Doorknob
Regina stared at the pregnancy test as she counted on her hand her menstrual cycle days and her sleeping with Christopher. At least this time she knew it was his. "
No no no. He has a wife and kids . He was supposed to be a distraction. Alexander wasn't barely a year old. He was just now babbling and verbalizing . I can't have another baby thought Regina . Regina kicked herself internally thinking how could she be so reckless. This would definitely be a red flag on her sleeping with multiple men now she had no husband to blame the baby on.
Gregory's family had left her alone with the baby on the way since they were the one trying to secure a Zehetii in her womb. Gretchen Zehetii was Gregory grandmother and the mother to his father. The matriarch of the family at age eighty -seven. She only met the woman once and she was a mean old chrone . She was the old money kind. Where she had four sons and Thomas was the oldest then his son Gregory. When Thomas died and Gregory got married to the toosleys she was the one with the most to disapprove of their marriage contract. She was good friends with Antonio and Rana .
Regina screamed louder than she thought she would as she slung the test strip against the wall.
" No no no how the hell can this happen?" Fussed Regina as she passed the room now knowing she was screwed with this baby.
" The Toosleys' did have the talk about the birds and the bees with you didn't they? You do know how to prevent having babies,right?" Asked Victoria watching Regina's face pale and sour at the test results.
" No this can't be correct. This is a false pregnancy. It took me like four sticks to get a positive with Alexander ." Vented Regina.
Victoria fished in her purse and brought out two more types of pregnancy test and sat them down.
" Who the hell are you Mary Poppins? A carpetbag full of wishes. Oh bloody hell." She sighed as she snatched the two test in Victoria's hand. She went to the bathroom and peed on the strip and set it down and paced waiting for the results.
Two definite red lines popped up on the first one then a potent plus sign on the other test.Regina slammed her hand on the table in anger.
" No." She shouted." No." She screamed louder.
" What are you going to do? " Asked Victoria.
" I'm going to have to hide this pregnancy. Unless I want that old bat to come down as see what she suspected all along. I have done my best to keep her at bay with Gregory gone. That's the only reason she came to see us. "Regina said now worried this would bring too much attention to her now. A brand new baby by another man and in top of that a married man.
" You honestly think you can hide and entire baby. It has to come out sometime." Sassed Victoria as she glared at Victoria like she said something utterly stupid.
Regina ignored her as she picked up the phone to call Roger . He looked at the called ID as he wasn't in the mood with him contemplating the issue with Avery and Caden . Christopher gave him a phone number as he tried calling and the phone went to voice mail. He knew better than to leave a voicemail or a text message . That might indicate intent and have an electronic trail if she didn't want anything to do with him.
He remembered Avery wasn't very demanding. She wasn't a clingy thing . She actually was tolerable according to Rogers standards. But since he met and spoke to Caden he couldn't get them out of his head. A text came through his phone from Regina.
Check the news it's about Bethany.
Roger grabbed his office remote as he turned on the news station. He sat there eyebrows furrowed and then he saw her in the background of the camera rolling. Bethany I got you.
He picked up the phone and returned Regina's call.
Roger, Ryder, Regina ,and Victoria stood in the front room of the Zehetii mansion. Baby Alexander was down for a nap and Victoria glared at Regina as Roger began.
" Bethany has been found. The news confirmed her location. She is using her real name not a fake one." Started Roger.
" Gheesh Roger this entire time you were chasing fake names when all we had to do is watch her real name. I say that's rather counter productive." Ryder said now sitting down on a sofa.
" You were supposed to be the one with your ear to the ground. I had to find out by news what you should have been looking for the entire time." Snapped Roger .
" Hey I can only go with what information I have. Who knew she use a name we all thought she gave up on." Said Ryder sitting back on the sofa relaxed.
" So what are we going to do about it. You missed the part where she isn't in that location. Since it burned down . We are back to square one." Complained Regina now aggervated at the information.
" The news said she put them up in hotels. Perhaps we can find out more from one of the tenants." Stated Ryder.
" No we can't go snooping around so open it make us lose our element of surprise when we do find her." Stated Roger .
" Wait . James kept saying the tenant. He described the woman who took the complex from him as the tenant. " Regina started adding up the clues.
" I'm lost. Is James a new guy your sleeping with? Victoria said confused.
" James is the murderer I'm helping on his case ." Said Regina on how clueless this group was about the case she was helping Christopher with.
" So your telling me she has been under our noses this entire time. " Yelled Roger.
" Clever girl." Laughed Roger in amusement .
" I think that we really should..." Just then the small of Ryders' cologne drives in her smell and she ran out of the room holding her mouth.
" Regina is pregnant." Confirmed Victoria.
" I didn't do it this time ." Yelled Ryder his hands up in defence. " I swear I haven't touched her since I found out she was my sister." He plead his innocence.
"Well I haven't touched her since she tried pinning the last demon spawn off on me." Declared Roger ." I highly doubt they allow congenital visits to unmarried inmates either " he added.
Just then a knock came over the door. Victoria went to the door to answer it as she cracked the down open slowly. Christopher stood there holding a paper bag of food in it. He held a Carmel frappe and a fork. Victoria looked at the contents then smirked.
" Can I help you?" She said coyly.
" Regina. I brought some things she liked." He held up his items for inspection . Just then Roger opened the door wider.
" Get in here Christopher. After all you must be overwhelmed with the joyous news." He said pulling Christopher in. He walked in to see all the people in the room. He looked around to see Regina missing.
" Where is Regina?" He asked avoiding all the eyes looking at him, and what joyous news? He added.
" You don't know. You have now become the newest member of the door knob club. " Said Roger casually as he showed Christopher to a seat.
" The door knob club?" He asked.
" Yes where everyone gets a turn apparently." Snarked Ryder now catching on.
Regina came back in the room face flushed from morning sickness. Christopher's eyes glistened with concern. He went to move to hand her the food he brought her. Rogers kept his arm on his shoulder in a resting position standing behind him as he sat on the sofa.
" Congratulations , Christopher. You are now another notch on Regina's belt. All in this room carnally knows her. " Smirked Roger keeping Christopher in his place . Ryder moved to leaned against the pillar beside the stairs . He laughed a small chuckle at Rogers statement.
" Except Gregory. But he is here in spirit . " Joked Ryder .
" I never understood your hate for Bethany , Regina. You two never formally met. I doubt her showing up at your and Gregory's wedding counts as an actual meeting. Other than you marrying her man she had no real problem against you. " Pointed out Ryder as he popped some sunflower seeds in his mouth he had in his pocket.
Regina's face twisted in bad memories. It was true she never actually met Bethany until her wedding day. She just married Gregory as a peace agreement after Mr. Bruno died . It was more politics amongst the families nothing personal. But on her and Gregory wedding night sparked some resentment. As Gregory and her constimated their union and the climax she was working so hard to please her new husband . Gregory closed her eyes and exhaled relief .
" Ahhhhh. Bethany. Yes Beth." He said as he released. Regina face scrunched up as she remembered the insult and humiliation of realizing he was imagining her during their wedding night . During their constimation. He said Bethany not Regina as she rolled off in anger and disbelief. But that would be a secret she would never admit to this group. That secret she will take to her grave.
She didn't want people to know the tortured thoughts she experienced her wedding night. Gregory called her another woman's name. The pure humiliation as Regina pursed her lips remembering this.
" Gregory really loved her. He left her all his money probably even this house your in . Maybe if you ask nicely Bethany will let you keep this house. " Teased Ryder. Regina felt like they were rubbing it in her face.
" Bethany Grigori as in the woman James blames for everything?" Christopher spoke up as he realized the room knew her.
" The one and the same. I am Bethany's half brother . Roger is her half uncle his half sister was Bethany's mother. Victoria was the mistress of Mr. Bruno and Regina is my half sister. You see Christopher we are all characters in Bethany's parade. " Explained Ryder connecting the dots. " Regina picked you for a reason . You are the glue to our plan. Bethany's father my father gave her his territory. Rana Bethany's mother Rogers sister gave her all the company and trust,and CDs and stocks. Gregory basically handed him the Zehetii fortune . Her and her brat . The true daughter of Gregory zehetii. This woman may seem humbled but she takes and takes . " Said Ryder more fiercely.
" And Regina here chose you. Because my dear boy because of your extra circular activities has now produced a child. Congratulations for becoming part of this big family ." Explained Roger.
" What. Whoa. How. " Christopher said now moving uncomfortable in his seat.
" You honestly don't know how babies are made? Well that might explain it." Laughed Ryder.
" No I mean . I made sure I wasn't inside her when I well." Replied Christopher.
" Did you just try some school yard excuses. You must have that golden juice to hit that egg and sprout a baby." Teased Roger .
Christopher face turned cold. The room stared at him. He thought what the hell did I get myself into. First thing he thought of was Sarah . Kensley and Kenneth . What was going to happen to them.
" But I'm married." He stuttered.
" Well you were married when you started with Regina. Haven't you figured it out. You fell in her trap we all . We all have. She breeds and traps . Look at Alexander now your bonded to her forever by this baby. Buckle down . You can forget about your marriage . You signed off on that the day you slept with her." Hissed Roger .
" Stop talking about me like I'm not right here." Screamed Regina ." You paint me like a soul sucking whore." She said in hostility.
" Well if the shoe fits. Wear it." Chimed in Roger.
" There is no way out of this, Christopher. You are family now. " Said Roger sadistically. " Welcome to the family make yourself comfortable." Said Roger patting Christopher on his shoulder .
Christopher sat in the room looking at all the eyes of people he knew but only cordially. He had no idea the connection of Rogers inner circle . Now he knew they were all related in one form or another. He fell into the spider web of deception. I'm so fucked he thought to himself.