I go down to the hotel lobby, and at first glance, I don't see him when the elevator doors open. I take a few steps and then spot him once again in the company of that man named Dante. It seems they are talking about a woman, as I hear Nicolas say that he will talk to her later tonight.
"Hello, am I interrupting?" I speak up to make them aware of my presence.
"No, let's hurry, they are waiting for us at the lab," Nicolas tells me and then addresses Dante. "Please take care of her security." I imagine he's referring to that woman again.
"As you wish," Dante replies. "Excuse me, miss." This time, he speaks in my direction.
"My own security," I respond.
Without another word, Nicolas heads towards the exit, where one of his employees opens the back door of a black van for both of us to get in.
"Are you calm?" he asks.
"Why shouldn't I be? I know I'm not pregnant, and even if I were, I wouldn't be the first single mother," I reply. I notice his jaw tense and his fists clench.
"You are my wife, not a single woman."
"I thought we were solving that issue."
"I put a hold on the proceedings, at least until we clarify things."
"Even if we were to become parents, it's a decision we both have to make about whether to continue with this marriage or not," I say as my gaze drifts off into the landscape. I can't deny that his support has brought a warmth I hadn't expected to feel for a long time, and unconsciously, I place a hand on my belly.
After a few eternal minutes of silence, we have arrived.
It's a private laboratory, and as we approach the reception, he gives my married name.
"Good morning, we have an appointment under my wife's name, Mrs. Anna Thompson," he says to the receptionist, who checks her computer.
"Yes, sir, they are waiting for you on the fourth floor, office three."
"Thank you," I reply.
We head towards the elevator, and Nicolas presses the floor button. When the doors open, he extends his hand, indicating that I go first.
"My child will not be born out of wedlock," he utters those words as the elevator doors open, not giving me time to refute what he has said. I can only sigh, and unconsciously, a smile spreads across my lips.
Nicolas knocks on the door, and immediately, an elderly woman opens it and instructs us to follow her. She leads me to a cubicle after asking Nicolas to take a seat and wait for me. It takes no more than two minutes to take the blood test.
"Could you please provide me with a phone number and email?" the person in charge of taking the sample asks politely.
"Of course," I comply, and then I return to where Nicolas is waiting for me.
"We can go now," I tell him, and he looks up.
"And the results? I asked for an express test."
"They will send them to my email in two hours."
"Alright, let's go. Before we return to the hotel, let's grab something to eat."
"I'm not hungry, all I want is for you to please allow me to prepare for my trip."
Once in the van, he tells the driver to head to Bäco Mercat, an excellent restaurant located in the center of Los Angeles. I won't deny that, but why doesn't this man understand that I don't want to? I choose not to say anything.
Once at the restaurant, he requests a table for two.
"Go to the table, I'll be right back. Going to the restroom," he tells me.
"Alright," I comply. As he asked, I make my way to the table and wait for him to join me so we can order.
A notification arrives on my phone; it's an email from the lab. I thought it would take longer since they gave a timeframe of two business hours, but it's been only forty minutes. I have to admit, I'm nervous, and I'm too afraid to open the results, so I decide to wait for Nicolas. He is taking so long, and I start to feel uneasy. I get up and make my way towards the men's restroom when I see him with a woman. She's beautiful and elegant, and I estimate she's about my height, 1.70 meters if I'm not mistaken.
I was about to turn around and go back to the table, not wanting to interrupt, when I see him kiss her. I don't know why, but a void fills my chest, and the urge to cry overwhelms me. I put my phone in my purse, straighten my clothes with my hands, turn around, and look for an alternate exit.
I take a taxi and go to the hotel, I choose a few things, not that I have much to pack. It's already one thirty, so I decide to head to the airport. Once I arrive, I look for something to eat in the cafeteria and check my luggage. My phone starts ringing, it's Elena.
"Hello"
"Are you already at the airport?"
"Yes, getting ready to board soon."
"How did it go with Nicolas?"
"Nothing extraordinary, I woke up in his bed."
"Nothing extraordinary? Seriously?!"
"No, we just slept and today I'm taking a pregnancy test."
"A pregnancy test? Why?"
"Yes, it seems like he didn't use a condom that night."
"Do you have the results already?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"I can't read them." I tell her as I nervously bite my lower lip.
"Wasn't he with you?"
"I saw him kissing someone else and I left."
"Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I don't love him enough to let this affect me, I just didn't want to interrupt."
"Alright, when you decide please call me and let me know. I'll always be there for you, and if you're going to be a mother, remember that you're not alone, I'll always be there."
"I know. See you soon."
"Take care."
"Don't worry, I will."
After hanging up, I go to put my phone away when it starts ringing again, this time it's an unknown number.
"Good afternoon."
"Where the hell are you?! I've been looking for you, I went back to the hotel but they won't tell me anything."
"I told you I have a flight to catch."
"A flight? You must be kidding me! I told you we would wait together for the results!"
"Together? The three of us? Please continue with the divorce proceedings and keep me updated, as soon as I read the results I'll message you."
"As soon as you read them?! That means you already have them. For heaven's sake, stop playing games and tell me the result or send me a copy! Actually, don't take the flight, I'm coming over." He hangs up before I have a chance to say anything else.
...***...
Nicolas's POV.
It seems like this girl thinks she can test my patience. I never expected Maritza to show up at the restaurant, let alone Anna seeing us, and I don't know why I care about what she's thinking. On the other hand, I don't know if she's carrying my child and that tortures me. I don't know how to handle this situation. Right now, I'm on my way to the airport. My phone rings and it's a message from Anna.
"Negative"
Is that it? Seriously? Just a fucking message!
A new message comes in, at least.
"Hurry up with the proceedings, I need to be free"
I sigh heavily, put my phone in my jacket pocket, and instruct the driver to go back to the hotel.
When I enter my room, I find Maritza lying on the bed. She came to Los Angeles for work, she has a four-night presentation, and then she's heading to Canada.
"Hello, I didn't feel you coming in."
"I just did, keep sleeping."
"No." She gets on her knees on the bed and reaches out her arms for me to come closer. For a moment, I hesitate, but then that text message "I need my freedom" comes to mind and I go to Maritza. She clings to my neck and pulls me towards her, causing my body to fall on top of hers, her legs wrap around me.
"I need you to devour me."
I step back for a moment and take off my shirt, she looks at me and bites her lower lip.
I'm going to get this girl out of my head.
Give me a moment, I'll go to the bathroom and look for a condom. When I come back, Maritza is completely naked and ready for me, I get rid of my pants and boxers, exposing my member, and put on the condom.
"I don't want you to use it." Maritza pouts.
"We've already talked about this." I don't let her say anything else as I immerse myself in her, I'm a man of action, not caresses or sweet words.
I hear her moan my name over and over again. Damn it, that girl won't leave my mind... I need her.
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