Contract marriage: My billionaire’s cure

I walked out of the hospital with Marcus beside me. We checked the baby’s gender and without telling it, the doctor wrote it down on a paper and put it inside an envelope.

I have a good 5 month baby bump but Marcus was the one who was acting as if he was pregnant.

“Oh my god I’m scared” Marcus rubbed his palms and blew hot air to it.

I rolled my eyes and walked ahead of him.

“I’m sweating. I think I’m going to pass out” He fanned himself with his hand and started breathing heavily.

“I’m the one who is pregnant not you” I said in annoyance and frowned at him.

“You are the one who said let’s check the gender. It’s good to know it beforehand ” I said, quoting the sentence using my fingers.

“Now you are scared about knowing it”

“It’s easier said that done” Marcus huffed and looked away.

“And you also said it doesn’t matter if the baby is a girl or boy it’s my child. I’ll love the baby no matter what. Did you forget it?”

“I will always love the baby no matter it’s a he or a she but now when you have it written on a paper it’s actually scary”

Marcus let out a heavy sigh and squatted down to the ground. He kept his elbows on his knees and ran his fingers through his hair.

“If you are not going to drive the car I’m gonna call Jake and tell him to come and pick me up” I took my phone out and started dialling Jake.

“Why are you calling Jake?”

“Because he’s the one who is acting like my husband while you overeact” I kept the phone to my ear but Marcus grabbed it and cut the call.

“I’m happy I’m worried I’m excited. Can’t you understand my feelings?”He started whining like a child.

“Maybe we should check you and see whether you miraculously carry a child because you’ve been the one having mood swings and taste changes”

“What? Marcus gripped his hair and groaned in annoyance. “Uhhh. I changed my taste according to you. What’s wrong with that?”

Ignoring him I walked to the car. Marcus stared at me for a while, a pout on his lips and then unlocked the car.

He opened my door but before I got in I saw some books in the back seat through the tinted windows.

I opened the back seat door and was shocked to see piles of books on it. All of them were books about how to take care of babies, how to be a good dad, how to take care of your wife during pregnancy etc.

I kept my hands on my hips and glared at Marcus. But he just shrugged to it. “What? It’s my first baby. It’s normal to read those”

I scoffed and pointed at my baby bump. “Do you think this is my tenth child?”

Marcus pouted and I shook my head. He’s unbelievable.

“Let’s just sit over there for a minute” I pointed at the bench in front of a row of flower bushes.

I dragged Marcus by his sleeves to the bench and sat down. He slowly sat down next to me and bent his head back to relax himself.

“What do you want the baby’s name to be?” I asked him.

“Umm…”Marcus pursed his lips and thought for sometime. “If it a girl then Nayla if it’s a boy I like Dexter”

I looked at Marcus in utter shock. “I knew I asked you the wrong question. Have you been watching too much You Tube?”

Marcus looked at me in confusion.

“Because I’m not gonna let you name my child after Dean Schneider’s lions”

His eyes widened as if something clicked in his head. “Ahh that’s where I got the names. Well the lions are cute”

“Forget it. I will decide the names” I kept my hands over my belly and started thinking. “If it’s a girl I like Ashley. If it’s a boy then Lucas.”

“Why Lucas?”

“Marcus, Lucas. It’s similar. Father like son”

Marcus’s face beamed in happiness and he gave me a cute smile. “I like that. Ashley Anderson or Lucas Anderson”

“Now are you done overreacting?” I asked him and he nodded his head. “Let’s go. Everyone’s waiting for us”

My parents, Marcus’s dad, our newly weds Sarah and Steve, still-a-virgin Jake and Blair, Rebecca all were at home waiting for the news.

My dad was so excited after hearing the news of my pregnancy he immediately apologized to Marcus and so did Marcus. Which made me very happy because I didn’t want any tension in the family.

Marcus parked the car in the garage and we both got out. As soon as I walked in Sarah snatched the envelope from my hands.

“I can’t believe I’m holding this” She jumped up and down in happiness.

“Have you decided the names?”

I nodded my head. “Lucas if it’s a boy because it kind of rhymes with Marcus-”

“Wait” Jake jumped in. He stood from the sofa and came to us. “You are going with rhyming names? That’s so cool! Okay Marcus-Lucas, Camilla-Vanilla”

Everyone started laughing and I slapped him on the head.

“Ouch it hurts”

“I’m not gonna name my daughter Vanilla”

“Why? It’s awesome. We can call the baby Luke or Vani as nicknames”

“You are an embarrassment. Go away”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I walked passed him and sat on the sofa. Marcus sat next to me, tapping his foot on the floor, impatiently.

“Okay people-” Sarah opened the envelope but Jake grabbed it. She puffed into red angry ball but Jake snickered.

Jake took out the paper and unfolded it. Suddenly the corners of his lips tugged up into a huge smile. He kissed the paper and held it close to his chest.

“Jake! Tell me NOW!” Marcus roared impatiently.

“Do I have to?” Jake gave him a cheeky smile.

“You are dying today” Marcus stood up but Jake scrambled back.

“Cool down boy cool down” Jake silenced Marcus and cleared his throat. “Okay people prepare yourselves”

I gripped my dress tightly waiting for him to tell.

“It’s…”

“It’s a…..”

“It’s a……….”

“Jake for fuck sake tell” I shouted at him.

“It’s a baby Lucas!!!”

Jake started dancing and every cheered happily. I kept my face on my palms and sobbed, happy tears pooling down my eyes. Marcus snaked his arms around me and gave me a kiss on my head.

“Ahhh” Jake pounded his chest like King Kong. “I’m gonna have a nephew”

…

Blair’s Pov

I parked my bike in front of Camilla’s building and removed the straps wrapped around the box in my back seat.

I took it to my arms and walked inside. Informing the receptionist I took the elevator to the HR department to deliver the coffee they had ordered.

Camilla was not here because she was now 9 months pregnant and Marcus forbade her from going to office since 2 months ago.

I kept the box on a desk at the HR department and tucked the money they paid before walking out. But I came to a halt seeing Camilla drinking water in the hallway.

“Camilla” I ran to her in shock.

“Oh Blair” She smiled and kept the cup on a table beside her. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to deliver coffee for your staff-”

“Hey” Sarah walked in and waved her hand at me. She stood next to Camilla and held her arm for support.

“Does Marcus know you came here?”

Both Camilla and Sarah gave me guilty smiles.

“Nope”

I raised my eyebrows and she chuckled lowly. “My due date is next week so I’m fine for now. I came here because I was bored at home and-” She patted Sarah’s shoulder “She’s here to take care of me”

“Are you going down?” Sarah asked me and I nodded my head. “So are we. Let’s go” And then we all walked into the elevator.

Sarah pressed the button and the doors closed, taking us down. I looked at Camilla as I heard her humming for herself, tapping her feet rhythmically. She was wearing a white dress with black strips and a reefer jacket over her shoulders. No matter how many months pregnant she was she still looked like the classy boss she was.

The elevator opened and we walked out. Both Sarah and I walked ahead but stopped realising Camilla wasn’t following us.

I spun back and saw Camilla holding her bump and looking down in confusion.

“Ma’am what’s wrong?” Sarah and I both rushed to her.

“I-i” She stuttered. Following her gaze I looked down only to see drops of water dripping down to the carpet.

“I think my water broke”

My blood went cold at her words. Both Sarah and I looked at each other in shock. None of us had gone through labour before so we were completely clueless of what to do.

“Camilla breath. Don’t panic. Let’s go to the hospital soon”

We both hooked our arms in hers and walked few steps but she started whimpering in pain.

“Mrs. Anderson” Few of her staff rush to her and a women in her 40’s who was an employee here took Camilla to the lobby and sat her on the sofa.

She ordered Sarah to get her car and Sarah ran to the parking lot. The woman massaged Camilla’s temples and whispered soothing words to her.

As soon as Sarah’s car showed up at the entrance another employee draped Camilla’s arm over her shoulder and took her to the car. The woman helped her to sit down and wiped the sweat off Camilla’s face.

“Thank you so much we’ll take it from here”

I got in the back seat with Camilla and Sarah sped up.

I didn’t have Marcus’s number so I called Jake instead.

“Jake, Camilla is going into labour. Call Marcus and tell him to come to the hospital”

“What? Oh my god I think I can’t breath” Jake started hyperventilating.

“For god’s sake do as I say” I cut the call and slowly leaned Camilla’s head on to my chest, hugging her.

Jake had been acting like a responsible big brother for the past few months. He always showed a straight face to Camilla while he took care of her.

But at home he overeacts as if he was going to be the one caring for the baby more than the parents. Thank god Camilla has Marcus.

We soon reached the hospital and the doctors kept her on a stretcher and took her to the delivery room.

I bit my nails in fear as I heard Camilla scream in pain. Jake came rushing, his family following him behind.

Sarah kept glancing at the entrance and was relieved to see Steve walking in. He rushed to her and hugged her.

I held Jake’s hand as he clinged on to mine.

A doctor came out and we looked at her in worry.

“Where’s the father of the child? If he’s here he can come inside to support the mother”

We all started looking around searching for Marcus but realising he wasn’t here I slapped Jake in the arm.

“You didn’t call him?”

“What-oh shoot I forgot” Before I could scold him I heard another angry voice.

“Steve what the hell? Where is Mr. Anderson?”

“I wasn’t in the office when you called. I thought you already informed him”

Sarah looked like she was about to loose her shit. Her first clenched in anger and she hit Steve’s arm before taking her phone out to call Marcus.

We waited for a while and heard rushed footsteps speeding towards us.

Marcus came running, sweat trickling down his face. His tie was loose, his hair a mess. His entire shirt was creased and he looked chaotic.

“Where is she?”

“She’s inside”

Marcus wiped the sweat off his face and held the door knob to go in.

But Camilla’s mother stopped him.

“Marcus don’t go now. Let the doctors do their work”

“But-but she’s in pain” Marcus glanced back at the room, a tear rolling down his eyes.

“Marcus she’s strong, don’t worry. And it has been a while. Don’t bother the doctors now”

Marcus slumped onto the floor and looked down, gripping his hair tightly. He brought his knees to his chest and leaned on the wall.

“For those who didn’t tell me earlier you will pay” Marcus glared at all of us and went back to messing his hair.

We waited for another half an hour and the doctor came out.

“We moved her to a small room inside. You can take that door to see her” The doctor pointed to a door next to the delivery room. “And-”

Before the doctor could finish Marcus jumped up and sprinted to the door. He opened it with heavy force but suddenly came to a halt, looking at something in bewilderment.

Jake and I both walked past him and saw Camilla on a bed covered with white sheets. A window was next to the bed overlooking a garden, giving a warmth of the sunlight.

On the bed next to Camilla was a small baby wrapped around a thin blanket. Everyone walked inside and Camilla looked at us sleepily, a tired but happy smile on her face.

Her gaze fell on Marcus who was still standing at the door behind me, biting his lips to hold his emotions. He gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, moist filling his eyes as he stared at his wife and child.

He slowly walked to the bed, his steps unsteady as his legs wobbled.

Marcus bent down and kissed Camilla on her forehead. A tear fell down his eyes and she slowly held her hand up to wipe it away.

He then walked around the bed and knelt to the floor. He glanced at the small baby and a pool of tears started falling out his eyes. He closed his eyes with his hand and sniffled, pouring his heart out.

I felt tears brim in my eyes at the sight of them and I looked around to see everyone crying.

Marcus wiped his tears with the sleeves and carefully took the baby to his arms.

“Camilla” His voice broke as he called her.

“Hmm”

“He’s beautiful”

“I know” She smiled, tears filling her eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you Camilla” He looked at her lovingly and they both chuckled as tears fell down to their cheeks.