Chapter 6: Chapter 6

"Get out!" Vanilla's voice sounded like an ambulance when she shouted, she even threw the envelope she was holding in front of her secretary. This was the first time she shouted at Harley and she didn't know why.

"What's wrong, Ma'am? The report I gave you is accurate and I also did what you ordered me." The secretary picked up the scattered pieces of paper on the floor, carefully wrapped them in an envelope and faced Vanilla.

"Didn't you read your report, Harley? For goodness sake! Go out and redo that."

He didn't hesitate to respond. Harley followed like a dog. When the door closed, Vanilla felt a pain in her stomach, as if she was nauseous and this wasn't the first time that had happened. Lately, she has always felt hungry, as if she wanted to eat a meal. She also often had dizziness in recent days.

She looked at the wrist watch she was wearing. It is twelve o'clock at noon and she has not eaten yet. She withdrew her suspicion that she was pregnant, perhaps because she was just hungry and her stomach was burning. She took out the lunchbox that her Mom had prepared earlier. When she opened it, her favorite porridge and steak were exposed to her. But instead of being greedy, Vanilla was stunned by what she saw. She was nauseous while covering her mouth quickly. She just decided to eat out; she totally didn't rush an appointment today.

She positioned herself on the double seat table inside a restaurant. She buried herself listening to pop music while waiting for her order. Somehow, she forgot about the young man. This wasn't the first thing that entered her mind. After their hot intercourse that night, it didn't show up ever again nor give even a letter; it did not leave a contact number so that they could have a connection with each other.

For three weeks Vanilla forced herself to forget everything that happened to her at the business convention, she just considered it a good dream. Her floating spirit was aroused when the waiter laid a tray on her. After giving thanks, the waiter lightly left the food in front of her. Before she was halfway through, she felt pain in her stomach again. She thought everything she ate would come out.

Vanilla just found herself vomiting in the restroom. She pulled four tissues out of the tissue box and shivered coated mouth before exiting the cubicle. She looked at her reflection in the clear mirror, she repulsed the tiny strand of hair that had penetrated her face before washing her hands. She was about to leave when her eyesight suddenly darkened, as if her knees were slowly weakening until she completely lost consciousness.

Vanilla slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes widened as she rolled her eyes inside the ward. She was in the hospital, her left hand was dextrose and her right knee was bandaged.

"Vanilla, honey, are you okay?" Her mother's worried tone of voice approached her.

"I'm fine, Mom." She answered weakly.

"What just happened? Are you hungry again? Are you tired again?" She secretly smiled inside her brain, still able to insert her stretches as her mother.

"No, Mom. Maybe I'm just tired."

"That's what I'm saying, why are you making yourself tired? You don't have a family to support."

"Mom…" She held both hands of the confused lady.

"If you're still thinking about my welfare, honey, don't mind it. You have given me enough; you have proven yourself so many times. It's time to think about yourself. Be happy."

"Thanks, Mom. Thank you very much and you're always by my side. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"You're welcome, honey." They hugged each other. Vanilla really loves her mother.  Since her Daddy died when she was only six years old, she has been the father to fill her search for a father figure.

"Mom, can I be discharged? It looks like the hospital is crowded." The confusion in her words was obvious.

"Let's wait for the result of the test done by the doctor, if it's okay then maybe we can discharge."

It didn't take a few minutes and the doctor came in. It both smiled at them and took the paper from the small pad before addressing them. They were both nervous by their own mother as they held her hand.

"Ma'am, I have good news for you." The lady stared at the doctor in confusion, even though Vanilla was confused by what it said.

"Why?" they asked at the same time.

"Ma'am, your daughter is three weeks pregnant." Her mother's two eyes widened. Even Vanilla quickly got up from lying down, as if what she heard didn't want to register in her brain.

"Congratulations." Mrs. Zenaida Galvez wasn't her own help when she shook hands with the doctor. After it came out, she silently faced her daughter and rubbed its stomach.

"Y-You're pregnant?" Her mother asked incredulously. Her jaw almost dropped when she said that.

"H-Huh? Mom, I-I'm pregnant?" Vanilla asked herself. That's why lately she is nauseous and often dizzy. She was also quick to pick up and fight over things she had never done before, she even angered the poor secretary.

"If you're pregnant, this could be my happiest day. I will finally be a grandmother." A wide smile appeared on its lips. The lady jumped inside the hospital without chewing on the stand and repeatedly crawled on her stomach. Vanilla rubbed her stomach; she couldn't believe there was a baby inside her womb.

In the midst of pleasure Vanilla felt so empty, her feelings debating whether she would be happy or pity the child she would give birth to. How could her child not have a father? Like her, she is also a poor woman in the male-figure. She also couldn't focus on it completely when she left her business which is the livelihood of her family and some of the employees who depend on her.

"So honey, who is the father of the one you are carrying?" The lady asked calmly, still caressing her stomach. Vanilla seemed to be crying when she faced the eager lady. Her tears welled up and it gathered in her lids ready to fall as a very heavy sob.

"Mom…" Vanilla's face landed on her mother's shoulder. Tears welled up in her eyes, because she had no other obvious answer as to who the father of her pregnancy was. Vanilla felt remorse, if she had not given herself to the unknown man, it wouldn't have happened and a man won't be the father of her child.

"It's okay, honey. I understand you." Her mother comforted her.

"I'm sorry I disappointed you." Vanilla sighed in the midst of her unbroken tears.

"You know, I accept you no matter what happens. I accept you because I love you. You don't need a male figure to raise your child properly. Look at me, I raised you properly full of the fear of God. I raised you as a good woman with respect for others and humility so stop crying, you just wasted your tears on that worthless man." Her mother's long litany.

Actually, this is right. That man didn’t deserve for her to cry on. Maybe they are not really for each other. She can still find a man who is more loving and will accept her. Not that person after one night will suddenly leave him on the air.

"Peel a mango for me, Harley." She ordered her secretary who is brewing coffee.

"Your cravings for mangoes are strong, ma'am. You already ate ten pieces today." Harley stated who also immediately peeled off the adjacent pantry.

"Let me be that way, Harley. A pregnant woman becomes greedy." She giggled while busy pressing the computer keyboard. Her secretary landed her with only mango and salt.

"Ma'am, here. If you have nothing more to order, I will return to what I am doing."

"Thank you, Harley. I'll only call you when the saucer is empty."

"All right, ma'am."

She has already turned her attention to calculating their monthly sales. She needs to stick to work especially since she's also about to become a full-fledged mother. When she gives birth, she will leave the company for a few weeks to rest and even if that is against her will, she still won't be able to survive especially since her mother has been guarding her for the past few weeks.

When she found out that she was pregnant, she almost didn't sweat anymore. Her mother was always by her side. Even her entry into the company, food and home time are controlled by it.

She whistled as she sat on the swivel finishing sending some invitations about a book signing. Vanilla was about to end when a sudden message popped up on her messenger account. She opened it and registered the name of her friend Peppermint. She carefully read its message. In the middle of the quiet parting, the girl's throat dried up.

It was the address of the name of the man she had given her virginity and he's the man behind El Grego Publishing. It seems she lost her balance in that revelation. She hated the man behind El Grego, he's arrogant and a certified user. She's not referring only to the proposal she sent a while but she's also referring to that incident at the Business Con where the man left her after being exploited. Vanilla wrote that on a piece of paper before turning off the computer monitor. She needs to see the man and let him know that she is pregnant and that this is the father of the child in her womb.

Edward stumbled across the sofa in his office. How can a big investor successfully close a deal? He scooped up red wine in the goblet and lifted it up.

"Cheers for the continuous rise of El Grego Publishing." He poured a goblet in the air as if someone was talking to him. It shook the whole flesh and returned itself to sitting. He has nothing else to ask for; he already has the things he wants. Successful business, rows of women who are willing to cling to him at any time and money inexhaustible. The only thing missing is a family that will complete him. Which is the exact irony, because he doesn't care about family because he didn't have a real family that loves him. Yes, he had his biological parents but both of them are overly manipulative. For one in his married life. So why would he want a family if it only caused him a headache?

Family? A night in which he was very happy came to mind. What happened at the Business Convention, its sweet lips, smooth skin, and delicate figure forced its way into his mind. No matter what Edward did to avoid it, he still couldn't bear to think of the woman. His mind wandered when his secretary entered. Astonishment pierced his face.

"Sir, someone is looking for you."

"Who is it?" A slight wave formed on his forehead.

"It's a woman, sir. Shall I let her in?"

"All right." She answered without hesitation. Maybe it was Thalia, one of the women he met at the bar last night. It told him that she would visit the office at any time.

He didn't even look at the door opening.  He was busy translating wine into two wine glasses. He immediately turned around and presented the cup here, but he was caught in the crossfire.

"Y-You?"

The young man's eyes widened when he saw her. Maybe he didn't expect her to come. Vanilla raised her forehead; she didn't want the man to interrupt her in any way. She wanted to have the authority this time, especially since she was at a disadvantage.

"Hi, I'm Vanilla Galvez, can I talk to you?" She offered her own hand but the man didn't accept it.

"Go on, talk. What do you want to talk about?" He said after landing the goblet.

"It's about that night…" Vanilla sighed after saying that. For God's sake, her age is now approaching at the calendar's end, but she's still reluctant to talk vulgarly about sex. It made her cripple.

"So what about that last night?"

"I won't wander around anymore. I'm pregnant and you're the father." Vanilla's tone of voice was full of a dictionary and power when she said that. The young man was obviously taken aback by what she said. It coughs out in no time and sweat flows through its body one after another.

"Are you kidding? How did my child become the one you are carrying?"

"Gosh, shall I repeat it? He's your son, Edward. That one night happened to us paid off."

"That's not true!"

"If you don't want to believe me then let's have a DNA test." A few strands of root appeared in the girl's neck. Is the man at a disadvantage in what he says? If the young man refused, he didn't seem to recognize her. That night when the man claimed her she was a virgin, so how can it be said that her child isn't what she is carrying now? She just stared at the man, waiting for what he would say next.

"Even if you carry my child, I will still not accept that! For goodness sake, don't invent a story. It's been a month, do I know if you just slept with anyone?"

Vanilla couldn't stop herself from slapping the man. A few drops of her tears flowed, but she held on to herself especially since she was pregnant. If a man thinks she is a paid woman, then that is a big mistake.

"How much do you need, huh? One million? Two million? Name it and I'll give it to you, just stop this crude act."

Vanilla didn't budge from her position. Yes, his words hurt her. The words he left out hurts her. But for the baby she will give birth, she will fight.

"You're a jerk! You're an animal! This is what you should remember. I will show you that I can stand on my own two feet. If you don't want to be a father to the child I am carrying, then I won't force you, I will raise our child alone! I won't accept help that comes from you!" She turned away from him but it was only a moment when she turned herself in to face the dumb young man again.  "And one more thing, you are also right in rejecting my company's proposal. Because I don't want demons like you to stain the company I will make a living for my child." she continued as a few grains of tears leaked into her eyes. She persevered to stand even though she felt as if her feet were about to give way. But she needs to be strong. At this time and day, she will end the connection with the young man - its relationship with him and for her future child.

"By the way, I almost forgot." She gave the man two slaps on both of its cheeks. "The first slap is for my child and the second is for you to insult me. From this day on, I will forget you. The Edward I met is now dead." Vanilla wiped the tears from her eyes before disappearing from the young man's eyes. It was good and she went to its office. Otherwise, she will continue to hope that the father of the baby she is carrying is a good person. She continues to wake up in the morning dreaming that the man will hold her accountable. Now that she had talked to Edward, she realized to herself that the man didn't deserve to be the pillar of the home. He's a bad example.

But wait, why is there a part of her heart that hurts when Edward rejects her? Is it because she learned to love her in a short span of time?

Vanilla cried silently that night. This was probably the most painful thing that had ever happened in her life, and even if it seemed to tear her heart, she would forget the young man. Even the last strand of hair and its shadow she will never ever remember.