Why did I write this?
I don't know!
This is a weird one.
I've never written anything for Krei before!
I kinda like him?
I think he has deeply buried paternal instincts and I'm definitely going to write more about that premise later but this isn't really that story.
This was more a fun experiment style story, similar to how Guilt Trip was an experiment for me.
Because this is all dialogue just imagine that there are some women who work for Krei that are gossiping about everything that happened, or that they think happened. I'm sorry if it's confusing, I'm also confused, I just wanted to write this and get it out there.
"Did you hear about Judy?"
"I heard Krei did it."
"Knocked up, can you believe?"
"Is she actually going to have his child?"
"Did you hear about the paid maternity leave?"
"Is he gonna raise it?"
"There's no way Allistar Krei could be a father."
"That man only breeds distance and shame."
"And money, filthy money."
"Not filthy enough, everyone knows it was him."
"He instituted paid maternity leave right when Judy started showing."
"Do you think it's her fault? Like maybe she seduced him for the cash?"
"That's ridiculous. He obviously used his position of power over her."
"Maybe it was consensual."
"It better have been consensual, or we're out one CEO."
"If Krei's out the door then good riddance. He was a bumbling fool."
"But if Krei's out the door so is Judy."
"What's going to happen to her?"
"She'll get washed up and passed over."
"The same thing happened to Krei's mom, didn't it?"
"More or less. Watch that finger for an engagement ring and we'll know if Krei's made up of the same stuff as his father."
"Are they really going to act like everything is normal?"
"She's getting bigger every day."
"Miracle of life, am I right?"
"Well, there's no engagement ring. Maybe it wasn't him."
"It was definitely him."
"Do you think there's going to be a baby shower?"
"Do you think we'd be invited?"
"Do you think he bought her silence?"
"Do you think she's happy?"
"She seems happy."
"She doesn't seem unhappier than usual."
"It has to be an act right? Who could carry that monster's seed and be happy?"
"How much do you think he paid her?"
"You know Jim and I have been trying for months. If I got pregnant now do you think I'd get paid maternity leave?"
"Honestly if it were more convenient I'd say we all got knocked up. So much of his staff is female, it would be better than a strike. It would shame him."
"He's obviously ashamed."
"He looks so happy."
"Do you think he's actually happy about this?"
"Disgusting. Of course he would be."
"Why is this any different? I bet he's fathered a thousand children that he abandoned."
"A thousand is a bit of a stretch."
"You know what I mean."
"If there's a baby shower I'm not going."
"That'll stick it to him."
"We need to unionize. This is horrific!"
"Maybe it was consensual? What if they're together?"
"That's worse! That's unprofessional!"
"Possibly? But maybe we're just reaching for outrage. They're both legal adults. If this was planned-"
"No one would plan to have a kid with Alistair Krei."
"Lots of people would plan on having Krei's kid. I bet you're set for life if you have Krei's kid."
"Unless it gets swept under the rug, along with his other failures."
"I don't think this one is going to be swept under the rug. Judy's still here."
"Well sure, there would be such a lawsuit if she wasn't. I bet he had to settle out of court."
"Unless it was consensual."
"Unless it's not his baby."
"Who else's baby would it be? Judy doesn't have a life outside of work."
"I don't think that that's true. Everyone has a life outside of work."
"Not if you work at Krei Tech. I haven't seen my kid in years."
"You don't have a kid."
"Yeah, because I work at Krei Tech."
"Well now's the time to swing for a baby, there's paid maternity leave now."
"Have you seen how big she's getting?"
"I heard it was a boy."
"Oh great, another disgusting Krei boy, out to ruin lives."
"Unless it's not his. We don't really know for sure."
"Have you heard what they're going to call it?"
"I heard that someone heard that Judy's thinking about the name Oliver or Adrian?"
"Adrian Krei. Can you imagine? A newborn will be able to buy and sell us soon enough."
"There's really no reason to go on hating a baby."
"Is there not? He's basically the next baby Hitler."
"Whoa! That's definitely taking it too far. You don't have to like Krei but there's no reason to label his possible future son as a white supremacist."
"Why do you say possible future son as if we don't know?"
"Because we don't know! It's just been office hearsay so far. Until Judy or Krei comes out with it I'm not assigning blame or even assuming that blame needs to be assigned. Because he's our boss and it's irresponsible to spread rumors about him with nothing more to work off of than paid maternity leave coinciding with Judy's pregnancy."
"They're never going to own up to it! But if you want to keep protecting him then by all means. Just protect yourself too. It would be a shame if you ended up like Judy."
"Oh my gosh. You were the one who said we should all get knocked up as a form of a strike. Well, knock yourself out. This is bull crap. I don't have to talk to you."
"Someone has to spread the truth!"
"Then I can't wait for you to find out the truth!"
"I asked her."
"Finally!"
"It's not Krei's. According to Judy, at least, I'm not saying I believe her-"
"You have to believe her, though. She's the only person who knows the truth for sure, for sure. If she says it's not Krei's then it's not Krei's."
"He's the godfather, though. Of little Adrian. She didn't say who the father was."
"She doesn't have to. That's her business."
"I guess."
"Bummed that you don't have anyone to talk about anymore?"
"Nope. There's always something to talk about. Did you hear that Betsy got a boob job?"
"Yeah, I'm not talking to you anymore."