HER BABY’S DADDY

_Janis’ POV_

A red head walked in with my assistant trailing beside him. His clothing was shabby and his red locks dangled carelessly over the crook of his neck.

His brown eyes shone on seeing me as I matched his orbs with my formidable stare.

Fuck, no!

He isn’t the one.

The man who fucked me wasn’t even red-haired!

“Ma’am meet…” I didn’t let my assistant complete the sentence as I hoisted my hand at him which cut him short.

“He isn’t the one.” I abruptly stated.

My assistant got tongue tied.

“B-but ma’am at least…”

“I said he isn’t the one! Get me another!” I shot back at him rudely.

“Alright. Let’s go Micheal.” He said to the red-haired who did nothing but nod and flash me a smile.

My God! I know who I slept with and that red head was not him.

Though I have no vital information about him, the only thing I could only remember was his facial features and the fact that he had been the driver who drove me back from the club that night.

These two weeks had turned out out a roller coaster, but I have to do this for my child. My child needs a father and I can’t let the fear of ruining my reputation cloud my mind and judgment.

I can’t relent on this. I need to find that mystery uber man and I’ll make sure I do.

I sat on my couch, bewildered by disturbing thoughts on how to solve this pressing issue. This was way beyond me but I won’t give up just yet, I have to find out who the father of my unborn child is.

Doubtful thoughts about his facial features began to sink in but I quickly shrugged it off because my eyes were open enough to detect who he was. Yes, our movements and talks were a bit hazy in my memory, but not his face.

I picked up the iPad beside me and began to carefully search more on the identities of all uber drivers in the city; there must have been someone who isn’t on the list that my PA brought for me to go through here.

This whole search would have been a lot easier for me if I know his name- I would have tracked him in an instant, but unfortunately, he never voiced out his name to me and my drunk self never bothered to question him about that.

After hours of endless scrolling through a database of uber drivers and their identities, my search was to no avail.

I fell to the couch, frustrated and drained.

This wasn’t my plan, this was never how I planned to have a child. I just wanted to explore my sexuality and make effective use of my youthfulness but my youthful exuberance has crumbled to the floor all because of this unborn child.

Abortion is equivalent to killing and I won’t be able to sleep well at night knowing fully well I murdered an innocent child regardless of the fact that I never met it.

I had great expectations for this interview, I imagined this mysterious uber driver stepping into the room like an angel.

All I met were completely unrecognizable strangers, I couldn’t hold my feelings of disappointment when I finally realized that I interviewed every uber driver in the city and I still couldn’t find the father of my child.

My hands grew weak and my body sticky, probably as a result of the several hours I spent on the interview.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I took off my Italian-designed dress and rushed over to the shower to take a warm bath.

My naked self reminded me of how I had been caught off guard and allowed an uber driver has his way with me. Frustrated, I let my body and hair get soaked with water. I couldn’t stop my thoughts from interfering with my peaceful moment of the shower.

Imaginary scenes played in my head like a movie, I could see my child bullied and neglected by older kids in school because of the absence of a father figure.

I felt very bad and that flamed my determination to find him.

And what if I don’t find him? what then would I do??

If I don’t find him, I’ll make sure to give my child all the emotional, educational and financial support required of both the father and me.

Well of course finances were never an issue, I have wealth beyond just feeding and clothing children. I’ll make sure to be a father figure and a mother figure to my child.

I stepped out of the shower, slid into my robe and went off to bed. Sitting on the bed, an idea flashed through my brain and I could see a positive impact if I choose to carry out the idea.

“I’d act more on this idea as soon as I am up tomorrow” I assured myself before drowsing into a deep sleep.

******

Various paintings surrounded me, beautifying the walls where I sat.

I feasted my eyes on different paintings of different popular faces and convinced myself that I was at the right place.

I was very intent to find a very skilled artiste who could draw a person’s face through mere descriptions. I was going to describe this Uber driver’s face and have it followed up.

“Good day, Miss Janis” A young man in an overall white came out of a door in the store.

It was quite easy to detect that he was the painter behind all these attractive paintings.

I really ain’t in the mood for greetings and chit-chats; I just want the father of my child found out as soon as possible.

“Yeah… you are the artist, right?”

“Yes I am”

“I need you to carefully sketch out the face of a man… can you do that?”

“Of course, ma’am”

“I’d just give you descriptions and you draw it, don’t worry about the pay I’ll give you any amount you want”

“Alright… shall we begin?”

“Yes”

I sat for hours describing the mystery uber driver’s facial features whilst the artiste sketched carefully on his drawing board.

After he was done, he handed over what was sketched and I was left in awe. Although it wasn’t a hundred percent representation of what I could recall about his face, I can proudly say it’s roughly eighty percent.

“This is amazing… here you go” I handed over a bundle of money as payment to him and exited the shop immediately.

I’m not going to waste much time, if perhaps that Uber driver is nowhere to be found, I’ll have to take full responsibility for my child.

Just one last effort to find him wouldn’t hurt, if all these several plans fail, I’ll have to come clean to my parents and unveil this unexpected outcome of my carelessness.

I stepped into my car, picked up my phone and dialled my PA’s number.

After a few rings, he picked up.

“Hello, Miss Janis I hope you’re doing fine?”

“I’m alright. Come over I need you to do something for me”

“Alright ma I’ll be on my way”

“Good” I ended the call and ignited my car’s engine before hitting the road home.

A message popped up and I curiously rushed to my phone trying to find out who had sent me a message.

It was a message from my mum.

“Hey, Janis how are you doing? We are having a family dinner tonight… Come by Eight, and don’t you give any excuses, you must be there.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes partly in disgust.

Of course, it had to be a family dinner now of all times! Family drama is something I avoid all the time, but once my mum sends such a disturbing message, most times, I have no choice but to adhere to it.

While manoeuvring the steering wheel, it dawned on me that I needed to inform my parents and everyone that I was pregnant and what easier way would that be done through if not a family dinner?

I must come up with a clever way to break the news to them, and although I know Stravis will take it upon herself to mock me about this, it’s just a price I’ll have to pay.

I’ll handle all that tonight… in my own way.

I killed the car engine once I got home before swiftly pushing open the door of the car and briskly walking over to the huge doors of my mansion. I munched on a quick lunch and went over to the sitting room.

Minutes after my arrival, my PA arrived, eager and ready to fulfil her duties. Of course, she should be, afterall, I pay her massively for every task I give her.

“I need you to take this painting to an agency where they track people. If they can scan this and give me a match for it, I’d love that”

“Ok ma’am.”

“Don’t come back late… be here before evening” I instructed her right before she rushed out of the house, on her way to help me solve this disturbing issue.

After so much anticipation, my PA finally arrived with the devasting news that they found no match.

I was broken, exhausted, frustrated and angry at the outcome of my plans to find this mystery uber driver. Unfortunately, I have no other choice but to take care of this child by myself.

“Go.” I ordered with half teary ears.

She exited the house just immediately, not wanting to stay around and incur my wrath.

****

Amongst other fine luxurious cars of my parents and one that belonged to Stravis, I parked mine just beside theirs.

It was already 8 pm, time to face my parents about the pregnancy alongside the family drama I have avoided for a while.

“Janis!” my mum approached me cheerfully. She was a jovial, energetic woman, the life of every party, unlike my dad who was quite discrete and strict. He only gave humorous gestures occasionally, once in a blue moon.

She gave me two mild kisses on my cheeks before releasing me from her embrace.

I walked further to my dad and gave him a warm hug. I waved at my sister at the table as my sign of greeting.

Just beside my mum was an empty seat, which was the only empty seat at the table so I relieved myself and sat down.

“You are all welcome, now that we are all together, let’s talk and have dinner together as a family.” Mum addressed.

“Yes. We don’t get to spend much time together, so let’s make this night meaningful and memorable” Dad added.

Soon the family’s workers stepped into the dining hall with trays containing different delicacies like fried lobsters, grilled chicken, fajitas, pasta and other varieties of food before quietly exiting the dining hall.

“So Stravis, how’s the company coming up? I hope we haven’t recorded any massive loss these past few months??” Dad questioned further.

He seemed to have his eyes glued to Stravis whilst he dug into his dinner.

“You should be asking Janis this question, not me, but I guess I’ll have to be the responsible one here”

“Stravis, don’t tempt me to unleash my wrath on you. Just answer Dad’s question straightforwardly without trying to keep staring holes into my head.” Antagonized by her impertinent remark, I boiled with rage.

“That’s your elder sister, so speak to her with respect, everyone calms down okay?” Mum exclaimed.

The atmosphere softened and as a result of this, my growing anger was subdued before completely diminishing.

“We have recorded more profit than losses, so I think we are doing well” Stravis uttered before taking a bite out of her chicken.

I wasn’t sure when it would be suitable for me to break out the news about the pregnancy, it might ruin the dinner and it might seem very awkward to air it out right now but I don’t have much of a choice.

“Janis what about you? how are you coping?” Dad uttered.

It’s now or never. I can’t run from this, whatever happens will never kill me, so I’ll endure it.

“I’m alright, I just have something I’d like to share with the family…” I let out a deep sigh.

“And what’s that Janis?” Mum asked. In the spur of the moment all eyes were stationed on me, curiously waiting for me to spill the beans.

“I’m pregnant.” The words forced their way out of my lips, leaving me in fear of a bad response from everyone at the table, and indeed, it did.

The chicken rolled out of Stravis’ mouth.

“What??!”