CHAPTER
“Thanks again for choosing me to work on your townhouse.” I smile at the couple, feeling a measure of pride that I’m gaining traction with my new career despite being new to the business. I had expected it to be difficult to make a name for myself at first but it seems Axel’s idea to advertise in various forms of media outlet is working. I’ve only had this place in operation over the past two weeks and already have scored some big clients. I’ve two completed projects out the way and three that I’m currently working on.
At the rate I’m going, I’ve had to hire an assistant to handle the phone calls and schedule meetings. I also have a remote web administrator who not only designed our unique web page but maintains it. Jess is even working for me part-time, keeping our social media pages buzzing with new posts as often as possible.
Working again and doing something I love, has even helped to settle my mind on the baby for now. I’m so busy at times I forget I’m pregnant. At least when I’m at the office. When I’m home, it’s a different thing. Axel takes over and never fails to remind me, my body is the vessel of the future Ash child. He’s just anticipating us going to the doctor later to confirm my due date and to find out the gender of our baby.
“I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job,” Mr. Jacobs remarks with a smile. He is about my age and so is his wife. Both make a handsome couple and I wonder how at such a young age he is able to afford a townhouse and have it totally renovated. Must be old money.
“Well when Axel recommended you,” his wife, Mrs. Jacobs added. “And showed us what you did to your home as well as your recommendations for his new office at Ash Publishing Company, I knew that you were just perfect for this job. I mean you’re his wife and all but Axel is a businessman at heart and wouldn’t recommend someone he didn’t have faith in.”
My face falls and I can feel the blood draining, leaving me pale. “Axel recommended you?” I ask for clarification.
“Why yes,” she replies with a bright smile. “My husband works for him. Your husband is such a generous employee. When he discovered we were going to be married and were looking to purchase a home, he offered us an advanced bonus.”
Her husband is frowning at her, like he is trying to get her to be quiet but I’ve already found out all I need to know.
“Well thanks for coming,” I say and force a smile. “I’ll be buy on Thursday at four as you stated to view the space and see what we have to work with.”
“Great,” Mr. Jacobs states and takes his wife’s arm, guiding her from the office. “We’ll see you then. Have a pleasant day Mrs. Ash.”
I nod and keep the smile until the door closes behind them. As soon as they leave, I fall into my seat in anger. Unbelievable. All this success I thought I had wasn’t due to my hard work. It was all Axel. I should have known. Why hadn’t he said anything? I am mad at him for interfering in my work. I want to do this on my own. He’s already helped so much with buying the office and paying for all those adverts. I just wanted to do the rest on my own.
At four there’s a knock at my door and Axel walks into my office. I have to try not to soften at the image he cuts standing there wearing a pristine charcoal suit. He looks handsome as usual and is still able to make my heart skip a beat.
“You ready to go?” he asks without even greeting me. I look up at him and realize he seems livid, barely controlling his anger. His jaw is clenched tight.
“Yes, I am,” I respond blandly and grab my bag, ready to go to my doctor’s appointment.
“Are you okay?” he enquires as I walk ahead of him out the office. He’d dropped me to the office again this morning as he has been doing since we discovered I am pregnant.
“Couldn’t be better,” I answer him and we continue in silence to his car parked out front, driven by his bodyguard again. Is it just my overactive imagination or are they appearing more often these days?
He holds the door open for me and I slide into the back seat before he folds himself in after me, shutting the door firmly. I scoot over to the far end of the seat to avoid him as I stare out the window. I’m so mad at him and want to blow up but the way he in turn looks angry, I’m not sure this is the right time to bring up what he had done. I don’t want anything to thunder on my parade. Like him coming up with something terrible at work that has happened that has him legitimately in a bad mood.
“Did something happen today you’re not telling me about?” Axel asks me. I can feel his eyes on me but I continue to gaze out the window.
“Like what?” I return and I can’t help myself. Everything spills out. “You mean the way you made up clients and sent them my way?”
“I didn’t make-”
“Come on Axel, don’t start lying to me now,” I berate him. “Did you or did you not send all the clients I’ve worked with my way?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he asks. “They had a need for an interior designer and I knew where they could get a damn good one. Why wouldn’t I recommend my wife?”
“Because many of these people would jump in fire if you asked them to do it!” I exclaim. ““Why wouldn’t I?” he asks. “They had a need for an interior designer and I knew where they could get a damn good one. Why wouldn’t I recommend my wife?”
“Because many of these people would jump in fire if you asked them to do it!” I exclaim. “Axel, it’s like using your power to control their decision.”
“Were they dissatisfied with the service you offered?” he fires back at me.
His question makes me pause. “No. But how do I know if that was genuine?”
“Trust me, it was genuine. If it wasn’t, news of how much my wife sucks would have reached me by now.”
“You’re not getting my point!” I snap at him.
He stares me down. “These people had a legitimate need for an interior designer. I steered them in the right direction and they are satisfied. That’s all there is to it. Some people would have simply said thank you.”
“But—”
“Enough already Joyce!” he exclaim. “You’re giving me a damn headache going on and on about this. I’ve got things on my mind right now and can’t deal with this crap from you right now. Stop being stubborn for a change and be grateful you have a husband who loved you and want to see you succeed at your dream. Now we’re about to view our baby for the first time. I’d like us to concentrate on that instead of your business. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes sir,” I reply which makes him glare at me.
“Save the sir for later when I have you on your knees.”
Blushing, I stare back through the window and realize we’ve gotten to the doctor’s office. The driver parks the car and I feel somewhat ashamed of getting into an argument with him in someone else’s hearing. I should have waited until we get home before I get upset at him.
I’m relieved there’s a male nurse at the front desk this time. Surprise, surprise that he is checking out Axel all the same but at least I don’t feel threatened by this guy. The doctor is waiting for us right away since we’re on time for our appointment. Before he starts the scan, he checks my vitals and measures my waist. I’m shocked to discover I’ve gained six pounds since the last visit and my waist was a size up. I’d not noticed the difference although I could feel my breasts getting fuller. They were incredible sensitive now especially when Axel and I have sex.
After the check-up, we follow him to the room where the ultrasound is done. I lie propped up in the narrow bed, Axel beside me strangely quiet for this visit as we watch the technician rub my tummy with a clear cool liquid before running a handheld scanner over the area.
The sound of the baby’s galloping heartbeat makes me gasp. “It’s beating kinda fast, isn’t it? Is that okay?” I ask.
“Yes, that’s about right,” the technician answers. “The heart is strong and healthy. We can see the image clearly of your baby. Have any idea what the sex is?”
I stare in awe at the image the technician points out on the screen. I’ve never seen anything like it before. The movement of our baby is clear. I could make out the head, the little hands and fingers, the legs and is that what I think it is?
“It’s a boy,” I say in awe. “It is a boy isn’t it?”
“Yes, you’re having a baby boy.”
“Oh my God, Axel, we’re having a boy!” I’m so happy tears are running down my cheeks. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the monitor. Before I knew I was pregnant but seeing the baby causes it to sink in. We’re going to be parents and I’m excited.
When I get no response from Axel, I glance up at him and notes he is frowning at the monitor. My heart clenches at his look. Is he changing his mind about the baby? His face seems strained, almost white as if he’s going to pass out.
“Excuse me, a minute,” he mumbles and before I could ask him what is wrong, he leaves the room. I feel embarrassed and hurt at the way he leaves. He doesn’t look as though he wants to be a father anymore. Has the reality of it seized him the way it seized me but in the opposite way?
The technician is talking, mostly to himself as he is making checks that the baby is developing normally. He is printing pictures for us to take home when I hear the ping of Axel’s phone. He’d left it on the bed beside me. My eyes automatically find the screen and my blood runs cold. It’s a message from Jack Petersen.
“A little birdie says your wife is expecting. Here’s to hoping nothing happens to mother and child.”