Chapter 16 Your time starts now
"Sir, your surrogate has refused to allow me in," Dina's helpless voice espoused through the end of the phone.
Loney frowned, "why?"
"She won't tell me, sir," Dina responded sadly.
"Where is Mabel? Let me talk to her on the phone," Loney's deep rich voice sounded on the phone. He was disturbed and didn't know what to think about Danica's resistance to take the test, even when he already knew the outcome.
"Okay, sir," Dina went to the kitchen and gave the phone to Mabel. Mabel grimaced, outweighed by confusion. She was making breakfast. "Why?"
"Sir wants to speak with you," Dina said. Mabel instantly turned off the gas, wiped her hand with a napkin and took the phone from Dina.
"Master, this is Mabel," she said politely. Even though Loney treated the middle-aged woman as a mother, she still accorded Loney the respect of an employer.
"What is wrong with Danica?"
Mabel was confused. She hadn't seen Danica yet because she perceived she would still be sleeping, "I don't know sir, let me find out and get back to you," Mabel ended the call and went to Danica's room. Dina always made it a habit to come early when she was supposed to take the samples. She had to make it back to the hospital on time.
She knocked on Danica's door, the latter responding instantly, "Go away, Dina," Danica's tearful voice rang from the room.
"It's me, Danica. Open the door."
Danica wiped her tears and went to open the door after she confirmed Mabel's voice. As soon as Mabel entered, she locked it back, igniting a bewildered sentiment in Mabel."
"What is wrong with you, Danica?" Mabel was worried. She had never seen Danica cry so much. Her appearance was terrible from the constant tears.
"I have my menstrual flow," Danica wailed in comparison to a widow. There were used tissues scattered around her, as she blew her nose with another tissue. It was as if she had lost a child.
Danica's appearance and the scattered tissues resurrected empathy in Mabel. She could feel how hurting it was for Danica to not conceive yet. Therefore, she sat beside her on the bed and tried to console her. "Oh, come on. You still have to let Dina do her job. Some people still have their menses when pregnant. Have a little faith."
Danica discarded another tissue after blowing her nose and said, "It's been six weeks, Mabel, six weeks," Danica was getting more and more impatient. Time wasn't her friend anymore.
Mabel sympathized with her, and held her right shoulder, pulling her into a warm embrace. "I know, trust me, everything will be fine. Let's take the test first. If it's negative, I'll teach you what to do before the master comes the next time, okay?"
Danica's eyes lit up at Mabel's suggestion, "Okay."
Mabel went out of Danica's room and sent one of the maids to clean up the room, then she called Loney. "Everything is okay Master, she is just depressed because she has her monthly flow."
Loney was washed with relief, a smirk appearing in the corners of his lips. It was a great achievement for him that Danica felt the pain of being desperate for something and not getting it. That was how he felt when he was shunned. It was just unfortunate that Danica wasn't who he thought her to be. "That doesn't change a thing. She can still be pregnant. Who knows, her hormones must have not adjusted to the situation," he responded convincingly, hiding his pleasure.
Whichever way, Mabel was taken aback by his reasonable way of analyzing the situation. "Master, how do you know all that?"
"I want a baby so I have been reading a lot, just let Dina do her job," he responded dismissively. "Yes, Master," Mabel agreed, ended the call. After giving Dina the go-ahead to take the sample, she went back to the kitchen.
Dina went back after the maids had finished cleaning Danica's room. Still, she was moved with sympathy when she saw Danica's state and spoke with a voice that was filled with compassion. "Why are you crying, Danica?"
Danica didn't spare Dina a glance and said, "I'm having my menses."
Dina understood Danica greatly, "It won't affect the result even though it's the first sign that you are not pregnant but human beings are different and their bodies respond differently too."
"I know but my changes are still lower, as compared to not having it," Danica analyzed.
"That true," Dina agreed, wiping Danica's arm with a disinfectant before pulling out a syringe. "As usual, just a prick okay?" Danica nodded, as Dina drew little blood from her vein, put a little pressure on the spot, before wiping and covering the tiny spot with a round plaster. She spoke to Danica as she transferred the sample from the syringe into a small tube. "Just to let you know, you can get a calendar and start recording your days. It will help to determine your most fertile period."
Danica didn't argue. Every suggestion was very important to her because she didn't know much about pregnancy since she wasn't married. It was all a sacrifice she made for her sister and she hoped that it was worth it. "Okay."
After Dina left, Danica was standing on a thin strand of hope. Still, she wished that by some miracle, she would get pregnant. Therefore, she waited eagerly for the test result.
A few hours later, an email popped up on Loney's laptop. It was from Dina. Without opening it, he told her to send it to Danica. After all, he knew what he had done.
Danica tore the envelope open, as her face flushed red in disappointment. Fresh tears warmed her face.
"Didn't I tell you not to cry? Come here. I will teach you what to do," Mabel comforted and led her up the stairs to her room. Danica sat on the bed with Mabel beside her. "When did you see your period?" Mabel asked directly.
"This morning," Danica revealed. Mabel placed her hand on her shoulder and patted comfortably, "good, let's take seven days from today and begin the count. By next week, you should get the master to come. You will be in your fertile period by then. Your strongest fertile period will be within the first seven days after you complete your period but some people get lucky for ten."
Danica frowned when she recalled the response Paul conveyed the last time. "It hasn't been a month. He won't come even if I tell him."
"You have to find a way. Use your feminine instincts. You have to call the shots," Mabel encouraged her.
Danica shook her head helplessly. "You don't understand. The last time, he mocked me."
"But you shouldn't give up right?" Mabel continued to push. She hated to see Danica depressed and wanted to help. Danica gave Mabel's words a careful thought. She knew that Mabel was right. It was either she toughened up or allowed things to go out of hand, which will mean her having to stay longer in the mansion. "Right," Danica facepalmed, I will speak with Paul," she confirmed.
A renewed form of hope replenished her, as she went to the gym to speak with Paul. The latter was having his morning work out when Danica barged in. He could tell that this wasn't going to be good. "What is it this time, Danica?" He asked dejectedly wiping the sweat on his body with a towel and throwing it over his shoulder
Danica was unmoved by Paul's attitude. She didn't want him to have the upper hand, hence, she didn't give him room to pass any jokes. "I want you to send a message to him."
"Him?" Paul pretended to not know what Danica was talking about. Still, Danica did not relent.
"You know who I'm talking about. Tell him that the pregnancy test result was negative and I perceived the reason is that we don't meet during my fertile moment. Next week is my fertile moment and he should be here," Danica firmly said.
Paul frowned. He couldn't comprehend Danica's new attitude. "You sound more like you are commanding him. Do you know who he is?" Even though Danica feared, she did not show it. She already knew that for someone to have such tremendous wealth, he definitely must be rich and powerful.
"Well, let him also know that this is not negotiable since it's towards a common goal," Danica said and turned to leave.
Paul recalled Loney's text message and decided to confirm, "Can I ask you a question?"
Danica stopped, turned around and accessed Paul carefully, suddenly, she thought she could use a bargain. "If you are ready to answer one about him." Danica wasn't ready to give information concerning herself for the sake of Daniella. She had no idea the number of people after her. However, since she needed more information about the intended parent, so she took a risk.
"What do you want to know about him?" Paul enquired thoughtfully.
"You have to first promise to answer my question," Danica countered.
"Agreed. Do you have a boyfriend?" Paul asked instantly.
Danica frowned, "no. Your turn. Is he an ugly monster?" Danica's reason was the fact that Loney didn't want her to see him. She began to think that he was scary looking.
Paul didn't have to ask who. He knew that Danica was talking about Loney. "No, why do you ask?"
"Is it another question? I could also ask one in return," Danica asked, hoping to get better information on the proposed parent.
"You know what, just forget it," Paul gave up. He figured Danica was smart and might end up trapping him to let out Loney's identity.
Danica shrugged, she wasn't ready to play on her personal information either. "Ohh, I thought so but you have 30 minutes to get back to me, no excuses."
A surge of suspicious glare emanated from Paul, "Danica, are you alright?" Danica seemed to be so desperate, he couldn't decipher her intention.
"Better than best. Your time starts now," Danica said and left without another word.