Page 10 of Love is So Mean

“Prospects? Like you have a list?”

“Yes, I had a list.”

I run my fingers through my hair because I’m on eight different levels of confusion. It’s like my words are stuck.

“Uh…” I’m stuck staring at her while my brain works to process everything she just said. “Heir?”

I was so busy focusing on my career that I never thought about if I’dwantto have children. Now, I’d have to make a life long decision soon and with Yasmeena of all people. Her announcement gives me so many conflicting thoughts and emotions that my brain doesn’t know where to stick. Did she say she was dying?

“Yes, Heir.”

“I’m engaged.”

“Right, with that, unfortunately, you cannot tell your fiancée about me being sick. Just let her know that after me, you two will be getting married. I’ll even fund the entire thing up until the honeymoon and your two kids, after mine, of course.”

I’m still stunned and everything out of her mouth just stops me further. Who tells someone they're sick with the same tone of commenting about the weather? Even if I’d have questions, my brain can’t form them. I stare at her a moment longer, expecting her to laugh and tell me this is a joke but Yasmeena is just Yasmeena.

“So you’re asking me to go to my fiancée and say, ‘oops I meant to ask if you’d marry meafterI marry and impregnate my boss? How would that sound?”

“Just tell her to wait and be patient. She’ll gloss over it like she did when you called her Yasmeena while proposing in front of a hushed restaurant. She didn’t get upset, she knows you. Plus, it’s for a good cause.”

Fuck.I freeze for a moment, I didn’t know she heard that. Yasmeena is the last person I’d want to witness such a colossal mistake. Even with the embarrassment that washes over me, one thing sticks out.

“A good cause?”

“Yes, I have ovarian cancer so, it’s kind of like the make– a–wish foundation.” Yasmeena stops talking, she flinches, shutting her eyes and makes a fist then a moment after she exhales. She opens her eyes and continues as if nothing happened. “I don’t need anything except a baby.”

Just when I thought she couldn’t surprise me any more. I stare at her still expecting…I don’t fucking know. This whole proposition is insane. Standing, I grab the folder and walk out of the conference room. What the fuck am I supposed to say to all of this? I head straight to my office to pack up for the day. It’ll be impossible to get any work done.

“I need you to sign the NDA now whether you accept this or not.” Yasmeena says right behind me as she shuts my office door.

Fuck, I just walked away from her and now she’s in my office. “Huh?”

“I need you to sign the NDA now whether you say yes or no.” she enunciates her words again as if I don’t understand.

I need a drink. No, I need an entire bottle. Will God smite me for cursing out a sick woman. I rub my face and turn back to the folder on my desk. There is more paperwork in the folder beyond the NDA. I don’t have the mental capacity to read any of it. I find the document and look over it to ensure I’m not being tricked into signing my life away then sign it. I don’t give it to her immediately because she can wait. I drop the folder in my laptop bag and grab the rest of my things. I take a deep breath before I turn around and face her again.

“I’m going home. Don’t contact me anymore today. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hand her the paperwork because I know she won’t leave me alone without it. I stop just after I pass her and turn back to her. “Look, Yasmeena, I’m going to ignore the fact that you’ve been a major pain in my ass lately to focus on the biggest part of this whole damn thing. You don’t deserve this. I’m sorry that you’re sick. I hate the idea that you have to go through that and no matter what happens I pray for the best outcome possible and wish you the best.”

She gives me a blank look. “You don’t have to say sorry, you didn’t give me cancer. Also, when you’re done reading my diagnosis, shred the papers. Again, no one will know. See you tomorrow morning, Mr Souza.”

Yep, I have a stress headache now. I open my office door without another word to her and leave her in my office. I can’t begin to comprehend what makes Yasmeena tick and I can’t stress myself out trying to understand.

“I’m gone for the day,” I tell Jeeves as I pass. His hazel eyes search me like he’s trying to read my thoughts but I don’t bother to explain. “Move anything important to tomorrow.”

Chapter 7

Yasmeena

Enrique is freaked out. I would be too if someone told me to give them my seed.

I’m not a robot that I wouldn’t understand why he would be repulsed with marrying me and getting me pregnant. It’s not an easy thing to do. Most of my charm is nonexistent but I don’t feel bad about it.

When I get to my office, I shut the door and I dial my therapist.

“Yasmeena? What happened? You never call me during non appointment times.”

“I have Ovarian cancer.”