Skylar rose from the bed the next morning, sluggish and scared of going to the office. What if someone noticed her stomach? Will they know that she is pregnant? Oh God, Skylar,
I don't think I'm doing this___ Skylar called to her reflection in the mirror as she took in her dishevelled hair and big bag under her eyes. Just like always, her insomnia had come knocking at her door and she had spent the night thinking about her predicament.
Skylar was about to call the office to tell them that she was sick and wouldn't be able to make it there today when her phone ringing tone filled the silence of the house. She rushed out of the bathroom to go pick it up, especially as she recognized the caller.
"Hello, good morning," Skylar called gently into the phone. She was careful of being aloof lest her worry show in her voice.
"Hello, Miss Evans. I will request that you be in the office early today as you need to attend a business meeting with me this morning or are you in?" Vino's curt voice called out to her from the other side of the line as she could feel the keyboard's key sound in the background. Skylar could tell that he was in the office.
"Miss Evans," Vino snapped at her, his hands hovering on the keys, seeing that he hadn't received any response from her.
Vino's voice brought Skylar from her thoughts as she raised her head up trying to force the tears back from her eyelids "I'm sorry sir... I will join you shortly" Skylar called gently to him just as the phone went dead in her hands.
Only then could she allow the tears to fall down her eyes as she sobbed into the empty walls of her room. How can she? A daughter of a man who abandoned her when she was a baby goes against all her principles to get pregnant for a married man?
She sobbed out loudly as she shields her face with her hands, baring her heart out. It was after some time before Skylar could bring herself to shower and leave for the office.
***
"Miss Evans. Have you gotten all the files ready for the meeting?" Vino asked Skylar who was seated in front of him, while Madison stood to one side silently observing them.
Vino paused as he noticed Skylar had spaced out again, something she had been doing ever since she arrived at the office this morning. Vino couldn't help being worried that it might be because of what had happened at the party yesterday...
He shrugged and went back to his laptop trying to organize the files on his laptop but he still couldn't. For every key he stroked, he could hear Skylar's excited moan last night playing in his ears and taunting him.
Vino shakes his head to rid himself of those thoughts as he turns back to the laptop in front of him, he needs to get his nerves together else he might snap at her. He was still angry that he had caught her in bed with Gian. He had forgotten about it yesterday but Gian had told him in no clear terms this morning that he and Skylar were dating. He couldn't believe his ears which were why he promised to make her pay for humiliating him. How could she do that to him? Even after knowing how much, he loves her.
"Miss Brooks, I need you to listen carefully because I won't repeat myself" Vino raises his head to Madison, channelling all her anger at her. Madison gulped before nodding at him with her hands straight at her side.
"From now onward, my coffee and personal tasks will be done by Miss Evans. You can go ahead and have a vacation. Your salary will be paid timely" Vino told her waving her off his office but Madison went down on her knees immediately.
"I'm sorry, sir. I promise to do all my jobs with complete diligence from now on. Please, forgive me" Madison pleaded with tears in her eyes. Though she didn't know how or when she had offended the boss, but she can't have him firing him from her duties...
"Are you alright?" Vino asked Madison, shocked at her attitude. His eyes widened as soon as he discovered that she had interpreted his meaning wrongly...
"That's not what I mean, Miss Brooke. Your job is still intact. I'm only giving you some time off, take that as vacation and use it wisely. Goodbye" Vino explained to her, his eyes got the expression on Skylar's face, and couldn't help smiling. He could see that she still hated cleaning just as always.
"Really, sir? Thank you, Sir" Madison appreciated with a wide smile on her face as soon as she heard the boss's explanation. She stood up and rushed out of the boss's office with excitement on her face...
Skylar watches the whole drama unfold in front of her eyes not knowing what to make out of it, she watches Vino type away on his laptop. With nothing to do and feeling useless, Skylar stood up and walked to the door about to go to her office but Vino's cold voice caused her to stop.
"Miss Evans, I don't remember dismissing you, did I?" Vino called to her as he glared down at her with annoyance in his expression. He couldn't help hating the fact that she chooses Gian over him.
Ever since he had gotten to the office this morning, he couldn't help to question what had made Skylar choose Gian over him. He was more handsome and richer than Gian. He was also an artist though he prefers to paint more for himself rather than for the general public and what better model could he ask for than Skylar. Vino smiled as soon as he remembered the first time Skylar had seen a painting of her in his home.
Skylar was about to reply when the sound of his ringing tone filled the office. Vino swore angrily before bending to pick up the phone, he was surprised to see that it was his doctor calling. In his anger against Skylar, he had forgotten that his daughter was in the hospital.
"Hello, Doctor," Vino called into the phone briskly as he waves Skylar who still stood in the doorway onto the seat she had vacated from a while ago.
"Yes, I'm all ears" Vino called into the phone as he placed the phone onto his ear before looking Skylar down. He glimpses a flicker of tiredness in her eyes before she masks it. It calls to him. He wanted to gather her up in his hands before kissing the tiredness of her but seeing her on the bed with Gian last night got him frowning in anger.
"What do you mean our blood doesn't match!" Vino screamed out suddenly into the office as he stood up angrily, he was scared and trying not to believe his ears.
Skylar stared wide-eyed at him. Her predicament was already forgotten as she gazed at Vino, shocked as to what she was hearing. What could this mean? Does this mean Adora isn't his baby? Skylar wondered in her mind as she saw Vino pacing to and fro the office with his phone still placed on his ear.
Skylar saw him turn to watch her. She shivered as soon as she saw the amount of hatred in his eyes. She couldn't help wondering what she had done to warrant such hatred from him. As far as she knows, Vino was the one who hurt her.
"Yes, Doctor. I'll be on my way now" Vino called to the doctor as he picked up his jacket from the stand and turned to walk out of the door, he paused and turned to glare at Skylar" Are you waiting for me to extend a special invitation for you to come with me?"
Skylar stood up immediately and picked up her bag before following Vino down the hallway to the elevator. She stood in front of him while Vino made himself comfortable at the back. Skylar looked up at the red light in the elevator with nervousness in her eyes as she counted the number of floors before they got to the last floor. She couldn't help remembering the last time Vino and she had been in the elevator, her breath piqued as she turned slowly to gaze at Vino curious to know if he was thinking the same thing. Skylar glimpsed the longing in his eyes before he glared at her.
"Why Miss Evans, are you remembering the things I did to you right in the elevator?" Vino said with much sarcasm that he could muster. He hates how weak she made him feel. He hates the fact that she knows him, his thoughts and emotions much more than anyone else.
He walked slowly to her and wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her closer to the warmth of his skin. He was quite aware of the security guards in the computer room monitoring the elevator, he wanted them to spread the news of Skylar sleeping with the boss. That was his punishment to her for choosing Gian over him" But guess what,"
Skylar immediately turned to him as soon as she heard the anger in his voice. She held her breath as soon as she felt his breath at the nape of her neck. She waited with half breath wishing for him to kiss her longingly and with desire but she was shocked when Vino turned her around and his lips descended on her in an angry kiss.
"I regret ever doing that with you just like I regret kissing you now" Vino called to her as his hands immediately went to his lips to wipe her lipstick off his lips in the most disgusting and demoting manner which seem like Skylar was the one forcing herself on the boss
Vino stepped out as soon as the elevator dinged, leaving a sad Skylar to follow behind him with tears in her eyes. He had trained himself not to be moved by her tears and was quite surprised by the control he had on it.
Skylar watched as Jack opened the door, ushering Vino into the backseat of the car. She allows him to go in before going over to the other side to help herself in.
"Where should I take you, sir?" Jack asked as he looked ahead of the mirror staring into the backseat of the car where his boss sat with a frown on his lips staring at Miss Evans who was also staring out of the window. He was curious to know what was going on between them seeing that his boss was always fond of Miss Evans but it wasn't in his place to ask which was why he decided to focus on his job.
"The hospital and make it snappy, please" Vino answered before turning to stare out of the window.
He was feeling guilty especially after seeing the tears in Skylar's eyes. He wanted to apologize and tell her he didn't mean whatever he had told her in the elevator earlier but Gian's words were still eating him up and every time he remembered it, he grew angrier more.
Vino scoffed. He couldn't believe this was the first time he had ever wanted something so bad, planned for it so bad and it wasn't going to materialize.
Vino jumped as soon as he heard Skylar's phone ringing in her bag which was placed on the seat between them.
He groaned as soon as his eyes met hers causing her to avert her gaze immediately. Vino couldn't help being angry because he could guess who was calling her__ It was Gian.
"We are here, sir"
Vino nodded and rushed out of the car as soon as he saw Skylar bringing out the phone from her bag about to accept the call. He didn't want to hear her talk to Gian just as she had done with him.
Skylar watched Vino rush down from the car with sadness on her face. She couldn't help the tears that escaped her eyes. How can someone change in the pent of hours? She couldn't believe he was the same guy who had begged her at the party yesterday, trying to get her to forgive him? What could have made him hate her so much!
"Ma'am"
Skylar turned to the driver to see him gazing up at her from the mirror. His expression has that pity look which Skylar so hated with a passion.
"I'm sorry, I need a moment," Skylar told him, forcing a smile onto her tearful eyes. He nodded and got out of the car to allow her some privacy which she couldn't help being grateful for.
She turned to her phone which was still ringing in her hands. She pressed the green symbol to accept the call while placing it on her ear, "Hello, Paula" Skylar called into the phone.