My jaw dropped when I saw Malcolm had brought us to a hospital.
"Get out, Ariana," Malcolm ordered and got out of the car.
Once I was out, Malcolm grabbed my wrist and all but dragged me inside - without saying a word.
The inside of the hospital was clean and sterile, with the smell of disinfectant in the air.
"We need to see Dr. Alicia Bennett," Malcolm told the nurse at the reception who nodded and told us to go straight ahead.
I followed Malcolm who strode towards what I assumed was Dr. Alicia's office. I wondered who she was and why was Malcolm taking me to her.
Malcolm entered a plain office with me in tow. There was a woman sitting behind a desk. As soon as she saw us, she put her pen down and rose to greet Malcolm, who enveloped her small frame in a hug.
"Alicia, how are you?" Malcolm asked.
"I'm good Mal, how are you, how's aunt Kat?" She asked in return.
"Mom is good, hope you're free, I need you to do an ultrasound," Malcolm told her. The woman smiled when she saw me. I couldn't help but smile back. There was something about this woman that instantly put you at ease.
"Is this her?" Alicia asked Malcolm who nodded.
"Mal, who is this woman to you?"
"She's just my employee," Malcolm replied smoothly, making me wish I could slap him. I wished I could tell the woman that I was the mother of his child, but I had a feeling Malcolm would kill me if I said that, so I stayed silent.
"Well okay, why don't you change into that gown and we'll get started. By the way, do you want the regular scan or a 3-D one?" Alicia asked.
"The regular -"
"The 3-D one if you please, Alicia." Malcolm cut me off with a withering glare.
"Okay, I'll have the 3-D scanner brought to my office, till then you go change." I grabbed the gown from the bed and went inside the bathroom to change. I could hear muffled voices from outside, but couldn't make out the words.
When I emerged from the bathroom, the first thing I saw was a weird looking machine right next to the bed. I assumed it was the scanner. All of a sudden, anxiety shot through me making me want to run away. What if there was something wrong with the baby? I couldn't lose this baby, even if losing the baby would make my life easier, I just couldn't. This baby was a part of me, and I wouldn't let anything happen to it.
"Lie down here, Ariana," the doctor instructed. I did as she said and laid down on the firm mattress. Alicia put a glob of cold gel on my stomach and proceeded with the ultrasound.
Not long after Alicia started with ultrasound, the room was filled with strange rhythmic sound.
"This is the baby's heartbeat, and here on the screen you can see your baby," the doctor pointed at the screen, and I was left speechless with what I saw. There was a small glob which was moving around.
"That's my baby?" I had tears streaming down my face. Seeing the baby made it all the more real that I was carrying this little life in my uterus. I was so happy, I was speechless.
"Yes, it is. It's too early to determine the sex of the baby, but I'll say your baby is healthy with a strong heartbeat; however, I can't say the same about you, Ariana," Alicia said with a frown.
"Would you like a print of the scan?" Alicia asked, to which I nodded enthusiastically.
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"Now Ariana, you are very weak for a pregnant woman and that is not good for the baby; it looks to me as if you're not getting the rest you need," Alicia said, concern lacing her voice.
"I understand your concern, but I'm a single mother, I have to work two jobs because I want to give my child a comfortable life," I told her.
"With the way you're not taking care of yourself, you might not have a baby to give a comfortable life to." Man, she was blunt.
"Well tell her what she needs to do in order to carry the baby full term," Malcolm said. He had been eerily silent for the past fifteen minutes.
"Well she needs rest, lots of it, and she needs to maintain a proper diet." How could I maintain a proper diet when I barely had any money. "Also, you need to stay away from paints, they have harmful chemicals that can and will harm the baby if you continue to be in their presence." How could she expect me to give up one of my main jobs?
"I can't do that, I need to work in order to earn money and pay the rent and bills," I told her honestly.
"Don't worry, Alicia, I'll sort something out with her, what kind of food does she need to eat?" I had no clue what Malcolm had in mind, but whatever it was, I would make no deal with him whatsoever. He was an arrogant man who knew nothing except how to bask in money and power and belittle those he considered beneath him.
After we were done, Malcolm told me to go and wait in his car. I agreed, only because I had enough of Malcolm Bennett for one day. Sadly I had to deal with him for a few more hours, before I could be free of him.
But I saw the perfect opportunity when I exited the hospital. A cab had just dropped off an old lady and a young man. Before it could drive away I hurried over to it and slid inside. I quickly told the driver my address and he wasted no time in driving away from the hospital.