34
Derek sat in his office, staring at the torn divorce papers on his table, so she had refused to sign the divorce papers, well, he would make her do so, a knock sounded on his door and Jake came in at his command, "what is it, Jake?" He asked not looking up, Jake shuffle on his feet.
"Someone is here to see you, Nicole by the name" Derek raised his head and looked at Jake, "this is an office, Jake, anyone who wants to see me must have an appointment, you know the rules, why bother me with this?"
Jake looked uncomfortable, "I'm sorry boss but she insisted that it was a matter of life and death and when ignored, will affect the company greatly".
Derek wondered what Nicole was up to, he contemplated for a moment before nodding to Jake to let her in.
She breezed in after a few seconds and Derek regarded her coldly, she sat on the chair in front of him and crossed her legs, making herself comfortable, her eyes moved around his office and she nodded an approval, "nice office," she remarked.
"What do you want?" Derek was irritated by her presence, she should state why she was here and leave but Nicole didn't say anything, she simply opened her purse, brought out a piece of paper, and handed it to him, "check this out" she added cooling.
Derek regarded what she was offering without making an attempt to take it from her, "if you're here to play games, the door is that way" he pointed towards the door and she stared at him, "why don't you take a look"
Derek collected the paper and opened it, it was a test result, he stared at Nicole and demanded the meaning of that.
"It's stated there that I am pregnant, 2 months pregnant"
Derek gazed at her, " and why tell me about it?" He demanded, his patience wearing thin, Nicole smiled sourly, "I am telling you because you are the father of the child in my womb"
Derek flew up from his seat, "the hell I am" he held her arms so tight, bringing his face close to hers, "don't play games with me Nicole, now leave before I call the guards on you".
Anger lit on Nicole's face, "well I'll leave but that's not the end of it and if you reject this pregnancy, I'll leak it to the media, remember, your business was already threatened because of your cheating wife and having new such as this to leak out now will sure cost you quite a lot" she picked her purse and angrily walked to the door, her hand on the doorknob, she cast him an angry stare, "we'll meet again Mr. Derek Deloux", with that she stomped out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Derek rubbed his forehead, he was feeling headaches already, his child? He scoffed at the thought, he knew nothing happened between them so how could she carry his child? Yes right, like he would believe something actually happened between them.
Derek got home from work that day and his mother met him as soon as he opened the door, " Nicole called me" Marcella stated and Derek glanced at her, "so she did?
"How could you Derek? How could you deny your own child"
"This matter does not concern you, so stay out of it" Derek warned.
"Well, it does concern me because it's a matter that concerns the Deloux, I have to protect the name of this family".
Derek laughed without mirth, "since when are you so interested in the Deloux reputation?"
"Of cause, I do care about everything that happens just as I care about you as my son," Marcella said sourly
"Oh, please, spare me your drama, I am not interested and as for Nicole's pregnancy, I am not responsible" with that he walked to his room only to bump into Kathleen, "I told you to stay away from here" he barked
"I was waiting for you, she responded"
Derek grabbed her arms so tight, his nails digging into her flesh, she squirmed in pain, "seems like you're yet to understand your status in this house, you are not permitted to step your feet here and since you refused to sign the divorce papers, I'll treat you less than a servant or you accept my terms of divorce"
Tears clouded Kathleen's eyes, "I will not sign those papers"
He pushed her away from him like garbage and she almost fell down the stairs, "if I see you here again, I won't be this kind" he said coldly before entering inside and shutting the door behind him, he would make sure she feels twice the pain he was feeling, he vowed to himself.
Kathleen stood there for some minute shaking, her heart was shredded, how could he be this suddenly cold with her, she couldn't bear his hatred, it hurts to the bone, slowly, like someone in Dreamland, she walked away.
*
*
Derek heard a commotion downstairs the next morning, he went downstairs to see Nicole with her luggage, "what the hell are you doing here?"
"She came at my request" Marcella responded coming out of her room, "she would be staying here for now until you learn to accept her pregnancy"
"I haven't permitted her to come here"
Marcella shrugged at his argument, "I did what needs to be done Derek, I won't allow you to ruin the family reputation, she will be staying in the guest's room"
"Suit yourself, Derek shrugged and turned to leave to see Kathleen coming out of the kitchen, she saw Nicole and her face changed, "what the hell are you doing here?" She demanded from Nicole
"Well, I am here to stay with my new husband since he would be divorcing you soon". Pain pierced Kathleen's heart, "keep dreaming, I won't sign those papers"
Nicole rubbed her belly, "well, I'll have more rights to him since I am the one carrying his child"
Kathleen couldn't breathe at her words, pregnant? Nicole was pregnant? Tears blinded her as she turned to Derek, "Is this true? She's carrying your child?
Derek smirked at her, "what do you think? One baby died, another is on its way"
Extreme pain pierced her heart and her breath came out in a hitch.
"You're a rogue, how could you do this to me, I regret ever marrying you" she screamed, the smirk never left his face even as he spoke" you married a playboy sweetheart, what did you expect? Welcome to my world"
Kathleen stared at him in disbelief, he was so cold, indeed, the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know, but was he the devil or the angel? " how could he be so iced before her, "you're such a scoundrel and I hate you" she spat
He grabbed her arms right and looked at her, well that makes two of us, why don't you free yourself from this hell by signing those papers"
Kathleen shook her head, her heart wrenching painfully, "not before I prove that I didn't do anything"
The light went out of his eyes as he pushed her away from him and stormed out.
Kathleen watched him leave, she would endure his tortures but she would not leave, not with a tarnished reputation, she had no idea why Stefan did what he did but she would get to the bottom of it all.