“When will you sign the divorce papers now that everything is settled?” she asked without preamble.
“How are you my dear?” Noah asked, aiming to soften the venom in her tone.
“Don't you dare call me your dear. Answer the damn question. When are you signing the papers so I can have them sent to you immediately!”
“It's alright. I'm sorry, please, don't be offended. I asked you for a little more time. Babe please, I didn't do it and…”
“You didn't do it but another woman is carrying your child, right? You were merely a sperm donor, is that what you have to say?”
“Another woman is carrying my child? Heck! what is that supposed to mean?”
“You know I find it hard to believe that you are still lying. Do you mean that your sweet mistress didn't tell you that your misguided night of passion has yielded fruit? To think that you cheated on me without protection means you did this on purpose. Noah, you are despicable and disgusting.”
“No babe, I…”
Beep beep beep
Noah didn't have the chance to explain himself as his wife hung up on him. He sat up, looked at his phone again and tried to be sure that he wasn't hearing or imagining things. Grace? Pregnant? But he met that sly fellow at the office and she didn't mention anything relating to that.
“What is wrong with this girl? Why is she bent on tearing my marriage apart?” Noah asked no one in particular. At this rate, there was no other way to prove to his wife that he didn't sleep with another woman or even Grace.
The following morning, Grace met him at work before he did.
“Hello Jewel. That's my test results. I'm pregnant for you. A little baby Harper is growing inside of me,” she announced with a sweet smile spread across her face.
“Take that bastard to the father and stop these games you are playing. I'm tired of it. If this is your own way of crawling back into my life, then end it. We parted ways over ten years ago and I want you to respect that. I've had enough of these jokes and games. You better end it now.”
“Well, I'm already in your life and I'm not going out. Trust me, we will enjoy this again, remember we promised each other forever.”
“Don't you dare speak to me about promises, okay?”
“Oh jewel. I was young and naive so I messed things up. But I'm here now and…”
“You can not be here now. That thing in your stomach is not my child. You might have spiked my drink but I know I didn't do anything. Now, you take a pregnancy for another man and the most you could do is to go to my wife, to….”
“Ex wife, babe,” Grace interrupted.
“You are crazy for saying that. This is what this is about, right? You want to force me into getting rid of my wife, is that it? You have failed. I don't know what you have told my dad or what he has told you, but hey, the project has one week to be completed and the team dissolved. Once that is done, you must leave. Now, get yourself out of my office!”
“I'm not having this baby out of wedlock and that's final. He's our baby and we must give him the best. He is a Harper and can't be an illegitimate child!” Grace retorted.
“I'm trying to be very calm right now but if you make me lose my cool, I dare say you will not imagine the consequences,” Noah said coldly. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked like he would kill her the next minute. Seeing that he was angry, she folded her arms across her chest and walked out of the office, swaying her waist from side to side.
“Come back and get this nonsense out of my face!” Noah ordered, pointing at the test result. Grace retraced her steps in the same manner, picked it and glided out of the office.
He sat down on his seat and shut his eyes, struggling to keep calm. This was getting out of hand. Initially, he thought it was just a one night stand ploy. Now, it had dawned on him that Grace wanted to be his wife at all costs.
When it was lunch time, Noah ordered lunch from a very popular restaurant his wife loved to eat in and set off to her office. He knew she would be there by that time because he knew her routine like the back of his palms. The employees greeted the high class man very politely and welcomed him.
He knocked on her door and let himself in when he was given the permission to do so. Emily, who was working on some files before her raised her head when she perceived a familiar cologne. In the past, she would jump up, hug and kiss him but she couldn't do that now. She hated him now and didn't want to see him. He not only neglected her son and cheated on her, he even got the woman pregnant. He did it on purpose. Grace was right, Noah long wanted to divorce her. She looked at him from his shoes and slowly up to his face. His entire outfit worth over six figures and he was by every inch every woman's dream. He used to be handsome, sweet, caring and loving until he chose to employ his ex and have an affair with her.
“What is it? Have you come to hand the papers to me?” she fired.
“I got you lunch,” Noah said calmly and held the lunch pack for her to see.
“No, thank you. Take it to your mistress, she's carrying your baby and needs proper nutrition. Or, have you already given her hers? Oh right, she comes before me and must have eaten to her fill. How can I be so unreasonable?”
“I didn't get any for her and she's not my mistress please. I'm sorry. Have lunch, after which, we can talk, please,” Noah begged.