CHAPTER:6

"WHAT?! I refuse to believe they're getting married! What's going on?" -Hana yells, dramatically. Elara roll her eyes as she continues cleaning the tables at the café.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic." -Elara says, letting out a laugh. "I'm just glad it's not any of my business anymore."

"But can you imagine what could've happened if you accepted Marshall's proposal to be his fake girlfriend?" -She inquires.

"Ugh please, I don't even want to imagine." -Elara replies. "It would've been a disaster!"

"I guess we'll never know!" -Hana says, pouting as she gets up from her seat. "Well, that's my cue to leave. I've been doing internship at this huge law firm, and let me tell you, it's been hell. I'm so tired." -she says, flaring her hands up and down in frustration.

"I'll see you later!" -hugging Elara one last time, and finally leaving the café.

Elara chuckles to herself as she continues cleaning, her mind wandering off, 'what if I actually did accept Marshall's proposal to be his fake girlfriend, few days back. What would've been different?' As she continues cleaning, Tim leans over the kitchen counter,

"Your friend is quite the chatterbox."

As he says so, she breaks out of her daze, and shakes her head. "Who? Hana?" He nods.

Elara lets out a small, soft laugh. "Well, she's quite the extroverted type. And loves talking." "Well, that's clear for sure." -He says.

"She also usually speaks my part too, so I don't have to waste much energy." -Elara says, chuckling. "Why? You seem interested in her.." -she teases, her eyes glistening with mischief. "Do you want me to set you both up for a date?"

Tim looks away, flustered. "No no, I didn't mean it like that. Your friend is quite beautiful, but she's not my type. I really don't like chatterboxes." -He says, as they share a laugh.

As Elara turns away from him, her phone vibrates in her pocket. She takes it out and sees Marshall's name on the caller ID. "Why's he calling me right now?"

"Hello?" -she says, receiving the call.

"Elara, where are you?" -Marshall voices over the phone.

"I'm at my café, why?"

"Naia's at my office, I need you to come and get her."

"I'm sorry Mr. Marshall, but I cannot drop all of my works just because Naia's at your office. She knows how to drive, she can get back on her own." -Elara says, thinking to herself, what is Naia doing at Marshall's office this early in the morning.

"Well unfortunately.. she's had quite a few drinks, and is acting irrationally. Please, -sigh- just.. just come pick her up." -his voice sounds tired, and urgent.

Elara sighs to herself, and replies; "Alright, I'll be there in 5" , she cuts the call and looks at Tim, who's seemingly studying her face.

"Open the café after a while, I'll be back soon." -To which he simply nods.

Elara takes a cab to Marshall's office, her mind filled with thousands of thoughts on the way. 'Ever since I met this man, I've been spending so much money on cabs. Next time, I might just as well as tell him to pay for my ride.'

After what felt like a long ride, Elara finally reaches Marshall's office. The building exceeding upon clouds. She pays for the ride, and makes her way to the reception. There, a beautiful woman, with sleeked back hair, and a proper uniform, is busy typing away on the computer, also speaking on the telephone at the same time. Elara waits for her to be done with the call, as the woman turns to look at her. "Yes, how may I help you today?"

"Uhm.. I'm here to meet Marshall." -Elara says, her voice low.

"Do you have an appointment, miss?"

"Elara. And no, I don't have an appointment. He called me.. to come get my cousin."

"Right, you must be Ms. Naia's cousin then. If you'd kindly hold for a moment." -She says as she dials a button on the telephone, and speaks; "Ms. Elara is here." She nods and puts the telephone back in its place.

"Yes, if you'd kindly follow me." She says, as she gets up from her chair, another woman takes her seat, and she starts striding forward, her heels clinking against the marble floor. She leads Elara to the elevator, and presses the top floor.

As the elevator dings and opens, she urges Elara to continue on her own, smiling one last time as the elevator closes.

Elara steps into Marshall's office carefully. One step at a time.

Soon she hears Naia screaming. Elara rushes in to see a scenario unfold in front of her eyes. As she opens the door to his office, she sees Naia standing on top of Marshall's desk, throwing his (probably important) papers all around, scattering them as if they're bills in a club. "WOHOOO!" -she continues yelling, jumping up and down.

Elara turns her head towards the other direction, and sees Marshall sitting on the couch, his eyes closed in frustration, as he massages his own forehead temples.

"Naia!" -I say, trying to get her attention, but instead Marshall opens his eyes and gets up from the couch. I scoot over to Naia, forcing her to come down as she continues yelling like a crazy person.

"It's raining papers!" -she yells.

"Yes, we can make more papers rain, just come with me." -Elara says, tugging her arms "Come on, let's go!" -she says, pulling Naia.

Naia wiggles her arm out of Elara's and runs over to the other direction. Pushing Marshall out of her way, causing him to fall on the floor. Elara gasps loudly, covering her mouth. As she runs after Naia, Naia locks herself in the bathroom, giggling; "You can't get me now!" Elara rushes over to help Marshall get back on his feet. She extends her hand and he takes it, helping himself get back up.

After checking that Marshall is indeed okay, Elara strolls over to the bathroom door. She knocks gently; "Naia, can you please open the door?" -Elara calls out from outside the door. "NO! You're going to send me back home!" -Naia yells back from inside the bathroom. Elara sighs, and turns to look at Marshall, defeated.

"Uh, if she locks herself in somewhere while she's drunk, it'll take a while to get her to open the door." -Elara explains to Marshall, avoiding eye contact.

Marshall runs his hand through his hair, he sighs deeply out of frustration and anger.

"Look, I don't know why she was here, but you could've called her dad or her personal assistant to come pick her up." -Elara says.

Annoyed, Marshall looks at her, fury in his eyes. With swift movements, he take large steps towards Elara. Panicking Elara stumbles backward, her back hitting the wall. Marshall closes the distance between them, as he brings himself even closer to her. His face just inches away from her. He breathes hot air, tickling her nose.

"Now you listen here, if you think I didn't think of such things before calling you, you're wrong." He says, his lips inches apart from hers, she dares not to look up at him, as he continues; "Your irrational cousin took my phone and dunked it in the fucking jug. Don't believe me?" -He points to the glass jug on his desk, a black phone is submerged in the jug. Elara looks back at him, making sure to meet his eyes this time. "I don't fucking care what you think I haven't done to get rid of her, I've tried everything!" -he roars loudly.

Elara continues staring at him, as he takes in deep breaths. He distances himself a bit, raising his hand; "Sorry, sorry." -he apologizes running his hand through his hair.

"Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you, I have a very important meeting in the next two hours. Please, just get your cousin out of here."

Elara simply nods, as she continues knocking on the bathroom door, "Naia, can you please open the door for me?"

After knocking on the door continuously for the next fifteen minutes or so, Naia finally opens the door. Marshall perks his head up as well, staring at Naia.

Naia wipes tears from the corner of her eyes, as Elara rushes closer to her.

"Hey.. are you okay?" -she asks Naia, holding onto her.

"No..." -Naia replies, her voice hoarse from all the screaming earlier.

"What happened?" -Elara asks, worried.

And to Elara's surprise, Naia replies with;

"I am pregnant."