I was suddenly sick again. I ran for the bathroom and emptied out the contents of my stomach once more. Not that there was anything there but acid and bile at this point. I just sat there on the floor for a long time wondering what I had done to make Alexander believe I would be a disgusting enough human being to take his money in exchange for killing my baby. I was appalled. Actually I was beyond appalled. I was sickened by it, and I was even more sickened by the fact that I’d actually thought I had feelings for this man.
I pulled myself up off the floor once more and went for my phone. I needed an attorney. I wasn’t going to sit idly by while this man tried to pressure me into doing something I don’t believe in and blackballs me across Los Angeles as well so that I’m not even able to get another job. He was the one who took me to the basement. He was the one who poured me those drinks. He seduced me. He chose not to wear a condom and now he wants to erase it all… including our child and pretend like it never happened. I wasn’t going to allow that. It happened and the life growing inside of me was proof of that. I don’t want his money, what I do want and I believe I deserve, is for him to look me in the eye and apologize for hiding behind it.
I called the only person I knew that might be able to help me, Jason. No, that wasn’t really true. My mother could probably help me and when she heard who the father of the baby was, I’m sure she’d be more than willing. She would expect me to take him for every penny he had because that was the way my mother operated. I wasn’t going there. Jason’s best friend is an attorney. The best I can hope for is a discount since I was now unemployed.
“Hey Vicki! Did you go to the doctor?” That was how Jason answered the phone. Did anyone genuinely care about me at all?
“Not yet. Jason, I need an attorney. Do you think Paul might be willing to help me out… you know with payments or something.”
“An attorney? For what? Did you hit someone’s car?”
With a sigh I said, “No Jason. I got fired.”
“For…?”
“Alexander Reigns found the pregnancy test I did at work yesterday. He thinks the baby is his.”
I heard a long pause and then, “Is it?”
“The day you broke up with me, I slept with him. I’m not going to apologize, Jason. You left me devastated. I shouldn’t have done it… obviously, but I did, and here we are.”
“Wow, so he thinks you’re pregnant with his kid and he fired you?”
I sighed again. I really only wanted an attorney. “Yes. He served me with a restraining order and an offer for money if I “terminate” and a bunch of other stuff I don’t understand. That’s why I need a lawyer.”
“Wow,” he said again. This conversation was going nowhere.
“Okay Jason, anyways…”
“Wait, I’ll talk to Paul, Vicki. Of course I will. I’m sure he’ll be willing to help you. I’ll call him right now. Then stay there, okay? I’m going to come over and bring you lunch. It sounds like you’ve had a horrible day.”
Lunch? Jason was worried that I had a horrible day? What the heck was this about? “Yeah, okay. Will you just have Paul call me?”
“We’ll get you an appointment with him first thing tomorrow,” he said, confidently.
“Okay, thank you. But, I have an appointment with the doctor to have the pregnancy test at eight. Should I cancel that?”
“No! No, don’t cancel that babe. That’s important. If you’re pregnant, you need to know now. I mean, so you can start taking vitamins or whatever to make sure the little guy is healthy.” The little guy? Was this Jason I was talking to? “I’ll be there within the hour, okay babe?”
“Okay Jason. Thank you.”
***
Jason was on my doorstep within the hour with a box of Chinese take-out and a bottle of sparkling cider. “Wow, um, this is really nice,” I told him. I was slightly suspicious of his intentions, but I really did need someone in my corner today.
“Like I said on the phone, Vick, you’ve had a horrible day. I want to make it better.” I let him in and he put the food and the cider down on the table. Then he shocked me by turning around and taking me into his arms. He pulled me into him so my head was against his shoulder and he said, “I missed you, Vick.”
“Really?” I asked, taking a step back.
“Yeah, really. Of course I missed you.”
“You broke up with me and just yesterday you were telling me we weren’t good for each other. What changed?”