Love and Crosses: What the Heart Wants

Charlotte could tell something was wrong when Riele came out of her office.

"Don't tell me you're retiring too," she asked as Riele gave her a confused look.

Riele didn't reply as she slammed the file she received from Mr. Owen on her desk scaring the shit out of Charlotte. "Are you going to talk or should I go and report Mr. Owen for sexual harassment?"

Riele burst into laughter. "You are out of your mind, Charlotte." Riele sighed before she passed the file to her friend.

Charlotte took the file from her and flipped through the pages. "I don't understand. All can see is this handsome guy who looks hot and sexy. Is Mr. Owen trying to set you up on a date with his son?"

"What son?" Riele asked. "Mr. Owen doesn't have any son."

"Who knows, he might have a secret son."

Riele quickly collected the file from her friend before she starts to make weird assumptions. 

"He is the new CEO. The one that will replace Mr. Owen," Riele explained

Charlotte's eyes widened in shock and excitement. "Are you saying that this handsome guy is..."

"Yes. The handsome guy you just saw there in that file is going to be the new CEO and I will be his assistant. Can you believe that? Why does bad luck hover around me, uh?" Riele cuts in.

Charlotte stared at her in silence before bursting into laughter.

Riele couldn't understand why Charlotte was laughing. "Why are you laughing?" She folded her arms and looked at her friend, waiting for her to explain the reason for her laughing. 

"I'm so sorry," Charlotte said in between laughs. "Are you sure you are okay?" she paused. "What's wrong with being his assistant? It's not like you are in any kind of relationship. What exactly are you worried about? Do you have any idea how many ladies would kill for what you have right now?" Charlotte asked. 

Riele folded her arms as her stomach started to rumble. "I do want to argue, but I can't do that on an empty stomach. Let's go grab a bite!"

Riele got up and pulled her friend up as they went to the cafeteria.

"What would you like to eat?" She asked her, but Charlotte was silent as soon as they came to the cafeteria.

Riele ordered french fries because she knew Charlotte loves French fries. She got Spaghetti for herself. They took a seat that was vacant close to the window.

Riele started digging into her spaghetti. She was halfway through with the food when she noticed Charlotte hadn't touched her food.

"Are you going to keep playing with your food?" She asked. Charlotte pushed her food aside and stared at Riele almost making her choke. "I know what that look means. What is it you want to tell me?" She asked.

"Riele, I know what I am going to say is going to sound like a shock to you and I don't want you to scream or shout just. I just want you to listen to me."

Riele almost choked as she listened to Charlotte speak. "You know I'm going to think you want to tell me you're pregnant," she said as she laughed expecting Charlotte to laugh at the joke too, but she didn't. She looked up at her expecting some kind of answer, but nothing came. "Wait! Does that mean that you're..."

Charlotte sighed.

Riele dropped her fork, folded her arms across her chest, and looked at Charlotte. As if knowing what the look meant, Charlotte started talking.

"It was a mistake, Riele. I was drunk and I didn't know what I was doing..."

"Who's the father?" Riele cuts in.

"Riele," 

"Who is the father, Charlotte?"

"You don't like him."

There's one person Riele didn't and he used to be a model for the company. "Kim Utter?" Riele asked in disbelief. Charlotte nodded. "How the hell did that happen? You never told me you were interested in him."

"That's because I am not interested in Him, Riele," she paused with a sigh. "I was drunk and he offered to take me home and one thing led to another..."

"Is he aware you're carrying his child?"

Charlotte shook her head.

"I couldn't reach him after the incident." Charlotte knew Riele would be furious so she quickly held her hand and covered them with hers. "Riele, I'm sorry. The truth is that I don't regret it."

"For God's sake, Charlotte! You're just twenty-three! What do you know about parenting a child?".

"I know, Riele. Parenting is hard, but you know... I've never had any of my parents to care for me. My dad died on his way to see me. Mom ran away the moment she gave birth to me. I was sent to the orphanage without having a taste of my mother's breast milk.

"Twenty years of my life were spent in the orphanage, until I ran away to make a living. I want to keep this baby, Riele. I want to prove I'm different from my mom. I want to show this baby what my mom couldn't show me; the love, the care, the protection...all of it. I don't care if Kim accepts the child or not. I know I messed up, but believe me, I don't regret it. Please..." Charlotte held Riele's hand tighter. "...be happy for me."

Riele looked at Charlotte and hugged her. "As long as you won't regret it. I will stick in for you." Charlotte smiled at her response. "How many weeks?" 

"Three weeks," Charlotte answered as Riele went back to her seat.

"Can I take permission from the baby to punch the father when I see him?"

Charlotte laughed.

"Don't you think you have other things to worry about than punching my child's father?"

Riele glared at her friend who was teasing her. "Was that necessary? I forgot about that guy or whoever he is. Maybe I dislike him because his name is Kim." Riele continued eating as Charlotte joined shaking her head to stop herself from teasing her friend more.

Riele looked at Charlotte and she could tell she was happy. "I am glad you're not getting rid of the child." Charlotte smiled. "I'm always here for you if you need anything and I'm serious about the whole punch thing."

"I'll let you know when I need it."

They both smiled.