Partner Track - Episode 13

Nikki

Nick arrives at the St Vincent Catholic Medical Center and asks what arrangements have been made for Ingrid Yun's stay after her delivery. Register clerk says she will be placed in a standard ward.

Nick: Give her a private suit…. With a private nurse….. hands her is black card …. Where is she now?

Registration Nurse : she in delivery now waiting for her doctor to arrive.

Nick: Where is that?

Registration Nurse: Down the hall to the left

Nick arrives and Lina smiles… while everyone else is in shock to see him

Nick: Where is Ingrid?

Lina: She's in the prep area with the nurses

Nick walks in and Ingrid's mouth drops

Ingrid: Nick….. what are you doing here?

Nick: Did you think anyone could stop me from seeing my daughter being born?

Ingrid: You know… I'm so sorry….. I'm sorry for everything.

Nurse: Are you the father?

Nick: Yes , I'm the father

Nurse: Do you want to be in the delivery room when the baby is born?

Nick: Yes….. I don't want to miss another minute of my daughter's life.

Ingrid begins to cry uncontrollably: Nick how did you know….. who told you?

Nick: Stop asking questions and start thinking of our baby.

The nurse brings a hospital gown and mask for Nick to put on…. Ingrid is still in shock that Nick will be by her side as she delivers their daughter

Nurse: Ms Yun….. how are you holding up…. If the pain gets be to much … I can give you an epidural block to give you some comfort.

Ingrid: will it hurt the baby….. I can stand any pain as long as my baby is all right

Nurse: It's perfectly safe for the baby….. actually it will relax you and not put as much stress on the baby …. Do you think you want it?

Nick: Take it , why suffer anymore?

Ingrid nods her head and the nurse puts the epidural syringe into her IV and within moments Ingrid feels no pain

Ingrid: It works … I don't feel anything

Nurse: We will be bringing you into the delivery room …. your doctor is waiting for you….. are you ready?

Ingrid: More than ready….. I can't wait to see her.

Nurse: Mr Laren are you ready…. Do you know what to expect?

Nick: Until last night I didn't know she was even pregnant.

Nurse: I'll try to catch you if you're about to faint.

Ingrid: Nick you don't have to put yourself through this.

Nick: You've had enough to say about what I should and shouldn't do.

Ingrid is placed on the delivery table with her legs in the stirrups and the doctor has a clear view of her vagina which has dilated and ready for the baby to be delivered. Nick looks on sees what had given him so much pleasure before has now swelled and is about to have his little girl pass through and make her way into the world.

Doctor: Ingrid … remember what we talked about…. I want you to take deep breaths and then push as hard as you can… Are you ready?

Ingrid Nods her head

Doctor: Ingrid….. take a deep breath and push

Ingrid pushes and screams until she has no air left

Doctor: Ingrid you did grate…. Take a deep breath and push as hard as you can

Ingrid takes a huge gulp of air and pushes and screams as the baby's head can now be seen… Nick can't believe what he is seeing the crown of his daughters head is now visible.

Doctor: Ingrid…. One more time…. Take that deep breath and push

Ingrid fills her lungs with as much as as it can hold and then starts pushing and screaming as hard as she can until the baby is completely out and the doctor clear her mouth and taps her on the back and the baby takes her first breath of air on her own. The doctor cuts the umbilical cord … hands the baby to the nurse so that she can be cleaned and wrapped.

Nick goes to Ingrid : you did great….. how do you feel?

Ingrid: all the pain is gone…. Is she all right….. everything in order….. I was so worried that she would have to pay for my sins.

Nurse brings the baby to Nick: Daddy do you want to hold your daughter?

Nick all teary eyed : she's so beautiful… Since you didn't make me part of this….. what's her name?

Ingrid: Nikki Yun

Nick: No ….it's Nikki Laren….. she is as much a part of me as she is of you.

Nurse: Nikki Laren, born August 22, 2022, 6lb 5oz, 19 inches long. time of birth 1:23 PM….. congratulations you two…. She's beautiful… Ms Yun we will bring you to our room so that you can get your strength up… Little Nikki will be brought to you.

Ingrid: let me hold her for a little while….. Nick gives Nikki to Ingrid….Mommy has been waiting for you so long….. you are so beautiful.

Nurse: we need to check her completely….. I promise you she will be brought to you as soon as possible.

Ingrid: I understand….. please take care of her.

Ingrid looks to Nick : Do you still hate me?

Nick: who said I hate you ? ….. anyway…. This is not the time or the place to have a conversation long past due… Get some rest …. I'll go tell your family that everything went well.

Ingrid is brought into one of the luxury private rooms the hospital has for VIP guest…. A nurse is waiting

Ingrid: There must be a mistake….. I didn't order this… I certainly can't afford this.

Private Nurse: No mistake….. your husband came in and changed the order and paid for it….. he wanted to make sure you and his daughter have nothing but the best.

Ingrid shakes her head

Private Nurse: Is there anything you want ….. drink… food… snacks name it and I'll get it for you.

Ingrid: Can you get me some water….. My throat is dry from all that screaming

Private Nurse: yes ma'am

Ingrid: please call me Ingrid….. I'm nobody special

Private Nurse: you must be special to your husband

Ingrid: he's not my husband….. I don't even know if he even likes me.

Private Nurse: really!

Nick goes to the Yun family and reports that Nikki Laren was born….. she's beautiful and very healthy….. Ingrid is in her room resting

Mr Yun: Nick…. You're a good man….. I was worried that the baby would be raised without a father… anyway….. Thank you

Nick: I would never let that happen… when the time is right Ingrid and I will talk and come to some agreement.

Mrs Yun: Nick…. You will have to come for dinner…. Tell me your favorite dishes and I'll make them for you.

Nick: I've only had 24 hours to get use to this… but thank you.

Lina: Ken doll you are perfect….. if my sister is stupid enough to through you away again… I'll be yours for life.

Nick laughs: Find someone your own age….. I don't think I could handle you.

Tyler and Rachel approach Nick

Rachel: If you two can work out your differences… that little girl you made will be the luckiest girl in the world…I've known Ingrid a long time…. When she gets scared she runs away….. it's no excuse for what she did, but it wasn't that she didn't love you….. she's been beating herself up ever since that day. As her best friend her mind must be spinning that you came here today….. Thank you

Tyler: Man…. If you were gay I would definitely come after you… All kidding aside…. Thank you brother… If you ever need my help I will be there for you.

Nick: Ingrid's nurse just texted me… Ingrid is ready to see you all

As they all enter Ingrids room all eyes are on the room furnishing

Mrs Yun: are all hospital rooms in Manhattan like this?

Ingrid: No mom….. being Nick Laren's daughter has it's advantages.

Rachel looks at Ingrid and flashes the zip it sign.

Ingrid : Nikki had her first meal… come see ….. isn't she beautiful?

Mrs Yun: Can I hold her…. Come to grandma… I'm going to spoil you rotten

Ingrid cringes knowing that Nick will have that covered… Rachel seeing Ingrid's reaction goes to her

Rachel whispers to her friend: Give the guy a break he is on auto pilot….. just remember he's not slime ball Murphy

Ingrid : You're right…. Nick didn't hesitate coming here, whereas Murphy couldn't wait not to take responsibility….. why do I do this to myself?

Rachel: you need to understand him better… let's face it ….. how often can anyone find a guy like him?

Everyone takes their turn holding Nikki….. Ingrid looks to Nick and has him come to her….. she takes his hand

Ingrid: Thank you….. I really mean it….. you being here was a gift I thought I would never receive because of my actions….. When Nikki and I get discharged can we just talk?…. Our romance was a whirlwind both of us didn't get to really know each other.

Nick squeezes her hand in agreement

Two days after Nikki's birth….. photographers from the New York Post were able to get photos of Nick , Ingrid and the baby leaving the hospital and the next day the picture appeared on Page 6 .

The caption under the photo… New York billionaire mogul Nick Laren … head of Laren Equity Fund is seen escorting his love child with Parson Valentine Partner Ingrid Yun . The babies name is Nikki Laren.

Nick calls Ingrid

Nick: I'm sorry for what happened… I should've planned better, but that's no excuse…. I will take better precautions for you and Nikki in the future.

Ingrid: I've been getting calls for interviews….. there are even photographers waiting to take pictures us….. what do I do ?

Nick: I would feel better if the two of you were here at my place…security is air tight and no one can bother you…. You can come and go without prying eyes…. You can have your own room…. This gives me some time to plan things better.

Ingrid: I certainly don't want Nikki's face shown on Page 6….. ok come and get us.

Nick sends a security detail and brings them to the Laren Penthouse. Ingrid has a flashback of the last time she appeared at this door… The look in Nick's eyes pierces her heart and the thought of how is this ever going to work.

Nick: Get yourself settled… Take whichever room you want…. Are you hungry… I'll make us something to eat.

Ingrid: Let me feed Nikki and put her down for her morning nap….. she isn't on a schedule…. So you will have to bear with us.

Nick: Whatever, I need to do… just tell me… I want to know everything about her.

Nick prepares the breakfast Ingrid use to like

Nick: I hope your tastes haven't changed

Ingrid: No…. It looks great….. I'm sure it will taste the same…. Nick….. can we have that talk… the tension between us is evident….. I never wanted to disrupt your life.

Nick: Eat …. You need to keep your strength up … our baby depends on you.

Ingrid: tell me what's going through your head… since you found out….. who told you?

Nick: Lina … showed up and told me I was about to become a father to a baby girl….. Which I couldn't believe ….. especially after what I saw… but she convinced me that the baby was mine….. I was thrilled beyond belief…. Then I was crushed… since the vision of you with another man opened the wound that I have been carrying ever since.

Ingrid: What about your girlfriend… she's not going to be thrilled that you brought us here.

Nick: What girlfriend… where is this coming from?

Ingrid: The hot blonde that was under your arm… Page 6 seems to follow your every move

Nick: When we were together….. were you ever on Page 6… When I want it private I keep it private…. When I don't I let them write whatever they want… it's a diversion so I'm not continually hounded by gold diggers.

Ingrid: I never realized what your life is really like….. I just assumed you were rich….. not a care in the world….. you could do whatever you want when you wanted… you were the perfect prince charming and you scared the hell out of me… how could I ever live up to what I thought you expected of me.

Nick: your solution was to cheat on me….. was I that easy of a sap that you could have it both ways… I trusted you… I was raised by two parents that cheated on each other my whole life.

Ingrid: I can't make any excuses for that and I've hated myself because of it. I've had this blind ambition to become partner ever since I was a little girl… My focus has always been that if I became successful and achieved a status in the corporate world no one would dare look down on me for being a minority girl… I now realize how stupid I must sound.

Nick: Did you ever think that being Nick Laren's wife anyone would look down on you?

Ingrid: I had to do it by myself…. I fell into a trap and I sold my soul to try to get what I wanted… In the end I lost everything… you, my friends and the partnership….. I was a fool and I admit it… Ill spend the rest of my life regretting it… The only good thing out of this debacle is Nikki….. I'm going to be the best mother I could and hopefully teach her not to make the same mistakes I did.

Nick: What about Murphy… do you still love him?

Ingrid: There was no love there… Murphy was clever enough to play on my vulnerability…. The moment he saw that he could take advantage of it he did….. I was a means to his end. He became partner and I was forced to quit. My biggest mistake was that I created a fantasy that wasn't real... it was all made up in my head…. I saw all the warning signs but I was blinded by my ambition.

Nick: But your partner now.

Ingrid: When I met you … you were a dream come true … as a lover, as a partner and a husband… As long as I was with you I was happy and content… but the job kept me away from you…. I became consumed with SunCorp -Min acquisition that I slowly began loosing myself….I did everything possible to force Z Min to approve the merger even though he was against it because he would be trading his principles for more money. Ted Lassiter the Chairman of Sun Corp knew that when he got Min and Z's technology he could control the market for years to come and screw Z out of his dream. I got Z to trust me again and we somehow how pulled a coup at the Sun Corp shareholders meeting and Lassiter was out and Z became the new Chairman. Marty Adler was so mad that I did that he threaten to have me blacklisted from ever working again… Z stepped in and forced him to make me partner if he wanted to continue having Sun Corp as a client.

Nick: Are you happy that you got what you wanted?

Ingrid: The old saying" be careful of what you wish for" certainly applies to me….. the price I paid to get it was to great….. I know that you won't ever trust me again, but I never stopped loving you…. I did what I did after I found out about Nikki….. because I didn't want to hurt you again… I'm truly sorry. I'm thankful that you found out… because I dreaded the thought of the day Nikki would find out that I kept you away from her.

Nick: That's not going to happen… As for us….. I can't promise anything….. your right ….. trust issue is big with me…. I don't want Nikki to grow up like I did… parents not trusting each other.

Ingrid: That's fair enough…. Will you at least give me the chance to regain it?….. I can't see my life without you.

Nick: My father and sister will be coming over ….. you may have second thoughts about me being in your life.

Dominic and Tiffany Laren arrive at the Penthouse

Dominic: Let me see this supposedly granddaughter of mine and you why haven't I heard or seen of you before?

Nick: Ingrid this is my father Dominic and this is my sister Tiffany….. you know the one like Lina

Tiffany: Whose Lina?

Ingrid: she's my sister

Nick brings in Nikki who has just awaken from her nap

Nick: Dad this is your granddaughter… Nikki

Dominic: she looks nothing like you….. are you sure she's your daughter?

Tiffany: Daddy ….. she so cute…. Those adorable slanted eyes….. She's going to be a real exotic when she grows up.

Ingrid cringes at the thought that Nikki is blood related to them

Nick: You two love having your pictures on page 6… but Nikki is off limits….. have I made myself clear… Tiffany… I'll cut off all your credit cards if you try posting pictures of her on your instagram account…. Nikki is going to live as normal as a life possible… what happened coming out of the hospital won't happen again.

Dominic: she really is your daughter.

Nick: yes dad …. Nikki is my daughter… Ingrid was the one I was going to marry.

Tiffany: Is she the one you got mom's ear rings for… what happen to those?

Nick: They are in the safe.

Tiffany: So are you going to get married now that you have a daughter?

Ingrid: We are going to take it slow this time.

Dominic: What's this slow crap….. there are women lined up to marry him and you want to take it slow

Ingrid: I love your son very much… but there are things we need to sort out.

Another nock on the door

Ingrid: Nick….. I forgot to tell you… mom wanted to see Nikki….. I guess the two families can finally meet

Nick: This makes it easier

Mr and Mrs Yun along with Lina walk in

Mrs Yun: I'm sorry …. We didn't know you had guests I just couldn't wait not seeing my granddaughter

Nick: It's good that you came….. you can meet my family

Ingrid: Mr Laren ….. this is my mother and father….. Jung Yun - Soo and Sang -Hoon Yun and my sister Lina

Tiffany: so Lina you must be the black sheep like me… Let these old fogies talk you can give me the run down as to how my brother and your sister got together

Lina: I think I'm gonna like you

Nick: Is anyone hungry… I'll make something

Mrs Yun: You even cook

Ingrid: Mom …. Nick is a great cook

Mrs Yun: Nikki …. Your so lucky

Dominic: Mr Yun… so what do you do

Mr Yun: I'm retired… just enjoying life…. Now with the grand baby we will have more things to do

Dominic: so this baby wasn't a surprise to you

Mrs Yun: Ingrid told us about her when she found out

Dominic: My son is so secretive….. you think he would've told me

Ingrid: It's not Nick's fault….. I kept the news away from him….. so I'm to blame for you not knowing.

Dominic: Why didn't you tell him ?

Nick: Dad that's between Ingrid and me… we are working on it ….. Nikki is here and that's all that matters….. I hope everyone like pasta…. That's the quickest and easiest to make on such a short time…. Ingrid you want to set the table

After Dinner and everyone leaves Ingrid and Nick look at each other

Nick: This is the first time that I can remember having an impromptu family dinner….. it felt good… I hope my dad didn't embarrass or disrespect your family…

Ingrid: Nikki is bi racial everyone is going to have to adjust… what do you think of Lina and Tiffany teaming up… what trouble will they get into?

Nick: as long as they leave Nikki out of it I don't care… I'll handle whatever they do…. What did you think of this little get together

Ingrid : A night like this makes me even sadder that I messed up our relationship….. if only I could make it up to you.

Nick pulls Ingrid close to him she feels his bulge pressing against her

Ingrid: I want you just as much… but I haven't quite healed down there so I don't think it would be that much fun… She lifts on her toes and gives him a French kiss showing that she means it…. When I'm healed you can do whatever you want…..no strings attached.