Zuria
The following morning after the whole police ordeal, Danny and I were summoned to Mr. Samuels' office. That simple phone call had wrapped itself around my nerves like ivy, tugging with each minute that passed.
"Do you think he's going to yell at us? Or maybe offer to press charges for the chaos?" I asked Danny as we stood at the base of the office building. My voice was tight, my palms sweaty. The glass panes of the high-rise reflected our anxious expressions like a cruel mirror.
Danny let out a soft chuckle and nudged me toward the door. "Let's just get it over with. You're the one who hates dragging things out, remember?"
I exhaled sharply, then gave him a tiny nod. We stepped into the cool air of the reception area. The place was sleek and modern, the kind of professional ambiance that made my sneakers feel loud against the tiled floors.
We approached the front desk where a woman in a smart blazer looked up with a warm smile.
"Hi, good morning," Danny greeted smoothly. "We're here to see Mr. Samuels. He called us in."
"Your names, please?"
"Zuria and Danny," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
She nodded politely. "Please, have a seat while I inform him you're here." She gestured to a set of waiting chairs beside a tasteful potted plant.
I sat down, fiddling with the strap of my bag while my gaze flickered around the office. Minimalistic. Clean. Efficient. The kind of place that didn't have time for people like me anymore.
The secretary hung up the phone after a brief call and waved us over. "He's ready. You can go in through that door."
"Thanks," Danny said, flashing her a quick smile.
He knocked once before we heard the familiar voice from inside.
"Come in."
We entered the room and found Mr. Samuels behind a large mahogany desk, papers spread out before him. He looked up and offered a small smile.
"Please, sit."
We did. My fingers locked together in my lap, cold with anticipation.
"I want to thank you both for what you did," he began, folding his hands together. "If it weren't for you bringing Connor's actions to light, he'd still be leeching from my restaurant, and I'd be none the wiser."
Danny leaned back slightly, while I stayed rigid in my chair.
"I trusted him," Mr. Samuels continued, his tone tinged with frustration. "I've known him for years. That trust is what allowed me to step away from the daily operations. I never imagined he'd betray me like this."
There was a pause as he looked directly at me.
"And to you, Zuria, I owe an apology—on behalf of the restaurant and its staff. If there's anything I can do for you, just name it. If you want your job back, with a promotion, it's yours."
I hesitated, staring down at my hands.
"I appreciate it, Mr. Samuels," I replied gently. "But I think I'm done with that chapter of my life."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Well then, how else can I thank you? I could offer financial compensation, if nothing else."
I was already opening my mouth to decline when— ouch.
I gasped and looked down to see Danny's foot firmly pressing on mine under the table. I narrowed my eyes at him, but he gave me a bright, innocent smile.
"That would be perfect, sir," he said, turning his grin toward Mr. Samuels. "Honestly, it would be a huge help right now."
I nearly rolled my eyes. Shameless.
Mr. Samuels chuckled. "Very well. Just leave your account details with my secretary on your way out. I'll make the transfers this afternoon."
"Thank you, sir," Danny said, visibly beaming.
"What happens to Connor now?" I asked, folding my arms.
Mr. Samuels sighed. "I've decided not to pursue criminal charges. I've asked the authorities to focus solely on restitution. If he pays back what he stole, that's enough for me. But he will face trial."
Good, I thought. Let the courts chew him up.
We chatted for a few more minutes, declining the job offer once again before making our way out.
"Don't forget to drop your account details," the secretary reminded us as we passed her desk.
As soon as we stepped outside, Danny turned to me with a dramatic gasp. "What were you thinking in there?"
I blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"You were about to reject money! Real money!"
I laughed. "We didn't help expose Connor for a reward. We did it because it was the right thing."
"Sure, but if karma's handing out checks, I'm cashing mine." He winked. "You, my dear Zuria, need to learn to take care of yourself. No shame in accepting help."
I sighed. He wasn't wrong. Still, something inside me twisted whenever I accepted kindness, as if I didn't deserve it.
Danny's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he checked it.
"Whoa," he said, eyes wide. "He already sent it."
"How much?"
"Five hundred." He grinned.
"Nice," I said, trying not to feel envious.
My own phone buzzed, and Danny practically leapt toward me. "Check it! Check it!"
I pulled it out, and my eyes immediately locked onto the alert: $700.
My hand flew to my mouth. "Oh my God."
Danny gasped. "You got more than me?! This is discrimination!"
I laughed, still staring at the screen. "Maybe it's a pity bonus."
"You owe me twenty bucks just for emotional damages."
"I'll buy you a burger," I offered.
"Deal."
We stopped at a local burger joint and sat across from each other, devouring fries and sipping sodas.
"We're not done, by the way," Danny said, halfway through his burger.
"With the food?"
"No. With Connor."
I froze, mid-bite. "What now?"
He leaned in, lowering his voice like a cartoon villain. "I have a plan. A real plan."
"Danny…"
"We can't let him slink away like that. Not after everything he did. We need one final blow."
I groaned. "You're impossible."
"But brilliant," he said, waggling his eyebrows.
I chuckled and shook my head. "What kind of friend do I even have?"
"The best kind."
A week passed. I hadn't gone to thank Mr. Samuels yet. Truth be told, I hadn't done much of anything.
The pregnancy symptoms had hit like a train. I spent most of my time curled in bed, fighting nausea and bone-deep exhaustion. My body was changing quickly—breasts sore and swollen, my stomach finally beginning to swell.
Danny had taken over job hunting for both of us. He never complained. He just updated me every day like it was a mission report.
There was a knock at my door.
"Come in," I called weakly.
Danny entered, carrying a takeout bag and his usual cheerful energy.
"Hey, soldier," he said, sitting beside me on the bed. "Still feeling like death?"
"Worse," I muttered. "Any luck today?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Found a place that'll take both of us. But they want us to come in together, so I asked for a few more days. They were cool about it."
I smiled faintly. "Thanks for doing everything. I'm sorry I'm holding you back."
"Z, stop. This isn't your fault. We'll figure it out."
My bladder finally convinced me to get up. I mumbled something about the bathroom and shuffled off, my limbs heavy with exhaustion.
Once inside, I sat down, tugged my underwear down—
And froze.
Blood.
Bright. Stark. Unforgiving.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. I stared at the crimson stain as if it would vanish if I blinked hard enough. My hands trembled violently, gripping the sides of the toilet as my world tilted.
No. No, no, no.
My pulse roared in my ears. My vision blurred. I tried to stand but my knees buckled beneath me. I barely managed to wash my hands, barely managed to keep from falling apart before I stumbled out, leaning against the bathroom doorframe like it was the only thing holding me upright.
"Danny?" My voice cracked on his name.
He looked up, alarmed by the tremor in my tone. "Yeah?"
"There's blood." My voice was hollow, far too calm. "On my underwear. I saw blood."
Danny shot up from the bed like he'd been struck by lightning. "Wait—what? Blood? Are you sure?"
I nodded, numb. "It was bright. Not just spotting, Danny. There was too much."
He didn't hesitate. He grabbed his keys and phone, already moving. "We're going to the hospital. Now."
I wanted to follow, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. My hands instinctively went to my stomach, and that's when the terror truly hit me.
I couldn't lose them.
The thought wrapped around my throat like a noose. These babies—my babies—they were all I had left in this world. I hadn't planned for them. I didn't even know how to be a mother. But they were mine. The only pieces of me untouched by betrayal, by rejection, by all the pain I'd endured.
"I can't—" My voice broke. "Danny, I can't lose them. Please."
He grabbed my shoulders, steadying me, his eyes blazing with urgency. "We won't. Do you hear me? We won't. But we have to go. Right now."
I nodded through the blur of tears and followed him, every step heavy with dread.
But deep inside me, something cold and primal curled with fear.
What if I was already too late?