Planned Baby

Chapter 34 RESENTMENT

“I miss you too Hadley!”

My eyes widen upon hearing the name of the girl. I was curious about her for a while now, I can’t believe that she was in front of me now.

I feel weird for some reason. My heart is beating so fast and my body feels so weak. This feeling is different from what I felt a while ago when I signed the contract with Mr. Schulz.

“Who is she Quen? Don’t tell me you have a girlfriend now?” Hadley said while clinging her arms on Mr. Schulz.

“No, silly! She is Ms. Penelope Cabello, the CEO and President of Cabello International Corporation. I signed a contract with them today for Schulz Tech office building here.”

Hadley looks shocked from what she heard from Mr. Schulz. Seems like Mr. Schulz did not tell her about the possible partnership with my company. Good thing we already signed the contract before she came. I have a hunch that she can influence Mr. Schulz’s decision on this project.

She went to me. “Hi, I’m Hadley Adelson. How are Kade and his kids doing?” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“They are doing well.”

She smiles at me. “Glad to hear that. If it’s okay with you, I would like to invite you for lunch with Quen.”

I wanted to say no, but how can I say no when I just signed a contract with Mr. Schulz?!

“Sure.” Then I smile at her, though I know that my smile looks fake.

“Great! Let’s go Quen!”

Mr. Schulz can’t do anything but follow what she wants. He looks at me with an apologetic face, then he mouthed “sorry.” I just nodded at him to assure him that I’m fine with it.

Hadley was the one who chose the restaurant while Mr. Schulz and I were following her.

“I heard so much about you,” Hadley said to me after we gave our orders to the waiter assigned to our table.

I just smile because I don’t know what to say or how to react to what she just said.

“Well, I admit I became interested in you because of your relationship with Kade.”

“I don’t have any romantic relationship with Ulie.” I corrected her just in case she assumes things.

I know I sounded guilty. I knew I somehow ruined their supposed marriage, though it was an arranged marriage. At first, I thought that she was cool with it, but when I found out that she was in love with Ulie, I am not sure anymore.

She looks happy from what she heard from me. I guess it’s safe to assume that she still has a feeling for Ulie.

“Noted on that.” She joked then continue with her speech.

“Anyway, I became interested in you since then. I heard many things about you, especially your project with LHI and Hearst. I must say that I’m impressed! I’m sure Quen feels the same way that’s why she gave this project to you.”

“She’s really good. Those malicious issues before were all crap.” Mr. Schulz said.

I smiled at him. I feel fluttered from all this. “Thanks, Ms. Adelson and Mr. Schulz.”

“Stop with your formalities Penelope, you can just call me Hadley.”

“Hadley is right. You can call me Enrique or Quen just like what other people call me, or if you want you can be formal with me only when we are dealing with the business but outside the project just call me by my first name. Don’t make me feel old when I am not that old yet. We are the same age if I’m not mistaken.”

“Sure Hadley and Enrique.”

Our orders arrived but Hadley still keeps on asking me things about me, my work, and my family.

“I heard you are close with the Escarrer family.” Hadley finally asks about the Escarrer.

For some reason, I had a feeling that what she wants to ask from me is not about my work but my relationship with Escarrer and the twins. And I guess I’m right.

“Yes. It’s not hard to be close with them. They are all nice. I treated them like my own family.” I honestly told her.

She furrowed. “So you're saying that you are also treating Kade as your own family? I thought you guys don’t have a romantic relationship?”

“Hadley!” Enrique tried to stop Hadley from questioning me.

“What? I’m just asking because I’m kind of confused. They were in this set up for five years or so but they are not announcing that they are together or if they have any plans to get married.”

“I don’t think we owe the public an explanation or update about our life.”

“Maybe to them but what about me? You guys owe me one!” Hadley said then tears welled up from her eyes.

I got panic. I didn’t expect her outburst. I mean, maybe I know there is a possibility that she will pick a fight with me because of what happened between her and Ulie but looking at her almost crying in front of me, I didn’t expect this at all.

Enrique went to her to console her. “I’m sorry for this Penelope.”

“Why are saying sorry to her? I was the one who got hurt! I was the one who lost a fiancé!” The tears that she was trying hard to control burst out.

My heart is hurting now that I am looking at her crying. I know I’m at fault for this. I planned my pregnancy. Whether my plan succeeded or not, the fact that Ulie has a fiancé at that time when I had a one-night stand with him is wrong. I don’t want to hurt anyone but I just did.

I am consumed with so much guilt. I don’t know what to say to her now. I will understand if she will hate. I just ruined her plan or dream to spend her lifetime with Ulie.

“I’m sorry Hadley. I really do. It was not part of the plan. I didn’t know that Ulie has a fiancé when we did that. I was not planning to tell him about my pregnancy because I want to keep the twins for myself.”

“You know that I am an orphan. I lost my parents when I was 20 years old. I had no choice but to take over our family business. I work my ass off for six years. I felt so empty from those years. I miss my parents so much. I want to be with them, but I knew they will not like it if I died because they want me to continue living and be happy.”

“I had no idea how to be happy. I just want my family back. The only thing that came into my mind is to have a child of my own. That night, I intend to have a one-night stand with someone to get pregnant.”

They both looked shocked by my revelation. No one knew about this but the people who were close to me.

“You plan to get pregnant with Kade?” Hadley asks in disbelief.

I shook my head. “No. I didn’t know he was Ulysses Kade Escarrer. At that time, I didn’t bother to know the name of the guy I will have a one-night stand with because I don’t have any plan to share my child with him.”

“But how did he know about your pregnancy?” Hadley can’t help but ask.

“LHI Resort project happened. That is the time I found out that the guy I had a one-night stand with is Ulysses Kade Escarrer. I wanted to back out from the project because I’m scared that he will find out about my pregnancy.”

“But you didn’t back out.”

“Because I can’t take for granted all the hard work my people give to achieve our company’s goal. And Ulie will still find out about my pregnancy even if I didn’t do the project.”

“Penelope is right. The media expose her pregnancy. Even if she back out from the project, Ulysses will still look for her.” Enrique explained to Hadley.

“I didn’t know he already has a fiancé. I just found out about it after he knew about my pregnancy. I told him that he can continue your wedding but he said that he already made a decision.”

I guess this explanation is enough. Hadley is right, I owe her an explanation. She was the victim here.

“But why is Kade not marrying you yet?” Hadley asks again.

“I don’t want to.”

Hadley's eyes widen. “What? Are you for real?!”

“I don’t want him to marry me just because of the kids. It’s not fair for the both of us and even to the twins. I think the twins deserve an honest relationship, not an obligated one.”

“Again, Hadley I’m sorry. Because of me, you lost him. If I can do something to help you or just anything. I am willing to do so.” I offered her with pure sincerity.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“Then help me to convince Kade to marry me.”