Chapter 118 The Surprise

Chapter 118 The Surprise

​Two months passed.
​"Where do you think you are going? Stop right there!"
​Agatha’s steps halted instantly. She let out a long breath, letting her aching shoulders drop slightly. Her free hand reflexively rubbed the lower part of her heavily distended stomach. She was now in her ninth month of pregnancy. Every small movement from the three babies inside felt like a powerful strike against her uterine wall.
​"Ugh," Agatha murmured softly. She felt a sharp kick on the right side of her abdomen.
​Agatha turned toward the source of the voice. A woman stood behind the grand reception desk with a look that was far from friendly. She wore a white shirt so tight that the buttons across her chest looked ready to burst. Her makeup was applied thick, paired with long, artificial eyelashes.
​"I want to go up. Please open access to this private elevator," Agatha said, gesturing to the cloth bag containing a lunch box.
​The receptionist stepped out from behind her desk. She approached with high heels that made a clattering noise against the marble floor.
​Clack! Clack!
​A pungent scent of perfume immediately assaulted Agatha’s senses. The smell was so overpowering that Agatha had to pull back slightly to keep from feeling nauseous.
​"Do you think this is a public space? This is a world class company. Not just anyone is allowed into the CEO’s private elevator," the woman snapped. She looked Agatha up and down with a contemptuous stare.
​Agatha glanced at her own clothes. She was wearing a very loose, grey cotton dress. Her stomach protruded prominently. She had chosen those clothes specifically because the skin on her belly had become itchy and sensitive to harsher fabrics. On her feet were simple, cushioned flat shoes.
​"I have important business with Xavier. I am his wife," Agatha said in a calm tone.
​"Hahaha! His wife? Look at your appearance. You expect to meet Mr. Xavier dressed like that? What are you, a beggar?" the receptionist laughed mockingly.
​"I am his wife. I do not need an appointment to see my own husband," Agatha attempted to step forward.
​"Stop! Do not take another step!" the woman shouted. She spread her arms to block Agatha’s path. "I am tired of hearing crazy women claim to be Mr. Xavier’s wife or girlfriend. But you? This is the worst one yet. You think you can trap our boss while being this pregnant? You think Mr. Xavier wants a woman whose body is as out of shape as yours?"
​Agatha furrowed her brow. She felt her temper beginning to flare. "Watch your tongue. I only want to give him this lunch. Get out of my way."
​"I will not! Get out of here before I call security! The smell of mothballs on your clothes is giving me a headache," the receptionist said, waving a hand in front of her nose.
​"Mmh," Agatha grunted, catching the sound in her throat. She tried to reach for the phone in her pocket, but she struggled because the position of the lunch bag was in the way.
​"What is it? Who are you calling? Are you going to act like you are calling Mr. Xavier?" the woman grew bolder. She stepped forward until her face was only inches away from Agatha’s. "Listen closely. Mr. Xavier is a man of class. He has high standards. His wife would be a beautiful woman with a perfect body, not a bloated elephant like you."
​Agatha remained silent. She stared intensely into the receptionist’s eyes. She was calculating in her head, weighing whether or not she should land a punch on the woman’s jaw. However, she remembered Pierre’s warning not to engage in any violent or sudden movements.
​"Move," Agatha hissed. Her voice was low and laced with a threat.
​The receptionist looked slightly taken down by the change in Agatha’s tone. However, her arrogance was far greater. She looked around the lobby, which was starting to fill with employees returning from their break. She felt the need to assert her authority.
​"How dare you threaten me! Get out right now!"
​Brak!
​The receptionist shoved Agatha’s shoulders hard. Agatha, who was not in a defensive stance because of the weight of her large belly, stumbled backward. Her feet skidded across the polished marble floor.
​"Akh!" Agatha cried out softly.
​In a split second, her long dormant fighting instincts kicked in. Agatha twisted her body to the side. She used her heels as an anchor to balance her weight. She immediately bent her knees slightly to lower her center of gravity. She made sure to keep her back straight so that her stomach would not hit the floor.
​Agatha managed to stop herself just before falling. Her breath came in ragged gasps. She held her stomach with both hands. Her heart was racing from the shock.
​"Are you three okay?" Agatha whispered to her babies.
​"Take that! That is what happens when you try to mess around here! Now get lost!" the receptionist barked again, devoid of any guilt.
​At the other end of the lobby, Frans had just stepped out from the employee cafeteria. He was chewing gum when his eyes caught the commotion in front of the private elevator. He squinted. His heart seemed to stop beating when he saw the pregnant figure who had nearly fallen.
​"Agatha?" Frans murmured in disbelief.
​Frans saw that the receptionist was still hurling insults. With trembling hands, he quickly reached for the phone in his pants pocket. He typed a message with incredible speed to the internal security group and sent a private message directly to Xavier.
​Frans did not wait for a reply. He pocketed his phone and ran like a lightning bolt across the lobby. He nearly collided with several employees passing by.
​"Move! Everyone get out of the way!" Frans yelled.
​Agatha was still trying to steady her breathing. A dull ache began to spread through her lower back from the sudden movement. She looked at the receptionist with a murderous gaze.
​"You... you just made a very big mistake," Agatha said in a voice that was deathly cold.
​"A mistake? You mean the mistake of throwing out trash like you? Security! Where is security! Drag this crazy woman out of here!" the receptionist screamed toward the front entrance.
​Frans reached the scene. He immediately stood in front of Agatha, turning his back on the receptionist. Frans’s face was filled with pure panic. Cold sweat beaded on his temples.
​"Agatha! Are you okay? Are you hurt? How is the babies?" Frans asked frantically. He did not dare touch Agatha, fearing he might accidentally hurt the infants.
​Agatha looked at Frans. "I am fine, Frans. Just a little startled."
​"Mr. Frans? You know her?" the receptionist asked, her voice suddenly turning soft and flirtatious. She tried to offer a sweet smile to the CEO's trusted assistant.
​Frans turned around slowly. The panic on his face had transformed into something terrifying. He looked at the receptionist with a gaze that could make anyone shiver.
​"What did you do to her?" Frans asked. His voice was quiet, but it was saturated with an overflowing rage.
​"I... I was just removing this beggar, Mr. Frans. She claimed to be Mr. Xavier’s wife and tried to go up without an appointment. She even tried to attack me just now," the receptionist lied smoothly.
​Frans gave a cynical laugh. He shook his head slowly. "A beggar? You called her a beggar?"
​"Yes, just look at her clothes. So shabby. She is also delusional, claiming she has three babies in her stomach," the woman continued, seeking support.