High Stakes (A Deal With The Devil)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Bella

Cal squeezes my hand as the doctor puts the cold gel on my stomach. “Twenty weeks already,” he whispers excitedly.

“It’s gone so fast,” I agree.

“Everything feeling normal?” the doctor asks. I nod. “No pains, cramping? And you’ve felt movements.”

I shrug, “I’ve had some back pain. I think I’ve had some movement, but I don’t really know, it’s my first pregnancy. ”

He smiles, pressing the wand to my stomach. “Okay, let’s see what’s going on in there.”

“Can we find out the sex today?” asks Cal.

“If I can see it, I’ll tell you,” the doctor replies, “Although sometimes we can’t always guarantee.”

He spends some time moving the wand, pushing it hard into my stomach and then glancing at my notes. “Describe the movements you felt,” he says.

“Erm, just light fluttering’s. I told the midwife, and she said it was fine as long as I wasn’t bleeding or anything.”

“I’m going to ask my colleague to come and take a look,” he says, standing.

I immediately panic, squeezing Cal’s hand, “Is everything okay?”

“I’ll be right back,” he says, leaving the room.

“Maybe you aren’t as far gone as they first thought?” Cal suggests, “Don’t panic, it’s probably something and nothing.”

He returns minutes later with another doctor. He turns the monitor towards him and away from me, studying the screen hard. I hold my breath, waiting for him to confirm my fears.

“Is it okay if I have a go on the scan, Miss May? We’re just having a little trouble locating your baby’s heartbeat, sometimes this does happen, it may be nothing to worry about,” he says with a smile.

He presses hard, but I don’t mind this time, I want to hear the heartbeat desperately. My eyes don’t move from the doctors face, but he gives nothing away with his stony expression.

After a few agonising minutes, he puts the scanner down and gives me some tissue to wipe my stomach. We all remain silent whilst I clean myself up.

I push to sit, “You didn’t find it, did you?” I ask quietly, and he shakes his head. My heart shatters.

“I am so sorry, Miss May. We can’t locate your baby’s heartbeat. Your measurements show that the fetus is fifteen weeks, but I’m afraid you have miscarried,” he says, “We need to discuss the next steps so can I ask you to stay here whilst I speak to my colleague, and we’ll be back shortly.”

They leave and Cal pulls me into his arms, but I feel numb, the words from the doctor running through my mind. Maybe they’ve got it wrong. He didn’t even look old enough to know anything about medicine.

A nurse returns to get us, leading us to an office where the doctor is waiting. We sit down and he gives me his condolences again before adding, “So, moving forward.” At my scowl, he shifts uncomfortably. “Because your body is showing no signs of expelling the fetus, we will need to perform a procedure called a dilation and curettage. It’s a surgical procedure and basically it just means that we will remove the contents of your uterus.” He says it so matter of fact that I don’t quite take in what he’s talking about. A nurse who’s been standing at the back of the room moves forward and crouches down in front of me.

“I know this is really hard for you, taking all of this in now when you have just had the worst news ever. But what Doctor Veale is trying to say is that if we don’t do this procedure now, then you’re prone to serious infection. Your baby has already been in there for some time, and we can’t risk waiting.” I smile sadly, liking that she at least referred to it as my baby.

“When?” Cal asks.

“We can rush her down today, within the hours,” she confirms, and I inhale sharply. I came in here with a baby, and I’ll be leaving without one. I give a slight nod and she smiles, gently rubbing my hand.

The doctor continues, going over the procedure and informs me of all the risks. I sign the papers without really taking in anything he has said. I’m on auto pilot.

The nurse then takes me to the surgical ward, where I’m given a sedative to relax my cervix. Cal sits by my bed, his head in his hands. “You can go, Cal. You don’t want to be here for all this,” I say with a sigh.

He glances up, “How could you ever think I’d leave you to face this alone?” he asks, “You’re my best friend, I’m not going anywhere.”

I smile gratefully. “Thank you.”

“Do you want me to ring anyone, Aria or maybe Aiden?” he asks.

“No, I’ll tell them once this is done and I’m back home.” I let my head fall back, “I hate that I didn’t tell Aiden,” I admit. “I feel bad.”

“At least he doesn’t have to go through this heartache,” he says sadly, “You’ve saved him a lot of pain.”

Aiden

“JP, have you spoken to Aria? I’m just outside the shop now and both shops are closed. I can’t get hold of Bella,” I say into my mobile.

“No boss, not spoke to her all week. Do you want me to call her?”

“No don’t worry, I’ll go to Bella’s.”

Since Bella heard me out over a week ago, I’ve been sending her the odd text to see how she is. But yesterday she had her scan, and when I asked how it went, she didn’t reply. I haven’t been able to shift the bad feeling in the pit of my stomach all day. Which is why I’m here, to see for myself. But seeing both bakeries closed, has only worried me more, so I head to Cal’s.

When he opens the door, he doesn’t look pleased to see me. I don’t blame him. He’s got every right to hate me. “Come in,” he says, before I even explain why I’m here.

He leads me through the apartment and lightly taps on a door before entering. Bella is sat up in bed watching television. She looks terrible. Her skin is pale, and her eyes are red and puffy.

“Bella, you have a visitor,” says Cal gently and she startles like she didn’t know we were even here.

Her eyes fall on me, and they fill with tears. “What’s happened?” I ask, moving past Cal and entering the room.

She doesn’t speak, and I look back at Cal whose eyes are tearful too. “I need to go to the pharmacy to collect her prescription. Can you stay with her until I get back?” he asks, and I nod.

Once he’s left, I turn back to Bella. She’s quietly sobbing into her hands. I sit on the bed opposite her and gently pull her hands away from her face. “Bells, what’s going on?”

“The baby’s gone.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

I pull her to me, holding her against my chest and feeling every ounce of pain as she sobs. “Oh, Bells, I’m so fucking sorry.”

After a few minutes I shift us back around so that my back is to her headboard and I wrap an arm around her, holding her into my side.

“You’re still watching these shit films,” I tease, noting that she’s watching her favourite romance again.

She wipes her nose on a crumpled tissue. “It’s my favourite,” she whispers.

“Are you in any pain?” I ask, hating that thought.

I hear the front door and move away from her. She looks confused but I don’t want to disrespect the guy in his own place. “I don’t think Cal will be too happy,” I say as a way of explanation.

Cal comes in with a glass of water and some tablets. He kisses her lightly on the head and hands her the pills. “Take these, baby girl. They’ll help you sleep,” he whispers gently, and I watch as he strokes her hair.

“If you need anything, just let me know,” I say, backing out the door.

Cal follows me out, “Thanks for coming to see her,” he says tightly, and I know that this must be awkward for him.

“Like I said, if she needs anything just let me know.”

Bella

The days are a blur. Cal gives me all manner of pills and I’ve lost track of what I’m taking and why. It’s a good job he’s here to look after me. Him and Aria take it in turns to be with me, even though I’ve told them to stop fussing. I’m fine. Aria is running both shops, she mentioned that JP and Raff have been around helping, which made me laugh because they’re far to big and clumsy to work with delicate cupcakes.

I throw the television remote to the end of my bed and lay my head back onto the soft pillows. I can’t stand all this resting. It’s driving me crazy. Plus, I’m feeling much better and more like myself.

I decide to shoot a text to Aria and try my luck.

Me: I need a night out, what do you think?

Aiden: Not a chance.

Aria: Sorry, he was looking over my shoulder. I have all three of them under my feet today. But yes, if you’re feeling up to it. Friday? x

Aiden

Friday night soon comes around and the club is heaving. All the promotion works I’ve been doing seem to be paying off. I’ve swore off the drink since Bella caught me that day in the kitchen, and it’s helping me keep a clear head. Especially on night like this when I need to network and meet new potential clients. The VIP area is full of Rugby players from a local team. Sports men bring me a lot of business.

I help behind the bar; I smile and chat to lots of people including a few team managers. Jake would have loved this. He was good at talking the talk and could have the VIP area full to the maximum every weekend.

I look over the balcony to the lower club area. It’s mainly public that walk in from the street, but we always have people queuing around the corner to get in. I spot Cal entering and I watch, making sure he hasn’t been stupid enough to let Bella out partying. I’m horrified when he grabs the hand of another woman who’s not Bella. She throws her arms around his neck, and they kiss. Anger rushes through my body and before I can think, I race down the stairs, taking two at a time. I push through the crowd, upsetting people as I shove them out of the way.

Cal sees me approaching him but before he can lie, I bring back my fist and shove it full force into his face. He flies backwards into a group of people standing behind him, and I hear screams and shouting.

“You piece of shit,” I yell, leaning over him and grabbing him by the shirt, “Why would you do that to her when she’s just lost your baby.” I haul him to his feet. “You fucking scumbag.”

“Baby?” asks the woman, “Cal, what’s he talking about?”

“This piece of shit has a girlfriend; she just lost his kid,” I tell her, hitting him again in the face. His nose bursts and blood sprays down his white shirt.

“I can explain,” he splutters.

I get into his personal space, “Then get talking.”

The doormen appear. “Want us to remove him boss?” one asks, taking Cal by the arm.

“Aiden! What the hell are you doing?” I turn to see Bella glaring angrily at me. Her hands are on her hips and for a second, I’m distracted by how beautiful she looks. How the hell am I going to tell her?

“Oh my god, Cal, are you okay?” she cries, shoving past me and rummaging in her bag for tissue. She pulls out a handful and holds it to his nose.

“Tell her,” I yell at him.

Bella ignores me, turning to the woman who’s crying. “Ellie, are you okay?” The fact she knows her, makes this so much worse and I resist the urge to punch him again.

“Your ex has the wrong idea,” Cal hisses .

“I don’t see how I got the wrong idea, gym boy,” I snap, “I was watching you from up there. I saw you stick your tongue down her throat.”

Bella bites her lower lip and winces. “Oh.” she says looking guilty.

“Yeah, Oh,” says Cal giving Bella a pointed look.

“I am so sorry, Cal,” she says, “Go and take Ellie home, I’ll sort this.” Bella kisses them both on the cheek and then turns to me, looking sheepish. “Can we talk?” she asks.

“I think we need to,” I growl, and I storm off towards my office.

I sit at the desk and Bella stands awkwardly in front of it. “So?” I prompt.

“Me and Cal, we aren’t together.” I’m confused. She’s just lost his baby, this makes no sense. When she sees my confusion, she continues. “We never were. You saw us and assumed, and we just never corrected you.”

“I didn’t assume anything, Bella. He was all over you at the hospital that time, he made it perfectly clear,” I snap, “So what, you just slept together and got pregnant?”

Bella doesn’t speak for a minute as if she is thinking about her answer. “Something like that. Anyway, all you really need to know is we aren’t a thing.”

“To be honest, Bella, I’m a little annoyed that you lied to me. I look like a dick. ”

She has the decency to look guilty. “It wasn’t intentional, it just snow balled. I’m sorry.”

“You need to apologise to Cal and Ellie,” she says.

I raise my eyebrows, “No fucking chance. It’s been a long time coming. I thought he was cheating on you,” I argue.

“Cal’s been great to me, Aiden. If we’re going to be friends, you need to make peace with him. For me.”

I smile a little. “Maybe I can stretch to a free VIP pass for a weekend.”

She rolls her eyes. “One weekend?”

“Fine, six months,” I say with a huff.

She smiles, “Thank you.”

“I’m not doing it for him. I’m doing it for you and only because I love you,” I blurt out. I freeze, and she stares wide eyed.

“I didn’t mean…erm I meant…” and then I give up because the words won’t come. “Shall we go and get a drink?” I ask, standing abruptly and feeling flustered.

I sit her in my booth and take her a glass of non-alcoholic wine. Aria is dancing with a rugby player and JP doesn’t look very happy.

“So,” I say, sitting opposite her, “No more lies.”

She tenses up, but I don’t get chance to pull her up on it because Aria joins us. JP is hot on her heels, but he doesn’t say anything as he sits down, looking moody. The tension between them is obvious.

Bella sighs, “What’s wrong with you two now, I thought you were getting along?”

“Tell me, how many people do you need for an orgy?” asks Aria, glancing between me and JP. JP shifts uncomfortably.

“Be quiet Aria,” he warns.

“I’m really interested,” she carries on, not heeding his warning, “I mean, I know three is clearly a threesome but what if there’s four or maybe five, let’s say…” and she taps her chin like she’s thinking “Two men and three women?”

A silence falls over the table and JP looks at me with guilt written all over his face. It’s clear she knows everything.

I grin, “I’d say that’s a bloody good time, Ari. Are you and Bella wanting to ask us something?”

Before she can come back with a smart answer, which I know is on the tip of her tongue, JP stands. “Let’s go,” he orders, and she looks at him in shock. “Now.”

When she still doesn’t move, I watch in amusement as he swoops down and lifts her over his shoulder like she’s nothing more than a doll. “Gonna use your office, Boss,” he says, and heads off with Aria screaming and making threats to murder.

Bella gives a laugh. “About time.”