A Baby For Billionaire Knox

THEME: She is a mermaid

KNOX BEACH HOUSE

ON TUESDAY NIGHT

Knox Martins gulped down a cup of water and took it cup to the sink to rinse it. And he stood with his hands gripping the sides of the sink, head bowed and heart pounding so hard. He rinsed the cup and moved out of the kitchen to his room.

Knox sat on the bed to read Eretia’s diary over again. He had read it over and over again still trying to make sense of the words written in it. He knew Eretia must have been looking for the diary but decided not to say anything about it. And Knox pondered if he should go to her and confront her about her identity or just keep silence about it. He doesn’t want to hurt her anymore by avoiding her and he was fed up of being away from her.

Knox Martins stood up and moved out of his room. Everywhere was silent as he paced to and fro in front of her bedroom. Some minutes clicked by before he made up his mind to knock on the door.

Eretia wiped her face quickly when she heard the knock. She couldn’t think of what she had done to make Knox change towards her. Eretia made sure that her face was clean and dry before she crawled out of bed to the door.

Knox Martins noticed her red and swollen face and he knew immediately that she must have been crying! He doesn’t know how long but he figured it was because of him.

“Have you been crying?” Knox asked.

“No.. no.. no..” Eretia said unsteadily.

Knox Martins stared intently at her. She couldn’t look into his eyes. Eretia cleared her throat before speaking up. “Do you need anything?” She asked.

Knox shook his head. “You must be looking for this diary.” He brought out the diary from behind his back.

Eretia’s gaze fell on it and her jaw dropped immediately. She was shocked to find out that Knox was holding her diary! At that moment what would she do?! Knox gave the diary to her but she didn’t take it from him. Eretia panicked even as she tried not to look at him. She couldn’t speak. The fear of knowing that Knox Martins must have read her diary froze her interior. Her heart was pounding so hard like marching footsteps in her skull.

“You can tell me everything when you are ready.” Knox Martins said.

And shakily without looking at him, Eretia took the diary. The tear dropped down her right chin. She had no idea of what to say to him.

Knox leaned closer, reached for her chin and wiped the tear with his fingertips. He heaved a sigh. “Good night.” He kissed her forehead and made his way back to his room.

Eretia was stunned by the realization that Knox must know about her identity now. She stood immobile as more tears dropped down her cheek. He found out! Some minutes clicked by before she slowly made her way to the bed.

Eretia knew there would be no hiding anymore. And now she has to summon the courage to talk to him tomorrow.

***************

WEDNESDAY MORNING

Eretia woke up too early, was all dressed and ready to face her boss. She went to the mirror and took a deep breathe.

“Now you have to tell him everything.. nothing but the whole truth. If Knox Martins decides to kick you out of his life then you can give up and return to your world.” Eretia pointed to her reflection in the mirror.

Eretia closed her eyes again. “You can do this.. Adella.. no.. Eretia.” She exhaled roughly.

Some seconds later, she reopened her eyes and forced her focus onto herself to make sure she was at least ready to face Knox Martins. And she secretly wish he would accept her identity after revealing the truth to him.

“Let us do this!” Eretia told her reflection much more sternly as she turned away from the mirror and moved out of the room.

Knox Martins was heading out of his bedroom at the same time. Eretia visibly gulped at the sight of him. “Good.. morning.” she greeted.

Knox Martins hummed a response without looking at her and he walked away. She had to talk to him and she wasn’t going to act like a wimp.

Knox strode towards the door and then she knew she had to act. She had to say something because the silent treatment really was killing her.

Eretia inhaled her breath. It was time to man up and speak the truth. “Knox, wait.” The words seemed incredibly stupid as they escaped her mouth.

Knox stopped on track and turned to face her. His plan was to let her decide if he truly deserves to know the truth about her identity. They stood staring at each other without her making an attempt to speak up.

“You know we can do this some other time.” Knox checked his watch.

Eretia stood like an idiot and she closed her eyes. “Knox.. please let us talk now.” She reopened her eyes again.

“What do you want to talk about?” Knox asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

“We need to talk.. about last night.” Eretia answered.

Knox Martins moved from that spot and went to sit on the couch. He could spare her some time to speak the truth. “So?” Knox said but he didn’t seem annoyed.

“My diary..” Eretia stopped and took in a handful of breathe to refill her lungs.

Knox nodded slowly. “I found it under your bed while I was looking for your phone to call Oliver. I needed to let him know about your condition maybe he could help but I changed my mind on reaching out to him.” He said.

“Oh.” Eretia whispered. Everything made sense to her now.

“And I want to believe that everything if not all isn’t true. I got to thinking that you were trying to create a fantasy story.” Knox rubbed his palms together.

“No.” Eretia replied.

“So?” He arched his eyebrows.

“Everything in my diary is the truth. I am a mermaid.” Eretia blurted out without meeting his gaze.

“Are you kidding?” He looked up at her.

“No I am not a human.” Eretia nodded.

And then Knox stood up from the couch abruptly. “Mermaids doesn’t exist.” He countered.

“They do exist.. and I am one.” Eretia replied.

Knox went to her immediately. “No.. Eretia.. it can’t be true. Please tell me you are just making things up.”

A tear slid down her cheek but she wiped it quickly. “I am sorry, Knox. But it is the truth.” She muttered.

Knox clenched his fist. He was still finding it hard to believe her words. “Can you prove it to me?!” He gritted.

Eretia’s head snapped up to looked at him. “Yes.. look at this..” She pointed to the bracelet. “This is a neighing bracelet that proves that I don’t belong to this world. I used to live in the sea until I clocked eighteen.” She explained.

“Eighteen?” He frowned deeply.

“Yes, it is a long story.” Eretia responded.

“Why are you out here if you belong to the sea? Why are you a human now? And what’s about being eighteen?” Knox questioned frantically. He was confused.

“It was my wish.” Eretia swallowed hard.

Knox couldn’t comprehend her words. He ran his hand through his hair. “I still don’t understand you.” He admitted.

“I’ll tell you everything, Knox. I am a mermaid.” Eretia held up her wrist so he could see the bracelet. “Look, this bracelet belongs to a water god. And these writings on it is the language of the sea.” She explained.

“I can’t believe you.” Knox blurted.

Eretia sighed and stepped away from him before racing off to her room and came back with a bathrobe.

“Come with me.” She ordered.

“Why?” Knox demanded.

“I want to show you my identity so you can believe every of my words.” Eretia replied.

She didn’t wait for his approval before moving out of the house and she ran towards the sea. Knox Martins followed her immediately. He stood at the bank, watched her as she unzipped her gown, leaving her in just bra and panties on as she walked closer to the sea.

Eretia went in deeper and deeper as she placed her heels together and flick with her feet. The movement rippled in her body and she did it again. This was better than casting a shape shifting spell. Eretia went down the sea for complete transition as she had read in some historical books about mermaids. Her skin was darkening as waves washed over her.

Knox waited close to the shore and watched her do the transitioning. Another flick with her feet rising out of water and the skin of her legs grew together. And then Knox saw it-not her legs but an enormous golden tail.

“What the hell is that?” He gasped in shock.

It was as if Knox Martins was daydreaming and he needed someone to wake him up. Eretia stayed under the sea with her tail up for some seconds. Then she displayed her tail a bit to make him believe.

Eretia tried to raised her head above the water to look at him. His expression was unreadable but Eretia thought that she saw a look of disgust in his eyes as he stepped backwards slowly. He must be afraid of what she might do to him.

So Eretia went back under the sea. “Now he thinks I am a monster.” She said within. And she felt it, almeta dropping down her cheeks. She was crying.

“He hates me now.” Eretia sobbed underneath the sea.

She looked down at her golden tail and long nails. And she thought of swimming farther into the sea to return back to her kingdom. She would convey information about her kingdom from the sea creatures.

But all of a sudden, she felt the change of balance in the sea. Something is wrong. Though not in this sea but somewhere far off.