“No, no. I don’t, I mean…” Lateisha glanced at him, pain and confusion on her face.
“It’s alright,” he said nodding towards the picture.
“Are you sure? It won’t be too weird?” Lateisha took the picture and pressed it to her chest, snatching it away quickly when she realized what she was doing.
Bryce watched her; never surer of what he had to do. “No, it won’t be weird.”
*****
Lateisha’s emotions were all over the place and she could only attribute it to rapidly changing hormones. It couldn’t possibly be that she changed her mind about having children, or that she wanted to be with Bryce. She was just hormonal. Pregnancy did that. Right?
Rubbing her face with her hands, Lateisha settled into the limo, turning away from Bryce and looking out the window. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to look at him, but she was afraid to. What if he saw the way she was beginning to feel about him? Not that she was even ready to admit to herself how she felt about him. Who knew being a surrogate would be so emotional, but of course not all women fell in love with the man whose baby they were carrying. Lateisha gasped and Bryce turned and looked at her. No, it wasn’t possible that she was in love with him. Sighing, she settled back against the seats, rubbing her temples, the beginnings of a headache pounding against her forehead.
“Are you alright?” Bryce asked her for what seemed like the fifth time that day.
Lateisha nodded, unwilling to talk, too afraid she would say something stupid.
“Talk to me, Lateisha. I think we really need to talk, about a lot of things.” Bryce scooted closer, turning her shoulders toward him.
She shook her head. “I can’t. Not right now, Bryce. I need,” she rubbed her face again; “I need time.”
Bryce nodded. “Take all the time you need. I just want you to know that I’ll wait. And I don’t expect you to sign that paper just yet.”
Lateisha looked at him, his words sinking in. What did he mean? Exiting the limo, Lateisha climbed out, declining Gerry’s hand for help. She walked into the building slowly and noticed Bryce didn’t try to catch up.
Why didn’t he want her to sign? Too exhausted to dwell on his words, Lateisha changed from her jeans and shirt, leaving them to fall where they did. All of this was too much for her and she needed time to let it all sink in. Getting ready for bed her mind was whirling and she almost forgot to brush her teeth. After lying down she slipped the ultrasound photo from her pocket and stared at it. That was her baby. Shock registered when she realized that was the first time she called the baby hers.
Chapter 8
Lateisha avoided Bryce all weekend, even spending the night at Becky’s apartment for a ‘girl’s night’. She couldn’t face him yet until she knew what to do about her situation. As far as she could tell she had two choices; pretend like Bryce and the baby meant nothing to her, give birth and cut ties and never see them again or tell Bryce how she felt and risk rejection or a court battle for custody of their child. Both seemed like painful choices, but the idea of the first one hurt her deeply. Before today, she was afraid to admit the way she felt about having a child. Now the idea of being without the child caused her great pain. Looking down at her nonexistent bump, Lateisha placed a hand over her stomach. Number one was not an option and after great thought she came to one conclusion; she would fight for her child.
Nerves ate at her stomach as she rode the elevator to the fifteenth floor for her first day as John’s assistant. How would Lateisha tell Bryce that she refused to sign the relinquishment of parental rights paper? He wouldn’t take it well. He would be angry. But he would live. There was no doubt in Lateisha’s head that he wouldn’t want a relationship. They were from different worlds and wanted different things. While she realized she loved him, she also knew that she could never be with him. She wasn’t good enough for him and they both knew it. Sighing with frustration, Lateisha exited the elevator, smoothing her knew skirt suit nervously. Becky made her buy the suit and it was way too expensive but she was right. Having a new outfit to wear for the first day of a new job did make her feel better.
“Can I help you?” What the hell was the blond bitch from Bryce’s floor doing here?
“Uh, yes. I’m here to see Mr. Wilson. I’m his new assistant.” Lateisha said, making sure not to sneer at the bitch.
“Oh,” she said with disdain. “He’s back in his office. At least now I can get back to Bryce.” The bitch winked at her and Lateisha wanted to slap her.
What the hell did that mean?
Lateisha brushed it off and walked down the hall, which was eerily similar to the one upstairs. She knocked softly on the door.
“Come in,” a gruff voice said loudly.
Lateisha entered the office, the butterflies fluttering hard in her belly.
“Hello, Mr. Wilson. I’m Lateisha Aaron, your new assistant.” She walked to his desk pushed out her hand to shake his.
John reluctantly offered his hand and Lateisha frowned. Why were all of the employees in this office so rude?
“Have a seat and we will discuss your duties,” he barked and Lateisha sat.
John droned on for over twenty minutes about what Lateisha’s position included. It was mainly answering phones; taking messages and running inner office errands so why he had to give her a huge spiel was unknown to her. Finally he stopped and stood, motioned to the desk that the bitch had just vacated and gave her a dismissive wave. What Lateisha really wanted to know; when was her break, where was the kitchen, how did she use the phone system, never came up in his lecture. Unfortunately that meant she would have to call Bryce. Afraid of the unknown phone system and wanting to avoid the blonde bitch, Lateisha pulled out her cell phone and dialed Bryce’s number from memory.
“Hello?” He answered on the first ring.
“Bryce, it’s me,” she said, hoping he knew her voice.