I do not own SM
Chapter 11
Usagi looked at her alarm clock and blinked as a bright 5 stared at her. Mamoru was shuffling around in the dark, grumbling to himself every time he bumped into something. Usagi reached over and turned the night table lamp on. Mamoru froze like a thief caught.
"Mamoru?" She sat up rubbing her eyes? "What is going on?" He sat on the bed.
"Sorry, I was trying not to wake you. I got a phone call, I am needed at the hospital as soon as possible. I have to go." Usagi tried not to pout.
"I hope everything is okay." He gave a weak smile. He knew what was wrong, but wasn't about to let her know about it. They were having a hard time with his patients that had seen Koan. There was a mess at the hospital, and it seemed now his career was hanging in the balance. Mamoru was a great doctor and loved helping people, but he was also rich and was never in need of the salary the hospital provided. Most of the money went back into the hospital anyway.
"Nothing my doctor magic can't fix." He leaned in for a kiss. It was the verge of getting heated when the sound of the taxi honking broke it up. "Sorry honey, I need to go." She nodded, feeling the cold as soon as he let her go. "Call me when your meeting is over with?" She smiled and watched him go. Laying back down, she kept her eyes glued to the ceiling. It took her a few minutes to realize that she was rubbing her stomach. She thought for a moment that she could almost feel the baby move. Smiling she rolled over and went back to sleep. She was sad Mamoru had left her, her heart was still beating so quickly at his kiss, it was hard to stay sad for long.
When she got into her office, it was full of flowers, cards and balloons. Banners of welcome back and congratulations covered every corner of the room. Naru came up smiling.
"They have been pouring in all week. First they were just the welcome back, but now that every one knows about your baby, they have started with the congratulations. Speaking of which." Naru pulled out a small present behind her back. It didn't take long for Usagi to tear away the wrapping. Inside was a simple onesie that said 'my mommy is awesome' and underneath was a piece of paper. When Usagi read it, tears welled up in her eyes. It stated that in the name of her baby, Naru had donated 100 to Lunar Teachings. "I know that you will be getting a ton of stuff from your family, so I thought you would appreciate this even more." Usagi smiled and gave her friend a hug.
"It's perfect. Thank you."
It didn't take her long to sort her office, and the rest she arranged to have taken to her house. Her morning sickness was getting worse. It seemed that every time she tried to eat something, it would come up. So far pregnancy wasn't all she thought it was cracked up to be. Years of health class sex ed prepared her for very little. Rei gave her a little heads up, but it was nothing like she was prepared for. She always felt exhausted, she had trouble brushing her teeth, drinking milk and her whole body was sensitive. The last thought made her think of Mamoru. Just thinking about the way his fingers brushed against her skin made every hair stand on end and her whole body shiver with need. Just the sound of his voice could throw her over the edge. She smiled, actually that wasn't all that bad.
Reclining back to the furthest setting in her office chair she started to rub her stomach. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wonder to day dreams she never let herself have before. Children, a house of her own and a husband to complete the picture, and not just any husband but Mamoru. She pictured seeing his midnight eyes peeking through the ebony bangs as she walked down the isle. Her eyes shot open.
"Careful there Usagi, you are getting a little a head of yourself." Nodding she went back to work, ready to take the meeting head on.
"Usagi, you know we are so happy that things worked themselves out and we are able to get back on track. I personally flew to meet with Allen and now that we have everything we need in order we are ready to begin with the final phase." Yaten closed his binder. Everyone followed suit, afraid of what was happening next. Usagi smiled. The meeting was finally coming to a close, but she couldn't help but notice how everyone shifted in their seats.
"Yes, this is very exciting. The thought of everyone we are going to be able to help, the lives are going to save. It's incredible."
"There is just one thing we need to go over. It's about the baby." Shingo didn't look up from his lap as he spoke. His pause allowed Usagi to jump up from her seat.
"I know it's a big deal, but you surely must know I am more than capable of being a mother and running this company." All the board members glanced down.
"No, that isn't what we need to talk to you about. We found a new investor, she is willing to fund this whole operation with Gratis, but it comes with a pretty serious condition." Sapphire could see that Shingo wasn't going to finish.
"What type of condition." As soon as she finished her sentence the board room door opened and Nehellenia walked in.
"That I will give you the money as long as I take control of your company, unless you are willing to either have an abortion or give it up for an adoption." So this is what the board was uneasy about. She looked at them. People she had known her whole life. Men and women who had helped her plant the seed of hope in a community that was drowning.
"You can not be serious. Nehellenia we appreciate your offer, but I will not give up my child or my company, not for all the money in the world." Nehellenia gave her a cruel smile.
"Nehellenia, that is not what we agreed on!" One board member shouted out. Nehellenia ignored them.
"You lost a lot of investors when your brother-in-law stole that money from you, and if it wasn't for my Mamoru paying him to give the money back, you wouldn't be here today." The board members started to whisper, a truth they only partially knew. "And here you stand about to throw that all away again over just some baby. Serenity I am saving you from hell. The hell I have known all to well. I wish I had someone come and do this to me when I was in your shoes. I would have never chosen a child over my company. At least I was married, unlike you." She sat down opening up her briefcase to pull out paper work. "I swear children these days will spread their legs for any man. Who is he Serenity? I will need his name so my lawyers can draw up the paperwork for him give up his rights."
"You need to leave." Serenity stared at her as she stood up. "Now." Nehellenia looked shocked.
"I beg your patron? No one ever tells me to leave."
Sapphire looked up at Usagi.
"Usagi, listen." She glared at him.
"My name is Serenity." She turned her attention back to Nehellenia. "I am Serenity Tsukino, and as it is written on the deed, the bills and the fucking door this is my company and I am telling you to leave, take your money and never come back."
"You need my money." Nehellenia started to pack up her things.
"There will always be investors."
Nehellenia stopped at the door. She looked around at the room, seeing the relieved expressions on their faces. "This is a mistake. You will be sorry. Once I walk out the door my offer is no longer on the table."
"It should have never been on the table."
The room remained silent at they watched Nehellenia leave. Kyo Wiseman, the oldest member of the board got up from his chair, walked over to the crying CEO and embraced her.
"Thank you Serenity. Thank you for making the right decision." She began to cry harder into his shoulder. "But listen sweetheart, you need to calm down now. Crying isn't going to do the baby any good." She nodded sniffling.
"She said that she would invest. She offered us help if you wanted to take time off for the baby. I can't believe she lied to us." Serenity looked at them confused.
"We were worried you would think we didn't trust you." Sapphire said, coming up to her.
"After everything we've been through? Now, how about we order some lunch! This pregnant lady is hungry!"
"Alright Serenity, what do you want to order." Her gave softened.
"I'm sorry about the Serenity thing. Please go back to calling me Usagi."
The rest of the day went on smoothly. She finished getting caught up on her phone calls, emails and bills. She gave Naru the rest of the day off, who freaked out but was soon out the door. Her cell phone buzzed again her pocket. Mamoru went from texting her, to calling her. Her eyes closed, conflicted about taking his phone call.
"Hello?"
"Serenity!" His voice sounded happy and relieved. "I have been trying to get a hold of you. Is everything okay?" She forced a smile on her face.
"Yes, sorry. Today was just very hectic." Soon there was a knock at the door. Mamoru walked in closing his phone.
"Are you sure?" She smiled at the surprise visit, and slipped her own phone back into her purse.
"We can talk about it later." He nodded, coming around her desk for a kiss.
"Listen, I don't know whats going on, but Kunzite just called me. He said that Nehellenia is in town and she is out for blood, your blood. How about we get out of here and grab dinner. I don't want you to be around her if she is truly in a bad mood." She nodded quickly. He helped her up and out of the chair, then grabbed her bag.
"Mamoru darling. I wasn't expecting to see you here. What an interesting surprise." Nehellenia walked into the office removing her sunglasses.
"Aunt Nehellenia. I heard you were in town." He walked over giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Yes well I had some business to attend too." Mamoru looked back and forth between the two woman. The eerie feeling in the air was thick and foul.
"Serenity, I have decided I will not take no for an answer. Having this child is a terrible idea that will ruin your career. You had such promise, how can you be so selfish. The people of this community will be hurting because you decided not to use that head of yours. I mean really, was that lug head really so dumb he couldn't have at least pulled out. Does he even know that he has ruined you?" Usagi took a step back. Every time this woman talked, Usagi shrank in size. She tried to put on her game face.
"He didn't ruin anything." Nehellenia laughed. Mamoru realized that Nehellenia didn't know it was his baby.
"You know I heard that the father is ecstatic about the baby." Mamoru spoke up. Nehellenia looked at him. "I heard that he is so in love with her, he has already has a ring."
"You seem to have been listening a lot to the gossip mill Mamoru, I thought you were better than that." Mamoru smiled.
"Aunt Nehellenia, I happen to know for a fact that it is the truth." He walked over to Usagi and bent down on to one knee. "Serenity Usagi Tsukino, I was planning on doing this at dinner, but I can't wait anymore. I have loved you from the first moment I met you, and I fall in love with you more every day. Please do me the honor of allowing me to prove the depth of my love for you." He opened the small black box. Inside it held a heart shaped diamond ring. Nehellenia let out a screech.
"Usagi, don't you dare say."
"Yes!" She fought back the tears that came down her cheeks anyway. "Oh my god yes!" Mamoru smiled kissing her. Nehellenia started to pace back and forth repeating 'this isn't happening' over and over again.
"You are just going to have to face it aunt. I believe that your intentions were in the right place, but I love her, our baby and I will always stand by her and Lunar Teachings. Screaming again Nehellenia stormed out of the building.
The two spent the rest of the day in bed. They rented a hotel room for privacy, and welcomed the quiet. Usagi couldn't stop looking at her ring. Over dinner she spoke of the board meeting, and he told her about his morning at the hospital. He had decided to come back and surprise her with dinner, first stopping to pick up his mother's engagement ring.
"When I left you this morning, I didn't know when I was going to see you again, and that just seemed crazy. It seemed ludicrous leaving you, knowing that I wouldn't be coming home to you." She closed her eyes pressing her back deeper into his chest.
"I'm glad you were thinking the same thing I was. But I guess I also can't help thinking that this whole thing is still a bit surreal. I mean we haven't even known each other for that long."
"How lucky I am that I get to spend the rest of my life getting to know you."
"You know you are going to have to speak to my father. He will tell you that the decision is up to me, but he will appreciate acknowledging the tradition and respect."
"I stopped by the law firm before I stopped at your office. He said that you better tell your mother first thing in the morning."
"You know she is going to just freak out. One daughter married and pregnant, one daughter pregnant and engaged and a third daughter in a serious relationship. The poor woman isn't going to know what to do with herself."
The next morning Usagi and Mamoru had showed and began getting ready to check out. The elevator was peaceful, and the only awkward feelings were from the other passengers. The elevator came to a halt on the third floor letting on a small group of people. The elevator was now filled, and Usagi couldn't wait to get her feet back on the ground. She groaned when it came to a stop on the second floor. Two people were waiting to get on.
"It's okay we can take the next one." Usagi perked up. She lifted herself up on her toes to look over the crowd of people.
"Minako?"
"Oh god, Usagi?"