*Andrea*
“What problem?” The man next to the projector said, his round-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.
“well that is…” I pointed to the design. “That is mine.”
“What gibberish are you spitting out, Andrea?” Marian asked with clenched teeth. “Well, I…” The stares I was receiving were too much.
“She must be mistaken. Let’s proceed with the meeting. It must be really hard to work as a pregnant woman.” The meeting continued as it should.
There was nothing I could do about it. After the meeting, Marian called me into her office.
“What was that all about?” She asked.
“That design was mine,” I said.
“So?” She asked.
“Why did you lie that it was yours?” I asked, anger coursing through my veins. I felt mad.
“You want to take credit for the work?” “Of course. It’s mine.” I said.
“You should be grateful I chose yours. I made a few modifications to the design. You should have noticed it is not as plain as it was when you submitted it.” She said.
That was the first time Marian stole my work. She also made life unbearable for me at the office, and this made me wonder what I had ever done to her.
Aside from coming late on my first day at work, I tried to be perfect for the job, but in truth, no one can be perfect.
Yes, I made a few mistakes now and then, but it wasn’t worth being treated like this.
I sat on my bed one evening; the windows were open. Two photos were placed on my bed.
One was the photo of my son, the ultrasound scan I had conducted a few weeks ago. And the other was the picture of the man my heart still longed for.
Some scars can never heal, no matter how much we try. We just learn to live with it.
I have read numerous books on healing, and how to move on and forget about the past, but it was impossible to do so.
I tried to put myself more out there. I tried to smile and laugh at every joke. Alison was a big help, she tried to never remind me of Alejandro.
Dave was also on my side. We had become closer over time. At work, whenever we met, he was my boss, but outside, he was my friend.
A friend I would not trade anything. He took me home in his car sometimes and also came to spend some time with us at home.
Alison liked him and would always welcome him.
But still, my heart longed for the man in the photo.
Alejandro.
We were on a date when we took the photo. I had burned every other thing about him aside from this photo.
I couldn’t bring myself to burn it. I wanted something of his. Something to remind me of him at times and this was the only thing I had.
I wished it was the only connection to my past, but no, I still have my unborn child.
I slept, clinching those two photos close to my heart.
.
.
.
It was almost noon, and just when I was about to take my break, Dave called me.
“How’s your day going!” He asked.
“Very well,” I replied.
“How about lunch? Let’s have lunch together.” He said.
“I think the CEO went abroad for a business trip,” I said, which was true. Dave was in China.
“Well, this CEO can do anything to stay with you. Just say yes.” He said.
“I’d like to see you teleport yourself back,” I said.
“You will. So what do you say?” He asked.
“Of course I’m in, why will I miss a chance to get free lunch?”
“Alright then, see you in a while.” He said.
I laughed and ended the call. Dave has become one of my biggest sources of relief, always making sure I was in a good mood.
I knew it was impossible to have lunch with him. I was having lunch with Harper.
“Andrea!” It was Marian again. I checked my time, it was just five minutes before the break. What could she possibly want this time “in here.” She ordered.
“I want coffee.” She said, when I stepped in.
“Alright. I’ll get a cup for you.” I said, a bit relieved, that it was something I could get easily.
No, not the one from here. I am tired of the one at the office. You know the coffee place down the lane?” I nodded, not liking where this was heading.
“I want a coffee from there.” She said.
It will be lunch break soon. ‘What is wrong with the coffee here? Were you born just to stress me out?’ I wanted to ask her all these questions, but I decided to hold myself back.
My lips shook as I tried to smile.
I walked out of the office, almost banging the door.
“Let’s go get something to eat,” Harper said gingerly, wearing her coat. I raised the company’s card I had been given.
“Not again.” She whined.
“Guess I’ll have lunch a bit later,” I said.
I spent a long time trying to get coffee for her. She didn’t appreciate it though. Typical of her. “What took you so long?” She asked.
“Well, I…”
“Of course, you’ll have excuses.” She said.
I placed the coffee on her table. A file fell from the table as I was about to step back.
I bowed in apology though it wasn’t my fault. I would have helped her to pick it up, but my stomach was so big already , and right now it was trouble trying to bend down.
I started towards the door, but her voice stopped me.
“Pick it up.” She ordered. “Where do you think you are going to?”
“Well, I… my stomach is…”
“I don’t care.” She cut me short.
Without another word, I stepped further, attempting to pick it up, but she kicked it further away.
I stood and glared at her.
“What are you staring at?” She said.
“Why do you hate me so much?” I asked. “I don’t think I have ever done anything to offend you. From my very first day here, you’ve always treated me like shit.”
“I told you the first impression matters.” She said.
“No. You are just jealous.” I began. I tried to stop myself, but I couldn’t. My emotions were all over the place.
“You know I am good at designing so you steal my work.” I placed a hand on my stomach.
“Pick it up now.” She said, holding my gaze. She didn’t refuse what I said, and I knew I was right.
She was jealous.
“What is going on here?” A voice asked.
I had left the door open.
“Sir.” Marian stood and bowed quickly. Dave was back. How did he come back so soon?
“We were arguing over something. But it’s resolved now.” She said, a smile suddenly endowing her face.
“Thank you for the coffee, Andrea.” She said, dismissing me.
Dave picked up the file. ” It doesn’t matter who picks the file, right?”
Marian walked to stand in front of him, “Why are you here, sir?” She asked, placing both hands in front of her.
“Do I need a reason to be in my company?” Dave asked.
“No, I won’t dare say that. I was just surprised since you didn’t call or leave any messages to inform me that you’d be coming.” She said.
“Oh, now I need your permission.”
“No sir,” Marian said. I thought it was time to excuse myself.
“Stay.” He told me when I was about to leave.
“Marian,” he called her and placed the file on her table with a thud
“You are fired.” He said.
“What?” Marian’s eyes widened. I was equally surprised.
“Sir, I think there has been a bit of a misunderstanding.” She said.
“Well…” he turned to me, “I don’t think so.”
“Is this because I told her to pick up the file? She had dropped the file, and I just wanted to…” she paused and shook her head, “No. I’m sorry for stressing Andrea.”
“She is pregnant and I should have treated her better.” She said.
She turned to me, “I’m sorry Andrea. I had no bad intentions.” She said and smiled like it was easy to push everything she had done to me at her back.
“It’s fine,” I said, not wanting to be part of the drama.
“See… it settled.” She tried to smile but couldn’t hide her nervousness.
I didn’t think I’d ever see Marian like this. Nervous and short of words.
“Who said it was because of Andrea alone?” he asked, and his P. A. stepped in at that moment, handing him a file.
“You’ve stolen a lot of designs from your colleagues and these…”
Marian had not only stolen designs from us but she had also helped the rival brand and handed them most of our designs. Then when we make such designs, we would be accused of copying them.
They paid her for it.
She was fired, and Dave vowed that the company would press charges against her.
…
“How did you know?” I asked him. We were at home. Alison had made dinner and had invited him.
It has been over a week since Marian was fired and I had stayed back at home since I was almost due.
“You remember the design you made. The one you showed me first?” He asked, and I slanted my head in thought.
“Yes.” It was the first design she had stolen.
“When I saw her name as the designer, I knew something was up, and it was more obvious when you sucked around for two days and didn’t say a word.”
“So you investigated her?” I asked, taking a bite from my steak. “Yes.”
“I should thank you. I found so much dirt on her. Such a filthy woman.” He said.
“Then why did you lie you were in China that day?” I asked.
“Well, I was just pulling your legs. How didn’t you figure it out when you saw the number?”
“Tsk tsk. You don’t expect a designer to be smart, do you?” Alison said, and Dave giggled.
“Right. She is smart, but it is a bit …”‘ he held his thumb and index finger to show how small my intelligence was.
I took a bite from my pasta, ignoring both of them. It was so much like them to team up and tease me.
I felt a kick from my baby. It happened again, and a wave of strange sensations hit me. I thought it was the baby, but just then, something liquid ran down my legs.
Upon feeling the gush, my eyes widened. ” Oh my!” I cried out.
Both turned to me immediately, “What happened?” Alison asked.
“I think my water just broke,” I said, my voice trembling.
“We need to get you to the hospital. Now!” Dave said, standing up immediately.
.
.
.
I have dreamed of this moment numerous times. A time when I’d hold my child close to my chest. I have always envisaged it and wondered how it will be.
Dave helped me into the car. A wave of mixed emotions rushed through me. Pain, joy, fear.
My vision was blurry. Dave drove as fast as he could. They both spoke, but I didn’t hear them clearly; their voices were distant.
The pain was intense, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I tried to breathe through the pain of contraction.
It seems Dave had called the hospital already, as nurses and doctors were already waiting for me with a stretcher.
Labor for me came two hours later. I was suddenly pushing.
I gripped the bed rails, my contractions building like a storm. It was as if hundreds of needles were pricking me at the same time.
“Ah ahhhhh,” I cried, a wave of pain washing over me. “You can do this.” Alison was in the room with me, but her words weren’t helping. My knuckles must have been white from the intensity with which I held the rails.
I tried to breathe through the agony. “Almost there, almost there. Push a little.” The doctor encouraged me. I felt my body stretched to its limit.
I don’t know where the strength came from; just when I thought I couldn’t go on anymore, thinking it would be my last push, I screamed at the top of my lungs
A baby’s cry broke into the air, and a sense of completion quickly endowed me. Hot tears mixed with sweat ran down my cheeks.
My baby, my child.
It was finally here, alive and well.