3. Fired!

Lily's POV:

A few weeks later after Blake's unforeseen devastating blow to my heart, my footsteps echoed through the empty hallway as I made my way to my office.

My mind was consumed by a whirlwind of emotions I couldn't even explain if I tried to, my thoughts tethered to the past weeks I had spent at home crying myself to sleep each and every night...

It had been a tumultuous time, discovering my pregnancy from a one-night stand, only to be rejected by the very person responsible in front of his mother and my best friend... Could things get any worse than they were?

I sighed heavily as I settled into my desk, I couldn't shake the heavy weight of rejection that hung on my heart. The exhaustion of sleepless nights and the constant replay of my shattered perfect life gnawed at me. But I had to pull myself together and face the world again, even though everything had changed drastically for the worse.

I looked down at my lap and caught a glimpse of my growing bump which I notified my coworkers that I was bloated due to gasses I was battling with in the past weeks...

I sighed again as the paunch just remained a constant reminder of my growing secrets, I tried my best to conceal beneath my loose-fitting clothes which the other employees started questioning the first time I showed up in them.

But then again it was becoming harder by the day to hide something that was visibly noticeable to the human eye because pregnancy was like a wildfire's flames burning a forest in a split second, everyone noticed its path, hence it wasn't long before my boss, Mr. Anderson, took notice of my 'new look.'

He was a man who prided himself on observing his staff meticulously, and my changing appearance didn't escape his gaze.

With a raised eyebrow, Mr. Anderson peered at me, concern blended with suspicion etched across his face.

"Lily, how are you?"

I fumbled with my dress before I looked up at him, "I'm great sir, how are you," I stuttered nervously.

"I'm good, " he turned to walk away, I sighed softly and just when I thought he was off my case, he turned around again to face me. "Lily, may I have a word? It seems as though there may be something you've been keeping hidden from us. Something... significant." Summoning me to his private office, Mr. Anderson's voice held a curious tone as he delicately broached the subject.

Eh! His office?

Caught off-guard, my heart began pounding in my chest.

Did he know about the pregnancy?

No, I doubt that... I contradicted myself inwardly.

"Okay sir," I hesitantly got up from my seat and followed him behind as I made sure to breathe in and try as much as possible to hide my growing bump.

"Good morning Miss Conner, " a female subordinate walked past me with a posied look on her face, I bobbed my head in acknowledgment, but I could help feel the eyes of my subordinates watching me while I made my way to his office down the hallway.

Mr Anderson was the HR's boss and when he asked anyone of us to visit his office, we knew something serious was up.

He took a seat in his chair," please close the door behind you and take a seat," he said and I did as asked.

"Lily, how long have you been working with us?" He asked and I swallowed nervously.

"Two years sir," I stuttered faintly.

His face lit up," Two years and you are an executive supervisor… not bad for a rookie uh," he bobbed his head with a sly smile.

"Yes sir, "I let out a tight-lipped smile so as not to seem as uncomfortable around him.

"And are you married?" He raised an eyebrow at me, I felt my knees grow weak.

What was he trying to get at???

"No sir, I'm not married yet," I stuttered faintly while evading his inquisitive stare.

"Oh, and are you pregnant?" He blurted out the question, my eyes widened with shock while my heart skipped a beat.

How the fuck did he know about my pregnancy? I protectively cradled my slightly visible bump in my hands.

I looked up to his eyes and tears welled up in mine as I couldn't bear to lie any longer… I swallowed hard while mere seconds passed, but it felt like an eternity. I broke down, my voice quivering with sadness and regret. "Yes, Mr. Anderson, I am pregnant."

"Ah, I see," he rubbed his imaginary beard as to my shock, Mr. Anderson's expression shifted, a devious grin creeping onto his face while he leaned into the desk.

What was going on?

I felt a wave of discomfort ripple through my body, my instincts screaming at me to retreat. But I had already exposed my truth, leaving me vulnerable to his mercy of what he was going to do with my pregnancy news.

"And the father, where is he?" He questioned further with knitted eyebrows.

"He is not in my life," I stuttered faintly while I fidgeted with my fingers.

"Oh, I see," he let out a coy smirk, and my heart skipped a beat.

What was Mr Anderson getting at?

"So who will take care of you and the baby?" He maintained unblinking focused eye contact.

I frowned… couldn't he just fire me already and relieve me of my misery?

"I'm taking each day at a time sir," I answered back.

"Oh I see… but do you know that I can take good care of both you and your baby without a problem," he reached out for my arm, and grazed his fingers on me, I recoiled at his disgusting touch.

How dare he even think about getting down and freaky with a pregnant woman?

"Don't be scared baby doll, I don't bite," he let out a naughty smirk, my stomach churned with disgust.

"Excuse me sir, but I think it's time for me to leave," I got up and he grimaced.

"If you want to keep your job, sit your ass down," he snapped between gritted teeth, my body instinctively plopped down out of fear and intimidation.

"I'm sorry sir but I beg to be excused," I implored but it fell on deaf ears.

"Why so soon baby doll when we are just getting to know each other," he attempted to wink at me but he just looked like he was having a mini-stroke, I held my laugh inside while I kept a straight face...

"Listen, Lily, you look like a good girl who can keep a secret… what do you think about me stepping in as a father figure to your unborn child and letting me take care of you if you know what I mean?" He asked and I scowled.

What was Mr Anderson's deal with me?

"No thanks," I murmured and he frowned.

"Why baby doll, I'm I not sexy enough for you?" He rubbed his potty belly and grinned at me. My nose crinkled while I avoided his sight.

Mr Anderson was a middle-aged man with some grey hair on his head, hence his advances stunned me.

"oh come on baby doll, I can teach you some tricks too,"

With each lecherous comment and lingering gaze, Mr. Anderson's intentions became apparent… he too wanted to fuck up my life.

"I'm sorry sir but I'm not interested," I said firmly, he again reached out for my hand and touched me lightly, and I jerked behind.

"Please stop it," I snapped and he chuckled evilly.

"Why do you want to play hard to get when you already opened your legs to another man within the company for the promotion you have," he blurted out without care, and my mouth dropped slightly.

What was he talking about… which man did I sleep with for my promotion? I narrowed my gaze towards him and he smirked.

"You think I don't know what you did you little slut," he said and for the first time in months I was unable to withstand him and his stupid advances any longer maybe because of the pregnancy hormones in my body, and my hand shot forth, unintentionally colliding with his cheek in an act of instinctive defiance.

SLAP!

His eyes instantly filled with fury, and he reacted swiftly. "What! How dare you slap me, your boss?" With an ice-cold tone, he declared my employment terminated on the spot, stripping all of my company privileges such as the car and apartment without hesitation.

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to.." I implored but Mr Anderson cut me off by raising his hand to my face.

"Save it, you cheap slut… now get out and carry your shit with you," he ordered while he huffed and puffed. My mind raced with a thousand questions per minute.

Oh my goodness, what have I done to deserve his wrath?

Devastated and broken, I gathered the little self-respect I had left, and walked out of the building jobless and penniless because I used to send almost all of my earnings back home for Dad's expensive physio treatment…

But there was one person I still believed could help me in this trying time – the man who had played an important role in my current predicament.

Blake Smith.

At least he owed me that much since I was carrying his child. My steps quickened as I couldn't help but hold onto a glimmer of that fleeting connection even after what transpired last time when I approached him with Sue… Besides he might have felt ambushed by my sudden appearance and that's why he reacted the way he did towards me...

Having made up my mind, I embarked on another sole journey to Blake's town by train again seeing that my car was taken away.

He must hear me out today... The rhythmic clatter of the tracks matched the turmoil in my soul as the train sped up.

A few hours later as the train pulled into the deserted station, I sprinted towards his home, my heart pounding with anticipation and desperation.

Blake must hear me out today... I repeatedly told myself while I ran to his home a few hundred meters away from the station.

But as I neared the creepy town, my worst fears materialized before my eyes. Blake stood there, his arms wrapped around a blonde beautiful woman, their laughter intertwining and echoing through the crisp air.

Who was she? I gasped while I had difficulty swallowing.

The sight struck me like a bitter blade, piercing through the remnants of my fragile hope. I stopped in my tracks.

Was she the reason he rejected me?

The woman tiptoed and lovingly kissed Blake's cheek anyone could tell she wasn't his relative.

My heart ached as I felt heartbroken and shattered, all I could do was stare... How could this man be so merciless and toy with women's feeling like we ain't human? I turned away from the scene and dragged myself back to the train station.

Why did I think differently of Blake this time around??? I clutched my chest while I took short breaths.

Oh god, what do I do now?

I felt like I had no choice but to forge a new path, alone with my child.

But where would I do this since I had no job to support us?