Chapter 90: Chapter 90

KRISTEN

It's been so long since I experienced such stillness in my company.

There was this invisible thread of surprise hanging above the roof of the building. Everybody did their thing quietly and nobody knocked on my office for most of the day.

More than half of my shareholders had decided to withdraw their shares, some kind enough to explain that they didn't want the controversy over my head to affect them. The more courageous ones said my company was sure to fold up anytime soon and they didn't want to make losses.

It's on track to say that I've lost more than half of my business partners.

And yes, I've been trending on the news. You'd think that a scandal like the one I'm involved in would fade after some time.

But it didn't. I'd wake up every day to see fresh headlines from journalists and bloggers who had no other news to cover and wanted to make up for their inefficiency. Funny enough, it always worked.

The story of me and June always gathered traffic.

I guess that's one of the reasons nobody wants to let the issue go...

I sat in my office, swirling on my chair while looking at the numerous pictures on the Internet of my lips against June's, my hand wrapped around her waist.

To be sincere, it is a very great picture. You can see the star-like glow from the street lamps above us and the happiness in my eyes.

KRISTEN, KRISTEN, KRISTEN...

My name had almost become a national issue.

I chuckled softly even though my heart weighed a ton. Humans will always be humans. They never see the good you do. The moment you make an inconsequential mistake—I can't even call this a mistake—you become a villain.

The quietness of the company not only baffled me but amused me as well. What happened to the noisy humans I have as workers?

One thing was sure: they still respected me. The surprise from the news hung in the air like an omen, making most of them numb.

Most of my fears were for June. I sincerely wish I could go back in time and right the wrong created. She doesn't deserve such humiliating publicity.

Though, so far, she has shown great courage and strength. It may sound funny, but she has been the one reassuring me and making me believe that everything would be alright.

A soft knock jolted me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I said, with my eyes on the door.

Edith came in seconds later, her eyes resting on anywhere but me. Thank God she had learned how to knock.

"Is anything the problem?" I asked, cutting straight to the chase as she settled on a chair opposite me.

"You don't have to sound like I'm a bother," she whined and pouted childishly. "And no, I'm not here to talk about your problems."

The last bit of her sentence made me chuckle. "Maybe the problems need to be talked about."

"I actually wanted to tell you something," She dragged her chair closer and leaned on the table. "Something to ease the tension in the air. How does that sound?"

"What?" I inquired.

She shrugged. "It's just lunch with the others to cheer your mood and stop you from looking like a grumpy old man."

"I don't look grumpy."

"I never said you do, sweetie," She smiled and winked at me. "Rather, you're quite handsome."

I rolled my eyes, "Stop trying to flatter me."

She seemed to be intentionally avoiding the topic on all news platforms, and I appreciated it.

And lunch with the others sounded like a very good idea. It's been quite some time since I joined them for lunch.

"Have you discussed this with the others?" I asked. Why did I feel like I was going on a date with strangers?

"Of course. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't."

June's face suddenly flashed before me. It was so random that I knitted my brows. I could see her smile, her beautiful hair resting behind her like a beautiful cascade of silk curtains.

I had a faint knowledge of my eyes closing... The image became clearer. She was smiling; darting her eyes to the floor, shyly displaying her beautiful lashes, and looking around, avoiding my gaze—

"Kristen!"

"Hmm?" I blinked. "Were you talking to me?"

"Of course, I am talking to you. I've been talking to you since I passed through that door," She pointed to my door for emphasis. "What the hell are you thinking about? You spaced out."

"Oh, a lot. I just pictured my time with you guys. We are going to have a lot of fun."

"Yes!" She punched the air in excitement. "We are going to have fun!"

*. *. *. *.*

It wasn't fun. Not at all.

Except your idea of fun is more than ten people sitting at their respective desks talking in low tones and avoiding each other's gazes.

I was already regretting why I agreed to something like this in the first place.

I was seated at Edith's desk, my tray of lunch untouched. The food didn't look appetizing, not a bit.

"I want to go back to my office," I said to Edith, whispering like I could see the others doing.

"Nah, don't do that. Let's just eat like this in silence. They appreciate your presence, trust me."

It didn't look that way to me, but what could I say?

Edith talked to them more than I did, so she probably had more idea about how they felt after seeing the entire drama online.

It's still unclear who leaked the photos, and I haven't made any progress in finding the culprit.

Surprisingly, Edith has been very supportive during the entire online saga. I have never been so happy to see Mark in June's life.

He supported her, took her out, and stood beside her everywhere she went, just like a bodyguard.

Mark and I had even spoken once when he brought her home, and June had called me from his phone the following day to tell me that her phone was low and she was fine.

Well, I saved the number that day (not with anything vile, you don't have to worry about that) after realizing that Mark was on our side.

"Why are you not eating?" she asked me.

"Nothing. I just don't have appetite."

"Or you don't like the food?"

"Kinda," I shrugged. "I don't think I can eat now."

"Why do I feel like you are keeping it a secret?" She munched on her food, her eyes trained on me.

"I've got better things to keep as a secret, Edith." Talking about secrets... I leaned forward and looked around. "Promise me you won't tell anyone."

"What?"

"A secret. You're the only one I'm telling..."

"Okay," she whispered and leaned closer. It was almost like we were about to kiss. "What is it?"

"June is pregnant."

The air stilled.

For a moment, Edith did nothing but blink. Then she moved back and continued eating.

There was no need for her to ask who the baby belonged to... The look on her face made me know that she understood.

"Ice cream would go better with this," Edith said after a moment of silence.

I looked at Edith, wondering how the fuck she doesn't lose appetite for the trashy ordered food.

"You shouldn't take ice cream immediately after you're done eating," I said, happy that she didn't react to the pregnancy topic—or even speak about it.

She stole a glance at my untouched tray, "And who the hell told you that?"

"Health practitioners. I've seen it online a couple of times."

"Oh, please," She rolled her eyes, waving her spoon in the air as if casting a spell. "If you follow everything those dicks say, you won't eat at all."

"Okay," that was the only word I spoke. Edith was taking the revelation well. I know she would have said something if I told her in private.

"Do you know where I can get quality ice cream? The delicious mouth-freezing ones."

Instantly, I began to crave a strawberry flavour. It's been so long since I had one. June used to always drag me out to get a tub...

"June loves Molly Moon's ice-creams a lot. And yes, they make quality ones. I've been there a couple of times."

"Where is the place?"

*. *. *. *.*

I walked into my office and locked the door. I've never craved solitude the way I did when my forehead rested on my desk. My fatigue gave way to a much-needed nap.

I found myself staring into June's eyes again. This time... she... she was holding a baby, a baby boy.

She had a wide smile on her face as she rocked the sleeping baby.

I reached forward, my sight getting blurry as tears forced themselves out.

When I wiped my eyes and looked at her again, the scene had changed.

My heartbeat increased as I saw the baby in June's arms turning into blood and tissues, falling to the floor with wet splats. June watched with a look of horror.

Then blood started dripping out of her eyes.

"June!!!" I shouted and ran forward. "June!!!"

RING!

A sound jolted me up. I almost knocked off the computer system on my table as my phone rang again.

Oh my God, it was just a dream.

It was Mark. I almost exhaled in relief. June had probably forgotten her charger at home again or could find somewhere to charge.

"Doll, why are you —"

"Hello!" Mark's voice cut me off. He sounded scared and very agitated. My relief evaporated. "Where are you?!"

"In the office. Where else?!" I shouted back. "What the fuck is going on?!"

"Come to the hospital right now! June has just been admitted and I'm so scared!"

"What?!"