Emmeline tensed up. “Ben, you’re going to make my relationship worse.”

“Sorry.” Benjamin smiled sheepishly. “I’ll try to change.”

“You do. And you know who you should try it out with? Janie,” said Emmeline. “That’s the right thing to do.”

Benjamin gave it some thought and filled Janie’s plate instead, and Janie blushed.

“She’s been working well lately,” said Benjamin. “This is her reward. I believe she has no need for a raise of her bonus.”

Janie almost spat her food.

Emmeline almost choked on herself. “What are you talking about?”

“Calm down, ladies. It’s just a joke,” Benjamin quickly said. And he speared a piece of meat for Janie. “Here. This piece looks great.”

Janie popped the piece of meat into her mouth, but then a wave of nausea overtook her. She held it down and said, “I need to use the restroom.” She got up and made her way to the restroom, and she leaned on the basin and threw up.

Or at least she wanted to. She came up with nothing but bile, and she went white. My period is late. Is this morning sickness? Her heart started to thump furiously. What should I do? What should I tell Benjamin?

A worried Emmeline came looking for her. “Are you alright, Janie?”

Janie quickly turned on the faucet and pretended to wash her hands. “I’m fine, Em. Here for a bathroom break too?”

“Just worried about you,” said Emmeline. “You didn’t look too good back there.”

“I’m fine. Let’s go back.” Janie smiled and wiped her hands on some tissue, then the ladies went back to the room.

Janie was in no mood to eat, and she would space out sometimes. Emmeline was exhausted too, so they ended lunch soon after that.

The next day, Evelyn suddenly called. “I owe you a thank you, Emma.”

“Nothing much about that,” said Emmeline.

“But I’ve already reserved a room. Wanna have lunch?”

“No.” Emmeline refused to go. She had nothing to talk about with Evelyn.

“But I told my company’s top management we’d be there. They’re already here. Can’t you come?”

“I said no.”

“Aw, please? Can’t you indulge a friend?”

You are not my friend.

“I can pick you up. Are you at The Precipice?”

“Shut it,” said Emmeline impatiently. “I’ll ask Janie to come with me.”

“I was just thinking about that. We’re all friends here.”

We are not friends here. I do not want to have anything to do with you. Emmeline had a feeling Evelyn was up to something, and she wanted to check it out. Not like I have anything else to do anyway.

She called Janie. Janie was in her house, using the test kit she just bought from the pharmacy. She was in the bathroom, staring at the kit in disbelief. The results were positive. She was sure about it, and her legs gave out, her world spinning. I’m pregnant. “What should I do?”

She was starting to regret that time she took advantage of Benjamin getting drunk. It would be fine if he did love her, but Benjamin made it clear that he had no romantic feelings for her. Now I’m pregnant. This is bad. “I think I should ask him again.” Janie held the kit, her heart beating furiously.

If Benjamin did feel a modicum of love for her, she could die happy. If he didn’t… She wouldn’t force him to marry her just because of the baby. It would be a depressing marriage anyway. It was then Emmeline called her