The Status Quo
~
April 22nd, 2019
New York, New York
Fifteenth Week Pregnant
Vera's P.O.V.
1:17 pm.
"So, how do you feel?" Lilly asks, bringing my bottled juice to the table.
We choose to go to a nearby café following my doctor's appointment. By now, the fetus was the size of a grapefruit which had me beam since. According to Dr. Archer, my baby is beginning to develop her tiny delicate ears and facial features.
I've gained a couple of pounds from the last time I visited. She mentioned I would have a spark of energy for the next few weeks. I've been fatigued ever since this pregnancy commenced, however, I sought to gain an advantage of this unexpected energy.
I shrug. "I'm worried about Xavier. The things he's gone through, and I'm sure what he told us was a taste of what they really are."
I checked my phone, seeing a notification from my manager, Jamaal Vazgen. My mother suggested I'd begin to rise to stardom. He messaged to remind me about the Met Gala he recommends I should attend. I wasn't interested in going, but many were peer pressuring me, mentioning this would be grand to kickstart my career.
I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"What happened?" Lilly asks. I drop my head into my hands. "The stupid Met Gala. It's important that I go. I don't want to, especially with the whole Xavier case going on now." I muttered as I slid my phone towards her.
"What if I go with you?" She proposed. I shrugged and took a sip from my juice. "Only if you want to."
"Jamaal says that there are designers eagerly wanting to work with you. I'll ask my team to manage something out." She added, handing my phone back.
"I wonder who else is attending." She wondered to herself.
I peeped down at my small belly that was beginning to grow bigger every week. "I need to figure out how to hide this," I murmured, pointing to my stomach. "I can't have anyone find out right now."
Lilly lifted her eyebrows. "You do realize what's at stake if you go, right?" I nodded at her question, willing to take the risk. She pursed her lips and glanced back down at her own phone, texting away, assuming it's her manager.
I looked down at my phone as well. I saved a picture of everyone at the amusement park as my lock screen. My eyes were trained on Xavier who innocently grinned. My heart ached to see the pain in his eyes whenever I looked deeply within them.
I lightly shake my head and place my phone down, resuming to sip on my drink and consume my surroundings as well.
~
April 27th, 2019
Southampton, New York
Fifteenth Week Pregnant
Vera's P.O.V.
3:15 pm.
I wiped the sweat that built up on my forehead. I jumped off the treadmill, leaving with deep frustration. My back began to ache more as each and every day passed. I decided to get my blood flowing and to workout today since I had a fit of energy, but that died midway through my thirty-minute walk on the treadmill. I sighed before plopping myself onto the bench press.
As I covered my face, my ears spiked when I heard Aleksander's name. I glance up, my eyes landing on the television that was set on a channel that ran TMV.
"Aleksander Valentino spotted with Xavier—whose last name is still unknown—in the big city, with a mystery girl." The news reporter purred the last part.
My eyes squinted as images of them popped up on the screen, with the familiar girl's back turned towards the camera. Xavier's cheeks were blushed, as always, and Aleksander seemed as if he was attempting to shield them from the paparazzi. The photos were taken from afar where the kids stood in front of a small souvenir shop.
"Sources say that the Bernacelli's are dealing with several charges regarding Xavier. We still are not aware of who has filed these, but we will find out for you all soon!"
I pursed my lips as I cup my jaw in my palm.
"Speaking of Valentino, here's more on Alek's brother, Ezio Valentino this week!"
The screen switched to the TMV office area where the other news reporters were gathered together. One of the reporters clutches a piece of paper before slapping it on the table. All the girls wooed as Ezio was wearing an unbuttoned shirt; his abs on display as he took a sip of his scotch. His hair was somewhat tousled, his eyes were trained on the cameras aimed at him.
"He looks like he's having a good time in the Maldives." One of the other reporters, Simon, states as his name emerged on the screen.
Priya and Alex were ogling at the picture all while shooting each other sexual innuendos which unsettled me. I couldn't blame them though because I felt as aroused as they were.
I shook my head from the explicit thoughts that were uninvitedly strolling into my conscious before they continued.
Simon had another picture in his possession before gliding it across the table once again. "And here's Ezio with a little lady."
My eyes shot up, observing Ezio cupping a gorgeous women's cheek. They gazed at each other, deep into their eyes, with affection.
"So who is she?" Priya questions, her eyes averting to everyone else.
"Cambria Briar, an Australian model. She's going on thirty; a bit maturer for Ezio if we compare her to his past exes, but go figure, I guess." Another reporter, Anastasia, explains as she places her chin in her palm. "She's been gaining popularity recently. I wouldn't be surprised if their relationship was all an act." She continued before pursed her lips.
The rest of the group agreed, shrugging their shoulders except for Simon. He points to the photos where Ezio and Cambria were gazing into each other's eyes, yet deeper than before. "They clearly look like they're infatuated with each other, though." He answers as his eyebrows were pushed together.
I tried to control my leg that was shaking erratically, but I sighed, giving up.
"Sources say that they might go to the Met Gala as each other's date." Anastasia harmonized, grinning ear-to-ear.
"No way? The Gala?" Priya questioned, not resembling Anastasia's joyous state. "No, dipshit." Anastasia retorted. Alex snickered before Priya ruffled his dark blue-dyed hair.
Simon clasps his hands theatrically. "Changing gears. . . the Bernacelli's seem to be getting along better than anticipated," Simon says, grabbing another printed photograph, just to display me, my father, and Xavier strolling out of the Bernacelli office a couple of days ago.
In my possession was a leather-cased folder as my father held a briefcase. I was dressed in an all-black outfit; a turtleneck tucked into my ripped jeans with a jean-jacket carelessly thrown over my shoulder with combat boots finishing my look. I was adjusting my sunglasses with one hand while the other kept the folder in front of my abdomen.
My father wore his all-black suit with a red tie which matched my lipstick color. We didn't mean to match that day, but it was a strange coincidence.
Between me and my father was Xavier walking along with us. He wore jeans with a white dress shirt which was covered by a black sweater vest. His hair was gently combed to the side with gel styling it in place.
We recently finished with a meeting with our lawyer discussing Xavier's case which didn't progress at all. Before that, my father and I were discussing our collaboration. I couldn't wait to present what we were planning.
"I feel like Xavier is stringing Vera and her father back together again," Alex inferred as his eyes remained on the picture. Priya shrugged her shoulders as she smirked at the picture. "Never mind that, but do you guys see how delectable Bruce is looking?" She purred causing cold miserable shivers down my spine. Everyone stared at Priya with distress to which she shrugged off and winked at the camera.
"Anyway—" Simon began before snatching the picture out of her hands which pulled her from her fantasies. "—Back to this." He grunts, pointing as the carelessly thrown pictures.
"You have any idea who Vera's going to the Met Gala with?" Alex inquires, his eyes toggling between my picture and the one he held in his hand that displayed Ezio and Cambria.
"Maybe her best friend, Leilani Chandler? They're always with each other, anyway." Anastasia suggested. "You know, Vera has gotten a bit chubbier than usual though. You guys note that?" Priya added nonchalantly.
My jaw fell agape. I glimpsed down at my small stomach afterward.
"What if she's pregnant?" Priya asks suddenly, clasping her hands together. My heart dropped to my stomach as my eyes became wary of everyone's reaction. I felt my breathing increasingly get heavier, difficult for me to breathe properly.
Simon crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "And who would be the father, Priya? Please, enlighten me on how you came up with this idea." He ironically declares as he pulls a seat across from her.
She shrugged her shoulders. "She just looks unusual, that's all—"
"—You don't assume that a woman is pregnant because she's looking different than usual. What's wrong with you, Priya?" Anastasia points out, her voice laced with a low-key attitude.
Alex covered his smirk-forming lips before coughing to disguise his chuckle. Priya shot daggers at him with her blue eyes then rolling her eyes.
"Back to the Valentino clan; looks like their sister, Evalena Valentino, just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl." Anastasia interrupts. She leans forward to grab a picture that Simon offered her before placing it on the table.
The picture displayed a newborn baby wrapped in a pink blanket with the same-colored beanie resting on her small hairless head. The baby's small hands were wrapped around a feminine finger as her head was held by a masculine hand. It seemed the picture was taken in the middle of the baby cooing at her parents.
I gushed at the picture that was too perfect to be true. I cup my belly as they showed another picture of the baby on the screen. She seemed to be giggling in the second image.
"The caption reads, "Welcome home, Ilyssa Elena Apollo-Valentino." and may I say, that was a bit of a tongue twister, but she's too adorable for it not to be excusable," Anastasia says with a hint of her baby voice surfacing. "The couple, Evalena and Beckham, seem to be content with their first newborn. We will update you soon on that, of course." She adds.
Simon collects all the pictures that were scattered on the table before placing them away. "Moving onto the Met Gala." He starts, "Everyone is curious to see who is wearing what by which designer and curious to see who will come along as their dates." Simon adds.
"And we have all the conspiracies with us right here, right now. Stay tuned for more after this commercial break." Alex says before waving to the camera that seemed to be moving away from the set.
I grabbed the remote and turned off the television. I grasped my phone, noticing a notification on celebrity news which happened to be about Ezio. I shook my head softly before sliding my phone in my pocket and plugging my headphones in once again. I didn't want anyone to see my growing belly at the Met Gala, so the best way was to stay in shape to the best of my ability.
If anyone figures out what my situation is, let alone who the father is, it's going to be one hell of a disaster.
• • •
i am SO sorry again! i know i've promised to update every weekend but i didn't like how this chapter turned out so i re-edited it and edited my grammar and all that so here i am now.
i hope you guys enjoy this chapter! the met gala is around the corner and guess who make a reappearance!!!!?? SO EXCITED LOL
also, i do this every time but it's bc i am so thankful. thank you for all the support i see them the second you guys post a comment, click the vote button, add my story to your lists! it genuinely makes my day :)
love you all and happy november!
Don't forget to Vote, Comment, and Share!
- alli