The Marriage Contract

Chapter 9

Sophia walked out of the hospital. She slowly put her hand on her tummy as she tried to fight back the tears. She walked over to the other side of the road where the taxis were and she asked the taxi driver to take her to the park close to the Lexis firm. She needed to talk to someone and the only person she trusted was Alexandrine.

As if Alexandrine could read her mind Sophia looked at her phone and saw her calling.

 " Alex!", Sophia answered the call and tears rolled down her cheeks.

 " Sophia , sorry I was in a meeting! Just got out and saw your text! What's wrong honey? Why do you sound so bad?", Alexandrine asked her friend anxiously.

 " Alex , I need to talk to you", Sophia said in between sobs .

 " I am on my way to the park next to the firm, can you meet me there?", Sophia asked her friend with a pleading voice.

 " So, come to the office . We can speak in the cafeteria or something", Alexandrine said to her.

 " Ok , I'll come to the office", Sophia said and hung up.

 She sat there in the taxi  quietly as she slowly touched her tummy again. That part of her body which was carrying a baby!

 My gosh! What do I do? You are innocent!,  She said to herself touching her tummy.

 Sophia looked outside , she couldn't wait to see Alexandrine, she needed a hug and someone to listen to her.

As soon as she got out of the taxi Sophia hurried inside the building, it had started to drizzle and she was glad Alexandrine told her to come to her office.

As she passed by the reception Sabrina was still there and she waved hi to her as she hurried to the elevator.

She didn't want to speak to anyone else. Sophia got out of the elevator and bumped into William .

 " There she is? Glad you are back here!", William said jokingly.

 " Hi William, Not for long , just came to see Alex", She replied forcing a smile.

 “ Is he around?”, Sophia asked and William knew she was referring to their boss. 

 "  The boss has not been around and he called saying he will not be coming in the afternoon", William said.

 " So who is working with him?”,  Sophia asked referring to Lev.

 " Yours truly!", William answered with a smile pointing at himself .

 " And I think he knows by now how more  efficient you are!", William said smiling and Sophia had to laugh.

 Poor William he must have been tortured by the brute!, Sophia thought as they made their way towards the office together.

 Sophia removed her key from her bag and unlocked the door to Lev's office.

 I am already fired ,he cannot do that twice if he finds out I was here!, Sophia thought as she walked in her  office. Her desk was the same as it was before she left. She sat down on the chair and called Alexandrine's office number.

 " Alex here!", her friend said.

 " Hi Alex  it’s me! I'm upstairs in my office”, Sophia said .

" I'm coming darling!", Alexandrine said and hung up.

 A few seconds later Alexandrine entered Sophia's office and her friend got up and hugged her tightly. Alexandrine was shocked by Sophia's behavior.

She hugged Sophia and she could feel she was crying. 

 " Hey there! What's wrong!?", Alexandrine asked worryingly.

 " Is it the job! Your boss! We can deal with this together So, don't cry!", Alexandrine said trying to calm her friend down.

 Sophia sat down and Alexandrine did the same. They sat on the opposite side of the table looking at each other . Sophia didn't know where to start.

 " It's nothing to do with the job or that arrogant man!", Sophia said looking at her friend.

 " So , tell me everything! Get it off your chest!", Alexandrine told her.

 " Alex, that night .. at the party ...", Sophia started to say and she paused as she wiped the tears from her eyes .

 Lev walked in the building  and headed straight to his office. He was not felt well in the morning and decided to come to the firm when everyone was about to go  home . He was surprised to see the door to his office was slightly opened.

 " Who could be in there?", he thought and was about to walk in when he heard Sophia's voice and it sounded like she was crying.

 He stood by the door and listened .

 " That night at the party! I left with that man. I was drunk and one thing led to another we slept together. I don't regret it... after so long without a man , he made me feel special! I made love that night like never before Alex! ...but now ... I'm.. expecting his baby! I have never seen his face! I don't even know his name ! What will I tell this baby?", Sophia said as her voice broke down and she started to cry.

" Oh Sophia! Don't cry!" , Alexandrine said going around the desk and hugged her friend.

" Alex, I can't have this baby! I think I will have...an abortion! I don't have a job! I don't know his father ? What can I offer the baby? What?!", Sophia said desperately.

" What do I do Alex!? I don't want to be so cruel! The baby is part of me as well! What do I do?", Sophia asked her friend in a pleading voice.

Lev couldn't believe what he was hearing, Sophia is pregnant! And the baby can actually be his!

 She said that She hadn't been with anyone else for a long time! But what does she mean by a long time? There could have been so many others? But what if the baby is mine and she is thinking about an abortion?!,  Lev said to himself. He wanted to walk in there and tell her that he was the one she spent the night with but that will be foolish of him, he thought.

He walked back slowly and got in the elevator he needed to think about what he will do.

" Sophia , listen! Don't think about abortion! It is wrong! We will find a way. I am sure if you apologize to your boss he will take you back that will be one issue solved. For that man if he never  shows up in your life again,let him be , you are still young and beautiful. Having a child will not stop you from meeting other men! Don't be foolish ok!", Alexandrine said as she held on to Sophia's hands tightly.

Sophia wiped her tears and smiled .

" Thanks Alex! I was stupid to think about abortion. I'm sorry baby!", She said as she rubbed her hand on her tummy.

Alexandrine looked at her friend and smiled.

" You will make one hell of a sexy mum !", Alexandrine said smiling and the two friends hugged each other.

" Well , I have to apologize and plead to the big boss !", Sophia said pointing towards Lev's desk.

" Well do it for your baby!", Alexandrine said putting her hands on Sophia's tummy.

" I am going to be an aunt yay!", Alexandrine shouted with excitement.

" Sh!", Sophia said laughing .

The two friends walked out of the building and hugged each other . 

" We are still meeting tomorrow for lunch right!", Alexandrine said as she got in her taxi.

" Yes ! For sure!", Sophia said blowing a kiss to her friend .

They lived on the opposite side of the city and Alexandrine didn't live far from the firm compared to Sophia. Alexandrine's parents rented  a one bedroom apartment for her in the city. She was the only child just like Sophia was and she was spoiled by her parents. Though they came from different worlds, those two ladies had been friends since they exchanged a shy hi over a cup of coffee when Sophia had just started working at the firm over three years ago.Sophia was happy to have Alexandrine in her life , she knew her friend will be able to talk some sense into her!

 A black car slowed down next to her just when she was about to wave down a taxi .Sophia couldn't figure out who was driving since the windows were tinted. She felt a bit awkward and was about to walk away when the driver's window  rolled down and Sophia was shocked to see Lev in the driver's seat!