The Dark Secret of the CEO

Chapter 38

Although Rafael didn’t want to miss such an important episode, he agreed to let Gerard take her, especially since the agency had a wedding that day and the preparations would start very early.

– Please, as soon as you have the photo of that cutie, send it to me – he asks before saying goodbye –

-Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to see it.

– We both know I won’t be the first – he gives her a hug and opens the door -, but I’ll settle for being the second.

He gives her a kiss on the forehead and leaves uneasily, because he feels that Luz’s closeness with Gerard is not convenient for him, although he doesn’t want to act like that jealous and possessive man either, he doesn’t want to be the same as his father.

A while after he left, nine thirty, Gerard rings the doorbell of the apartment and Luz receives him with a hug, takes her bag and they go downstairs to go to the appointment, which is quite close.

They make the journey talking about Charlize and how much she misses her, how well she has done at school, with new friends, teachers who love her and whom she has surprised by reading a few words. - Have you continued practicing with her?

– Of course they did, what they didn’t know was that a civil code book was placed in front of them to motivate them.

– He says it’s his incentive. She looks up to you and wants to be as good a lawyer as you are.

Gerard smiles proudly at his daughter’s goals, despite being small, she knows what she wants from life. They keep talking about little Charlize and they reach a point that complicates Luz.

Did you tell him why I didn’t go? -she tells him with a low voice and looking at her feet-,

-She knows that you’re sick and that you’re getting better at home, resting – she takes his hand, without taking her eyes off the road -. She didn’t want to say anything else to her, because she assumed that you would want to.

-Yes, thanks – after that Gerard changes the topic to legal things, so that Luz doesn’t lose the desire to study. He knows that she can continue with her plans, even if she has to hire someone to take care of the baby and Charlize.

They arrive at the clinic ten minutes early, Gerard as always helps her out of the car and they enter the building. Walking through the halls Gerard begins to remember the times that he accompanied Margaret in her pregnancy to each of the prenatal checkups and ultrasounds.

But it doesn’t hurt anymore.

They sit in a comfortable waiting room, along with several mothers, some as flat as Luz and others with more pronounced bellies, but all with that same light that characterizes women who create life in their wombs. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Luz takes one of the magazines that are there and starts reading an article about natural childbirth and how beneficial it is for the mother and the baby.

– I swear I was scared to read all this – Luz tells her, returning the magazine to its place – How can it be that splitting you in two is the most magical moment of pregnancy?

-I don’t know… – Gerard tries to tell him, but a woman next to her answers –

-My dear, when you are at that precise moment, only the desire to see your son eats you up, neither the pain nor anything is stronger than those desires.

-Safe? – She asks him incredulously.

– As sure as I am carrying my fourth child – the woman replies with a huge smile –

-Luz Méndez – the doctor’s voice prevents Luz from dropping her jaw in surprise –

Gerard goes after her as a faithful guardian, when he reaches the door the doctor looks at Luz and warns her.

-We will have the first ultrasound and due to the pregnancy, it will be transvaginal, as I explained it to you the previous time – he says looking at both of them -.

-He already knows.

– Well, we’ll do what we always do in these cases – he tells Luz to put on a robe behind a screen -. And you’ll be sitting over here with your back to me, just looking at your girlfriend and the monitor.

If Luz thought she was going to correct the doctor about being his girlfriend, she was wrong, because she only heard Gerard nod enthusiastically. When she gets out of it, she finds him sitting like a good boy next to the stretcher, helps her up and does what the doctor told her minutes ago

-Yeah, girl, one leg here, the other over here – she follows the doctor’s instructions, who knows he is being considerate of Gerard – I’ll use this, it’s a special transducer for these cases, I’ll put a condom and some gel, depending The patients have told me, it is somewhat uncomfortable, but if you relax, nothing happens.

-Ok – Luz feels very nervous, because she has never been examined in that way, however her knight- errant realizes it and shakes her hand -.

-Just look at me, breathe easy and set your sights here – she points to her face and she smiles –

-Ready? – The doctor asks permission and they start at once -.

It’s not pleasant at all and if it wasn’t for Gerard’s gentle gaze keeping her sane, she’d probably be crying.

The room fills with a loud and fast sound, they both look at the screen and Gerard immediately recognizes the image of the baby growing inside Luz.

-Well, there it is. Your heart is already beating very well… I confirm 8 weeks and five days.

-It’s… this is it – but Luz’s words get stuck in her throat -.

If before she still had doubts about having that baby or not, now there were none. It might not have been conceived with love, but there was plenty of it right now.

Neither of them knew who was holding the other’s hand tighter, but they were both absorbed in this tiny image, a helpless being who was clinging to life and would have a special place in his mother’s world.

When they’re done, the doctor gives them some privacy, after printing some pictures of the baby. Gerard’s eyes are moist and he’s afraid to ask the question, but he asks it anyway, because if the answer is no, he’s got it covered.

– Luz… will you stay with him?