Sophia’s Point of View
I was uncomfortable.
And it wasn’t from my morning sickness that seemed to have subsided now.
The announcer’s voice in the background was cheery and optimistic, a direct contrast to my feelings.
“… following the failure of Baxter Enterprises star product and the Jerry Baxter’s controversy, the Baxter multidollar enterprise stocks have hit an all time low with multiple investors backing out…”
The screen went blank as I turned off the news. If I heard one more thing about Baxter Enterprise, I was certain I would lose it.
Since we returned to Los Angeles three days ago, this was all the news spoke about.
The dreaded fall of the titan organization, Baxter Enterprise. The epic flop of Jerry Baxter’s brainchild in the Asian market. How the overextensions from loans to finance the failed project had put them in billions of dollars worth of deficit.
I didn’t feel the surge of satisfaction I should have felt from the accuracy of my predictions on the volatility of the Asian market at the last board meeting I’d attended at Baxter Enterprise.
No, all I felt was that growing sense of unease that something was coming. Something that wasn’t good.
“Karma is really getting to Jerry Baxter now, Sophia.” Tina hummed cheerily.
Settling next to me, she placed a plate of chocolate chip cookies and juice between us.
I picked up a cookie but I didn’t have the appetite to eat it.
“I still can’t believe Kate blamed the assassination attempt on him.” I said, instead pondering on how Kate had managed to get the assassins that had come for me to change their testimony halfway through the court proceedings.
Tina shrugged. “Sophia, you do know neither of them really cared about each other.”
I shifted on the couch.
Tina had a point. Both Jerry and Kate weren’t the most selfless people and cared more about themselves than anyone else but then again, recalling the depths of jealousy I had seen in Kate’s eyes each time she saw Jerry near me, I wondered if there was something else I was missing.
Regardless, if it seemed like Kate was going to wiggle her way out of getting punished, I would need to get personally involved.
“Perhaps,” I said before smiling wider at Tina.
“Enough about Jerry, how does it feel being hitched?”
Yes, in my time away, my friend had gotten married. She had never wanted a big ceremony so the moment she could, she’d eloped with her fiance and got it over with.
Tina blushed adorably, her eyes glistening like stars.
“We’ve been dating for a while so it’s not super strange,” She shrugged with a soft smile. “It’s just a bit sweeter and special.”
Tina soon diverted talking about the small arguments that kept coming up now that they were living together and while it was mostly funny and made me smile, I couldn’t help but think of my own marriage.
I suddenly wished for a simpler marriage. One where all we had would be some crappy apartment and each other.
A marriage where there were no contracts, no complicated rules and arrangements. Just unyielding love for each other.
When we left Singapore, I had been sure something had shifted. Something significant that would take us closer to that dream I had.
The way Mr Prescott had seemed scared at the idea of losing me however briefly at the police station had given me hope that maybe the moment he realized he had feelings for me was no longer far off.
But the moment we landed here, into the mess that Jerry had created, I barely saw Mr Prescott. He was too busy cleaning up after Jerry’s mess as one of the major shareholders of Baxter Enterprise.
And that was fine. I could be patient. I could wait until all of this had tided over before having a heart to heart talk with Mr Prescott. Right?
That lingering sense of unease remained and I almost didn’t hear Tina’s next words.
“The private investigator has been trying to get in touch with you for some time now.” She said and I was so startled I nearly knocked down my glass of juice.
“What?” I exclaimed. “He has? But I never got any calls.”
Tina nodded. “I was also trying to reach you throughout your time away to no avail. Maybe it was the reception.”
How strange. I thought I had good reception. After all, I had spoken to Nana a few times throughout the trip when she had been calling to confirm if her grandson had been treating me right.
Tina continued speaking but my mind could no longer focus on the conversation. How could I? The identity of my one night stand and the father of my children was just a phone call away.
“I’m so sorry, Tina. I completely forgot there’s something I need to get for Nana.” I lied but Tina being her usual understanding self didn’t seem to notice.
“It’s fine, we can catch up some other time.” She smiled at me.
I felt like a terrible friend but the feeling only lasted until I was in the privacy of my limo. Fear, anticipation and trepidation filled my veins.
The private investigator picked up on the first ring.
“Good day, ma’am.”
My heart was racing in my chest and my breaths were coming way too fast.
“Did you find him?” I asked.
“Yes ma’am,” He said, then he seemed to hesitate before completing his statement.
“It’s your husband, Reid Prescott. I have sent the photographs to your email.”
I closed my eyes, mixed feelings racing through me. Maybe it was because deep down from the moment I had seen that tattoo I had known. I had known.
I just didn’t want to believe it. Coincidences like that didn’t happen in real life. They just didn’t. Until they did.
I opened my email and the pictures were there seeming to taunt me.
The pictures were high resolution photos from a combination of CCTV footage and dashcams. There we were stepping out of the club, Mr Prescott’s hand at my waist keeping me upright while I held onto him, my face practically tucked into his shirt.
His long dark hair covered his face but his posture was as unsteady as mine and I knew he had been as drunk as I was, if not more.
The next set of photos were from the morning after, of Mr Prescott leaving the hotel.
It was no longer a possibility. It was the reality. Mr Prescott was my one night stand and the father of my unborn children.
If I wasn’t already seated, I might have stumbled. I wasn’t surprised yet at the same time I was shocked.
It felt like my entire world had tilted on its axis and I wasn’t sure which way was up. But one thing was certain.
It was time to face the truth.
“Where to Ma’am?” The voice of the driver came through the speakers and I swallowed hard before speaking.
“Home.”
The drive was short yet interminable. I worried and bit at my nails. What would Mr Prescott’s reaction to finding out the truth?
Would he be confused, ecstatic, happy? What would our future look like? Would he accept the children? Accept me as his true wife?
Needless to say by the time I arrived home, I was practically vibrating with anxiety.
Our butler, Gale, saw me in at the door.
“Welcome, Mrs Prescott.”
“Is my husband in?” I asked.
These past few days, he had been at the office most of the time. I sincerely hoped he was home today though. I couldn’t imagine breaking this sort of news at the company.
The butler nodded in response.
“Yes, ma’am. In fact, he asked to see you in his study once you arrived.”
Why did Mr Prescott want to see me so urgently? Could it be to talk about our current situation? I guess I was about to find out.
I was about to head upstairs when a thought hit me.
“Where is Nana?” I asked.
I couldn’t take the chance that she would somehow overhear this conversation and realize my marriage with Mr Prescott was a contract. It would break her heart.
“She just left on her retreat program. She will return in three days.” Gale said evenly.
Right. She had mentioned it to me telling me about how we would go for the next one together after the birth of the children.
In all the excitement, it had completely skipped my mind.
Without any more reason to delay, I headed to the study.
Mr Prescott looked up from the papers in front of him immediately I pushed the door open.
His hair fell over his forehead like he’d raked his fingers through it a few times, a few buttons on his shirt were open with his sleeves rolled up and those gray eyes settled on me unflinchingly.
“Sophia.” Mr Prescott said and it felt like my tongue couldn’t work properly anymore.
Just say it, Sophia. I chided myself.
“Reid,” I nearly choked on the words as they left my lips. “I have something to tell you.”
Mr Prescott stood up from behind his desk, a serious expression on his face.
“So do I, Sophia.”