6

I enter the building slightly shaken. right away Kelsey runs up to me.

"Are you okay?" she asks concern laced into her voice. Lost in my thoughts I just nod.

"You were right," I say before she could leave.

"About what?" she asks tilting her head a little.

"I'm pregnant," I say looking up to her eyes. "I'm pregnant. fourteen weeks along in fact," I say with my voice cracking a little at the end.

"oh kitty, that's great!" she wraps me in a tight hug. "did you tell the father yet?"

I don't answer her. I mean how can I? why would I? I give her a meaningful look.

"Oh right."

Kelsey is the only person I have ever told my past to. She is if anything the closest thing I have to a sister.

"I have an appointment in five days and I would like for you to come with me. it is at the Silver Band Clinic," I ask hopefully.

"Sure. What time?"

"At nine in the morning."

she nods thoughtfully "sure. do you want to take the bus or do you want me to borrow my neighbor's car?"

"can you?" I ask shyly.

Kelsey chuckles shaking her head.

we continue chattering as I walk to the staff room.

"Kelsey can you come over here real quick?" one of Kelsey's department mates calls.

"I'll see you later," I say quickly. I enter the staff room and clock in before rushing over to my desk.

I turn the monitor on and wait for the desktop to load on the screen in silence.

There is no noise in the room besides the whirling of the fan in the monitor and the agitated voices coming from the CEO's office.

As the secretary of the CEO, I naturally knew that there should not be a meeting today. I sat there in my chair as quietly as possible.

BUZZZ

I nearly toppled my chair as I jumped startled by the sudden noise.

"Kat?" my boss's voice came through the microphone.

"Yes, Sir?" I answered back in a shaky voice.

"Can you bring in some coffee and doughnuts?"

"For how many?"

" Six."

"I'm right on it," I answer and then head out to the cafeteria for coffee and doughnuts.

There are many people in the hallways so I can't help but catch snippets of their conversations as I pass.

"....another company...."

"....bought out..."

"...RI..."

"Yeah, we could be..."

I felt my heart sink with what I was beginning to realize.

We were bought out by RI and could be losing our jobs. Hardly anyone would be able to stay and I wasn't prepared.

'Back to square one." I think bitterly to myself.

In the cafeteria, I take one of the rolling carts and place six mugs and a tray of doughnuts. I set a pot of coffee to brew and gather some sugar, cream, napkins, plates, and teaspoons. When the coffee is done percolating I transfer it into an electric warmer so that it will stay warm throughout the rest of the meeting.

I hurriedly rushed the cart back to the meeting room not wanting to waste any more time in the cafeteria.

By the time I got back barely 20 minutes had passed but never the less the meeting had finished.

Red-faced with rage Mr. Lynn, the CEO, Stood holding the meeting rooms door open while a tall man thanked him.

I don't know why that back looked so familiar to me. The broad shoulders and dark hair transfixed me. I couldn't remove my eyes from him. I bit my bottom lip then and forced myself to return to my duty. I walked over to Mr. Lynn, "Is the meeting over?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly.

My boss turned and glanced at me then back at the man. Gesturing to me he said to the man, "Do you still want some coffee?" he asked, his voice dripping with contempt. As soon as the tall man turned to face me all the blood drained from my face. I cleared my throat and plastered a smile on my face. Connor Reese. I had never expected to see him ever again. The man that had made my life torture and the man whose brother's child I was carrying. "Cream and sugar?" I asked as naturally as I could.

"None thank you. "Connor was watching my face carefully. "I know you," he said matter-of-factly. A cold chill washed over my body like a bucket of ice water.

"Not likely I would remember someone that looks like you," I said looking at the coffee warmer in my hands coyly.

"Would you like some coffee as well sir?" I asked Mr. Lynn trying to change the subject.

"No thanks," he said waving his hand absently.

I placed the warmer back on the cart and rolled it back out the door.

"Hey, what's your name?" His voice called out to me. I didn't answer as I pushed the cart down the hallway letting the door swing shut behind me.