16. Mustaf

"What the fuck…" The words trail off, lingering in the stale air as I stand rigidly outside the women's bathroom, the heavy wooden door bearing silent witness to my turmoil. My fists clench involuntarily, my mind a whirlwind of disbelief and confusion.

Meiko is nowhere in sight, practically invisible from the moment I stepped outside the bathroom. Like she vanished into thin air.

She"s pregnant. The realization hits me like a thunderbolt, a sharp pang of reality cutting through the swirling chaos of my thoughts. Meiko is with child, and, as adamantly as she's trying to deny it… I know it"s mine.

Numbly, I drift back into the dining room, my movements mechanical, as if puppeteered by some unseen force. The room buzzes with a cacophony of laughter, cheers, and congratulatory well-wishes directed towards the glowing couple of the hour.

But everything is passing by in a daze. The clinking of glasses and the chatter of guests fade into a distant hum, the weight of my thoughts consuming me whole. While everyone around me revels in the joyous occasion, my mind is fixated on Meiko.

If she won't give me any answers, I'll just have to find them myself.

With a newfound determination, I force myself to focus, pushing aside the turbulent emotions threatening to consume me. I begin to methodically scan the room, searching for familiar faces among the crowd.

I spot an acquaintance leaning against the bar with a drink in hand. His eyes meet mine, and a flicker of recognition passes between us. I make my way towards him, weaving through the throng of guests.

"Tom," I greet him curtly, extending a hand. "It"s been a while."

He takes my hand, a smirk playing on his lips. "Mustaf, too long."

"Still working as a P.I.?" I ask, hoping he can help me.

"You know me," he jokes, swirling his whiskey. "Married to the job."

"Good. I need a favor," I say, cutting to the chase. "I"m looking for information on someone – a woman named Meiko Fanning."

Tom raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Meiko Fanning, huh? What do you need to know?"

"Everything," I reply, my voice steady and resolute. "Her recent movements, any contacts she"s made... I need to piece together her past few months."

He nods. "I"ll see what I can do. But it"ll cost you."

Over the next few days, I receive frequent updates from Tom regarding the investigation. The cold, hard facts begin to reveal a picture of Meiko"s recent past, and I can"t ignore the inescapable conclusion that"s taking shape. Over the past few months, she has withdrawn from her usual social circles, avoiding gatherings and events that she would normally attend without hesitation.

Not only that, Meiko has made numerous excuses to explain her absence, often citing an illness or a general feeling of malaise. "Not feeling well," she would say."Maybe I have a bug." She has been making regular visits to a local clinic, but not to her regular doctor, always scheduling her appointments for early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid drawing attention to herself.

What seals everything into place is a review of a timeline of Meiko"s recent activities, cross-referenced with the dates of our brief but passionate encounter. It leaves no room for doubt that the child she carries is mine. There was no other man.

As I sit in my office, staring at the evidence laid out before me, the enormity of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks. I"m going to be a father. The weight of this responsibility settles heavily upon my shoulders, and I can"t help but feel a mixture of fear, excitement, and trepidation.

I spend the next two days in a whirlwind of planning, trying to mentally prepare myself for the conversation that lies ahead. I know that I need to approach Meiko with care and sensitivity, to ensure that she feels supported and understood. But at the same time, I can"t ignore the swell of emotions that threatens to overwhelm me – the fear, the excitement, the uncertainty.

Finally, I feel ready to confront Meiko, to hear the truth from her own lips, and to offer her my unwavering support. I make my way to her office, my heart pounding in my chest as I approach the building. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation that lies ahead.

As I enter the lobby, I scan the area for any sign of Meiko. I spot her in the corner, engrossed in conversation with a colleague. She looks up as I approach, her eyes widening in surprise and apprehension. I can tell that she wasn"t expecting me to show up here, but I can"t let that deter me from my mission.

"Meiko," I say, my voice steady and resolute. "Can we talk? In private?"

She hesitates for a moment, glancing nervously at her colleague before nodding her head. "Of course," she replies, her voice barely above a whisper.

She leads me to a nearby conference room, closing the door behind us. The room is small and cramped, but it will have to do. I take a seat at the table, gesturing for Meiko to do the same. She sits down slowly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

"I know about the baby," I say, getting straight to the point. "I"ve done my research, Meiko. I know that it"s mine."

Her eyes fill with tears, and she looks away, unable to meet my gaze. "I was going to tell you," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "I just... I didn"t know how."

"Why didn"t you come to me sooner?" I ask, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

She takes a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I was scared," she admits. "As much as I liked you, I didn't know you. I still don't."

I can understand her fear and hesitation. But at the same time, I can"t help but feel a deep sense of frustration. She should have trusted me. At least, she should have given me the chance to be there for her from the beginning.

"I have the right to know, regardless," I insist, running my fingers through my hair. "I'm his father. You didn't make him on your own."

"Who says he's a him? What if it's a girl?" she demands.

"Okay, wait," I say, reaching across the table to take her hand. "We're getting off on the wrong foot here. I didn't mean anything when I said ‘him.' I just…" I sigh, taking her hand in mine. "I"m here now, for both you and our child. Whatever the gender. We can figure this out together."

She looks up at me, her eyes glistening. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice trembling with relief.

As we sit there, hand in hand, I can"t help but feel a deep sense of responsibility towards Meiko and our unborn child. I know that I need to do everything in my power to provide for them, to ensure that they have the stability and security they deserve.

And so, with a newfound sense of determination, I offer Meiko a solution born of orcish honor and the tangible need to provide for our unborn child.

"Meiko," I say, my voice steady and resolute. "Marry me." Her entire body jolts and she tries to pull away from me, but I keep her in place. "I know that this may come as a shock, but I want you to know that I"m committed to being there for you and our child. And I believe that the best way to do that is to marry you."

As I look into Meiko"s eyes, I can see the conflicting emotions playing out across her face. And for a brief moment, I allow myself to believe that she might actually consider my proposal. But then she shakes her head, a look of determination settling on her features.

"No," she says, her voice firm and resolute. "I can"t marry you, Mustaf."

I feel a sudden rush of disappointment, but I try to keep my emotions in check. "Why not?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

She takes a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "There are too many differences between us, too many obstacles to overcome," she explains. "Our races, our cultures… They"re worlds apart. And I don"t think we have enough affection for each other to make a marriage work."

I can"t help but feel a pang of sadness at her words. "I understand your concerns," I say, trying to keep my voice measured. "But I believe that our love for our child is enough to overcome any obstacle. And I"m willing to work through our differences, to build a life together."

"Mustaf–"

"This is a chance to raise your child in a whole and happy family," I interrupt, heading toward the door. "I'm not asking for an answer right this second, but you have to see the reason."

She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt or hesitation.

Before closing the door and leaving her to her contemplation, I add, "And I've never said there's no affection between us."

Even if there wasn't, I'd do anything to have that family.