Single Pregnant and Confused Read online

  SINGLE, PREGNANT AND CONFUSED

  BY VENETIA LOVELACE

  Copyright © 2012 Venetia Lovelace

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover image courtesy of YaiSirichai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  CHAPTER 1

  “Ruby, promise, you’ll help me. Don’t say no.” Tina took her friends’ hands in hers, putting on her best imploring act. It was a first for Tina. She never required help in her clockwork, oh! So predictable life.

  Ruby looked at her enquiringly, diverting her attention from the laptop on which she was busy getting artists together for the art gallery she planned to open in one of the swankiest malls in the city.

  “What is it? Speak up.” Impatient to resume her work, Ruby wondered what crisis could have occurred in Tina’s uneventful life as the absolutely reliable and efficient PA that was making her plead for help. And Ruby was hardly a help to her housemate. It was Tina who did the cooking most of the time with Ruby’s greatest culinary skills being limited to warming up heat and eat dishes, or, when in a particularly adventurous mood, tossing a salad. But Tina never complained of her friend’s severe deficiency of hunger alleviating abilities. She was such a sweetheart. Which was why Ruby would do anything for her.

  Tina, her housemate of three years, worked as PA for the Managing Director of ‘Infinity’, a huge, multi enterprise company with global connections.

  “I need to take leave for a week.” Tina’s normally clear brow was furrowed.

  “Everything alright?” Ruby pushed her laptop aside to look at her friend in the face. She had never known Tina to take a day’s leave, leave alone a week.

  “Well yes. It’s just that Karan is going to Mauritius on an assignment and wants me to accompany him.” Tina’s lips trembled and she looked down coyly. Karan was her boyfriend.

  “Oh really! That’s great news. You are such a dark horse, Tina. Are you serious about him? I am so happy for you!” Ruby gushed, wondering at the nature of help her friend required from her.

  Perhaps it was help with purchasing a smart, sexy wardrobe fit for the gorgeous beach location. Tina dressed in unimaginative, nondescript clothes that covered her from head to toe. Or perhaps she needed some sex counseling. She was so hopelessly ignorant about it. Not that Ruby was an authority, but she was certainly better informed than her friend.

  Or maybe she wanted her to manage her own meals while she was away. Yes, that was it. She knew how hopeless Ruby was in the kitchen.

  “Yes, I think I love him.” Tina looked at her from behind her glasses.

  Ruby jumped up and hugged her reticent friend.

  “Great going Tina. Go for it. And don’t worry. I won’t blow up the kitchen while you’re away. I’ll survive my own cooking… And you can borrow some of my beach clothes… When are we going shopping?” Ruby went on in a single breath, super excited at the prospect of some color in her friend’s lackluster life.

  “Thanks for the help Ruby. But that’s not the problem.” Tina’s voice was edgy.

  “Then what is? Tell.” There was urgency in Ruby’s voice. Tina deserved a break. The quiet, sincere, unassuming girl, who had lost her father, the sole earning member of her family, two years ago, worked quietly to support her mother and had seen her brother through college. Ruby would do anything for her.

  “Can you…?” Tina looked at Ruby hopefully.

  “I’ll do anything for you, except accompany you to Karan’s bed.” Ruby asserted.

  A smile broke on Tina’s face, animating it.

  “It’s nothing like that. It’s my boss. He won’t give me leave unless I supply him with a replacement who can handle my job efficiently. I have tried employment agencies, but to no avail. No one is prepared to fill in for a week.” Tina stopped, looking at Ruby with soulful eyes.

  “Well, I don’t run employment agencies, unless an artist will do.” Ruby wondered how she could be of help.

  “You could stand in for me for a week.” There was a beseeching look in Tina’s eyes.

  “Me!” Ruby exploded in shock but quickly controlled herself. She had never worked for anyone and had no intentions of doing so. The only child of filthy rich parents, she was in Mumbai because she wanted to be on her own, away from their constant patronizing. Her father had gifted her a huge space in a posh mall on her graduation and she was working on turning it into an art gallery which would provide a platform for aspiring artists, including herself.

  “It’s just for a week Ruby.” Again, that poignant look that melted Ruby’s heart.

  “But I don’t know how to look or behave like an employee, or take a dictation, or organize things for anyone else…” Ruby was positively dismayed.

  “Oh! It’s nothing. You’ll manage just fine.” Tina urged.

  “All right. Anything for you, sweetheart. When do I start?” Ruby knew it would mean stalling the opening of the Art Gallery, but it wasn’t much for a girl like Tina.

  “Tomorrow.” Tina spoke eagerly.

  “Wow! You sure are giving me time to change my plans.” Ruby thought of the people she would have to inform about the postponement of her plans of inaugurating the gallery.

  “But I’ll do it if you promise me the juiciest, unedited details of your romp with Karan.” She looked at Tina wickedly.

  “If you insist. And thanks.” Tina plunged at her, hugging her in a rare display of affection.

  Ruby reached office a good fifteen minutes before time. Tina had warned her that the boss did not take to lackadaisical late comers well. But she hadn’t told her that she worked in an intimidatingly posh all glass high rise that had Infinity scrawled across it in slanting blue letters.

  She parked her car in the huge underground parking lot and took the elevator to the ground floor. The polished marble floors, the high ceilinged atrium and the lacquered wood reception desk took her breath away. She was used to affluence, but this office was another league altogether. It could only be owned by one who had the unlimited wealth of Croesus. Must be a stuffy, crummy old man with a pot belly and a balding pate, to have reached this level of prosperity, she decided. Pots of gold came with pot bellies.

  She mentally prepared herself for a week of extreme boredom with an ageing moneybag, organizing schedules, reminding him of meetings, probably with other equally uninteresting moneybags and writing tedious mails to clients.

  Her father ran a successful stock broking business and there was nothing she hated more than the financial talk which dominated his life to the exclusion of all else. The stock market defined his perspective on life. Even people were ‘good’ or ‘bad’ stocks depending on how much wealth they could create for him. But then he had spent a small fortune to allow her to pursue her passion. She knew he would do anything for her. She felt a twinge of regret at being away from her favorite artistic pursuits for a week.

  She realized that she had reached the reception desk and the receptionist was looking up at her enquiringly.

  “I’m Mr. Vikram Oberoi’s new personal assistant.” The receptionist gave her a doubtful look over. Ruby had a strong feeling that she was silently disapproving.

  “Filling in for Tina while she is on leave.” Ruby hastened to add as she noticed the incredulity on the primly turned out receptionist’s face. She glanced down at her own chiffon blouse and the short skirt that ended eigh
t inches above her knees, the black lace stockings she had teamed with her dress. And the high stilettos that were an essential part of her dressing. Damn! Was she supposed to be following some prissy dress code? Tina hadn’t warned her of that.

  “Your name please?”

  “Ruby Kapoor.”

  The receptionist pressed a button that linked her to the boss. Her tone was all simpering and dulcet now. There was a certain Miss Ruby to fill up for Tina. Should she send her up? Yes Sir, she would do that right away.

  “Fifteenth floor.” She pointed to the bank of elevators to the right.

  Ruby had a strong suspicion that the receptionist’s censorious gaze was glued to her derriere as she walked towards the elevators. She didn’t care two hoots about it. And she wasn’t going to change her style to please anyone. She wasn’t an employee here. She was just filling in for her dear friend. So what if the two were diametrically opposite? She recalled Tina’s endearing simplicity of dress. But then she wasn’t Tina.

  The elevator boy had guided her into a glass capsule lift and she was moving up at what seemed to be a breakneck speed.

  This time she found herself in a plush carpeted lobby. Another receptionist’s desk, although a smaller one. Would this receptionist be as stuffily appraising of her as the previous one had been, she wondered. They sure were possessive about their tycoon.

  This one didn’t seem as starchy stiff as the one on the ground floor though. She was very young, probably in her early twenties, and pretty, with a flawless white skin, big tits and small features. Her ebony hair was put up in a top knot. Her dress was a chic black. The old tycoon probably had a glad eye, Ruby thought.

  “Miss Ruby?” She spoke in a softly accented voice.

  “Yes.” Ruby nodded.

  “Please be seated. Sir will see you in a while.” She indicated a luxurious leather sofa.

  Ruby sank into it, wondering whether she had done the right thing in agreeing to work here. She felt like a fish out of water.

  A posse of men in formal dress trying to keep pace with someone who looked like Adonis towering above them appeared, hurriedly scribbling the instructions he barked out, all of them obsequious, servile and simpering. The entire group entered through the glass double doors and moved swiftly towards the only visible entrance in the area. The doll like secretary was standing up in humility but the gorgeous male did not condescend to throw an acknowledging glance her way. The only man doing the talking was the Greek God. His minions listened and took notes. Her breath hitched at the haughty arrogance of the man. He oozed confidence and power enough to rule the world, his ram rod straight carriage bespoke his flawlessly perfect physique, which made the underlings look oh! So full of imperfections. She could see his broad, powerful shoulders and proud head from where she sat.

  She pinched herself to ensure that this wasn’t a dream. The plush office, the model like secretary and now the James Bondesque man-the setting had all the trappings of a Hollywood thriller. And Tina hadn’t warned her of it. But then when did she have the time or the inclination to listen to her? She was always so involved with her art work. She twirled the diamond engagement ring she wore around her finger. Her fiancée, Aryan, was so unassuming, always considerate of others. Thank God! He helped her regain her sanity whenever she was peeved at the way things were going and had strong urges to hurl all things within her reach to the ground. Mr. Bond was so full of himself. He could never do that for another. So not her type, she decided.

  Yet, her curiosity about this man who apparently was under the impression that he was God’s gift to mankind was fired. She wondered who the breathtaking stud was. Probably the old Managing Director’s CEO, by the looks of it. No one else would be ordering people left and right. A supremely chauvinistic male, no doubt. The kind who regarded females as sex toys, surely. Crap. She hated the kind. A man had to treat a woman with respect to earn it.

  Nevertheless, she found herself mesmerized by the man and continued to ogle stupidly until he disappeared behind the doors. The doll with the big tits was still standing, looking hopefully towards the lordly creature, her lips trembling, obviously eager for no more than a glance thrown her way. She was probably besotted with him, Ruby thought pityingly. Well, she hoped she wouldn’t have much to do with him, for she couldn’t imagine herself hanging on to every golden word that emerged from that proud mouth.

  The strange procession firmly behind closed doors, the pretty creature behind the receptionist’s desk came to. Recollecting her duties, she turned her attention to Ruby.

  “Would you like some tea or coffee?” She smiled.

  “Just water. Thanks.” Ruby’s lips suddenly felt parched as if she had been in the desert for days now. She ran her tongue over them, wondering why the sight of the handsome hunk had sucked the moisture out of her and why his beautiful, arrogant head had crowded out all sensible thought from her brain. She rotated the ring around her finger, almost managing to slip it off in the process.

  She gratefully grabbed the glass of water brought to her hoping it would ease the dehydrated feeling within her.

  The underlings emerged from behind the hallowed doors, looking suitably engrossed in the tasks that had been allocated to them by the lord and master.

  “Sir will see you now, Madam.” The porcelain doll was addressing her, Ruby realized, still in the grip of dehydration caused by the breathtakingly handsome male. Which was unusual for her for she was no coy virgin. She had once had sex with Aryan, which had been mildly satisfying. His proximity had never given her goose pimples on her skin, like this man’s had. Probably because he obviously had an ego as big as Asia, she thought, and she detested nothing as much as an overinflated self-image.

  “Thanks.” She stood up. Finally, she would meet the old man she would be working for, she thought, as she entered the door indicated by the china doll.

  Ruby found herself in an office that occupied as much space as a decent sized apartment. She looked around in undisguised awe, her gaze travelling to the carpeted floors and the French windows in gleaming glass before they fell on the man behind the huge polished wood table at the center of the sprawling office.

  Stop gaping like a fish, she admonished herself and forced her parted lips shut.

  Her dried up brain must be playing tricks with her, or why would the Greek God be sitting in the Managing Director’s chair? Crap. She had never felt so out of her element. She was always so much in control. She blinked her eyes, glad that the apparition before her was looking into his laptop and wouldn’t notice her clownish acts. Poof! He was going to disappear to wherever he rightfully belonged and when she opened her eyes, a real old man would be sitting in the chair.

  She opened her eyes slowly, hoping to see that shiny bald pate she had been expecting. But no such luck. The sinfully sexy man was still there. Larger than life.

  Maybe she had entered the wrong room, she thought hopefully. Wishful thinking. The mammoth space had to belong to the MD.

  Mr. Oberoi must away for a while. He must be filling up for him. Yes, that was it. They were both filling up for somebody. She needn’t worry. He would soon go wherever he belonged, it wasn’t her concern. Relieved at the soothing thought, her confidence restored, she thought it best to enlighten him of her presence.

  “Excuse me, Sir. I am here to meet Mr. Oberoi. I am his new PA.” Her voice was embarrassingly guttural, though she had downed most of that glass of water.

  He looked up. At close quarters he was devastatingly handsome, the kind of poster boy that existed only between the covers of glossy magazines, or in women’s lusty dreams. Fair skinned with the high cheekbones and the sculpted features of aristocracy, a mop of glossy brown hair added to the unfair advantage he enjoyed above the lesser mortals. Her breath suspended. An irrational rush of blood from her neck to the roots of her hair told her that she had turned an unbecoming beetroot red. She had to appear moronically pubescent in front of this man most women would die for. Crap. Her thumb was agai
n at her ring, twirling it. She willed it away from the circle.

  He was staring at her unabashedly, his piercing gaze taking in every inch of her, his face inscrutable.

  She walked across a space of what seemed to be almost a mile to his desk, thankful when she made it for her bones had melted under his hot gaze. She was relieved when he waved her to the chair opposite him, for a few seconds more of the high power scrutiny and she would have collapsed in a clumsy heap at his feet.

  She sank into the chair, glad that her legs were hidden from his sight, or she was swinging them alternately to check if they still worked.

  “So you are going to be standing in for Tina.” He raised an eyebrow and threw a disparaging glance at her, clearly skeptical of her assisting and organizational abilities.

  “For Mr. Oberoi, the MD.” She quickly clarified, not very enthusiastic about suffering an inquisition at the hands of this thirtyish lady killer.

  “I see. Do you happen to know him?” He pushed away his laptop and looked straight into her eyes, placing his arms on the table.

  “No.” She squirmed under the examination of his silvery grey eyes. He was far too handsome for the peaceful existence of womankind.

  “Then how did you conclude that the person occupying his chair isn’t him? It would be very contrary to professional ethics for anyone to occupy the chair of another, especially the MD. Or are you so ignorant about the basics of professional behavior that you assumed otherwise?” Her jaw dropped open. His severe countenance jolted her out of her deification of the man. She pursed her lips together to avoid looking as idiotic as she felt. Her stupid feet were doing a clumsy tap dance on their own.

  Crap. How stupid of her not to recognize the MD himself. How come Tina never dropped a hint about her drool worthy boss? Even if she didn’t, her mind being full of romantic mush over the first ever holiday in her life, Ruby could have armed herself with a bit of research over the internet. Alright, Ruby hadn’t been so enthusiastic; it was just a temporary thing after all. But she could have kept her senses about her and avoided blundering in like Don Quixote. Which she hadn’t. And she had goofed up royally. She needed to make amends before he threw her out.