Kamara’s POV
“That asshole!” Chantelle cursed loudly as she paced the room back and forth.
She had hurried down to the hospital the moment she got my call. I wanted to stop the flow of tears but I couldn’t. It felt like my entire world came crashing down on me and I felt lonely.
Chantelle’s arrival made me feel more like I had someone to lean on. I can still see the look Diego had in his eyes when he spoke. He couldn’t even pretend to be concerned about my health. I almost feel relieved at the loss of the pregnancy, but remembering all that is at stake makes me detest my life.
“If I had my way, I would take the money and throw it to his face. How dare he play with your life like that?” She kept ranting.
I should have kept my mouth shut and not told her everything Diego said to me. But I was too overwhelmed and had no one to tell my woes to. I wish my parents were here. They would have consoled me better. My eyes watered and all of my strong walls came crashing down. I have never felt this alone and lost all my life.
“Oh, baby. Don’t cry.” Chantelle consoled wrapping her arms around me.
“It’s my fault, Chan. I should have taken those drugs. But I was too adamant to do so. Now my family will be left on the streets. It’s been two days, Chan, and he has still not come to see how I am faring. Does he despise me that much?” I sobbed.
“It’s no doubt business as usual for the bastard. And don’t you ever blame yourself for that? Many women have miscarriages and they don’t get blamed for it. He is the asshole who can’t get his acts together. I wish I could punch out his guts.” She gritted. “Don’t blame yourself and I am assuring you from now on that you will be fine. I will make sure of it.”
“What if he cancels the contract? We would lose our home. What do I do?”
“When we get to that bridge we would cross it. For now, your health is paramount. I am not going to let you harm yourself for a nuisance.”
“I hope that isn’t me,” Diego growled from behind as he walked into the room. He had a scowl on his face. He is definitely not here to play nice.
I thought Chantelle was probably going to stiffen and keep quiet. I am usually the one who bluffs and does exactly what I said I would do. Chantelle most times stays out of trouble. To my surprise, she turned to him flaring her nose.
“Of course, you are a nuisance. What was I expecting of a gangster in the first place? Being responsible is definitely not in your dictionary. How dare you leave her by herself after putting her in such a condition?” Chantelle bellowed.
Fernando walked in just in time with an amused look on his face. He leaned against the wall, grinning to himself.
Diego had a slightly shocked look on his face, but he covered it up with a frown. It’s obvious he has never had anyone talk to him in such a manner before. “Has your friend lost her mind?” He questioned me.
“Hell no. If you would say something say it to my face and leave her out of this.” Chantelle fumed.
“Do you know who I am?”
She hissed in contempt. “You can be the jade emperor for all I care. Who trained you? I have a feeling you were brought up better but just turned out to be an asshole. Even if she sacrificed her body to pay off debt shouldn’t you respect her? What sort of a life is that?”
“Why don’t you ask your friend who refused to follow the doctor’s instructions in order to flirt with her boyfriend!” Diego bickered.
Chantelle turned to me. “What is the asshole talking about?”
Fernando chortled at this, which earned him a murderous glare from Diego.
“What the hell, lady? Who do you think you are to throw insults at me? Have you gone mad?” He queried.
“I don’t care about whatever it is you say. I said what I said. All you can do is ask your filthy followers to bury me alive. It won’t change anything.”
“I could do that.” He said with a serious face.
Chantelle stood firm, “you….”
“Chantelle!” I called out weakly. “Please, let it be. It’s useless.” She held my gaze with tears in her eyes. But she sniffed it back and came to the other side of the bed. “Thank you,” I mumbled sincerely.
Diego scoffed. “When you are done with all the charade can we get back to business? As soon as you get discharged, you have to get pregnant without wasting time. The doctor said you won’t be able to do the procedure again. Which means the child has to be conceived naturally. You will be staying in my house from the moment you fall pregnant again until you go to bed. I don’t want to have any of this nonsense repeat itself, you hear me? I have invested too much in you.”
Chantelle gasped at the same time as I did, but I held her hand tightly in a silent plea to let me handle it myself. “What rubbish are you spitting? You and I never had that agreement.”
“You and your friend do have a lot of attitude for paupers. I am guessing if she had the money you came to beg me for, you wouldn’t be here. Do you think I would waste my time on you if I hadn’t shown you to my nana? I have nothing to lose except toss you and your wretched family to the streets.”
“Keep my family name out of your mouth.” I gritted, clenching my jaw.
Diego snickered. “Like you can do anything about it. I feel like I am talking too much. I have a feeling you didn’t read through the contract properly the first time. Which is why I am being this generous. Show her what you have Fernando.” He instructed.
Fernando’s face suddenly turned blank as he handed me the photocopy of the signed contract. My eyes skimmed through the contents and it felt like my heart was about to explode. Chantelle snatched it from me to read.
Diego smacked his lips. “That’s what I thought. The doctor said you would be discharged in two days. You had better get your mind prepared.” He said walking away.
I gripped the sheets tightly and let out an ear-piercing scream.