Chapter 7: Ashamed.
Ashton and I are at the construction site where the hotel is going to be built. It's thirty acres of land and it's located in the suburbs, Sayville to be exact.
"Do you like it?" Ashton asks, staring at me.
"Yeah. It's really big, but I'm unsure about it. I wanted the hotel to be in the heart of the city. Like the four seasons, not some creepy building in the woods." I tell him.
"You're not seeing the vision, Valarie. It's more than a hotel, it's an estate with attractions. It's like a resort away from the city. 'Comfort away from the city' that's what we'll call it." He says, gesturing the words in the air.
"I don't know, Ash. You said hotel." I say, scratching my head.
"Okay fine. We couldn't get the permit to build a ninety feet tall hotel in the middle of the city. It was too big a risk and it would cause traffic, since we were trying to build it beside the road. So, my team and I thought fast and we realized that this was a much better idea. And money wise, it would be cheaper for you since you were precise about not wanting to sink your money in this." He explains.
"You're burning holes in my pocket, Ashton." I tell him as I start to walk to my car.
"No, I'm not. I promise, I got this. It's going to be beautiful." He says, holding my shoulders, halting my movement.
"I hope so, McCain or I'm throwing your ass in jail." I tell him, prying his hands off me as I keep walking to my car.
"Ready to go?" Andrè asks me, leaning on the car.
"Yeah." I say and he opens the car door for me. As I am entering the car , he kisses my cheek and I stiffen.
Why would he do that in front of all these people?
Not that I mind, but I don't want them knowing my business.
He noticed my reaction and he steps away from me, going to the driver side. He enters the car and starts driving.
The drive to my house is so awkward. We didn't talk throughout the whole ride. Andrè parks the car in the underground parking lot and I exit the car.
"What was that back there?" He asks me and I stare at him, confused.
"What was what?" I ask.
"When I kissed you on the cheek, you looked like you didn't like that." He says, folding his arm.
"Because I didn't. Well, that came out wrong. I'm not really big on PDA." I tell him.
"Are you sure it's not because you're ashamed of me?" He asks, raising his voice.
"What? No. I am not ashamed of you. I just felt like weird. I don't want to be romantic with any guy in front of my workers, it gives them something to gossip about." I tell him, shrugging.
"Oh, please. They get enough scoop on you from the gossip blogs. You're just ashamed of me. It's because I'm your driver, isn't it?" He asks, coming close to me.
I back up until my back hits the cold exterior of my car.
"Why are you so upset?" I ask him.
"Because you've been doing this for weeks, Val. You don't want anyone to know we were hooking up, you don't want anyone to know you're pregnant with my child and it's all because of one reason. You're ashamed of me. You're my employer and I'm your employee. What was I expecting? That you would love me?" He scoffs.
"Hell, you can't even love yourself that's why you latch on to every guy and sleep with them for validation." He says and my hand instantly meets his cheek.
"Don't you ever talk to me like that." I yell at him.
"Listen here you little bitch." He says, choking me. "I'm not like those rich guys who care about your little feelings, so watch your tone when you're talking to me." He says, tightening his grip on my neck. I gasp for air, hoping and praying that he would stop choking me. My feet are dangling as he lifts me up while choking me.
"P-please, I c-can't breathe." I tell him, seeing black dots as my vision blurs.
He stares at me with hate in his eyes and I start to cry.
Who is this man standing in front of me?
This is not the man that took me out on a date two weeks ago and treated me like a queen. This man in front of me is a monster.
Andrè let's go of my neck and storms out of the parking lot. I fall to the ground and I start wheezing for air as tears roll down my cheeks.
***
I wake up in the middle of the night totally drenched in sweat.
I thought the air conditioning was on.
Walking to the toilet, I wash my face with water and I look at myself in the mirror. Andrè's handprint is on my neck, along with purple bruises in the place he dug his fingernails into.
I start crying again as I touch my neck.
I don't deserve this shit.
I feel a cramp in my lower abdomen as I feel something warm on my thigh. When I look down, I see blood.
Well, that's not good.
The cramps get worse and I cry out in pain.
I gotta get to the hospital.
I'd call Andrè to take me there, but I'm genuinely scared for my life. I do not want to be around him at all.
I don't know what comes over me, but I dial Zachary's number. Don't even try to judge me right now. I can't call Aaron because he doesn't know I'm pregnant and there's a high chance I'm miscarrying right now, so I'm calling Zachary.
He answers on the fourth ring.
"Hello." He says, his voice sounds coarse like he just woke up.
"I'm so sorry to disturb you, but um...I think I'm having a miscarriage right now and I need you to please-"
Ouch.
These cramps are getting worse.
"Come to my apartment, I'll text you the address. Please Zachary, I'm bleeding and I don't know what to do." I cry.
"Relax, I'll be there in ten minutes. And whatever you do, don't close your eyes, okay." He tells me and I nod as if he can see me.
"Okay. I'll text you the address right now." I tell him, ending the call.
Fifteen minutes later, I am being wheeled to the ER. I squeeze Zachary's hand and I hear him wince.
"Sorry, the cramps are getting worse." I tell him.
"It's okay." He says, smiling at me. He is dressed in his pajamas, just like I am.
"Sir, are you the father?" The nurse beside me asks Zachary.
"No, but I-" He starts but she cuts him off.
"Then you need to wait out here. She'll be fine." The nurse tells him as she wheels me into the hospital room.
The nurse helps me get on the delivery bed and puts an IV in my hand. A doctor walks into the room with a serious look on his face. He puts his gloves on and walks towards me. The nurse places my legs on the two leg supports and the doctor sits on a stool, having a 4k view of my vagina.
"I'm going to clean you up now, okay?" He tells me and I nod.
He gets a pair of surgical scissors and cotton swab and starts cleaning me up. After some minutes, he stops and takes his gloves off.
He walks towards me with a steel plate in his hands.
"This is the fetus." He tells me and I whimper.
Oh My God.
It's so little.
Why did this have to happen to me?
"Girl, please. You really think God was going to let you carry that man's baby." My subconscious tells me.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Stone." He says, touching my shoulder.
The hospital will get you in touch with a therapist to help you cope with this miscarriage.
"I don't need a therapist." I inform him.
"It's hospital protocol, Ma'am. You're getting one." He tells me, looking at me with pity.
"See to it that she takes the pain medication." He tells the nurse before he leaves.
"Can I go home now?" I ask, still crying.
"I'm afraid not, ma'am. We have to monitor you for at least six days before you can be discharged." She tells me.
"Can I at least see Zachary?" I ask her and she nods.
"You'll be able to see him once you're transferred to another room." She tells me before she leaves the room.
I break down in tears immediately.
Why did this happen to me?
I didn't do anything wrong. I read the books, I didn't smoke or drink. I was the perfect mother. My body was the perfect home for this baby, why did it have to leave?
Why did it have to leave me?