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Chapter 3 - 3. The Clarity I Needed

"I need more time to think," I said to Adrian as my new life flashed before my eyes. Adrian was very concerned when he realized I was genuinely worried about how this whole situation would change my life.

"I am here for you Lana, you don't have to worry about anything including money, I will handle everything," he said, grabbing my hand and assuring me that he is willing be with me every step of the way, till the process is completed.

At this time, he had no real connection with me, everything he did was because of the baby. I didn't want anything to do with him either, but we had a baby on the way to think about.

"Its not about the money Adrian, my whole life is about to change, and I am even more worried that you cannot relate to my pain," I responded, taking back my hand.

"Like I said, I need more time. I will let you know of my final decision in one week," I stated as I walked away feeling disappointed.

Life started to feel more dificult for me especially because of the constant morning sickness. It felt like I was no longer in possesson and control of my body. I couldn't make a choice just yet concerning keeping the baby or not. It was a big choice that shouldn't be rushed.

I thought about nothing else but the pregnancy, it took over my life and Adrian didn't make it easy for me to bear. He thought he was helping but in reality, he was making matters worse.

He tried to put me on a pay roll, I saw it as a way of him exerting control over me even though I wasn't he's to control.

I tried to pay more attention to my role as a teacher but It didn't take my students long to find out that something was wrong. They said I had lost my radiant smile. One of the things they always look out for.

"Whats going on Lana? Emily asked. She was one of my favourite students. She had always shown concern towards me.

"I just have too much to deal with right now but I promise to explain as time goes on," I responded nicely to her.

Although she was a teenager, I didn't treat her and the rest of my students like babies. They would be adults soon so I treated them like people who would become adults in no time.

I explained things to them as long as they asked, it showed willingness to learn on their path and I applauded them for it.

She wasn't satisfied with my response but it was enough to keep her calm and give her an impression that I was okay.

When I got home that day, it gave me so much joy to see that my students cared a lot about me. All I wanted was to do my very best for them as a teacher, but instead, I was stuck with a pregnancy that will determine my next course of action for the next few years of my life.

I spent the next few evenings in the quiet of day, pondering over what to do next. I couldn't determine the best choice to make. Again, I sought advice from my mother.

"Will you be there for me not minding the choice I finally make?" I asked her, looking out the window expectantly but saddened.

Hidden in that question was another question.

"Will you help me out with this child should I decide to keep it?"

See was my mother afterall, she had assured me he will stand by me but I just wanted to hear her say it again.

"You're my daughter and this whole situation is in no way your fault. I will stand by you but make sure you find peace in whatever choice you finally make because you will have to live with it for the rest of your life," she told me. That particular night, I stayed up thinking all through.

I finally made a decision, I was going to have the baby. I told Adrain and he made time for yet another meeting between us. He really hoped this one would have a more favourale outcome compared to the other one.

The meeting was private, that's why this time he didn't come with our lawyers. We wanted to settle this, not as individuals but as father and mother to an unborn child. He cleared out his security as this was a meeting strictly between him and I.

The meeting was held in his office at ColeChains enterprise. As I took the elevator up to meet with him, I was nervous.

"I must stand my ground no matter what" , I thought to myself. "I refuse to be pushed over. My rights matter too and I have a say in all this," I continued. I motivated myself quietly but the elevator stopped suddenly and I walked out.

The light in his office was not so bright but the view was magnificent. His office was at the highest floor in the building so the view from there was impeccable. I gently looked around and my eyes immediately landed at the wall behind his chair.

'ColeChains Enterprise' was boldly written in an atistic mixture of grey and white. Almost everything there was customised, ranging from his mug, pen, pencils and even plain papers, they carried his company name and logo.

As I scanned through the office, my eyes finally landed on him. He was wearing a black suit. Well ironed and the perfume he used was breathtaking as usual. He stood there like a hero, with an expensive watch.

He smiled briefly when our eyes met, exposing his white and perfectly shaped teeth. He was perfect, but I wasn't carried away by his looks and possessions. "This is the father of my child, there has to me more to him that meets the eyes" , I thought to myself.

Behind all this luxury, all I yearned for was to see the real Adrian Cole. His true nature and who he was away from public eye. This would either confirm my earlier assumptions of him being proud and arrogant or completely clear my doubts about him true character.

He gently offered me a seat with a hand gesture and thanked me for having the meeting. He then stopped talking and waited eagerly for my response. I wasted no time but went straight to the matter.

"It is not news that we both don't like eachother very much. I think you're proud and arrogant and you think am difficult and not on your level. Both assumptions might or might not be true, but at this point, what matters is the baby," I stated categorically.

"Let's put our numerous issues and differences aside and for once, think about the baby who is the reason for all of this in the first place," I added.

"I have decided to keep the baby and this time, I mean it. Am having the baby, " I said to him.

Immidiately, Adrian's face lit up. He couldn't hide his happiness. He desperately wanted a child and at this point, he didn't care how, just as long as it was his.

"Everythng you've said so far is true Lana. I must say, I am overjoyed by your decision. Knowing you, am sure this decision comes with some criteria so let's hear it," he said, looking right into my eyes while putting both his hands on the desk and gripping his pen very tightly in his right hand.

He looked at me like a bull, ready to attack. I remained focused and shortly after, started stating my already prepared criteria.

"The child will remain exclusively with me for 2 years after birth in which you will have supervised visits with him," I said.

"No," he immidiatly responded, shaking his head from right to left.

"You're a busy man, I'd rather take care of my child with my mother's help than allow a totally stranger who you call a nanny do it," I continued.

I then went on with the next criteria after he stopped protesting.

"I don't need your money, if I ever do, I will inform you," again he responded negatively.

"Like I said previously, if you don't want the money then use it exclusively for my child," it's father is wealthy so it should be treated as such." he concluded.

I didn't drag the issue further, instead I continued.

"You are not allowed to control my life and everything I do just because am pregnant for you," I stated clearly, insisting that my freedom should not be toyed with.

"Unfortunately, most, if not all of the things you do might affect the baby, but I'll keep in mind your request as long as you carry me along in all you do", he said.

"By carrying you along, you mean telling you about my every move right?," I inquired.

"I don't see another way around it," he responded shaking his shoulder.

We continued to go back and forth until we finally found a middle ground on all the issues of concern I brought forward.

This was the most productive conversation we've had so far. He shook my hand when the meeting ended and I walked away.

Once out of the building, I turned around to see the 'ColeChains Tower,' boldly written on the building, it was surreal. I got into the carr, and drove home. On getting home, mom was happy Adrian and I were making progress and ultimately preparing for the baby's arrival.

Camille, Adrian's ex who was a lawyer and the one he refused to have a baby with, was monitoring his every move unknown to him. She knew of his frequent visits to ClinoWest so she suspected that something was up.

She befriended a an employee in ClinoWest Clinic who unprofessionaly leacked confidential iformation to her. She didn't know exactly what was happening but she knew that it was all connected to me.

Since she knew nothing about me, fuelled by fury and jealousy, she hired a private investigator to periodically trail me. She desperately wanted to know the woman who was taking Adrian's attention, something she couldn't do.

Adrian, knowing he had many enermies both known and unknown, hired private security for me to make sure the baby and I were safe. He knew I would reject the idea so he did it without my knowledge. Something I will someday thank him for.

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