CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
As Adele made her way to the road, she sent a quick test to her supervisor, telling him she was on her way back home because she wasn’t feeling too well. She knew he was going to try to make her stay, but she wasn’t going to do that. She needed to get away from Jamal and Danielle.
She was about to call a cab, a Rolls Royce stopped before her and when the door opened, she rolled her eyes hard when she saw Jamal step out of the car to stand before her.
“What do you want, Jamal?”
“To take you home.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, I’m about to call an Uber. Just go in there and have a great time with your darling Danielle.” She spoke almost in a whisper, but Jamal could feel the bitterness in her voice. He couldn’t help but stare at her stomach.
Ever since he heard that Adele was pregnant, his mind had been in total chaos. He was excited and scared at the same time. Having a child had never crossed his mind before, but now that it was about to happen , he was happy, yet scared of the challenges that came with the new status.
“Adele.” He called, averting his gaze from her stomach to her face which was completely drenched in tears.
“Get into the car and let me take you home.”
“And I said no, I won’t.” Adele stubbornly denied. “I already called an Uber, he will be here soon.” She lied. She was still to call an Uber.
“Adele if you don’t get into the car this minute, I’m going to put you in there myself. I’m not going to let my pregnant wife ride in an Uber when I can drive her home myself. I give you to the count of three to get into that car. After three counts, you won’t like the method I will use.” He threatened and Adele instantly rushed over to the passenger seat and stepped into the car before he could call out the first number.
Jamal had slipped into his deadly mood and she knew he was capable of doing anything at that time. The last thing she wanted was for him to carry her bridal style in public.
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The ride back home was a quiet one.
Adele dozed off ten minutes into the ride and Jamal kept stealing glances at her as he drove on.
He was the happiest man on earth, but he didn’t know how to show it. His wife was pregnant. He was going to be a father. His family was about to have a new member.
All of that brought him so much joy, but there were things he still had to take care of before things would be the way Adele wanted them to be.
Earlier, the fact that she mentioned she wanted to get a divorce pained him, but he knew with the pregnancy, she wouldn’t be able to do that, so he was relieved. He treated Adele poorly and he knew it, but there was really nothing he could do.
At that moment in his life, everyone around him thought he was a wealthy man with zero problems who had the entire country in his hands, but the truth was that he was in deep shit.
Shit he was put in by his father and there were certain things he needed to do in order to get himself out of that tight spot. He didn’t want to talk about those things with Adele because he knew it would get her worked up.
Now that his baby was on the way, he had to solve his problems fast because he did not want his son or daughter to be born in the kind of home he and Adele had at that moment.
When they arrived at the mansion, Jamal didn’t want to wake Adele, so he stepped out of the car and went over to her side to carry her into the house.
As he tried to scoop her into his arms, her eyes shot open and she was shocked to see Jamal lifting her into his arms.
“What are you doing?” She asked, shocked.
“What do you see me doing?” Jamal asked quietly as he began walking towards the main door.
“You don’t have to carry me. I can walk.”
“I don’t have to, but I want to.” He insisted and walked on. Adele, who didn’t have any energy to argue with him, just stayed quiet and snuggled into his arms.
That was the first time Jamal was ever carrying her in his arms and that was an opportunity for her to enjoy them since they had been distant for the past weeks.
Jamal carried her all the way to their bedroom where he put her on the bed.
“What about the event?” Adele asked quietly and Jamal looked down at her with a blank countenance.
“Would you rather I leave you here alone and go back there?” He asked quietly, taking a seat by her side on the bed.
“I just want you to do what you want to do. Don’t stay with me out of pity or something. Back there, the spotlight was on you and Danielle, you should go and enjoy it.”
“Will you stop bringing that woman’s name in our conversation? Please? And for the spotlight, I careless about it. Adele I’m not staying here out of pity. I just found out my wife is pregnant and I’m excited. I want to spend time with you, not with some billionaire’s who have run out of ideas on how to spend their money so they go about organizing events to do shitty auctions. I would never choose that over you.”
“Well, you don’t look like you are excited about this pregnancy. I know you weren’t expecting it but…”
“What do you mean I was expecting it?” He cut her off with a frown. “We are married and we’ve been engaged in unprotected sex. I was definitely expecting this and now that it has happened, I am excited. I truly am excited and I’m sorry that I’m not reacting in the way you expect me to react, but just know that this is pleasant news for me.” Jamal explained with all sincerity and Adele just kept looking at him and wondering how one person could be so bipolar.
A few days ago, she could have sworn that Jamal didn’t have her at heart even one bit, but at that moment , he sounded like a loving, caring and understanding husband.
“Jamal I don’t even know what to say.”
“I don’t want you to say anything, but I need you to tell me why you had to tell me about the pregnancy in this kind of way. Why did you have to tell me back there?”
“Because seeing you with Danielle made me furious and I just had to let it out!” Adele confessed and Jamal fought his urge to smile.
It pleased him that she was jealous. That was a sign that she felt something for him.
“For how long have you known?”
“About a week now.”
“One week!” Jamal asked aghast. “And you didn’t even bother… oh my God! The visit to the gynecologist… that’s when you found out, am I right?”
“Yes you are.” Adele answered and Jamal got even more enraged.
“So why didn’t you tell me when I asked why you went to see a gynecologist?”
“Because we fought that night Jamal and we fought every other night like we are now. And don’t blame this on me, I have been showing signs of pregnancy. The sudden frequent vomiting, nausea and morning sicknesses should have made you suspect!”
“Suspect? I know nothing about pregnancy or how a pregnant woman would behave, Adele. I know nothing about those things.”
“Oh. So now you are going to put the blame on me? Everything that’s happening right now is my fault?” She asked, scolding and Jamal let out a heavy breath.
He didn’t like the fact that they were fighting after he just found out about her pregnancy.
“Jamal it was not my intention to keep it away from you. I mean, it’s your baby and you have every right to know, but we were fighting so much. I was waiting for a time when we would be cool with each other before I could say, but that time never came, that’s why I had to say it the way I did. If you think I’m happy that we are fighting right now, you are wrong.” Sniffles tears. “I’m pregnant and my hormones are all over the place. There’s so much going on in my body and mind and I need you. I need you Jamal. All this fighting is taking a toll on me.” She cried hard.
Very hard and Jamal felt his heart break into a million pieces as he looked at her teary face.
“I’m sorry.” He finally whispered when he realized everything was his fault. “I’m sincerely sorry for putting you through all this. I promise to be different henceforth. We are going to go through this together.”
“I’m tired Jamal, and I just want to go to bed right now.”
“Aren’t you hungry? I guess the huge increase in appetite I noticed is as a result of this.”
“Yes, it is. But I’m not hungry. I just want to take a warm bath and sleep. I’m exhausted and I have a hospital appointment tomorrow. I still don’t know how I’m going to explain all this to my boss tomorrow.”
“There’s no need to explain anything to your boss, you are going to quit.” He firmly deciphered and Adele looked at him with her eyes wide open.
“What?”
“You are pregnant and the last thing you need is to get stressed. I was shocked to see you at the event even after you told me you weren’t feeling too well. Your supervisor won’t understand your condition and will just keep giving you more stressful work. I don’t want you stressing yourself Adele, so please don’t argue with me and quit. Let me take care of you and our baby from now on. Please.” He pleaded, looking at her with searching eyes.
“Can I go take a bath now?” Adele asked, totally ignoring all what he just said.
She loved her job and there was no way she was quitting because he didn’t want her to get stressed, but again, He was Jamal King Dominick. He knew exactly what to do to get whatever he wanted.
“You have till the end of the week to work there.” Jamal continued and Adele just ignored him and stepped down from the bed. “Adele, I’m serious.”
“Do whatever you want Jamal. I’m too tired to argue with you.” She gave up.
“That’s better. Mind if I join you in the shower?” He asked with a straight face and Adele looked at him and chuckled.
“I won’t mind if you ask me in a nicer way.”
“If I ask in a nicer way, will I be allowed to do other things apart from helping you bathe?” He asked with a corny smile.
“My doctor said no sex till I’m twelve weeks gone.” She said and walked into the bathroom.
“No he did not!” Jamal denied flatly as he followed her. “Adele you can’t be serious.” He asked as he walked into the bath to meet Adele who was now stripping off her clothes with a satisfied smirk plastered on her face.
She was finally getting back at him for giving her a hard time.