Page 13 of Pregnant By the Boss

Chapter Seven

One Monday morning,I’m on the phone to a customer when Everett’s mom storms into the office. She doesn’t even glance at me. She just walks past. I try to tell her that he’s in a meeting but she just ignores me. I look at Zara, silently willing her to tell Mrs Barrett that he’s busy. But she just looks at me and shrugs her shoulders. She knows that she won’t be able to stop her either.

It’s only a few minutes after her bursting through the door that she comes back out. “Why didn’t you tell me that he was busy?” She’s looking at me. “Can’t you even do your job right?”

I don’t even bother to argue with her. She hates me and only wants to converse with me when it suits her and even then it’s to shout at me.

When Mrs Barrett sits down in the waiting area, she looks at me. “Aren’t you even going to offer me a coffee while I wait. God, what does he see in you? Why he keeps you in this job when he has Zara I’ll never know.”

I really struggle to not laugh in her face. She thinks that Zara does everything around here, which is a joke. But to keep her happy and because I don’t want to have to sit and listen to her moaning about how bad I am at my job, I get up and make her a drink. When I sit back down at my desk, I notice she is watching me.

“Put on a bit of weight there, Saylor? Are you letting yourself go?” My baby belly is between feeling fat and being pregnant. I’m at that stage when anyone could believe I’m just putting on weight. I’m eighteen weeks pregnant, and Everett still hasn’t told her. I ignore her. I know I could wipe the smile off her face in a couple of seconds, but Everett promised me that he was going to tell her soon. I have to believe him.

I don’t wantto sit there and be abused by her any longer so I leave for an early lunch. She can tell Everett on me, I don’t care. I meet up with Cass who is in town on business.

“So how are you doing?” she asks.

“Urgh, God. Everett’s mom came in and told me I was fat and can’t do my job.”

“She’s a bitch, don’t worry about her.”

“I know, Cass, but I do worry. She’s my future mother-in-law…”

“Did Everett propose? Oh my God.” She puts her hand over her mouth.

“No, no. God, no. I just mean because of the baby she will be in my life, whether I want her to be or not.”

“Unfortunately, yes she will be. Has Everett not told her yet?”

“No, I keep telling him he needs to. I even told him that if he doesn’t tell her soon, then I’m going to give him an ultimatum—me or her.”

“Did you say that to him?”

“Not yet, but I feel like I’m going to do it soon. I won’t be able to hide my pregnancy bump for much longer.”

“I know,” Cass reaches and covers my hand with hers. “He’ll do it soon, I’m sure. He probably just doesn’t want her taking it out on you that’s all.”

“Well, if it means it’s out in the open then she can shout at me as much as she wants. I’ll have the upper hand anyway because I’m carrying her grandchild.”

After eating lunch we go for a walk around before having to go back to work. “You know you can always work for me, I’ve told you that before.”

“Thanks, babe, but you know you’re too disorganized for me.” I laugh, she’s so messy and doesn’t know what she’s doing half the time.

She laughs too. “Yes, but you know it’s organized chaos, right? I know where everything is.”

“If you say so,” I say, laughing. We stop and buy an ice cream and sit on a bench, just watching the world go around.

“It’s funny how life just carries on around you and no one knows the turmoil you’re facing.” I look around in front of us. “Look at that woman there.” I point at a woman laden down with shopping bags. “She’s having a relaxing day shopping and she looks worn out, but it might be the only day she gets to do this. She doesn’t know that I’m on a precipice looking down and wondering whether to jump in with two feet and tell Everett’s mom myself or whether to just let it all play out.” We watch the woman for a while and see her struggle with her phone and holding the bags. She looks frazzled and maybe I misjudged her, she doesn’t look relaxed anymore.

“Look, Socrates, stop being all melancholy and be happy that you’re in a loving relationship with a man who clearly worships you and you’re having his baby. You are living the dream right there, Say. Living the dream.”

“Sorry, I didn’t think about how you’re feeling. How’s your love life?”

“It’s slow going. I have days when I don’t want to talk to anyone and then days when I crave male attention. There’s no happy medium yet. But I know that there will be soon. I’m fine, Say. Honest.”

We stand and walk to the front of my office building. Hugging each other we arrange to talk in a few days. Now I have to get my game face on and not let Everett’s mom put me down any longer.

This girl is not going to give up her man without a fight!

---