Chapter 12

Christian dropped the pen from his hands and froze for a second before he looked up from his desk.

I triface, but it showed no expression. Not a single frown, nothing.

“Yes, I’ve been pregnant for three months now and I thought you should at least know the truth. I don’t or your money, I don’t even need you to be there for the baby. But I just want you to know that I’m pregI’m keeping the bab-“

The moment a sigh left his mouth I stopped with my sentence and look at his clenched fist. I couldn’t heof fear and waited to see his reaction. “Three months?”.

“For how long have you known?” He asked in a calm but irritated tone. I knew he had a temper and I didprovoke him so, I was planning on giving him the truth he deserved. “Just a week.”

“As I told you, I’m perfectly fine on my own and I don’t need—no I don’t want you in my life and I’m noof that, but now you know,” I lied to his face. Yes, I didn’t need him in my life, but if he would be there tobaby it would’ve made things so much easier. I had not even expected to get out a word without a singlesomehow I had managed to do it.

“Are you nuts?” He asked as he stepped from behind the desk. The expression on his face was as cold astook a step back which each one he stepped forward and prepared myself for his outburst. I stepped bacwall and had nowhere to go. My first instinct was to cover my stomach with my hands so he couldn’t huI closed my eyes and prepared myself for whatever was about to come. “You’re carrying our baby, my batelling me you don’t want me to have anything to do with it. Are you insane, what the fuck is wrong without, while I flinched and looked down at my stomach.

“I-I didn’t think you were exactly waiting for a baby and…I’m sorry.” I apologized. Maybe Marc was right,misjudged him. Yes, his reaction scared me but so far it seemed like he was okay with this pregnancy.

“I’m going to be a dad?” He asked once again while I quickly nodded my head. I covered my stomach wwas afraid of his next move, but all he took was a deep breath.

“How are you, how is the baby, have you seen a doctor?” He asked as he showed a hint of worry on his fhelp but smile at his sudden change of behavior which was completely unexpected. I had prepared mysebut here he was, asking me about how I was doing.

“I’m fine, the baby is fine, and yes,” I spoke as I tried to read the expression on his face, but it was difficuhim. He seemed worried, happy, confused and afraid all at once.

“I’m going to be a dad?” Christian whispered. From what it appeared to be he had a smile on his face evfor a second but as quick as it came it had vanished. “Wait Serena, you can absolutely not work here anyallow you, you’re fired.”

“I know, I wasn’t planning on continuing anyway.” I smiled but just as quickly I realized I had been fired awith a baby along the way.

“So when are we getting your stuff, today?” Christian asked while I stared at him with frowned eyebrows.stuff?”

“Yes, so you can move in.” He spoke as if it was the most casual thing on earth. “M-move in?”

“Yes, you weren’t thinking about doing this on your own were you? Move in with me and I will take care baby.” Christian spoke as he gently grabbed my hands to remove them from my stomach. His words hadand his reaction wasn’t as bad as expected, but I was still cautious about the kind of business he was in amyself or my child in that situation. All he had to do was be there for the baby.

“We’re not even together,” I told him as I smoothly hid the fact that I had no desire to become a mob wion Christian’s face showed me that he was obviously not that impressed with my words.

“I’m not saying we have to be. Let’s be realistic, we are so different, we will never be, but that doesn’t mtake care of you and the baby.” He spoke and looked down at my still flat stomach. “At least let me take you until I know for sure that you are capable of living on your own.”

Ouch,

“You don’t believe I can? Because I really don’t need any favors from you.” I told him as politely as I coulprocess his words. “Serena…” He spoke and squeezed my hands.

“That’s not what I meant but let’s be realistic here. You live in an apartment smaller than this office and cwhile you weren’t in any state to be working. I have no doubt you will be a great mom because you seemhardworking person, but I am doubting myself, so please let me be a good dad…let me take care of you taking care of my child is not a favor, it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Christian was not a man of many words, but just in these few minutes, he had said more than I had ever I knew he meant well, and his offer sounded extremely tempting. I was willing to co-parent and would lebaby whenever he wanted to, but his family name scared me and I did not know how to tell him the truthprobably bury me and the baby if I used the word ‘mafia’…

“Christian, are you a hundred percent sure that you’re ready to be a dad because I’m not even ready to btruthfully told him.

“We don’t have that much of a choice, I think we have all the time to prepare ourselves, don’t you think?the look on his face worried me.

It was a look of doubt, and I don’t know whether he was doubting me, himself, or the baby, but I had seebefore and it didn’t promise anything good.

“I don’t want you to give me any false hope, I don’t want you to bail on us,” I told him while he immediahead. “I won’t. I promise I won’t, I swear on my life, I won’t, so please just accept my offer.”

“What about Lucio?” I wondered. Lucio had been nothing but kind to me but I lied in his face several timokay with this?

“Serena this is not about others, this is about you, me, and our baby!” Christian raised his voice. His eyeshe noticed the startled look on my face.

“I’m sorry, I will talk to him. Just please consider my offer.” He apologized. I knew he meant well, but thischaracter for him and definitely not the reaction I expected. All of this was going too fast and it looked asaying stuff without thinking it through.

“Christian-“ I approached him, but he didn’t want to hear any of it.

“You should get some rest and think about it.” He ended our conversation before he opened the door fomessage was clear, he wanted me to get out.

“Christian, I’ll think about it but if we’re doing this together you have to promise that you won’t bail on and watched as he nodded his head, but that was not enough for me.

“You have to promise me,” I demanded an answer out of him. I needed reassurance and I wouldn’t be leIf I were to even consider bringing my baby into his lifestyle I had to be assured that he wouldn’t be leavus onto the streets whenever he felt like it.

“Serena, I promise.”