TWENTY NINE

"I am surprised as you are, l didn't know that this was his plan all along" l defended

"That's not the point. You were supposed to convince him otherwise, that is your job as a wife" she said

"This is a marriage of convenience. I have no duty towards the man. He can do whatever he wants and l will take no part in it"

"what matters is that you are still married. Convenience or not. And you have to play your role as a wife" she said

"as you say" l said with an eye roll.

"Before l forget, a Amy Herera left a message for you earlier on today. Do you by any chance know who she is?" the name sounded familiar but l couldn't put a face to it.

"Not really, but l'm sure l will remember soon. I have work to get back to" and with that l disconnected the call.

Getting back into the swing of working, l finished my work before lunch time scoring myself a few extra hours. John had asked me to meet up with him but on my way out, an Amy was at the reception area requesting my presence. 

"hi, l got a call about an Amy?" l asked the receptionist and she pointed in the direction of a small figure buried in the oversized chair that sat by the waiting area.

"thanks"

I took my time walking to the girl as l didn't know who she was and l was unable to assess her because her face was hidden from plain sight. She could be dangerous for all l know

"You asked to see me" l said causing her to jump up on the air like someone had burnt her. She turned to look at me sheepishly before straightening out. Her mid length curls were still the same black colour from the last time l had seen her. This time her brown eyes were covered with a pair of oversized sunglasses and her frail form covered in baggy ripped jeans and an oversized hoodie

"Oh my gosh Amy, l never thought that l would see you again" l said immediately wrapping my arms around her

"here l thought you had forgotten about me" she responded sarcastically, wrapping her arms around my body

"It's no excuse but l got carried away with my problems that l forgot but now that you are here l can fulfil my promise" l said happy that she was out

"would you care to grab lunch?" she asked hopeful. I felt guilty for having had made plans with John but l couldn't cancel now, it was too much short notice

"unfortunately, but you can come with me and tell me all about what's happening" l offered. She took me up on the offer as l knew she would and the car ride was filled with cheerful chatter

"I was released on bail, l'm waiting for my court date to be set then l need to start preparing myself for the torture l am about to endure" she said, the sudden change in topic caused the mood in the car to change as well.

"What has your defence team said about everything. How are the preparations coming along, did they find any evidence that proves your innocence?" l asked in one breath causing her to laugh at my curiosity

"Breath"

" I can't afford a lawyer so the state provided one. But you know how they are, they could care less about what happens to me as long as they are getting their money" she explained

" I did promise to help you out and l will. I will talk to my husband and see how he can help you." l said taking her hand in mine and giving her a gentle squeeze before pulling up to Hilden's work place

"what are we doing at Uppington North Corporation?" she askes

"I am meeting my father in law for lunch and he just happens to work here" short and simply. I didn't another person knowing about the horrible card that life had dealt me

"fancy, l see you rolling with the big guys" it was nice to see her acting like a carefree eighteen year old who didn't have the weight of the world resting on her shoulders

We got in without any trouble this time around because John had made sure everyone knew about me but not who l was to him. They pretty much assumed l was his latest conquest *cringe. We received our guest passes, instead of heading straight to John's office, he wasn't expecting me for another thirty minutes, l walked over to Hilden's office to tell him about Amy. Isabel not at her desk which was unusual for her because she lived and breathed her job.

We sat in front of her desk for about five minutes before she showed up, her hands wet and eyes puffy

"husband , are you okay" l asked using the nickname we had agreed to call each other 

"yeah, it's just my allergies" l gave her the look that told her that l wasn't buying her story but chose to let it go

"what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be at work?" she asked 

"I got an extended lunch break" 

" aren't you lucky, it's your first day and you have already managed to cut your hours short" she joked before looking to my side at Amy, as a look of confusion warped up her features

"who is this?" she asked 

"Amy, this is my friend Isabel. Isabel my friend Amy" l introduced the two. I could tell she had a lot of questions to ask but l spoke over her 

"I am here to see Hilden, is he in his office" l asked. She nodded her head but l didn't wait for her to give me the green light. I barged into his office and was met with a horrifying sight. Hilden and Celia, tongue tied(literally) they looked like they were eating each others faces. Naked on the couch wrapped in a small blanket 

"Mom" 

"Hilden"

And the sound of a body dropping to the floor followed by a positive pregnancy test.