An Unexpected Twist

With every step that Kimberly took as she walked back to her office, she could hear the tiny bricks that made up what she called her lips collapse one after the other.

Just how many shocks and surprises could a person take before it was too much? First had been the surprise of a pregnancy, followed shortly by the diagnoses of uterine fibroids, and now this.

She could only wonder what was next. What exactly was happening to her? Why was her life taking such a turn? Was this some sort of nightmare? Kimberly mused as she kept walking.

The moment she walked into her office, she stood by her desk and gripped the edge tightly with her back to the door.

The shock she had kept at bay came rushing and crashing onto her like a falling meteorite. But despite holding firmly to her desk like she was clinging for dear life, she could still feel a light tremor.

How was it possible that they were one and the same? How could they...

Never would she had thought, not even for time of light, that Nicholas, her one-night stand, and supposed father of the child growing inside of her, was the same man she had listened to Richard talk about all these while.

The incredulity of it, the shock. She couldn't keep it to herself. She needed to talk to someone about it. She had to tell Caroline.

She picked up her phone and walked over to the window to stand, since she was feeling too anxious and restless to sit down.

Before she could make the dial, her phone rang with a call from Carol and she quickly received it.

"I was just about to call you," Kimberly said, and Carol frowned when she heard something in Kimberly's voice.

She couldn't place it or tell what it was, but she knew that Kimberly wasn't fine.

"Really? Is there a problem?" Carol asked with a hint of concern in her voice, and Kimberly knew she had to assure her of her well being.

"No. Yes. I mean, no, I'm fine health wise but there is a problem," she said and Carol frowned, confused as she wondered what the problem could be.

"I met him, Carol." Kimberly said before Carol could ask her what was going on.

"You met who? Him who?" Kimberly asked but a thought quickly formed in her head before Kimberly could respond and her eyes widened.

She had a feeling she knew who the 'him' meant, because only one thing had been able to get Kimberly this nervous for the past two days.

"Wait, did you mean your one night stand?" She asked, lowering her voice a bit as though she didn't want anyone to hear it.

"Yes, Carol. He was here. He was here at the office," Kimberly said without breaking rhythm, failing to keep off the nervous vibrations off her voice.

"At your office? Why? How? Wait, how did he know you worked there?" Caroline had a long list of questions instantly lined up, but Kim could only answer one at a time. "Why was he there?"

"He is Richard's son." Kimberly felt like her heart was going to burst as she said the words.

There was a quick fading reign of silence, before Carol's voice came up again. "What? What are you talking about?" Carol asked in confusion, not wanting to believe that she heard Kimberly correctly.

What were the chances of such a coincident happening? This wasn't the movies or a webnovel. This was reality.

"He is Richard's son. He is Nicholas Vice." Kimberly said and pressed her fingers against her forehead, a dull ache was forming too quickly.

"Carol, what do I do?"

Another short wave of silence reigned again. "I'm still not sure I understand. Why don't you tell me what happened. How did you find out?"

Kimberly paused and even though she'd rather not recall the last few minutes with Nicholas, she narrated it all to Carol.

"Wow! That's quite an unexpected twist," Carol said and Kimberly sighed.

"You won't believe he accused me of approaching him, and wanting him to robe him into my..." She tried to recall the words, "little scheme."

"What did he mean by that? What scheme?"

"I have no idea," she resumed pacing again, her heels digging deeply into ivory rug that decorated her office floor. She pressed harder on her head.

"I was too stunned and angry, and all I wanted was to be as far away from him as was possible. I didn't have the time to ask. I didn't even want to ask. But what if he tells Richard?"

"It doesn't matter if he does. If everything you told me about your boss is true, I doubt he would want to fire you for having a one night stand with his son. That is your personal business it happened outside of work."

Kimberly mulled it over in her head, and she figured Carol was right.

"And what if Nicholas finds out that—"

"That you're pregnant?" Carol asked knowingly.

Kimberly stopped on the spot. "Yes."

Carol sighed. "Relax, Kim. You're nervous, I get it. But no one's going to know who the father of your baby is except you tell them.

"You're right. And I'm not keeping the pregnancy anyways." Kimberly reminded herself.

As a matter of fact, now she wanted to get rid of the baby as quick as she could, and knowing Nicholas Vice was the father made it all the more urgent.

"Carol, how soon can I get an abortion? Can you get me an appointment today?" She asked hopefully.

Carol was a little disappointed that Kimberly was still considering an abortion, but she knew better. She knew her well enough to know that, once Kimberly set her mind on something, nothing could change her mind unless it became a matter of life and death.

"I can try to get you in, but first we need to see an obstetrician regarding the scan results. You are supposed to come in tomorrow."

"Can you make that today? I don't want to carry the seed of such an insufferable man any longer than is necessary," Kimberly said and Carol sighed.

"I will see what I can do. I need to get back to work now. Stay calm, and be good, okay?" Carol said before hanging up.