Baby Shower 2.

Baby Shower 2.

Even though Mrs Lydia is trying to keep me occupied playing little games that would have been fun if it wasn't that Carter and his mother are weaving through the crowd and saying hi to the board members like they were actually invited.

I'm glad when I finally have the opportunity to leave the little circle of women who I have to play games with.

I walk towards Carter Cox who is laughing and smiling like he didn't try to kill me or ruin our lives.

The nerve these people have to come here and act all jolly like we're all great friends.

"Elenora calm down!" I turn back and find Sophia holding my arm.

"Can you please leave me alone" I glare at her as I try to shake her hands off me.

"What are you going to do there?" She whispers as we both set our eyes on Carter who is oblivious to me fuming at him.

"Well, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind"

Sophia scoffs.

"Whatever you do, don't let him know that you're on to him." Sophia lets my arm go and disappears into the crowd like nothing happened.

What does she mean? I ask myself as I turn to look at Carter.

He's not there anymore.

"Dammit! Where the hell is he" I mutter under my breath as I scan the crowd.

"Baby" Ross calls out as he appears in front of me.

"Where have you been?"

"I was introducing Mr Dunham to the Board when I spotted Carter. How the hell is he here?"

"I don't know!" I almost scream out in frustration.

"I'm going to have a talk with my Father"

Ross makes a move to leave but I stop him

"Let's stop and think for a while. Why the hell are they here? To make a scene? To rattle us?"

I ask and Ross nods.

"I think you're right. They expect us to make a scene so we can make a mistake in front of the Board and Mr Dunham"

"Exactly! We're not giving them what they want. No matter what. They're going to be extra obnoxious tonight."

"I understand."

He's about to leave again when I call him back

"Ross?"

"Yea?" He turns to look at me.

"Don't let them know we're on to them. Please."

I plead and Ross nods. I turn to look for Sophia who has disappeared from the crowd. I don't know why she's helping us or telling us these things about Carter but my guts tell me that she's right.

And my guts haven't failed me so far. At least not yet.

In the meantime I'm going to play along and pretend that I'm fine with this over the top elaborate baby shower.

It hurts me that the whole purpose of this baby shower isn't to celebrate the fact that I'm having twins, but as a ploy to draw The Board to Ross's side.

But I understand, if Ross and I are ever going to lead happy lives without any interference, this is what we must do.

This is what I've chosen.

I look at my phone in my hand and look through it for a while.

I sent Nick an invite but he didn't reply, and well, he hasn't been replying my calls or texts ever since he sent that creepy text that freaked me out.

But so much has been going on that I haven't had the slightest chance to visit him in his apartment. I really hope he's okay, I'm slowly becoming a shitty friend, I'm so consumed in everything that's going on that I haven't even taken a bit of my time to check on my childhood friend.

Regardless of the things he said, Nick is always going to be my friend.

I'm slowly gravitating towards the snack table after a few chit chat with our esteemed guests when I spot Carter beckoning me over.

He is standing next to his mother who has an identical smile to the one on his face.

Oh boy! I think as I plaster on the biggest fake smile that I can muster. I really hope they don't see through my facade because what I really feel like doing is beating the shit out of them.

"You look so lovely Elenora! It's a pleasure to see you again" Chloe's honeyed voice filters in my head as she gives me a brief hug with air kisses.

Carter on the other hand settles for holding my hand.

Goosebumps spread all through my hand as holds it in his clammy hands and I resist the urge to yank my hand away.

"I assume our invitation got lost in the mail somehow" he says and I laugh lightly.

"Oh! You never got one? I had no idea. It must be a mistake"

"Oh! It's okay! Things like that happen!" Chloe defends me and I nod.

"This is a beautiful party!" Carter looks around in amusement.

"Yes, Our events planner did a great job of putting it all together."

"You'd have to give me her number. She has to plan some of my dinner parties."

Chloe says as I nod my head. My mouth is tired from smiling so hard that I relax it a bit.

"So, how far along are you? The baby shower is quite early."

I'm surprised at this question, coming from any other person my answer would have been quick and smooth but coming from Carter, I know he's asking for another reason.

"It's not really that early, really I'm due any moment from now"

It's a lie, I'm a month and about two weeks far from my due date, but my answer seems to shock Carter and Chloe who exchange quick glances.

Perhaps they're trying to connect the dots and see whether or not this baby shower has something to do with us trying to get the Board on our side, whatever it is, I won't give it to them easily.

"Wow! That's lovely. Thank God we managed to pack a present" Chloe says to Carter who nods.

"In fact, it's in the car. We'll bring it out when the time is right"

"Awwn Thank you! That's so sweet!" I reply, my voice laced with saccharine sweetness.

Whatever present they got me will be taken miles away from here and burned. I don't even care what it is.

"What are you all talking about?" Mr Charles Hamilton asks as he approaches us with Ross next to him.

"We're just congratulating the Mom to be. Isn't she glowing?"

"She certainly is!" Ross's Dad exclaims as he gives me a brief hug.

We all exchange mild pleasantries and indulge in a little bit of chit chat before Ross and I drag ourselves away.

"I told Guzman to keep an eye on them" He whispers to me.

"That's good! I think we should make our speech and wrap it up. So they can leave"

"That's a good idea. We'll talk to the people we have to talk to, speed up the program and then they can leave."

For the next half hour, Ross and I talk to every Board member, investor or guest that we haven't talked to before giving a short speech indicating the end of the baby shower.

Grandma Marcella's friends of course still stay over because of the booze but members of the Board leave a few minutes after the speech.

Ross and I say goodbye to our guests but unfortunately, the Coxs still hang around.

I don't know why but it's harder to make them leave, it's almost as if they want to get under our skin.

So we all sit in the living room nursing a drink in our hands. Except for me, I'm drinking grape juice that Guzman got for me, so I'm confident that it's not poisoned.

"Who's this guy?" Mr Charles asks as he points at Guzman who is standing at the far end of the living room.
Guzman doesn't even flinch or look our way as everyone looks at him.

I open my mouth and close it quickly when I feel a gentle pressure on my lap.

I don't have to look at Ross to know that he wants to answer the question.

"He's our security personnel. We hired him for tonight"

"Why is he still here then?"

Carter asks as he stares at us intently.

"He's still working. He can't leave unless every guests leave so..."

"That's good. Maybe you can give me his company card, I'd like to hire him"

Carter says. I know that he's teasing us but it doesn't make it any more better.

I'm tired and exhausted and I want to punch the smug look off his face but I can't leave Ross with these wolves.

"So Ross, your three year tenure is coming to an end. Are you nervous?"

"Not in the least Father, I'm confident in my abilities."

Charles looks taken aback by his son's response but he recovers quickly, I'm still very surprised of how little confidence he has in his own son.

"Well, we'll see when it's time to review. I just hope this time you'll man up and take whatever decision the Board and I make like a big boy and not run to your grandparents"

I can feel Ross hardening his grip on my thigh and I toss him a small smile comfort him a bit.

"There won't be any running to my Grandparents. But don't forget that they're also shareholders too."

A small percentage of Ross's mother's shares in the company had gone to her grandparents as the larger share went to Ross, according to Ross, his Father has failed in trying to buy his Grandparents out of Milton Corps.

"Don't forget that they don't have any say in whatever the Board decides"

Mr Charles replies with a smug look on his face.

"I think Ross has done a pretty good job. It will be unwise for the Board to ask him to step down as CEO"

All three pair of eyes stare at me. Charles watches me in amusement, Carter glares at me and Chloe simply scoffs.

"And what do you know about that?"

Carter mockingly asks me.

"Well, I know that he boosted revenue by thirty five percent, he managed to reach the yearly quota and he also succeeded in achieving everything he planned to do as a CEO. And did you hear about the partnership he just landed with Mr Dunham?"

I feel proud as I list out a few of Ross's achievements, which believe me wouldn't have been possible without the help of Kerry.

Since I didn't want to appear like a stupid novice while talking to the Board, I asked Kerry earlier to tell me about Ross's achievements as a CEO.

And well, I guess a few things stuck.

"Anyone could have landed a partnership with Mr Dunham. The man is easy. It's not a big deal"

I shake my head slightly.

"I believe you're mistaken Carter. The Dunham partnership will double our yearly sales by a whooping fifty million dollars! It's a brilliant partnership. And Ross, my husband, is the mastermind."

I turn to Ross with a smile and I can see him smiling back at me.

He takes my hand in hi and squeezes it.

"I didn't know you know so much about the company" Mr Charles muses.

"I used to work in Milton Corps"

"Very well, we'll see what the Board has to say during the review. Their word is final."

"We know. I look forward to the review" Ross replies crisply as he adjust his suit.

Carter and his mother murmur a quick goodbye as they both walk out without even listening to our reply.

Ross and I are left with his Dad who stands up and studies his son.

I remain seated in my chair, not ready to get in between the father and son brawl.

"About your mother's island, have you thought about my proposal?"

"I'm sorry Father, my answer remains the same. My mother's island is a family heirloom. She never wanted it to be used for commercial purposes."

Mr Charles glares at his son and Ross glares right back.

The silence is deafening as we all watch them both silently stare each other down.

"Very well. I'll see you later son"

Mr Charles practically spits out the last word 'son' as he walks away without as much as a glance at me.

Ross and I both release a breath we didn't know we were holding.

My eyes travel to the boxed up present with the large bow that Chloe had presented to me.

I point at it.

"Guzman, I want that far away from here. When it's far enough, I want you to burn it" I say very calmly.

"Yes Ma'am" he murmurs as he picks up the box and leaves the room.

Well, at least this baby shower is over.