Sydney
After checking in and interacting with the receptionist, I proceeded to the visitor's area and sat down. After a few moments, Leah looked at me and said, "You look nervous," with a stunning look of concern on her face.
"Thank you for coming along," I said, "I'm a little nervous." Leah was the only person I could confide in about my girly problems.
"How is Mike doing? Has he returned yet?" I inquired.
"He arrived yesterday, but he's been acting strangely since then." Leah shrugged her shoulders.
"Weird?" I inquired.
"When I asked him how his audition went and if he got the part, he didn't say anything. He simply stated that he was exhausted," Leah remarked.
"Perhaps he didn't get the part and didn't want to discuss it?" I suggested, though I would hate to see that happen to Mike. If anyone deserved success, it would be Mike. Just then, Doctor Jeffery came out of the examination room and approached us.
"Ah, Mrs Reiner, are you ready? Please come this way."
I gave Leah a kind nod and headed inside. The doctor instructed me to undress behind a screen. I changed into my robe and entered the room.
"All right, please sit down and put your feet in the stirrups, and we'll take a look at you," she added.
I followed the doctor's instructions. I slid into the chair and into the stirrups with my legs. She completed the exam and then asked me a few simple questions.
"Are you on birth control, Mr Reiner?" She inquired.
I shook my head. I was not supposed to fall pregnant, so I didn't see any use of contraceptives.
"Do I need them ?" I asked, cautiously.
"Yes, if you want to avoid accidental pregnancy, in your condition, that is difficult but not impossible. Even if you manage to conceive, you might not be able to carry it to the full term. Hence, I would suggest you start on the pills. It would also regularize your cycles before we proceed with the surgery."
"But ...but....what if I am already....pregnant ?" I asked almost in a panic.
Dr Jeffery smiled. " I don't think you are pregnant yet. But it's better to be safe. I would also subscribe to some contraceptives for you."
I breathed a sigh of relief and chastised myself for being so rash. She then requested more tests. When I got back, I asked Leah if I should speak with Mike.
"Perhaps he'll tell me what's bothering him?" I made a suggestion.
"Perhaps you might try chatting to him." Leah responded.
*******************
"Let's celebrate our very first successful collaboration," Marilyn exulted as she gave the champagne to Mike and Rob, who didn't appear happy.
Her offer of champagne was hesitantly accepted by the guys.
"A toast to our first successful partnership, drink up!" Eric joined them to raise a toast.
The boys gave them a glum expression but dutifully downed the champagne.
Marilyn replied with a glint in her steely blue eyes, "You don't know how satisfied I am with you boys, carrying out my orders so efficiently."
"Oooh, I'm so pleased with the success of our first collaboration that I'm already planning another. How about it, boys?" Eric smiled as he added.
"You promised us that there would be no second time. I am not going to be part of your......your madness." Rob said vehemently, clenching his fists.
They were in a quiet home on a cliff near the seacoast, in a sitting room. It was Marilyn's typical hiding, where she planned all sorts of heinous deeds, and she was confident that no one would be able to find it.
"Aww...Rob, Rob...," Marilyn wiggled her finger at him, making a tsking sound.
"Did I make any promises to you? Did I ever say this was going to be my final job?" Marilyn had rushed forwards, seizing Rob's chin in a deadly hold with her fingers, causing Rob to wince in pain.
"Leave him alone! What else do you want us to do now that we've done everything you asked for?" Mike muttered under his breath, spitting fire.
"You boys are no fun," she said, pouting her lips. She then took a seat on the sofa.
"What are we going to do with them, Eric?" She stated this while licking her lips like a cat. Hearing her remarks, the men froze.
Eric gave a sly grin. He'd been lazing the entire time, as though enjoying himself.
He remarked, "I think we should just let them go."
"Really Eric?" Marilyn said, astonished.
"Of sure, we'll need their...services later on, but just temporarily." He said this while he sipped his drink.
Mike's face turned icily frigid as he spoke. He glanced at them with an unmasked anger in his eyes. He wanted to hold Marilyn's long silky neck until she gasped for oxygen, crushing her in his hands. And he wanted to hurt Eric even more.
"I'm not going to obey any of your orders!" Mike said, his teeth gritted.
" OK then, maybe I would invite Leah then? What do you say good-looking?" Eric said with a sly grin.
At the mention of his sister's name, Mike could not contain himself any longer. He made a lunge at them but Eric had expected him to retaliate. Hence, he was already one step ahead of him. He fired a shot close to his ear, so close that he could feel the bullet zinging past, which made him recoil immediately. Rob had turned pale and was breathing hard.
"The next time, the bullet will go through your head," warned Eric coldly. "Now! Where were we? Ahh...yes? We are celebrating our first success and you will do what we say. Come on now, you will love it." Eric said, patting the seat next to him.
Mike and Rob exchanged glances and cursed the day they got tangled up in this mess.
"Come on, I don't have all day," Eric said impatiently.
Mike and Rob silently strolled up and sat down, as Eric and Marilyn exchanged a smug grin. Mike listened to their ranting about how they were going to destroy the Reiners for the next few minutes. Marilyn's passion for Aiden was understandable. She was head over heels in love with him, but Mike couldn't understand why Eric was so enamoured with the Reiners. Eric had only been in San Francisco for six months when he purchased the theatre and firm. Somehow, he had tagged up with Marilyn in his mission to destroy the Reiners. But why?
