Chapter 12

Isla slowly pushed open the door and walked in tiredly. She walked to the bedroom and threw down her bag. She pulled out the band she used to tie her hair and fell to the bed tiredly.

She had to walk to the mall after school to get some food with the money Melissa had given her, and then she walked home too.

Her feet were aching and her head was banging. She was dozing off when her phone began to ring.

She ignored it at first, but the caller kept calling. She reluctantly got up to remove the phone from the bag she had thrown.

"Who the fuck is this?" She muttered, on seeing it was a strange number.

She let the person call again before she finally picked up the call.

"Hello."

"Hello, is this Isla?" A male voice said over the phone.

Isla looked confused as she couldn't recognize the voice.

"Uh. yes. Is there something I could help you with? Is there a problem? Who are you? She asked.

"This is Nicholas." The voice said.

"Nicholas? Nicholas. I'm sorry, I don't know anyone with that name. You probably dialed the wrong Isla." She said and hung up the call.

"These dumb people don't even confirm before calling anyone." She said and her phone began to ring again.

It was the same number.

"What? I said I don't know you!" She yelled as she picked up the call again.

*************

Nicholas tried calling Isla again, he needed to help her.

"What? I said I don't know you." She yelled.

Nicholas sighed.

"This is Nicholas, Ethan George's assistant." He said.

There was silence for a while.

"What?" Isla asked.

"I heard about what was going on with you. I know your boss fired you, and I want to help you. Can we meet tomorrow?" Nicholas asked.

"I'm sorry, what? Meet? I'm confused. Why?" Isla asked.

She was in utter shock.

"To help. Meet me at Fashion Frenzy Home tomorrow by 9 am."

"Okay... okay," Isla said and hung up the call immediately.

Nicholas turned to his wife who stood behind him and sighed.

"Don't you think Ethan would get mad?" She asked.

"I don't know either. If it takes him by surprise, he's more likely to help. I just hope he does."

"Alright then," Ashley said.

Nicholas moved closer to her and placed his hands on her bulging belly.

"I can feel it moving." He said excitedly.

Ashley placed her hand on his.

"I can't wait to see our child. In less than two months, we're going to have a little human to care for." She said.

"I can't wait too. You shouldn't be here you know. If you needed something, you would have just called. You're at a trivial stage in your pregnancy, you should rest more often." Nicholas said caressing his wife's face.

"It doesn't matter baby. I just wanted to go out, the doctor advised I take strolls too, remember?"

"Well, taking strolls in the estate is enough. You shouldn't be driving. If you can't do it alone, just call me. You know I'd leave whatever I'm doing for you." Nicholas said and Ashley laughed.

"I can't call you for something so little." She said.

"Little? Let's go home, baby." Nicholas said and held her hand.

"But it isn't closing hours yet," Ashley argued.

"Says who? Actually, this is a perfect time to show my beautiful wife to everyone at Fashion Frenzy. I doubt they've seen you."

"Baby, I don't want to be too popular here," Ashley said laughing.

"Well, this is the first time you're coming here, and you may not come again till whenever, so I'm taking you upstairs to Ethan's office. First, to tell him I'm leaving, and second, to show you to the rest of the staff. I need to let them know I won a trophy." Nicholas said and his wife blushed.

He held her carefully and led her upstairs.

She refused to use the elevator and insisted on using the stairs as it was a form of exercise.

"This place is beautiful," Ashley said looking around her husband's office as soon as they got there.

"I barely stay here. I'm always in Ethan's office."

"I can see that."

"That man acts like the toughest person, but deep down, he needs people around him," Nicholas said.

"Of course, no man is an island."

"His office is at the other end. Let's go say hello." Nicholas said and smirked.

Ethan was typing on his desktop computer when Nicholas walked in.

"What is it this time?" He asked without looking up.

"Hey, Ethan," Ashley said.

Ethan looked at Ashley and turned to Nicholas with a questioning look in his eyes.

"Uh... hey, Ashley. What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I just dropped by to see my husband, so I decided to say hello. How have you been?" Ashley asked cheerfully.

"Good." He said and glared at Nicholas.

"How's that...um...th.... the baby?" He stammered.

"The baby is fine. Her daddy is caring for her."

"And her mummy too," Nicholas added and the couple laughed.

Ethan rolled his eyes.

"I was busy with something. I'd like to continue with it." Ethan said.

"Loosen up a little, Ethan. You can't even treat a guest well. This pretty lady right here is pregnant and you can't offer her a seat. How rude of you." Nicholas said.

"Oh, Lord," Ethan said and sank into his chair.

"This office is literally yours too. You should have offered her a seat. And what if I don't want her to sit?" Ethan asked.

"Are you saying you'd let a pregnant woman keep standing? You're scarier than I thought." Nicholas said.

He walked forward and pulled out a chair for his wife.

"Please sit down ma'am. Do not listen to my boss. I promise he's a good person." Nicholas said and Ashley laughed.

"You know, I wonder how Ethan survives without you. Ethan, you're just too serious with everything. Life is not all about work. You have no plans of getting married, you just keep working. Who's going to spend the money you're working for?" Ashley asked.

"I'll think about this in five years' time," Ethan replied.

"Ethan, it's 4 pm." Nicholas said and Ethan raised a brow.

"So?"

"Well, my wife is here and..."

Ethan rolled his eyes again.

"Nick look. If you want to go home with your wife. Then go! I don't care. Why do you have to tell me?"

"What a cute baby boy you are. You look so cute when you're jealous. You're even jealous of my wife taking my attention." Nicholas said.

"Oh please! Leave my office. Ashley, thanks for coming." Ethan said.

Nicholas laughed and helped his wife stand up.

They both walked out of Ethan's office.

Nicholas didn't want to leave just yet.

He wanted to flaunt his wife…