Chapter 5 - Dahlia

It's been just over four weeks since the passionate evening I spent with Konstantin. Sitting at the tiny table drinking coffee, I paged through the job pages on my tablet, looking for jobs I could apply for. I couldn't help but think back to that night.

He wanted me to stay the night, and I almost did. Letting out a deep sigh, I was glad I didn't stay. I was sure he only said I should to make me feel better. He was clearly not the type of man to commit. I wasn't the kind of woman who would force something on others.

Allowing my mind to wander, I felt the smile forming on my lips. Lifting my hand, I gently caressed them. If I closed my eyes, I could still feel his passionate kiss. That was an evening I will never forget.

Shaking my head, I tried to push out the memories. I had to focus on getting a job and starting my life. I sat drawing circles around possible opportunities.

After lunch, I submitted my resume to as many of them as possible. I was still working part-time at the firm my cousin hooked me up with. But I knew I had to find something more permanent. The company didn't have space for extra employees at the moment. I knew I couldn't be a casual worker forever.

Early the next morning, I received two calls for interviews. I was overjoyed at the prospect of being able to hopefully start working soon. I would be able to pay my cousin back all he invested in me. But I would also be able to show him his time and money weren't a waste.

Not wanting to sit still, I called Anucha and scheduled to meet for lunch. I couldn't wait to share the good news with her. It was just me and her now. Her cousin went back to England, and our other two friends moved away. Over the last two weeks, we had grown closer.

It was nice, as I now had someone to share with. We had a set lunch date for twice a week. But I couldn't wait until tomorrow to tell her. I had to do it today. After rinsing the handful of dishes and throwing my clothes into the dryer, I headed out.

She was interning at a law firm. After she started there three weeks back, she found this cute little coffee shop about halfway between my house and her work. It became our spot. Their coffee was excellent, but the pie they served was to die for.

"This would have to be a quick lunch," Anucha said as we sat down. "I have a heap of paperwork to get through."

The waiter brought us our usual pie and coffee. "No problem," I replied, nodding at the waiter. "I just had to see you, I have two interviews," I blurted out excitedly.

Anucha's smile spread across her face as she squeezed my hand. "That is fantastic news, I am so happy for you," she said. "I really hope you get one."

I was practically jumping up and down in my chair from excitement as I responded. "So do I, but I'm feeling very positive. Especially about the second one. It's for a big computer company."

Anucha smiled and nodded as she waved at the waiter. "Please wrap up the last of my pie to go," she said as he came closer. "I'm sorry," she added looking at me. "But I really have to go."

I nodded at her as she rose and stood up. "I understand," I said hugging her. Her schedule had become tighter and tighter as the caseloads she worked with increased. I was just glad we got to have a chat.

Waving to her as she left, I turned and headed home. On my way, I felt a slight nausea pushing up. I wondered if the pie had upset my stomach. It was strange as I had been having pie there for the last couple of weeks. I never had any issues.

Arriving home, I felt tired and suddenly out of breath. I hoped I wasn't getting a cold or something. After taking a long hot bath, I decided to rest. I was positive a good long rest would clear up the issue.

I woke up early the next morning feeling worse. The nausea hadn't subdued but had increased. I had to run to the bathroom as I couldn't keep anything in. My back was aching, and I still felt lethargic. I slummed through the day, barely able to eat or drink.

By the next morning, I had to cancel my interviews as I wasn't feeling any better. I called Anucha's doctor and made an appointment for the afternoon. After taking another long bath, I dressed and headed out.

I met Anucha for lunch before going to the doctor but couldn't get myself to eat. The look on her face was worrisome. "What's the matter? Why are you looking at me in such a way?" I asked as I sipped some orange juice. It was the only thing that seemingly didn't make me vomit. But it took its toll on my stomach.

"I'm worried. Could you be pregnant?" she whispered.

Laughing at her, I shook my head as I replied between breaths. "Oh, no. I'm sure it's only the flu or something. Once I've seen the doctor, I'll let you know."

"Okay, please do," she replied, still looking as if she feared the worst.

As she left for work, I headed to the doctor's office. I had to take a cab as it was on the other side of town. I exited the cab and looked up at the large five-story building. The doctor's office was on the third floor.

At first, I wanted to take the stairs. But as I got to them, I decided against it as I felt a little out of breath. Instead, I took the elevator. Stepping out on the third floor, I looked at the three offices before me.

One was for a financial advisor. The other one had a sign that read ‘Simon and Son' but had no description of the business. The last door led to the doctor's office. Entering the office, the smell of cleaning materials mixed with medicine antagonized my nausea.

The receptionist looked up as I walked to her desk. "Yes, miss?" she said in a quiet tone.

"Fitzer, Dahlia Fitzer for Doctor Pappanhau."

She paged through a large book before her, scrolled with a finger down one page, and nodded as she replied. "Very well, miss. Take a seat there on the right. The doctor will be with you shortly."

Looking in the direction she was pointing, I noticed three chairs to one side of a closed door. I smiled at her and went to take a seat. The reception area was tranquil. There were only two other people seated at another door on the left.

My stomach turned as I leaned back in the chair. Placing my head back against the wall, I closed my eyes. I was feeling drained, which I couldn't understand. I slept well the last two days. But I was still exhausted.

The door next to me opened with a loud creaking sound, making me jump. Looking up, I saw the doctor. She smiled and waved for me to enter. Standing quickly, I walked past her into the office.

It was a normal doctor's office as I am sure most are similar in appearance. The walls were painted white. The floor was covered in a cream-colored rug. To one side was a table covered in books, a computer, and some papers. There were chairs on both sides.

On the other side was a thin, long bed, and next to it were two machines. The one looked like a heat monitoring device, and the other a scanner of sorts.

"Have a seat," Doctor Pappanhau said, waving at the one chair as she sat down behind the desk. I pulled the chair further from the table and sat down. "Now, then, Miss Fitzer, how can I help you today?" she asked in a friendly tone.

Smiling softly at her, I tried to convey my issues as clearly as possible. "I'm not sure what is wrong doctor. I've been feeling ill for a couple of days now. I have nausea, stomachache, back pain, and I can't seem to be able to keep anything in."

She nodded, wrote something in the file, and then smiled at me as she spoke. "May I ask if you've been sexually active recently?"

My cheeks heated as I thought back to the evening with Konstantin. I couldn't get a word out as my throat closed up. So, I simply nodded.

"Okay, I am going to do some tests. Then we can see what the issue is." She added as she stood up.

She opened the door and called the nurse, who took me down a short hall. Opening a door to the side. I noticed it led to a toilet. She handed me a small beaker and gently pushed me inside. "Place it on the tray by the door when you're done. Then return to the doctor's office," she instructed before closing the door behind me.

I did as I was told and returned to the office. The doctor wasn't there when I returned, so I sat down and waited. I didn't wait long before the doctor returned. She walked in and sat back down. She was smiling broadly, which made me a bit uneasy.

"Good news," she said. "You're pregnant."

I swore my heart stopped as the words left her lips. My skin felt cold, and my breath disappeared for a second. Good news, my mind shouted. How could she think it was good news? She didn't even know me.

I sat staring at her as tears welled up in my eyes. They burned, threatening to burst out should I open my mouth. I was stunned. I wasn't equipped to raise a child. No work, no income, no support. My mind was running a marathon as I tried to absorb the news.

"Are you okay?" I hear the doctor saying beside me. I had not even noticed her getting up. Glancing at her, I shook my head, indicating I was fine even though I was exploding inside.

She patted my shoulder as I stood. "If there is anything you need to know, simply ask," she said as I headed for the door. I had to get out; I needed fresh air. It felt like the walls were closing in and was about to squash me like a bug.

Opening the door, I turned back to her. "Thank you," I breathed out before leaving.

Suddenly, I was standing on the curb, hailing a cab. Glancing back at the building, I shook my head. I couldn't recall how I got outside. I jumped into the cab as it pulled up and hastily gave my address to the driver.

As he pulled away, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This couldn't be true. It can't be happening, I told myself, feeling my insides shatter. The cab came to a sudden stop.

"That'll be twenty-three dollars fifty, miss," the driver said, looking back at me.

Taking money from my wallet, I paid him and got out. I didn't know how long I had been standing on the curb when I felt a hand closing around my arm. "Hey, sweetie, are you okay? What did the doctor say? You never called?" Anucha huffed next to me.

Looking into her eyes and seeing the concern, I could no longer keep the tears in. "I'm pregnant," I uttered between breaths as my tears flowed.

Anucha pulled me into her arms and hugged me tight. As my tears flowed, I shook. My heart was heavy, and I didn't know what I was going to do. Once I started calming down, we went inside. She made coffee and sat with me for a while.

We didn't speak; we just sat and drank our coffee. She rinsed the cups and promised to check in on me the next day before she left. It was dark outside and inside by the time I snapped out of my trance. I wasn't sure how long I sat at the small table. But I knew my body didn't appreciate it.

As I rose, I felt my muscles cramping; everything was sore. I took a bath and crawled into bed. Once the sun came up, I would figure it out, I told myself as I fell asleep.

By the time I woke up, it was almost noon. I was about to put my clothes in the washer when I found a folded paper in the pocket. It was a prescription from the doctor for vitamins. I couldn't recall when she gave it to me, but took it with me.

After pouring a glass of juice, I sat down at the table with a pen and paper. I was still upset as I felt I had let my cousin down. I had failed his expectations of me. How was I going to explain this, I thought.

Collecting myself, I knew I had to make the best of the situation. I had to move past my shock and devise a plan for my future. Looking down, I placed my hand on my stomach. And for my child's future.

After weighing the pros and cons I decided not to even bother looking for Konstantin. I was sure what we shared was merely a one-night stand. I would find a suitable job with good benefits and support us on my own.

Thinking about Konstantin brought back an array of feelings. The sex was phenomenal, and I battled to push him out of my mind. But for my own sanity, I had to focus on the important things now.

After collecting the prescription from the pharmacy, I called Anucha to let her know I was going to be fine. She came over for supper every day for the rest of the week. I started taking vitamins, and medication for nausea. Plus, the other tablets the doctor prescribed that same day.

By the weekend, I started feeling better and resumed my job search. It was around the middle of the next week when I received a strange call. A woman named Alyssa called to confirm an interview with me. I didn't recognize the company name and felt sure I had not submitted a resume to them. But I couldn't be picky, so I agreed to the interview.

Friday morning, I got up early and had a good solid breakfast. After doing the dishes, I washed and got dressed. I wasn't sure if the company had a specific dress code, so I wore a plain summer dress.

Arriving at the address she gave me, I felt underdressed. The building was huge with glass walls. Walking up the short set of stairs, I admired the architecture. It had a modern design mixed with some Roman and Victorian styles.

As I came to the door, it opened automatically. Stepping in, I felt my breath catching at the immensity of it all. The reception area was as large as a five-star hotel. Walking to the two sets of security scanners, I surveyed the area.

There were glass doors on each side of the reception desk at the back. I also noted two elevator doors on both sides. Next to these on each side was seating, for what reason I didn't know. But they were fancy, comfortable-looking red and gold chairs. Between each set was a small round table with flowers on it.

The floor was covered in red, gold, and cream-colored tiles. The place appeared to be sparkling as if brand new. I was speechless as I stepped through the security scanner on the guard's orders. Slowly, I moved to the desk. The red-haired woman behind the desk looked up at me, holding out a finger as she spoke on the phone.

Once she finished her call, she smiled at me. "Hi, how can I assist you today?" she asked in an overly friendly tone.

"I…, I have an appointment with Mr. Smirnov," I replied. My mind was traveling about a thousand miles an hour. A company like this would surely have great benefits. I couldn't believe my luck ending up here.

The receptionist glanced at her computer screen. "You are Miss Fitzer?" she questioned, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes," I responded, feeling my stomach turning.

"Right, have a seat by the elevator. Someone will be down shortly to take you up," she said, pointing to the right.

I walked to the first elevator on the right and sat down on one of the chairs. Now I knew why they were here, I thought as I rubbed the velvety texture of the seat. Hearing the elevator ‘ping' as the doors opened, I jumped up, turning to it. I was ready for this. I would make a good impression as I needed a decent job.

A young, skinny man with short brown hair stepped out. He was wearing a grey suit that appeared a size or two too big. Smiling, he extended his hand as he spoke. "Miss. Fitzer?"

Shaking his hand, I nodded, unable to speak suddenly. It felt like my words were choking me as I tried. Luckily, he didn't appear to notice. He turned to the elevator, extending an open hand towards it as he continued to speak. "This way, please."

Stepping into the elevator, I felt my breath catching. The walls were made from mirrors. As I turned, I saw myself everywhere. I took a deep breath and knew I had to calm my emotions as this interview was vital.

The elevator stopped on the eighth floor. With another loud ‘ping,' the doors opened. There was another reception desk a couple of feet from the door. Behind it were a couple of tables with chairs and people seemingly scurrying left and right.

The young man stepped out and turned to me as he spoke. "Please follow me." He turned to the left and started walking.

Shaking my head to clear the onset of nervousness and excitement, I followed. There was another large double glass door. Walking through, we entered a hallway. There were doors on both sides as far as I could see. He walked to the end of the passage and opened the last door.

Holding the door open, he motioned for me to enter. "Please wait here; Mr. Smirnov will be with you shortly."

As I entered, I heard the door behind me close. It looked like a meeting room. There was a big oval-shaped table in the middle with chairs all around. To the one side were a whiteboard and a huge screen. On the other side was a cart with what looked like a kettle, coffee, tea, sugar, and cups on it.

I felt the lump in my throat growing as I sat down. "You got this," I told myself as I swallowed hard. Hearing the door opening again, I stood quickly and swung around. I felt my skin turning to ice as I stared at him. My hands, moving of their own accord, flew up to my mouth as I gasped for air.

This couldn't be true. How could he be here? How did this happen? My mind flooded with questions as I stared wide-eyed at Konstantin standing in the doorway. The tumbles in my stomach turned into a hurricane as shock overtook me. I felt numb and sure I was about to faint.

Stepping back, I grabbed hold of the chair and side of the table as my legs gave way under me. I flopped down into the chair as he stepped closer, a wide smile decorating his face.

"Dahlia," he said in that smooth tone of his. "I've been looking for you?"

"Me?" I heard the words leaving my mouth before I could even think about it. Seeing him again made my heart race and my stomach turn.

"Yes, you said you were qualified in finance and business analytics. We have an opening, and I am sure you would fit right in here."

Shaking my head slowly, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I tried to hide the emotions that were creating havoc within me.