Chapter 8 One Step Away From The Truth

• Nervousness ran through both of them. The thought of being involved with Alessandro Delacroix scared them both, knowing the reason for his anger, whether it was because they had his baby or because they had the opportunity to save his sperm sample and didn't.
• They were in deep trouble, and Lucia was not exempt, having played a role in the scheme. A scheme that should never have transpired, yet it did.
• "I'll go to the pharmacy for the tests," Lucia says, snapping out of her shock.
• "Let's go together. I doubt I can bear to stay at home," Kim replies, and both of them set off in search of pregnancy tests.
• As they make their way to the pharmacy, both women are gripped by fear, imagining themselves being handcuffed for the theft of Alessandro Delacroix's sperm, and neither of them found it to be a pleasant ending to their lives, especially after they had fought so hard to be exemplary citizens, or at least they had been until the sperm theft.
• They both looked attentively at anything or anyone that approached them because the fear was so great in both of them that they thought Alessandro Delacroix would come and arrest them at any moment.
• As they near the pharmacy, a car screeches to a halt so close to them that they fear it might mark the end of their ordeal then and there.
• "Kim Morgan!" someone shouted from the car, causing both of them to jump in fright, convinced that their demise had arrived.
• While both of them nervously embraced each other, fearing being handcuffed, one of Kim's university classmates got out of the car with several documents in hand. Like the girls, they closed their eyes in nervousness as they hugged each other, not seeing the guy approaching them until he spoke closer.
• "Kim, they sent this to my apartment. I came to deliver it to you. You'll be doing your internship at a law firm, and we already have the first case," the guy says, extending the documents to Kim.
• Slowly, Lucia and Kim opened their eyes, relieved to see that he wasn’t the police. Kim accepted the documents and quickly scanned the information, her eyes widening with excitement.
• "I'm really starting my internship at such a big law firm!" Kim shouts excitedly, and Lucia hugs her while both of them cry and jump with excitement, under the gaze of the guy in front of them.
• "That's great, my queen! Things are finally going well for you!" Lucia says happily.
• "Well, I'm sorry to interrupt, but the case was just assigned, and we need to work on it so that we're fully informed about every detail of the drugs that will be the evidence for this lawsuit at tomorrow's noon meeting," the guy says, and that makes them stop celebrating and become serious.
• "Where should I be to know the information about the case?" Kim asks eagerly.
• "At the law firm. We have an office there with all the case details. But we need to go now. I don't know if you want to go by taxi or with me," the guy says.
• "Go with him," Lucia insists, nudging her friend while visions of romance and sex in a law firm fill her mind.
• Kim gives her a dirty look but goes with the guy, spending the entire night studying the cases with him and three other interns.
• So, when morning comes and she heads to the university for one of the few in-person classes she has, she departs and heads to work where she is faced with the daunting choice between resigning or succumbing to the overwhelming workload and time constraints.
• Basically, she didn't sleep at all that night. That's why she boards public transportation to go to work and sets an alarm to wake up when she's near her destination. She drifts off to sleep during the journey and disembarks in a daze. Exhausted, she trudges towards the entrance of the company, only to be saved from stumbling by someone grasping her arm.
• "Kim, wake up a little. If your boss sees you like this, you're going to have a rough day," Lucia says, handing her a cup of hot coffee and a bag containing clean clothes and several pregnancy tests.
• "Thank you."
• "Go, shower as quickly as you can and head to your desk. If you can do the tests now, perfect, if not, whenever you can, but don't forget. This is important," Lucia instructs, and Kim nods in acknowledgement.
• As Kim heads to shower in the cleaning area where the janitors bathe before going home, her boss persistently calls her to ensure everything is ready for him upon his arrival. Due to this, she postpones the pregnancy test and swiftly takes a shower to be prepared before her boss' arrival.
• As she cleans herself, Alessandro Delacroix meets with a technician who is recovering the files deleted by Lucia's friend. He had been searching for a clue for days and had barely been able to find someone to help him recover the recording data.
• Therefore, he was anxious to get the answer and go to the company to work on the new partnerships to revive the company.
• "Here is the recording," says the technician, handing over the recovered data with a sense of urgency. Without delay, Alessandro seizes the memory device and promptly makes his way to the company, eager to examine the contents and glean any valuable insights it may hold.
• He was about to watch the video, but the alarm on his agenda, reminding him of the meeting with a potential partner and sexual companion with whom he enjoyed having sporadic sex, made him give up the idea and he went to the company with the information to watch the entire video after the meeting.
• When he arrived, he ignored Kim's greeting and directly asked her about the documents he needed and if the potential partner had arrived. Today he was in a better mood, perhaps because he might solve the mystery, but he still seemed angry about everything that had happened. Therefore, he was quite serious.
• "Miss Jones has already arrived, her father dropped her off and let her into the conference room before going to his meeting with the buyer he has secured. According to what you asked me, I made copies of all the documents to give one to each of them. This is yours," says Kim, handing some documents to him.
• "Good. Take my bag and put it in its place. Then we'll have to talk about the next appointment in my agenda," says Alessandro, and she uncomfortably nods. "What's wrong?"
• "The meeting is out of town and considering the time, we will probably be there during lunchtime."
• "And what about it? We can pay you overtime," says Alessandro, and she shakes her head.
• "Actually, I have a commitment for lunch. I was notified about the start of my internship, and today I have to present the case during lunchtime."
• "That's a problem. I doubt you’ll manage to juggle both you work and your internship," says Alessandro, taking off his jacket and handing it to Kim.
• "That's another topic we need to discuss. I’m considering submitting a resignation letter," Kim whispers.
• "Alright, we'll talk about that later. Bring me my pills and..."
• Kim hands him the pills and takes out hot water from the thermos. Kim retrieves the pills and pours hot water from the thermos. He accepts the drink before heading into the conference room. As Alessandro disappears behind the doors, Kim releases a sigh of relief, the tension she had been holding dissipating.
• After all, it is he who can send her to jail for stealing or attempting to steal his sperm sample, and now she is racking her brain over it, while he uses the excuse of a potential partner to sleep in the conference room with the woman he has scheduled as his "third conquest" in his romantic appointments.
• "What a mess you've gotten yourself into, Kim? How are you going to get out of this problem that you dragged your friend into?" she asks mentally.