Baby Maker

Chapter 2

Four weeks later and I still hadn't found a job yet. Turns out, rubbing elbows only works if you talk with other people. I got drunk quickly and didn't remember much else other than leaving with some guy. I couldn't remember if he told me his name or not, but I remembered his face clearly. It wasn't a face I could forget easily. With my job hunting yielding no results yet, I decided to take a break and bring lunch to Asher. I didn't bother dressing up. I wore simple yoga pants and a shirt that was tied with a knot in the front. My hair was up in a strategic messy bun and I stuck with neutral makeup. I hadn't been feeling well lately anyway. I picked up a lunch bento before going to Asher's work building. The skyscraper of a building was classy and modern with a wide open lobby you could see from the clean glass windows that replaced the walls. I'd visited Asher at work a few times since graduating. The receptionists even knew who I was now. Bringing Asher lunch was something I'd gotten in the habit of doing. I was issued a visitor's pass before heading to the elevator to get to the fifth floor.

"Ash! Lunch time," I said as I sat the food in front of him. Asher sighed before leaning back in his chair and swiveling to face me.

"What are you doing here? I thought you said you didn't feel good," he asked. I shrugged before sitting on the edge of his desk.

"I don't, but I'm so bored at home. Seeing you beats staring at a computer screen all day," I answered. After leaving the campus dorms, I moved in with Asher temporarily until I could find a job and save enough for a security deposit. It was unfortunately taking longer than I expected.

"It's sweet that your girlfriend brings you lunch," one of his coworkers said before walking off. She disappeared so fast, I didn't even have the chance to correct her. Asher sighed before putting his hand on my forehead.

"You're running a fever, Min. This won't do. I'm taking you to see a doctor right now," Asher said as he stood.

"You still have work, Ash," I tried to stop him. He grabbed his lunch before grabbing my hand and heading towards the elevators.

"We're just starting our lunch break. I'll eat when we get there. You've been sick for over a week now," he said as we descended to the first floor. I followed behind him wordlessly as he led me out and hailed a cab. We rode to the doctor's office and Asher sighed me in before we waited. It had been a while since I went to the doctor. After they took us back, they took a urine and blood sample before we waited again. Asher sighed as he opened the lunch box I got him and started eating.

"You never did tell me how you ended up leaving the party," Asher said in between bites. He's been asking since that night how and when I disappeared, but I always kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to tell him I had a one night stand with one of his coworkers. He would probably be traumatized. Luckily the doctor walked in so I didn't have to think up another excuse. The doctor looked over my chart as he closed the door behind him.

"Luckily, it's nothing contagious. Congratulations, you're pregnant," the doctor told me. After doing a thorough examination, he prescribed me prenatal vitamins and suggested a follow up with an obstetrician before we were taking a cab back to Signa. I felt numb. This couldn't be real. I didn't even know the guy's name. Asher seemed to be in a similar state of shock. Neither of us said a word as we walked back into the company. After pressing the button to call the elevator, Asher finally grabbed my shoulders to make me face him.

"Now I need to know what happened the night of the office party. How could you be pregnant? It has to be someone in the company. Who did you sleep with? Who's the father?" Asher asked in a type of word vomit. I felt like I was on the verge of tears as I stumbled over my words. Asher looked passed me to someone before letting go of me.

"Mr. Signa. I'm sorry. We'll find somewhere else to talk," Asher said. I turned to see the face that had been burned into my mind for the last four weeks. My eyes widened as I saw the recognition in his face. He remembered me.

"If what you said was true, I believe the wrong people are talking," the man said stoically. The elevator doors opened and we all got in. Wait, Asher called this man 'Mr. Signa'. Was this guy really the emotionless, young CEO Asher always talked about? Asher was still too shocked to say anything.

"Mr. Lee, I'm going to borrow your friend for a moment," Mr. Signa said in the silence.

"Most people mistake Min for my girlfriend," Asher said awkwardly. His word vomit was back. When Asher felt anxious, he always ended up saying the first thing to pop into his mind.

"If this woman was your girlfriend, she wouldn't have slept with me," Mr. Signa said simply. I choked on air at his comment. He was so blunt about it. The elevator stopped at Asher's floor but he didn't get off right away. Instead, he turned to me.

"Min-"

"Go ahead, Ash. I'll catch up with you later," I stopped him. I knew he was trying to protect me, but this was a conversation that had to happen. Asher sighed before getting off. Mr. Signa didn't say anything as the elevator took us all the way to the top floor. I followed him silently to his office. He closed the door behind me before staring at me. It looked like he was analyzing me. He leaned against the edge of his desk and crossed his arms.

"My name is Jax, by the way. Jaxon Signa."