The Billionaire’s Given Baby

Chapter 7

“’There’s no way on God’s green earth Miranda can get me to pose naked. I will not do it,” Trish said with icy finality as she stared at Brenda standing across from her.

She looked down at her desk then ruffled through the useless contracts that Miranda wanted her to sign. The aloof stare she wore on her face was freezing cold and normally stopped people in their tracks. Brenda was no exception and she cowered as she faced Trish’s wrath. Trish hadn’t reached top model status by being timid.

“Trish please reconsider, you know that Miranda is not going to be pleased if you refuse those jobs.” Pleaded Brenda.

Miranda was a complete bi*ch but she did own the company. Every job that Miranda sent her way recently were either low paying or involved some form of nudity. Miranda was sending a clear message of who held the power at Crimson Elite Modeling Agency. Trish felt like a noose was hanging around her neck and with every job she turned down it grew tighter, soon she would be swung from the gallows when there was no rope left to spare.

Nobody like being called into their boss’s office without forewarning and today was no exception. Trish entered Miranda’s office with some amount of trepidation. The trophies, plaques and medals that Miranda had lining the walls reminded Trish of when hunters took the heads of their captured prey and mounted it on the wall for display. She felt like prey that had unwittingly fallen into Miranda’s traps. There was nowhere to run just like a deer caught in headlights.

“Close the door behind you and have a seat.”

Trish remained standing. Miranda’s face mottled and turned purple at Trish’s blatant disregard of a direct order from her. She calmed herself and counted to four. She wasn’t going to lose her cool in front of an underling, especially one she despised as much as she did Trish. Here she offered this imbecile some pretty decent gigs and she was actually refusing them. Miranda was outraged beyond mere words.

“As you know Crimson Elite Models are the cream of the crop, we are known for staying ahead of the game and we do that by being as close to perfection as possible. Since you’re a role model to the younger generation a higher standard of professionalism is expected of you, certain rumors have been brought to my attention, now answer me clearly for the record. Are you pregnant Trish?” She looked at Trish and narrowed her eyes.

“Yes I am Miranda.”

“In my own company I can’t afford to be made to look like a fool by those who work under me. Imagine if I allowed others to get away with insubordination and flagrant disrespect for my rule, my business would fall apart. If you had only come to me and said something earlier instead of having me find out in such a horrid fashion maybe we could have worked something out. However, your duplicitous nature speaks for itself.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“In my defense, I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m not the first model to be pregnant and I won’t be the last. You would have wanted me to have an abortion and when I refused you would have fired me the very same day. You’ve been trying to get rid of me ever since I landed the Livingstone Campaign. You kept pitting me against Bianca for jobs, ensuring that she would win those bids over me. Trying to get me to quit and leave this place feeling worthless and defeated but you failed. I’m stronger than ever now. You would lie to potential clients that would ask for me, telling them that I was unavailable for the dates they wanted with various fashion shows and photo shoots that never existed. You undermined my livelihood by imploring them to take either Bianca or other models instead. No small wonder I hid my pregnancy from you, or you would have had me prevented from doing the Livingstone Campaign as well, thank God you had no control over that. You’re just a bitter dried up old hag trying to make everyone else’s life a miserable hell just like yours”

“You’re very lucky that Livingstone Cosmetics has already started publishing your face all over their brands, so you will still gain the royalties from it. If it was up to me, your pictures would have been buried, never to see the light of day. It is with great pleasure I inform you of your dismissal, you’re given an hour to remove your body and personal effects from the workspace. Any failure to comply will be grounds for an escort by security off the property. Please enjoy the rest of your day.” She smirked and nodded her head in dismissal, turned her attention to the mountain of folders that lay piled on her desk, as if Trish’s presence was insignificant. No doubt those were portfolios of hopefuls very eager to take her place.

Trish walked out of that office with her head held high and her back ramrod straight. Looking back at the situation Trish had a few more choice words she would have loved to have said to Miranda but she was proud of the way she handled herself in front of her ex-boss. The loss of all Miranda was taking away from her lay heavy on her heart. It was more than she could bear. Crimson Elite had been her life, she had many enjoyments, friends and enemies that had made life entertaining she had encountered them all there.

Trish’s thoughts paused as she passed Brenda, as usual she heard everything that had occurred in her boss’s office. She smiled sweetly and thanked Brenda for everything she did to help her. Brenda was not to be blamed for that odious woman’s dismissal of her. As she passed Bianca and her cronies, she ignored there smirks and happy faces. At least there was now a few more solid reasons she wouldn’t miss working at Crimson Elite.

She needed to maintain her dignity at all costs and not let Miranda Chase see how much her dismissal had affected her. Yet she was bitter angry for Crimson Elite was her life, she had been modeling for them from in her teens. This was how her loyalty was repaid, she wanted to break something in her anger, and it was either that or run screaming and crying around the place. Everyone would think her mad, and in the end how would that solve any of her problems.

By now word had spread quickly among the grapevine and the gossipers gathered to watch her walk of shame, some were trying to be polite by pretending to do their work, others not so much. They gathered by the water fountain and chatted openly.

Indira rushed to comfort her and help her pack. She vented her frustrations as well but Trish was beyond hearing what anyone had to say. Indira only left her alone when Harvey came into the room.

“Trish, what’s wrong?”

“Miranda fired me.”

He didn’t respond immediately just let the words sink in, while he figured out how best to handle the situation. Trish didn’t look like she was in the mood to be held, so he thought it best to proceed with caution.

“Would you still like me to take you to the doctor? We can always schedule another appointment.”

Harvey had been taking her to see one of the best physicians in the state, which he had already paid for in advance. She didn’t want him to waste his money or think her ungrateful.

“I still want to go Harvey. Just help me carry these things to the car.” She pointed to a box that held several portfolios, certificates and trophies from modeling contests she had won in the past.

With Harvey by her side she walked with confidence, never stopping to look back even when they left the parking lot.

Dr. Finnegan was Harvey’s personal physician, and an old friend of the family. He was a fun little Irish man who teased Harvey mercilessly about helping the mother to be with Lamaze classes. He felt that Lamaze classes would be a good way for them to bond over the pregnancy. It would teach Trish how to deal with the labor pains, and help them both be prepared to facilitate labor should an emergency occur.