SIXTY-EIGHT

Kamilla Lopez

I take a heavy breath, separate my legs and once again, I am hit by the contraction, my baby is going to be born! Bianca ran to Nick and Viktor, bearing it was being hard, God! With the short break from the pain, I start to walk towards the door, before I hold onto something, I squat down and once again I push, I mentally pray that I can get to the hospital, this child cannot be born in a toilet. Restaurant.

—Nick!! I yelled at him as I moaned in pain.

The door was opened abruptly, and I saw him looking at me with concern, he quickly approached me.

— And the baby! I said breathlessly.

— Put your arm around my neck.— he ordered, before lifting me off the ground and into his arms.

We left the restaurant in a hurry, Viktor and Bianca followed right behind. Bianca took the lead and opened the back door, Viktor took the wheel. Nick ordered to take me to the hospital, he was behind with me, trying to protect me from the pain.

— Nick, the baby....

— Calm down, they are contractions, she wants to be born.

— It hurts a lot. I sobbed and squeezed his hand.

— Calm down, my love, the pain will pass. Squeeze my hand if you need to. He said, trying to reassure me at the moment.

We arrived at the hospital, Bianca opened the door and Nick quickly led me inside. His commanding voice resounded through reception, several nurses approached with a stretcher, and he placed me on top of it, I was lightly taken away to be attended to. I was scared, several eyes evaluating me and watching my belly. My gown was taken off and replaced with a disposable one, my hair was tied back.

— Hello Mrs. Ross, I'm Dr. Jimenez. — the doctor introduced herself as I prepared for delivery.

— Doctor, why am I in so much pain?

— Are you a first— time mom?

— Yes!

— The pains are contractions of your baby wanting to be born. So I'm going to ask you to focus, take a deep breath and push. She instructed.

— R— right!

I took a deep breath and another contraction came, I screamed and pushed with all my strength, I felt my vagina being widened, it hurt, it hurt a lot.

— Come on Mrs. Ross, push, push!— — the doctor encouraged. Once again, I took a deep breath and pushed, the scream of pain was loud enough to be heard outside.

— Nick! Where is he? I want him here! I asked breathlessly, it sounded too much.

I hear footsteps approaching me, mine is not held, and I turn to the side, it was him, I looked into his beautiful dark blue eyes. Nick smiled at me, kissed my forehead.

— Come on, my green eyes!— You are strong, our daughter is being born.

— Yes.... — I smiled tiredly.

— Push my angel, bring her into our arms.

With his motivation, I pushed harder and squeezed his hand, screaming and letting all the air out of my lungs. Soon, a cry resounded in the room, she cried with all the air, with euphoria.

— She was born!— the doctor said, smiling at Nick.

He got up from his chair and walked over to our daughter, she was wrapped in a pink blanket and placed in his arms, he walked over to me. With her body relaxed on the delivery table, Nick allowed me to see our baby girl, she was beautiful, her few light hairs revealed that she would be identical to Nick's, her crying had stopped, she opened her eyes, green just like mine.

— My girl.... — I picked her up carefully and placed a kiss on her forehead. — My sweet girl....

— Give her a name. Nick asked, his voice soft. I looked at her, saw her little lips open and close, heavens.... She's perfect.

— Paola, her name is Paola.

Hours later....

I woke up in a hospital room, my eyes still feeling heavy from last night's great exertion. The sun illuminates the almost empty room. On a dresser, I see beautiful red flowers and balloons congratulating the birth of my daughter. I moved on the bed, saw Nick in the armchair, he was sleeping, I stayed silent so as not to wake him.

I was assessing him for a while, my thoughts wandered before the delivery. His little speech filled me with different feelings, one of them was the euphoria of happiness I felt. Nick loves me, his words, expressions and actions have shown me that. He is a businessman, but he is also the king of the underworld, I cannot change him to have him on my side, I must accept him as he accepts me.

His beautiful eyes open, and he stares at me, I smile at him, instantly he smiles at me. Nick got up from his armchair and came over to me, hugging me gently.

— Good morning, my angel.

— Good morning, Nick. Paola, where are you?

— She's in the nursery, do you want to see her?

— Very well, I'll ask them to bring her.— then he left the room.

Minutes later the door opened, Bianca walked by with a large bouquet of flowers, she didn't realize I was awake.

— Good morning, baby dragon.— I caught her attention, she quickly turned to me.

— Good morning, mom. She placed the flowers on the dresser and came over to me. — How are you? You gave us quite a scare.

— I am fine. You saw her?

'The famous Paola?' I didn't have the pleasure. After you were taken to the delivery room, I went home, it was a mess, I had to buy clothes at the mall and hire a cleaner.

— So you're really free?—

— Yeah, I'm not stuck with you— know— who anymore.

— Why do I feel like you're not happy about this?

— What? I'm happy, radiant. Knowing that I no longer have to deal with that itchy skin is wonderful!

— Hum .... I know! I doubted that fake smile.

In moments the door was opened by Nick, Paola was in his arms. She was beautiful, her little body was covered by a pink nightgown and a white blanket.

— Look at my little crystal, Mommy's awake. Bianca and I both look at him with narrowed eyes for having tuned her voice.

Bianca smothered her smile and walked over to admire her niece.

— Auntie's girl is very beautiful, my God! She took Paola out of her father's arms and continued talking. — I said the child would be born a Greek God, the beauty of you two is an anomaly of nature.

— Uncle arrives.... — Viktor walked through the door with several balloons and pink teddy bears in his hands. He stared at Bianca, her smile died. — Can animals enter the hospital?

— Good point, Nick calls security for his. Viktor glared at her.

He walked to the dresser and deposited the balloons and teddy bears. He approached Bianca against her will, just to see Paola.

— Look into that little Goddess's eyes, Nick, you fight future sons— in— law.

— I'll kill them all if necessary.

— What if she wants to get married one day?— I asked, he looked at me and replied:

— She doesn't need that, she's already a millionaire and famous.

— I agree. Bianca said. — Men be damned, long live the money!

— What a horrible thought!— Viktor muttered.

— What does the man offer besides dick and lies?

— Love. Nick replied. — Intense pleasures, lust, power.

I took a deep breath with those words, Bianca and Viktor were silent, I had no words to question him. I know that at some point, he'll ask me again what he can't finish, and that's what I'm afraid of. My daughter started to cry in Bianca's arms, she quickly approached me and handed me:

— Auntie loves, Auntie baba, but Auntie doesn't care. — he smiles at his fear for children, I don't see why, they are a blessing.

My girl snuggled into my arms, she moved her little head as if she were looking for something, I soon realized that it would be the breast. My breasts were heavy and full of milk, without delay I put one out and fed her, Viktor looked quickly at the window.

— The sun is very bright today. I go to the organization. He said, then walked through the bedroom door.

— Well, I stopped by to say hi and drool over this beautiful princess. I need to enjoy my freedom and see how my apartment is being cleaned. — Bianca said goodbye and left the room, we were alone with our baby.

Nick walked to the armchair and sat down, he watched me as our daughter fed from my breast, I could only lower my head and watch her eat. I feel like he wants to know my answer, however I find myself confused. I feel desire when I surrender to him, when we have beautiful moments I feel like a fool in love, but I can't forget everything he did to me.

— Is her name really Paola? He asked, breaking the silence.

— Yes, although I call myself that for my father, I can't name myself that, so I gave it to her.

— Hmm!

— Why? Got a better name?

I was thinking of a name, but Paola is fine.

— Please tell me, I want to know what you thought.

— Emerald. — he said, I remembered the beautiful necklace he gave me last night. — That name would be perfect, she has her eyes.

— Paola Esmeralda Ross. I voiced my thoughts. — It's perfect for her.

— Excellent!

At that moment the door was opened, my father came in with a bouquet of roses in his hands. With this one, I will be able to open a flower shop. Upon entering the room, she was faced with the beautiful scene, mine and my daughter's, I saw the sparkle of happiness in her eyes

— By God!— It is the most beautiful scene, which not even in my dreams have I had the pleasure of. He walked over to me and kissed my head.

— Good morning, Dad. I greeted him with a smile.

— And what a good day, mia Figlia!— Congratulations on bringing you into the world, my little granddaughter.

I stopped feeding her and put her in her arms, at that moment, Nick went home, he needed a shower and finished preparing our daughter's room. Meanwhile, my dad and I talked and talked about last night, I told him everything that happened. Some time later I received a visit from the doctor who gave birth to me, she warned me after checking that everything was okay.

— He's recovering very well. Tomorrow you will be discharged, you can go home.

— I am glad to hear that. — Dad said, we smile happily.

Paola was placed in a crib next to my bed. She was washed and diapered by a nurse, I watched from afar, however I could see very well how she would do when she got home. It was already night, Nick hadn't returned, however, there were security guards outside. Dad stayed with me, so he wouldn't leave me alone.

— So..... You didn't accept his request?— Dad asked, referring to the presumed and precluded marriage proposal.

— I didn't let him ask, I asked to go to the bathroom, I got out of their almost giving birth.

— Hmm! You know that if you don't want to accept it, I can take you to Italy, right?

— Dad, even if I wanted to go, Nick would never let me.

— I'm doubting that. I talked to him about you not accepting his marriage proposal.

— Did you know he was going to ask me to marry him?

— He told me, and I said that if I didn't accept the request, I'd take you to Italy, even if a war started. He spoke matter— of— ghastly. — Nick is afraid of his denial, he knows that denying the marriage will be proof that he doesn't love him.

— But… I…— he cuts me off.

— Who loves him? Nonsense mia Figlia! You wanted the option to choose, now you have it. The question is: What do you choose?