Nancy could not understand why the thought that he might have gone on a vacation with a lady should bother her so much.

It must be because she had not been told that he was going anywhere at all in the first place and she was his secretary for goodness sakes.

And he looked so handsome, handsome enough to be eaten and so relaxed.

She caught herself.She would have to be careful, and not think such things. The thought she had had in the past about Robert had put her in a trouble she was yet to be free from and she was not ready to get into another one. Moreover she was not alone now. She had her baby to think of as well as herself. So there was no space for a third party in her heart and life.

And in any case, she was just being grateful to her boss for his kindness to her, not because she had any special feelings for Mr. Campbell.

He was therefore free to be with anyone he wished to be with but because of his help, she only hoped that the person he would eventually settle with will not break his heart like his ex wife Rebecca did.

Nancy put all her efforts into her work and on Wednesdays, she dismissed early from work so that she could go to the hospital for antenatal care.

The last time she had gone for the checkup, she had been told that her baby was okay and that it's limbs were moving admirably. She had been very happy because she had been afraid that something was wrong with her baby given the lack of care she had taken of herself and her near brush with death which of course had changed the course of her life for the better.

She knew that her problems were far from being over. It was not going to be easy being a single mother but she would definitely try.

Now all she had to do was concentrate on her work and keeping her baby safe.

Tomorrow was another appointment day with her doctor for her regular checkup and antenatal.

Mr. Campbell came in to work that Tuesday morning, asking Nancy as he walked into his office, 'What are my appointment for today?'

Nancy was fuming but she thought that she had better be careful how she spoke to her boss because afterall,he was still the boss and had employed her without her having the required qualifications.

'You have an appointment with Charlie's Automobiles by 10am and a lunch date with Corrine Farmer at midday.

At 4pm,you have a meeting with the board of directors. That's all for today. Your previous appointments were left on hold due to the emergency trip that you took but thankfully,just a few of them were really very important but not really urgent and will be rescheduled according to your dictates'.

She delivered efficiently.

It was not a month yet but Anna had started allowing her take most of the responsibilities because she knew she would soon be on her own.

'Good. I shall keep all the appointments but you can come in, in about thirty minutes to take down the new schedule for the appointments that has to be rescheduled and the others you can call the people responsible to find out when it would be convenient for them to meet with me since I am back,then after checking with me, you take down the appointment'.

She called up the individuals and cooperate bodies whose appointment with her boss had had to be put on hold and they were rescheduled.

She entered all these in the diary and marked the dates on the calendar like she had been taught to.

At about some minutes to ten,she called her boss to inform him of his appointment at the top of the hour. After ushering in the representatives from the automobile company into her boss' office, she quickly did some of the paper work she needed to do and then chatted with Anna.

Anna had started seeing some changes in Nancy. No one in the office,including Anna knew that Nancy was pregnant when she started with them but as a woman, she had started noticing some changes and though they were friends, she just could not bring herself to ask Nancy if her suspicion was right. She respected her and felt that everybody had a right to their privacy. If Nancy was indeed pregnant, then she would definitely tell her whenever she was ready. Anna did not want to force it out of her when she was not ready yet to reveal it but she did wonder who the father of the baby in her womb was because she knew that Nancy was definitely not married.

Mr. Campbell, their boss had specifically brought her to the office and as far as she knew, Nancy had not gone through any interviews and had not been specially trained for the position she was currently occupying. She would have been jealous but she just liked Nancy, she was so likable and not arrogant.

'Was the baby Mr. Campbell's then ?' Anna thought to herself but she kept all these thoughts to herself. She knew a few people who were feeling that Nancy could be having an affair with the boss and Nancy's reaction to the sudden trip of their boss had heightened her suspicion. But if they were indeed seeing each other, would she not have known of the trip and would he not have made up an excuse to take Nancy with him on the trip?

It could be that their relationship was based on an understanding of sorts. Afterall,Mr. Campbell could not afford to have his heart broken again though why any woman would want to forfeit the privilege of being his wife was beyond Anna's comprehension.

'Nancy, you know about my boyfriend Bryan.But you have not told me about yours. What are you doing hiding such an information? We are girls you know and friends too. Why keep it a secret?'

Nancy looked at her shocked.

'Nancy, you ate always asking me about my boyfriend Bryan. You know about him but you have never spoken about your boyfriend. Why are you being so secretive about him?' Anna asked Man y in the course of their chat. She had deliberately refrained from asking other personal questions like her pregnancy but she had felt the subject of a boyfriend was a safe topic to discuss so she was surprised at Nancy's pallor. She had gone quite pale.

'What did I say wrong? You should not be ashamed to talk about your relationship with me, I assumed we were friends and could at least share that much with each other.And You are an adult and I am not your mother to scold you for having a boyfriend and I promise I won't be judgmental,I have mine remember?'

But as Nancy continued to keep quiet and her paleness increased, Anna became alarmed.

'I am sorry if you do not want to tell me about him. You must have your reasons. I am sorry I asked. It is just that you have always shared in my happiness and I wanted to reciprocate'. she explained.

Nancy eventually found her voice.

'No Anna, that is not so. It's just that I am not yet ready to talk about it. It is a sore topic for me', she said.

'Oh, I'm sorry. I should have known, if it were a happy topic for you, you would have spoken about it long ago. But I was so caught up in my happiness with Bryan that I had not noticed. You should not talk about it if it makes you feel bad remembering it but in my experience, it is better to talk about it and ease yourself of such a burden If you had been badly hurt, then it would facilitate your healing. No body is worth causing you so much pain such as I have seen in your eyes and you are still giving him that right by dwelling in and feeding the pain with your bitterness. I am not trying to force you to do what you do not want to do but the earlier you talk about it and deal with it by facing the demons haunting you,the earlier you shall be free of them. I am speaking not as a colleague now but as a close friend and confidant of yours'.

'Ues, I know that but what do you know of such heartbreak and pain? You are in your own world basking in the love and attention of Bryan and soon you will be his wife. You do not know what others who are not as lucky as you are to find true love or a sincere companion have to pass through'. Nancy said sadly.

Anna looked at her and read more from her words than Nancy had intended

She was full of pity for her but the she still believed that the earlier she got over that hurt, the better it would be for Nancy.

'That is where you are wrong. You asked me the other day about our boss and I told you of his experience. Yours could never have been that bad, your best friend eloping with your wife or in this case your husband and nearly causing you to go bankrupt. He nearly died of the pain and the double betrayal he felt because the one person in the world who would have given him comfort as his friend and confidant was also a participant in the betrayal tearing his heart and sould apart.

And me, you think that I have not had my own share of disappointments and heartbreaks? Oh I can assure you that I have had them but I do not allow them cloud my joy or my life. Life goes on. The person who had hurt you this badly must have gone on with his life and you are deriving yourself of joy and laughter by continually dwelling on the hurt and you feel that he is worth it? Your happiness is yours and yours alone and no one has the right to take that from you except you give them the permission'

'You mean you have been hurt before?' Nancy asked unable to believe it. The petite lady looked like someone who had it all and had not felt pain before.

'Yes I have and not once but three times but have I allowed it stop me from being happy? No, it hasn't and neither should you. My failed love stories are a topic for another day, we have to get our boss prepared for his midday appointment but please be happy and forget about any villain that does not know your worth'', Anna advised.

Nancy smiled. She felt better after this chat with Anna and she was right. It was just that it pained her to see that her child was going to be born illegitimate. Without knowing her father though truth be told,he or she was better off without someone like Robert as their father.

She felt wet drops on her cheek and realised that she had been crying. She smiled through her tears as she wiped her tears off her cheek.

'Thank you so much. It has been a relief speaking with you. I fell better already. I shall definitely tell you about this some other time but for now, duty calls'.

Anna smiled sympathetically and patted her shoulder understandingly.

They went about their duties and Nancy forgot about her problems as she lost herself in her work and typing but when her workload reduced, she remembered that she had been just as happy or even happier than Anna was with her boyfriend Bryan. She had felt that she had it all. A good education, a promising career, a handsome rich man who loved her passionately and a blissful married life in the future with him but all that had been a lie. Robert had shown his real colours when she had told him of her pregnancy.

She remembered how heartbroken she had been when he had started avoiding her and not picking her calls. It had started when he had asked her to abort the pregnancy.

'You have to terminate the pregnancy. You should have been more careful in the first instance', he had said to her shocked disbelief.

'I am not hearing this! Are you blaming me for this? Did I get myself pregnant all by myself?'

'No but you should have known better than to have allowed it. We just started being intimate and you have already ruined it with this pregnancy!' he said furiously.

'By your words, I should take it that you are not happy about the baby then?'

'You ate right, I am not!' he stormed.

'But why is that, you said you loved me and I love you too, very much. What could be bad about the pregnancy then?

'Everything. For one, I am not ready for it now and neither are you'.

'Says who? I am ready if you are ready. This is a part of you and a part of me. It is the symbol of our love. We should cherish it and not kill it. We were going to get married afterall, so what if we have to do it earlier than we had planned, it is still for our good, don't you think'.

The look in his eyes had been enough to strangle her and Nancy had taken a few steps back.She had been holding him pleadingly. Not understanding what the problem was. If they loved each other the way she was sure that they did, what was the harm in getting married sooner to give their baby a home? She had been gloriously happy when she had found out that she was pregnant but why was Robert reacting this way? He was acting as though.... no it couldn't be. Robert loved her and the news of her pregnancy must have come as a surprise to him and everybody reacted to surprises in different ways.

'Robert, I am aware that the news has come as a surprise to you. You had been taken unawares and so have I but it is a good news nonetheless. Pull yourself together and let's reason this out. What are you so afraid of?'

'I am not afraid of anything!'

'Then what is it? You have the money to care for me and our baby. You and I are both adults and in love. What is there to stop us getting married? You can definitely not be unsure of my love for you are you?' Nancy asked perplexed.

Robert had kept silent. And then brought out his wallet and drawn out some amount of money.

'Here, take this.It should cover the expenses for the abortion. If you need more, let me know. But do it quick before it becomes too late. By the time I call you this evening, I want to hear you tell me that you have successfully terminated this pregnancy. We need to get to know each other more before welcoming any pregnancy'.

Nancy could have been blown down by a feather as she stared at him, with her mouth agape.

'Take it!' he commanded and she came out of her stupor.

'I won't!'

'And why not? You have enough money for the D&C?'

'I don't but I won't take this money from you because I shan't be aborting this baby'.

'But you must!'

'I won't!'

'If you do not do it, then consider this relationship over!'

'What did you say?'

'This relationship is over if you will not terminate this pregnancy!'

Nancy had thought she had heard it all but this was as shocking as it was brutal.

'She decided to change her approach, trying to make him see her point of view. Most probably, he was reacting this way because he felt that she was trying to impose the pregnancy on him or force him into marriage before he was ready.

'Darling', she started, 'Think about it. The baby is the symbol of our love. You had asked us to be intimate even when I had not wanted to. But I did to prove love to you and I must assure you that I do not regret it. But now that it has turned out this way,we have to be mature about it and do the right thing. And the right thing is not ending the life of an innocent baby that never begged to be conceived in the first instance. If you are not ready for marriage just yet, then I will understand but please don't make me kill this bundle of joy. It is a part of you and how can I kill a part of someone I love dearly? We shall get married whenever you want but we shall not get rid of this baby. Please try to understand'.

While speaking, she had held his hands, looking into his eyes with love and plea but he pushed her away and the shocked pain in her eyes was a sight to behold.

He wished that she had had an abortion as she fell but there had been no such luck but he knew that the fall from his push must have caused her immense pain both physically and emotionally and he derived an immense pleasure from it and his face transformed from fury to a devilish smile. Nancy went white seeing his smile and he caught but recollected himself and decided to take a softer approach with her.

He went to her, pulled her up and spoke gently to her.

'Oh, honey, I am sorry. I didn't mean to push you and definitely not that hard. Hope you were not injured? please forgive me'.

He made her sit down, trying hard to hide his impatience. He was really running out of patience with this foolish girl. He had just wanted to have fun with her but she had gone and got herself pregnant. Did she think that she could trap him that way?

'You see, I might be travelling on a business trip like I usually do and you know that these trips take months before I return. I do not want to leave you alone. Pregnancy is not a time to leave you alone to fend for yourself. Who will take care of you while I am gone?'

'My parents!'

He waved away her answer impatiently.

'No. I do not want that. You will become pregnant again when we are ready for it but not before and that is why you should get rid of it. I have left the money on the bedside table. Do it before I call this evening. That will make me immensely happy and I know you want to see me happy right?' he asked and Nancy shook her head mechanically, barely aware of what was going on around her. Her brain was processing the information she was receiving but her heart was denying it. She remained in a state of denial even after he left her promising to call her back that evening.

'Nancy. Nancy? Are you okay?'

Nancy was brought back to the present by Anna calling out her name.

Nancy blinked. She had been relieving the experience of having to convince Robert in vain to accept her pregnancy. It still shock her but she had other things to do and could not afford dwelling on the past or on what happened afterwards.