TOBY.
"Looks like it's either that or our relationship, what's It going to be?" I asked.
I got the shock of my life when Yasmin said, "I'll choose us," and I rejoiced too soon because she added, "but not without a few conditions being met."
"What are your conditions?" I asked, trying not to sound too desperate because at this point I would do anything to avoid this scandal. My father would kill me if I soured his political aspirations.
"One, speed up the divorce process. Two, I need a getaway to any country of my choice for as long as I want, all expenses on you of course. Three, send me a couple of millions as compensation," she listed.
"And you'll get rid of the baby?" I asked. Numbers two and three I could get done easily. Number one was a different story but she didn't need to know that. I just had to agree to abate the situation and I could only do my best after that right?
"Duh, I will get rid of our baby," she said, making me wince. She sure knew how to rub it in.
"There I've sent you some money, that's the limit I can transfer at a go," I said after I had logged into my banking app and done a transfer. Her eyes lit up when she checked her phone but she tried to hide it when I could see right through her.
"This will do for now," she said.
"Just send me the details, whatever you want for your getaway I'll fund it."
"And the divorce?" She asked.
"I'll handle it," I said with a false sense of confidence.
"Good." I expected her to thank me or hug me but she only nodded. She probably needed time and space for her to get over this, her getaway was a good thing. l felt relieved to have Yasmin far away for a couple of months.
The weeks that followed Yasmin's departure were quiet, way too quiet. I gave her all she wanted so she barely contacted me. Ruby on the other hand seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. She must have an A-plus in avoidance. I came home early from work just so I could see her but the house seemed empty. I took off my jacket and dumped it on the couch and was followed by my tie. I ran my hand through my hair as I thought of my conversation with my father,
"Congratulations son," he said. We were going through some reports together in his office, that's my father for you, he said he handed them over to me but he was pretty hands-on with the whole situation.
I was confused at his sudden congratulations, "I'm proud of how you've handled everything," he added.
"Thank you," I said tentatively.
"When were you planning to tell us the good news?"
"What good news?" I was confused.
"That Ruby is pregnant of course."
"How did you find out?" I asked before I could stop myself. If Ruby had anything to do with this I would wring her neck.
"I have people everywhere, did you think that I wouldn't find out? Why were you keeping it away from us?"
"Well," I cleared my throat, scratched my scalp and racked my brain for something to say, "we just wanted to keep it between us for a while."
"Why? It would be great for our image. Talk to Ruby, we should make a public announcement soon."
"Okay," is all I said.
"You should follow her for her doctor's appointment sometimes, people are watching." That must have been how he found out about her pregnancy, someone must have seen her going to the hospital.
Trying to talk to Ruby was quite the task I had ahead of me on this fine day. How would I even start with how we left things when we spoke last? With the sound of the elevator opening, Ruby walked in and she would have walked right past me if I didn't do something quickly, " can we talk?"
"About what?"
"About us."
"There is no us," she said walking past me and toward the stairs. I rushed after her and held her by the arm.
"Whether we like it or not there is an us and from the looks of it there might always be."
"That's impossible."
"You're keeping the baby huh?"
"Obviously," she said with an eye roll.
"Then we are stuck with each other for life," I said with a wink. That thaws her over a little. It looked like she was contemplating having a conversation with me before she headed toward the living room.
She plopped down on the sofa, "let's talk then," she said.
"We are having a baby," I said, trying to accept the fact. She didn't look pregnant yet, she had added some weight but the loose clothes she wore gave nothing away.
"If that's all you have to say then maybe I should leave."
"Uhm when is your next doctor's appointment? I would like to come with you."
"I'll text you the details."
"We should start preparing," I said. Is that the most sensible thing to say? I chastised myself.
"We still have time," she said. I must have been doing something right from the look of things.
"When do you think would be a good time to make it public?" I asked.
"Make what public?" She seemed clueless.
"The pregnancy," I stated.
"So that's what this is about," she said quietly almost to herself but I heard her. "I almost thought you were genuine but I should have known better. Everything you do is for the camera but leave my baby out of this," she said to me. She got on her feet and walked out on me.
"It's not like that," I begged.
"Then what is it like?" She came to an abrupt stop and faced me before she asked. I had been following her so I stopped and ran a hand through my hair, "tell me what it's like?" She asked me with a shove.
"I want us to make this work with this baby on the way it's not just about the public but we are Daniel's we have to involve them one way or the other. If we don't tell our stories ourselves then they will tell it for us." I tried to convince them.
"Lies! I liked you better when you were truthful about your motives."
I watched her march up the stairs and I watched her miss a step. I lunged forward to catch her praying that I would make it in time.