Hope

Rejection tasted bitter in my mouth. It'd been two days but it still lingered.

I groaned as I dragged myself out of the comforts of my bed and headed to the kitchen for some much-needed coffee. I'd probably need some ice too if I wanted to look anyway respectable for work. And yes I knew taking coffee wasn't healthy considering I was pregnant but a cup never hurt anyone.

I slumped on the kitchen counter as I filled my mug.

Today I was dragging, I'd drained myself from staying up last night. I shouldn't have stayed past my bedtime reading but it was the only solace I could find at that hour and I totally had to find out what happened to Ace after Sofia...you know...

I was paying for it now.

Soon enough, I arrived at work and got behind the booth. I tossed on my work outfit and began my shift even though it felt as though I was going to pass out any minute.

According to the brochure I acquired from the hospital, my morning sickness shouldn't have been getting worse but it was. I puked my brains out twice this morning, and now I felt the third coming back up to my throat.

"Hope, some french fries in table four!" My colleague yelled.

"Coming right up!" I responded, emptying my mind and focusing on work.

The next couple of hours passed in a blur of nausea and exhaustion. By the time the busy lunch hour started, I was fighting back my tears. I was still dragging, too tired. Some customers shot me impatient looks, some openly mocked my sluggishness, and when I'd messed up a table's order, they'd yelled at me.

Coupled with my skyrocketing hormones I just wanted to lock myself inside one of the bathroom stalls and wallow in the console of my tears. If I couldn't work, I couldn't make money, if I couldn't make money, I'd go broke, if I went broke I wouldn't be able to take care of myself or the baby. I was only two months and the weight was already overwhelming.

At some point, I rested my head on the counter. My head ached, and I couldn't breathe. It felt like an asthma attack except I wasn't asthmatic. I closed my eyes, breathing heavily, and then, sudden hands came over my shoulders.

"Hope," It was Mrs. Joe.

I looked up. "You seen tensed. What's wrong?"

"I don't feel good." I confined.

"Alright, come on, let's get some water on your face."

I swallowed hard. "Okay."

Two blinks and I was standing in front of the wide bathroom mirror with water dripping down my face from the splashes.

"You look pale." Mrs. Joe observed, watching me with kind eyes. "Having you been eating well?"

"I've been trying to." I muttered, turning on the faucet to splash more cold water on my face.

Before speaking, Mrs. Joe checked behind the door to make sure there was no one there. "Tell me what's going on with you Hope," she then prodded, ripping out a paper towel and handing it to me.

"Nothings going on, just a little tired that's all." I lied, afraid to look at her.

"These past days you've been missing shifts, leaving early, and breaking things. This isn't you, Hope."

I shot her a tired glance. It was hard to defend myself in an argument like that, most especially when she wasn't wrong.

Meeting my eyes, Mrs. Joe said. "I know it's not the flu, I'm a woman just like you. You can talk to me."

I sighed, my stomach revolting at every thought. I parted my lips, relenting, just about spewing out my dilemma when the bathroom door suddenly sprung open, revealing, Jade, my college.

She cleared her throat. "Sorry to interrupt but Hope, you have someone here to see you."

My brows shifted together. "Who?"

"He won't tell, but he's insisting to speak to you."

Mrs. Joe tapped my back softly. "I guess you better hurry."

Sighing softly, I pressed my dress down and walked out, immediately falling in a foul mood the moment I spotted a finely dressed man standing in front of the waiting line with huge D&G sunglasses shielding his eyes.

He was engaged in a heated conversation with the waiter In front of him, but when I approached, he turned, locking me in the tangle of his familiar gaze.

My throat knotted and I mentally shook my head, trying not to think about how hot he looked in that outfit.

"What are you doing here?" I managed to let out.

He moved his sunglasses lower on his nose, his indigo eyes darkening to a stunning midnight color as they burned mine. "We need to talk."

I placed my hands on my hips, feeling defensiveness creep up inside me. "I don't want to talk to you."

"I wasn't asking."

"Well, I'm working now so you should leave."

"Like I give two shits if you're working or not." He turned around, his eyes suddenly falling on Mrs. Joe. "I take it you run this place?"

She stepped forward and nodded. "I do. Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all, I just need to borrow one of your employees for the rest of the day."

My brows shot up. "Rest of the day?"

He didn't bother sparing me a look as he focused on the mid-forty woman who looked stunned as everyone in the shop.

"Fine," Killian sighed, reaching into his pocket for his fat wallet. "I'll pay for every hour she's with me." He pulled out a stack of dollar bills and slapped it on the counter before turning back to me. "Come."

Before realizing what was happening, I found myself being dragged out of the diner and into the warm afternoon heat.

"Let me go!" I protested, but he didn't release his grip on my wrist until we were far away from the scene and close to the curb where he'd parked his red car.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I lashed, breathing heavily.

He ignored my question and pointed to the car. "Get in."

"I'm not getting into a car with you!"

My heart was thumping painfully against my ribs, my stomach coiling in self-disgust, but my shoulders remained straight as every ounce of dignity I had left poured into keeping myself upright to stare him down.

He shot me an impatient look, spite swirling in his orbs. "We're going to the hospital to get a test done. You want me to believe that the baby is mine, I'll have to see it for myself. "

"I don't need you to believe and I'm not doing any stupid test," I retorted defiantly, ready to storm out as I'd always planned on doing but as I took the first step, he caught me by the elbow and tugged me back, spinning me in place.

When his gaze collided with mine, it was cold. Ice cold. "Don't play hard to get with me. You won't like how it ends."

My spine stiffened. I wasn't sure I'd win a battle of wills with him. He was unpredictable and Impulsive, and the way he looked at me made my stomach flutter in a not-so-romantic way.

"It's either you get in now or I'll tow you over my shoulders and spank you until your ass cheeks are so red and so sore. I'll spare you the sordid details of what will happen after."

Flushed and slightly aroused, I stared at him for a long moment before asking. "Do you do that to every woman who goes against your wish?"

He looked at me flatly. "Don't ask questions you don't want to know."

Asshole.

"Give me five minutes to finish up inside."

"You have a minute and nothing more."