Accidental Pregnancy

I look at her. And, all of a sudden, I’m furious. I cross my arms.

“Like the fact that I think he’s the fucking owner of Energy Plus Co.,” I spit.

My mother gasps, her eyes widen.

“What… Why do you think that?” she asks.

“I went there, after I went to the doctor,” I say bitterly. “I wanted to do some work but I didn’t want to be questioned by Dad. He was there, getting out of a car. Some guy came up to him and started talking to him about suppliers and about the deal with Dad’s company…” I shake my head, frustrated. “Look, I don’t know for sure, alright? But I do know that it looks really suspicious.”

I look over at my mother. She’s on her phone, a frown of concentration. I feel insulted before I realize what she must be doing. She’s likely looking for proof of what I’m saying on the internet.

Instantly, I feel foolish. I should have done that before jumping to conclusions.

“Well…you’re right,” my mother says finally. She looks up, her face drawn, and holds her phone so that I can see the screen. On it is a picture of Lyle smiling at the camera in a newspaper article. He looks a little younger there. “Lyle Thompson… He took over the company after his parents tragically died in a car crash two years ago. He’s been the owner of Energy Plus Co. ever since.” She glances at me. “Didn’t you know his last name?”

“I…didn’t ask,” I say faintly.

It’s true. Lyle is the owner of the company that is directly competing with my father’s company, the very business that I’m trying so hard to ally us with. I feel like I’m going to be sick.

I feel used.

“Is he just laughing at me?” I wonder. “All this time? Has he been watching me run around after him and laughing that I’m at his beck and call? Did he only get together with me so that he could make sure the alliance went well?”

“Why would he do that?” my mother asks patiently.

“For a takeover!” I exclaim. The thought takes root in my mind. “Once he’s connected with us, he can also start having a stake in what we do. Before we know it, our company will fall and become part of Energy Plus Co.! Oh fuck, this is exactly what Dad is afraid of!”

“Calm down,” my mother says sharply, and her voice breaks through the quickly growing panic. “Your father’s paranoia has very little to do with any actual truth, so don’t start following him down that line of thought. Now, take a deep breath, Amanda.”

I struggle to obey her. I don’t know where the panic has come from – likely from the same shifting hormones that produced my tears and anger if I’m honest. I take in a few shuddering breaths before I manage to calm myself.

Once I do, tears come to my eyes again. Shit, being pregnant sucks. I’m going to hate it if it’s this constant rollercoaster of emotions, I swear.

“Now, what’s going on?” my mother asks calmly. “This isn’t like you. I understand that you’re upset about Lyle, but…”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.

Stony silence settles over the living room. My mother stares at me, shocked at my words. I fidget and look away from her stillness.

“What?” she finally croaks.

“That’s… The doctor suggested it and then I took a test,” I say in a small voice, my shoulders hunching. “I didn’t want to believe it… We forgot protection once, about two weeks ago, because we were a little tipsy. I didn’t think it would mean anything, especially after we both got tested for diseases. But…”

“You ended up pregnant,” my mother finished when I faltered. “Well…that’s definitely unexpected.”

That wasn’t the response I was expecting.

“Of course it is!” I burst out. “Do you think I tried to fall pregnant! I don’t even know what I’m going to do, especially with everything I’ve just figured out about Lyle!” My eyes widen in horror as another thought occurs to me. “And, oh shit, Dad. What the hell am I supposed to tell him? ‘Gee, Dad, sorry, but I fucked your rival, and now I’m having his baby’?”

“Amanda,” my mother says, her eyes narrowing. “I understand that you’re upset by all this, but please try to calm down.”

I bury my face in my hands.

“What do I do, Mom?” I ask pathetically.

“I don’t know,” she admits. “But your first step is to talk to Lyle. I understand that you’re hurt that he kept secrets from you, but you owe him a chance to explain at least, even if you don’t like what you hear. Chances are that it’s not as bad as you’re thinking.”

“How am I supposed to trust anything he tells me?” I protest.