I packed the unbelievable pile of files, and information that were absolutely none of my business, before plopping them on my desk.

Everyone finally stopped staring, and went back to their work. Turning on the computer, I stared at the blank screen.

Wait… what was the password?

I bit my lip.

Would today go smoothly? When I had so much to think about?

As the hours flew by rapidly, my work contrasted to their speed. I was awfully slow; my mind flying to troubled lands.

But seriously, it made no sense. My life wasn’t some freaking drama. How could Liam’s dad…? Actually, the question should be ‘How could he be Liam’s dad? Liam was twenty-three, so Mr. Sanchez definitely had to look older than that. No father could look that young.

And how could I be pregnant for him? I rubbed my forehead, with my fingers, feeling tears prick my eyes. How could I get myself tangled in such a situation? And why wouldn't I stop thinking about it?

“Are you okay?” Britney, who was three desks away from me, asked. “You look spaced out.”

“I'm fine. I'm just, uh, a little under the weather.”

“Take care.”

“Thanks.”

My phone buzzed, and I took it out, happy to be taking a break from the heated office, and it's miserable unending work for me. However, taking a look at the caller, my heart did a triple backflip.

Mr. Sanchez.

I got up, and stumbled, making my chair careen backwards.

“You okay?” Someone asked.

“Uh…yeah.” I walked out of the office with my legs feeling like jelly. What if he already found out I was his son’s ex? Oh shit, that wouldn’t go too well.

“Mr…” My voice was too high. “Mr. Sanchez.” I started again, boldly.

“Come home early. We’re seeing my parents tomorrow.”

“Okay… wait, what? I mean— I’m sorry, but… um, I just…” There was that annoying sound— He had ended the call.

~

When evening came, I arranged my stuff, and wrote a short letter to Ms. Lane, feeling a teeny bit of joy amidst my swirling unhappiness because I was going to be defying her.

The boss was final, and his word trumped over hers.

I got into my car, and drove off.

God help me, Liam would be absent from the crazy parent-meeting session. How awkward would it be if he told his grandparents I was his ex?

But seriously, how possible? Why did they keep him a secret?

When I got back to the mansion, I realized I’d never been that reluctant to go to a place of rest.

Carefully, I walked past the foyer, hoping not to run into him.

Unfortunately for me, he was in the living room, with his legs crossed. He looked like he had been waiting for me.

“Good evening, Mr…”

“You wanted to say something earlier today when you witnessed me and Liam’s argument. What was it?” He asked, without wasting a second.

Had he been thinking of that all day?

My heart caught in my throat.