Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Jason felt drained. He did not know how to broach the topic with Nancy and what she would think of him.

He had merely kissed her and she had drawn away from him thinking that he wanted to make her one of his mistresses. What must she think of him if he asked her to marry him but wait for the wadding till after two years while he got married to the mother of his child?

She would think that he had totally lost it for sure.

But he still had to try. He drove to the office and after contemplating it for sometime, asked Nancy to come into his office.

'Yes sir, you sent for me?'

'I have asked you to stop calling me sir. We have gone past that now,don't you think?'

'I could not address you by your first name especially here in the office. People will raise eyebrows' Nancy explained.

'And you are so concerned about what people will say,aren't you?'

'Are you not, Jason? Is your reputation not important to you?'

She had a point. Jason considered.

'Anyway, there is something I wish to ask of you'. he said looking at her imploringly.

Nancy wondered what it could be this time.

'I would like you to have dinner with me this evening at the mansion'

'Dir,there really isn't any need for that. You can eat alone or invite some of your friends, male or female to keep you company. I get tired easily these days and feel drowsy earlier than usual'.

Jason knew that she was just giving excuses.

'Really? Why haven't you told me? Are you sure that you have been going regularly for your check ups?' he asked genuinely concerned.

'Yes, I have. You do not have to concern yourself with my welfare. I can well take care of myself'

'I know that very well. You do not have to remind me', he said and Nancy looked at him to see it the remark was sarcastic or a compliment.

She decided that it must be a compliment.

'But I wanted to discuss something with you.I need your candid advise on something and we cannot talk about it here. It is of a personal nature.' he insisted.

'Alright then. I shall see what I can do' she said, hoping that she had not just made the greatest mistake if her life.

'Thank you' he said sincerely.

'You are welcome' she said and left the office to contemplate what he could possibly want to discuss with her and what advice he needed from her.

She was curious.

They drove home in silence with Jason stealing glances at her.

Jason could not help wondering what her reaction to what he was going to say to her would be.

Anyways, he would soon find out.

They got down from the car when they got to the mansion and Nancy went to her quarters to freshen up and come in to dinner with him.

Jason did the same.

After the delicious meal, they had, both of them had surprisingly had a great appetite. It was as though they had been starved, Nancy cleared the table. She was already used to it. And Mrs Potts thanked her.

She went back in and found Jason at the fire place. He lit it, with the coming Christmas, the weather was cooler.

She sat close to him.

'You said you needed my advice with something?'

Jason looked at her once more and wondered where he was going to start.

'Yes I do. Phoebe is pregnant!' he blurted.

Nancy was surprised that he decided to tell her about it but it was not news to her she already knew.

'Yes?'

'Yes? Aren't you shocked or something?'

'No! I already knew she was pregnant'. she confessed

'You knew about her pregnancy? But how? I didn't tell anyone'.

' I knew right from the first day she came to tell you the good news. I had overheard her announce it. But why should I be shocked? It was inevitable given that the both of you are having a relationship', Nancy said.

She knew? And she had not said anything? But what could she have possibly said?He had had no inkling that she was aware. Was that another reason she was avoiding him? This was getting more complicated.

'So about the advice?'

'You see, I like someone else alot and had been on the verge of proposing to her when Phoebe dropped her bombshell. I did not believe her because of the kind of relationship we shared. We were free to have other partners. Then how could she know that the baby was mine? Or was it her way of trapping me into marrying her? Especially since I had asked that we break the relationship..

I asked her for a DNA test and the results just got out. It is a positive match. It proves that I am the father!'

'Congratulations! So what is the problem?'

'I did not want to marry Phoebe. I do not really care for her but I care deeply for the other person I wanted to propose to. But Phoebe is saying that I must marry her, not for herself but for my child so that it would not be illegitimate.

I feel traped. I understand what she is saying and I want to do right by my child but what about my happiness?

She said it would only be a contract marriage for about a couple of years, then I can divorce her and marry whoever I wanted to marry. But I do not know if the girl in question would agree to it. What do you think?' Jason asked Nancy.

Nancy could not believe that this man who had been making passes at her. With whom she had shared two lovely kisses and who had told her that he felt drawn to her was in front of her, telling her how he loved someone else and asking her opinion on the pregnancy of another and who he should get married to between the two women.

She felt anger and bitterness rise in her and wanted to storm out of the house but she controlled herself. It would not be good for her to show him how his words had hurt her.

She felt humiliated that she had even considered that Jason might care for her a little bit the way a man cates for a woman.

Jason thought that she was putting great thought into his question before answering and just kept waiting patiently for her knowing that she would say something that would make sense.

'The child comes first before all your desires. You should have known that it was better having lovers who you would feel comfortable getting married to in case of emergencies such as the one you just mentioned.

You cannot shy away from your responsibilities because you did not love the woman who is pregnant with your child. You should have thought about that before going to bed with her.

I am sorry if I am sounding harsh but you need to be told the bitter truth.

There is no use crying over spilt milk. What is done is done and you have to rectify it the best way possible which is giving your child legitimacy.

Thank goodness that the woman feels the same as you do and has agreed to give you a divorce afterwards.

If this other woman you claim to care more about is willing and patient to wait for that to happen, then good for you but my sincere opinion is that it would be foolish for her to wait because it would just be a waste of time and energy. She had better find someone else to love and marry.

I say this because from the little I have learnt about your Phoebe, she will not give you that divorce easily of ever. She has wanted to be your wife for as long as I can remember. So there, you have my candid advice and now, I must retire be ause I am feeling really exhausted. Goodnight and congratulations one more time'. Nancy said. stood and left the house briskly before she embarrassed herself by crying before Jason.

How could she have had such dreams that Jason might want her despite her pregnancy. Who would want such a package?