Her Baby's Daddy

Chapter 4

Kimberly and Annabelle strolled out of the school building, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the campus. As they made their way towards the parking lot, Kimberly couldn't contain her amusement at the exasperated expression on Annabelle's face.

"I haven't even started my project, and Mr. Fischer is already on about internships. Where does he think we get the energy from?" Annabelle grumbled, shooting a pointed look at Kimberly, who was trying her best to stifle her laughter.

"It's just too funny," Kimberly managed to say between giggles.

"Laugh it up, but you're not much help," Annabelle muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as Kimberly threw an arm around her shoulders in a playful gesture.

"You're about to cry, aren't you? I told you we should have been project partners from the beginning, but you were too busy with your social calendar," Kimberly teased, still chuckling.

Since it was their fourth and final year in college they were swapped with lots of projects, internship and assignment, when they had been assigned the project some weeks ago she had told Annabelle they should do it together bit she had bluntly refused with the excuse she had better things to do namely party, and here she is complaining about excess work at the last minute.

Suddenly, Annabelle stopped in her tracks, turning to face Kimberly with a glint of determination in her eyes.

"I have an idea," she announced.

Kimberly raised an eyebrow, knowing that look all too well. "Should I be worried?"

Ignoring Kimberly's jest, she continued, "I'll just intern at my father's company. It'll save me time and energy, and I can still make sure you work with me," Annabelle proposed as they resumed walking.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I really want to explore working elsewhere. Besides, it's always been my dream to intern at Lillard Companies," Kimberly replied, touched by Annabelle's consideration.

While she appreciated Annabelle's offer, she couldn't shake her aspiration to intern at the company of her idol, Damian Lillard. He had taken up the responsibility of the company and also expanded it at such a young age just after graduating from college, that's her wish to one day own a company as big as Lillard company.

"You're lost in space again, thinking about your idol," Annabelle teased.

"No, I'm not," Kimberly retorted. They continued their conversation until they reached the parking lot.

Finally reaching Annabelle's car, they both got in, with Kimberly settling into the passenger seat as Annabelle turned up the volume on her favorite pop music.

Kimberly couldn't help but join in as Annabelle sang out the lyrics.

With the music filling the car, they set off on their journey, the road stretching out before them as they shared laughter and dreams.

Parking the car in front of Kimberly's house, both of them stepped out of the car and walked over to the trunk to grab the items they had purchased at the mall. Annabelle pulled out a bag filled with snacks while Kimberly grabbed the last bag.

"So what's your plan now?" Annabelle inquired, closing the trunk.

"I'm planning to start applying to different companies and maybe even consider Lillard," Kimberly responded, taking the bag from Annabelle.

"I wasn't referring to that. Have you made a decision about the other matter we discussed?" Annabelle asked, leaning against the car after unlocking it.

Kimberly hesitated for a moment before responding,

"I think I will agree to it, but it would just be a one-time thing." As they walked back to the driver's side of the car, Annabelle unlocked it and leaned against it.

"You know I'm always here for you, right?" Annabelle asked with concern as she gazed at Kimberly.

"I know, and I truly appreciate that," Kimberly responded. She had made up her mind to go through with it, hoping that the money would be enough to cover her expenses until she graduated.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then," Annabelle replied. After exchanging goodbyes, she got into her car and drove away, leaving Kimberly standing outside for a moment before she finally entered her house.

After organizing the groceries she had purchased, she headed to her room for a quick shower.

Dressed in comfortable shorts and a baggy shirt, Kimberly stepped out of her bedroom and made her way to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Cooking had always been more than just a routine for her; it was a source of joy and comfort, something she had learned from her grandmother. Her grandmother, who had always loved to cook, often shared stories of how Kimberly’s mother had also been passionate about cooking and had once dreamed of opening a restaurant.

After a long, stressful day, cooking was like therapy for Kimberly. She gathered the ingredients for a quick pasta dish, carefully placing everything on the counter.

She filled a pot with water and set it to boil before turning her attention to the vegetables.

As she chopped the veggies, her mind drifted back to the stranger from last night. There was something unsettlingly familiar about him, though she couldn’t quite figure out what it was but she knew she might just have seen him somewhere. The soft hiss of boiling water snapped her back to the present, and she refocused on her task.

A short while later, with dinner prepared and eaten, Kimberly returned to her room. She settled at her reading table, her laptop in front of her, and began the task of sending out internship applications, starting with Lillard's. After sending out six applications, she closed the laptop and turned her attention to her project.