Chapter 18

Clara's POV

The queasy sensation in my stomach persisted. I had a feeling that today would bring some occurrences. I decided to be honest with Derek today.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Ivy muttered.

I put my backpack into my locker.

Yes, I replied. "I want to stop telling lies now." I shut the locker.

"I hope he doesn't come today, just as he didn't show up yesterday." She let out a sigh.

Ivy leaned back against her locker and began browsing her Instagram account. By now, she must have understood I was a lost cause.

As fate would have it, Marcus entered the space. This man is following me, I promise.

"For what reason are you two still here? You must do it." Marcus cried out.

Ivy sighed, and we left the room to return to our stations.

Marcus had officially said yesterday that because Derek would be spending a lot more time here, I would be the one responsible for cleaning his apartment. He just needed to choose me out of everyone. If anything, I now have more work to do since I still have other rooms to clean.

I was told by the security guards that Derek wasn't there, so I had a few hours to clean without anybody knowing I was dismissed.

I collected my cleaning supplies and rode the elevator to his apartment.

I entered his apartment. It was so calm and quiet.

"What kind of day are you having?" Something that drew my attention.

Derek was lying with his back against the wall as I turned around. Not that I had noticed him there.

"I'm OK," I hesitantly said. I was still having trouble breathing.

He replied, "I'm delighted you came here today."

I dropped the detergents I was carrying as he came up and grabbed my arm. Taking hold of my arm, he led me farther into the home.

"What do you know? Why don't we start setting up the baby's room now? Wouldn't that be fantastic? He stopped. We paused in the corridor.

He responded to his query without waiting for me to say anything. "You are; you, you know that. It's too little here. Instead, how about we purchase a new home? If you'd like, you can live there, and we can take care of our little pumpkin." He said.

I slid aside as he extended his hand to touch my tummy.

I had no idea how severe my issue was. Was he considering purchasing a home already?

I hesitated and said, "There is something I need to speak to you about." I should have torn off the bandage before things became any worse.

"It's true, but I'm focused on something else." He interrupted. "I was considering just quitting your work. You shouldn't be in this setting since you most likely must be on your feet all day." He said.

I looked at him, bewildered.

"You know, given that you work here, it probably won't look well if people find out you are pregnant." He said.

I tried to stop him by holding onto his arm. Before altering my viewpoint, I had to be honest with him.

"I must speak with you." I stopped.

He exhaled.

"You are correct; I, too, believe that we have fallen far behind in preparing for the birth of our child. We must consider the schools our child will go to by now." He went on to show me around the whole home.

I said, "I have to tell you something."

I caught his attention this time. He was no longer trying to convince me he intended to have children.

It would be difficult for many people to hear what I had to say, so I inhaled deeply as I struggled to put words together.

"I know you are not pregnant," he said calmly.

I was unaware of what he had said at first, but then it dawned on me.

I felt my eyes expand and almost choked on breath.

"However..." At last, I was able to whisper.

I watched his expression for a response. He seemed only amused, with no signs of distress.

"You didn't think you could mislead me like this long, did you?" He said.

His arms were crossed. "I must admit that at first, you had me, but for a split second, I didn't think you were real. Never have I encountered someone so committed to their falsehood." He went on.

Suddenly, my throat became dry, and I gasped.

"Then, why don't you simply fire me and go on with our lives, please?" So I did.

"No, sweetie, you would find that too simple. I've better ideas for you now that you've wasted my time." He grinned.

"What would be required of me?" So I did.

"I will notify you at the appropriate moment." He responded.

Something warned me that I had just unintentionally entered into an agreement from which I would find it impossible to back out.

"Please tidy this house for me. I mean, I can rely on you to perform your job, right? He queried.

He went to get his jacket and left the flat.

Though I've just gotten myself into more trouble, I had hoped to solve more of my difficulties today.

***** *THURSDAY*

"Ten things for which I am thankful?" To me, I mumbled.

"I am not ill in the hospital," "I am still alive," and "I still have a job."

Ivy cut in, "You know that never works."

I muttered, "Shh, it was beginning to work."

I was in the coffee room with Ivy. I had not gotten a wink of sleep last night. I just continued to repeat all of Derek's statements.

"That you told him the truth is unbelievable." She said,

"What action was I meant to take?" So I did.

"Your life was meant to be used to refute it. By behaving in such a manner, you demonstrated your suspension even if he had no solid evidence that you weren't pregnant." She responded.

"Well, things might have gone far worse," I said.

Ivy said, "Well, I hope you have funeral insurance." She gave me a shaky head. "You were almost a mansion dweller."

Ivy and I were the centre of attention for everyone in the room.

I managed to finish my cup of coffee in one sitting. Before Marcus threatened to fire one of us, I realised I had to go and begin my shift.

We got up from our table, Ivy and myself.

I realised that before I could tackle any of the other guest rooms, I had to tackle Derek's penthouse.

I said goodbye to Ivy and rode the elevator to Derek's apartment.

I heard laughing from a lady in the living room when I entered his apartment.

Perhaps I ought not to be here. I was determined not to step into any area I wasn't allowed to be in.

Perhaps I was exaggerating. Maybe it was simply a friendly business gathering. In any case, I just had cleaning to complete as my task.

My response came in short order.

Madison entered the hallway after leaving the living room. I was most surprised by her looks. All she had on was an enormous shirt that hung loosely over her knees. Derek's shirt was on it.

I was still taking it all in, so I couldn't help but look.

Madison stopped when she saw me in the corridor.

"Why are you in this place?" Madison enquired.

It seemed as if I was utterly speechless at that very time. "Me..."

Derek suddenly appeared in the hallway. He was only wearing his jeans and had no shirt on.

One didn't need to be a genius to deduce what had occurred.

"You're here," said Derek. "You may begin tidying the kitchen now." He said.

Even so, I was unable to answer. I was still in disbelief that the two had shared a bed. I suppose Madison was getting his wish.

But I answered without Madison having to shout at me. Instead, a middle-aged lady entered as the door swung open.

She had on a black coat that matched her outfit over her shoulders. She wore bold red lipstick and sunglasses. Her hair fell over her shoulder in loose curls.

She took off her sunglasses and fixed her gaze on Maddison and Derek.

Derek muttered, "Mother."

Madison's answer struck me as tense.

"Remember how I said I didn't want to see you around this lady?" His mom enquired.

I believe that now is an excellent moment for me to depart. But Derek and Maddison were in the front, obstructing my path, and his mom was directly behind me. Every action I took seemed to enrage one of them. I had to stay out of sight.

"I was simply, Ma'am,"

"Would you just stop talking and leave?" His mom insisted.

Madison showed no signs of change.

I had no desire to participate in this discourse.

I attempted to get around Derek's mother, but she moved along my path as she got closer to Maddison and Derek.

"Is it necessary for me to pull you out of here using your cheap hair extensions?" His mother yelled.

Derek said, "Mother," in a foreboding manner.

Madison became enraged. She glanced at Derek before hurriedly leaving the apartment.

Nothing that belonged to her was taken. Most likely, she was waiting for his mother to go.

A loud door bang was heard, and Derak's mother crossed her arms.

His mother questioned, "Didn't I tell you that I didn't want to see you anywhere near that woman?"

Still, I stood in the middle of nothing, silently hoping the earth would engulf me.

"No, here, you must watch how you talk to her more closely. She will become my future spouse." With a voice.

My pupils expanded. Our lives here with Madison as the boss's wife are unimaginable. Even without her ownership, she already makes our lives unpleasant as visitors. His remarks also surprised his mother.

"You're going to wed her over my corpse. I don't know how I could have carried such an idiotic kid to term. You are a live example of how someone may exist without a brain." She said,

"You do not influence my life or the choices I make."With a voice.

"How am I supposed to not, given your insistence on being foolish? I just wanted you to grow up, get married, and have grandkids. That was all. It's not all that hard. Rather, you and that bimbo are present here." She went on.

His mom turned to face me. She seemed to be trying to get me to agree with her.

Derek said, "She's not a bimbo." Derek said, "I refuse to be held down by anything or anybody."

"You won't get married, then?" Mom enquired.

Derek crossed his arms and nodded.

"Well, I need you to know that you are to blame for whatever is going to happen." She said,

His mother slipped on her sunglasses, glanced at me, and left the apartment.

It took many moments for us to hear the door bang once again.

I assumed I had problems with my family.

Derek said, "She missed her medications today."

And with that, he turned to go. He shut himself in his workroom.

Even after that talk, my enthusiasm for the project remained high. I felt I had just narrowly avoided being hurt during the conflict.

I could never hope to pull off my false baby narrative if his mother couldn't persuade him to quiet down.

I had to return to work before I lost my job this time.

I paused to consider the state of disarray in the home.

I began by gathering up a few bottles that had been left on the ground and placing them in the garbage bin.

It seemed as if someone had slept on his bed. One side of the bedsheets seemed undisturbed, while the other was less sloppy. Perhaps, in light of the blanket on the sofa, they had not slept together.

After that, I didn't see Derek. I heard muttering coming from his workspace. Cleaning the whole property took more than five hours. I was too tired and eager to take my lunch break.

"You?" A shout abruptly stopped me in my steps.

When I turned around, Madison was right behind me.

Maddison said, "Do yourself a favour and learn not to show up where you are not welcome."

She brushed across my shoulder and then walked on by.

I'm not sure what I did wrong, but something told me I had just alienated her.

_______________________ A/N: I hope the chapter was enjoyable for you. Kindly share your ideas below.

What action do you anticipate his mother taking next?