The next morning, I'm still floating on a cloud of happiness when I wake up, but I'm confused to see that Steve is no longer in bed.
— Steve? — I call him, but the apartment is silent.
I walk around the apartment and really Steve is nowhere to be found.
I take out my cell phone, ready to find my missing husband. Steve answers after a few rings.
- Hi, Natasha.
— Where have you been?
“I'm at DBS.
- So early?
“It's not too soon. I let you sleep some more. How are you feeling?
— I'm fine, you know I didn't even have those nausea that everyone talks about.
I just threw up yesterday I think it was nervous! But you should have woken me up so I could go with you! I was without a ride!
- No, Justin will be there in half an hour to pick you up.
"Justin?" Seriously?
— Yes, seriously. Now go get dressed, I need to get back to work.
He hangs up and I'm still standing there with my cell phone in my hand, a little stunned.
Yesterday Steve was dying of jealousy of Justin and now he was asking him to come get me?
Well, now he knows that Justin is gay. And I think that after yesterday I finally understood that that crazy Natasha who jumped from one relationship to another, didn't exist anymore.
Now I just loved a workaholic CEO.
Sigh, happy.
Yes, yesterday had been amazing! Thank God Steve's little problem was only temporary!
He showed service five times!
Yes, he could actually be a porn actor if he wanted to, I think amusedly.
- Hey, how are you? Justin asks as we're in the car on the way to work.
- I'm great!
— I was scared yesterday, it looked like a scene from a horror movie. - He laughs.
"If it was a horror movie I would have killed Erin with a sledgehammer!"
Wow, how angry to see that disgusting girl again! She did it on purpose! Erin is very angry with me for being fired from DBS. But it's not my fault she was terrible! Although yesterday she gave a good presentation, don't you think?
- Yes, she does.
'This is dope!' She did really well and I threw up on everyone!
Let's lose this deal!
“You did well too, don't worry. And things with Steve?
“We had a conversation yesterday and I've come to forgive him for thinking I would be able to betray him. How could he think I was going to fall in love with you when we just got married?
“Somehow I understood the distrust. He didn't know I was gay. Put yourself in his shoes, Natasha. Think if he had a new secretary
and that they were together up and down. After work, shopping, and Steve complimenting her all the time...
“I would be hysterical,” I confess.
Justin laughs parking the car.
“That's what I mean.
"But that wasn't the only problem!" Looks like Steve was feeling threatened by my track record!
We got out and walked to the elevators.
“You know, I've had a lot of boyfriends and it seems to haunt Steve! Men are such idiots!
“You need to talk more about these things. I think there was a big misunderstanding. He could have expressed his jealousy of seeing you with me and you could have already clarified that we have an intimacy because I'm gay.
We enter the elevator and Justin presses the button for our floor.
'It would have saved all this trouble.'
“I think you're right. Sometimes I forget that Steve and I have only known each other for such a short time.
“So that's it, they need more communication.
Yes, Justin is right, I think as we exit the elevator.
All of yesterday's shit would have been avoided if Steve and I had talked more about our doubts and insecurities.
And I'm so distracted by my thoughts that I don't realize Justin is leading me into the meeting room.
- What are we doing here?
He blinks and opens the door.
- Surprise!
And I almost fall back when I see all my classmates inside, the whole room decorated with balloons and "Welcome baby Rogers" banners.
- What the hell is this? I whisper dumbfounded, and Hill is the first to hug me.
- Congratulations! I'm so happy for the baby! Why didn't you tell me? You'll have to tell me everything and...
“Hey, let us say hello to Nat too. Alan hugs me and I see Benjamin recording everything behind him, Angie is wiping away some tears and everything looks like a big mess right now.
"Guys, how did you find out?"
“Word got out yesterday after you got sick at Harvey's,” Alan says.
— Oh damn! But you shouldn't have this party, Steve will be very angry...
“Steve isn't mad. — Suddenly Steve appears among the people with Wanda at his side.
And he really doesn't look angry at all. He's smiling!
Could it be that I still haven't woken up and this is one of my bizarre dreams?
But if it was a dream, he'd be naked and with a balloon tied to his...
- Natasha, what a happiness! Rachel walks past him and hugs me all effusive. "So, how long have you been?"
"Will you want to know the sex?" Angie asks.
- Of course not! — Hill refutes. "Why would she know sooner and spoil the surprise?"
"Oh, so we can open a bet!" "Benjamin screams!"
- Let itI organize! Phillip yells even louder.
“Guys, better not, don't forget the mess that was in the bet from before,” Mark, always sensible, intrudes.
But my attention is still on Steve smiling.
- What happened to you? Why aren't you mad at all this partying and people talking about my pregnancy?
“They found out yesterday and there was no way to stem the tide. Then when Hill asked to have a party I ended up letting him.
“Better celebrate and ask all the questions you have to ask now and the subject dies and ceases to be news any sooner.”
Justin says.
“Yeah, sounds like a smart strategy to me,” I agree.
“Congratulations, Natasha,” Wanda says, no expression on her face. “You know that babies come into the world to fulfill a mission left unfinished from their last reincarnation. I just hope your baby wasn't a murderer or something, because...
“Wanda, okay, we get it,” Steve cuts her off. “And yes, Justin is right, but we also have another reason to be celebrating. He and Justin exchange a look.
“Natasha, we did a deal with Harvey,” Justin communicates.
— Do you swear? — I explode in joy. - I do not believe! Even after all my embarrassment?
“I told them they wouldn't take that into account. In the end, what counted was that we had the best proposal and that it was presented very well by you and Justin. Congratulations!
- I am so happy! I smile, my gaze capturing every detail of my classmates' party. “It's all so perfect…” Then I start to cry.
“Hey, why are you crying, Natasha? – Steve asks between confused and exasperated, while Justin hands me a tissue.
"Maybe it's the baby giving you the bad memories of your other life..."
— Wanda! – Steve scolds her.
“No, it's just… I think it's the hormones. - Fungus, wiping his face.
"So, have you chosen the baby's name yet?" Angie approaches.
“Not yet, Angie,” Steve replies. "And I think we're done with this party now?" Let's go back to work! I have a conference now. Come on, Wanda. — Steve activates CEO mode, calling his
desk, and disappears out the door.
We get back to work and, unsurprisingly, my colleagues are in an uproar and have filled my inbox. And the messages range from simple congratulations to baby name suggestions (did they really want my son to be called Adolph?), some dubious breast pump-style photos (would I have to wear that thing on my chest?), to
the most advisable positions to have sex during pregnancy (hmm, some were even interesting...).
"Hey Natasha, are we having lunch today?" Hill walks past my table. “You need to tell me all the news.
“It won't work, Hill.
- Why not? Are you having lunch with Justin? Don't you think you're too attached to your hunky new boss? Oh Natasha, for God's sake, you're not having an affair, are you?
"Of course not, stop talking nonsense!"
— But I'll tell you, everyone's a little suspicious, because Justin is too handsome...
"You could stop gossiping!" Justin is gay, have you not noticed?
- Serious?
“Yeah, and I'm not having lunch with Justin. And yes, with Steve, see you later!
I leave Hill still stunned by the news about Justin and head upstairs to the principal's office. I think Steve deserves special attention today, after feeling neglected for these two months.
"Hi Wanda, is Steve there?" — I walk past the desk and enter Steve's office.
He looks at me in surprise.
"Mrs. Rogers, to what do I owe your distinguished visit?" - He closes the notebook and I approach, sitting on his lap and kissing him passionately.
'Do you think that's appropriate?' - He laughs.
“Sometimes it's worth going off the rails a little bit.
- Sometimes? He raises an eyebrow.
“I came to ask you for lunch. - I ignore your irony.
"Oh... No lunch with your handsome boss?"
— I prefer the handsome CEO...
It's his turn to kiss me now and I'm all melted when he stares at me with that most beautiful smile in the world.
"So, are we okay?" — He still asks and I feel a certain insecurity.
“Yes, we are,” I assure you. “Steve, I've been thinking and these problems we had were miscommunication, you know?
'So you've been making your theories?' - He comments amused.
“You could have asked me about my intimacy with Justin. I'd say he's gay and that would be the end of the problem.
- Yes, you're right.
"So from now on, let's talk about everything, okay?
“Okay, I think I can agree with that.
“See, I might even write a book on overcoming marriage problems. I can even see myself on a TV show now, I'll be like those love counselors, saving failed marriages and...
“Where do you get these things from, Natasha? – Steve laughs.
"You may laugh, but it's quite possible!"
“Okay, let's have lunch then, Ms. Rogers.
He takes me off his lap.
“And one more thing. “I hold your hand. “I could have told you about Justin, but I acted like I wasif a secret. So let's promise, no more secrets between us, okay? promise?
For a moment Steve doesn't respond, and a strange shiver runs down my spine. But the moment passes when Steve smiles and kisses me, pulling me out of the room.
- Combined.