kalani depradine

: don't forget the ultrasound is at two!

I felt it necessary to remind Grayson because his lack of assistant has made things really difficult lately. Difficult in the sense that he's stressed and since he doesn't necessarily have friends he can rant to, I've taken on that role. He'll call me at random times of the day just to share inconveniences then when he realizes the entire conversation has revolved around a minor set back, he'll ask me how my day is going.

: can we make that a little bit earlier? i have a meeting at two thirty. let's schedule it for twelve

Does he not know how these things work? Doctors don't just sit around all day waiting for one patient. They have several and she probably has a packed schedule. I can't just call her and tell her to move us up.

: we made this appointment together and you said this would work

: and now i'm saying it won't work, so fix it.

My eyes widened. There is no way Grayson was actually speaking to me like I'm his assistant.

: please.

I groaned, setting my phone down on my desk. I only started work at nine this morning and planned on leaving early to make it for my two o'clock appointment, but twelve is right in the middle of the day.

Holding my office phone to my ear, I dialled my OB/GYN's number, hoping she'd somehow be available.

"Hello? Doctor Chung? This is Kalani Depradine," I nervously bit my lip.

"Oh, Kalani. Hi. I'm expecting you in today for two, is that right?" She confirmed. I shut my eyes as I wiped my forehead with my hand.

"About that, my...the father of my baby isn't going to be able to make it for two. Can we move it to twelve?" It's a big ask. Twelve is only two hours away and I highly doubt she's available.

"Twelve? Um, I'm not quite sure. I'm pretty full for today," she gave me the answer I already expected. It's not like I need Grayson at all my ultrasounds, but he works as a support system. Even if all he does is stare at the screen like he might puke on his thousand dollar shoes. "You know what, let me work some things around. I'll see you for twelve."

I let out of breath of relief. If she didn't say yes, I don't know how I would've broken the news to Grayson. Seeing as he's making me go to this expensive maternity hospital with high ranking doctors, he wouldn't be happy to hear they can't make adjustments for him.

"Thank you so much. See you then."

Explaining to my new boss I had to leave early was awkward. She's a woman that's worked here for a while and I've never particularly gotten along with her. But I guess because she has two kids she was somewhat understanding of my situation.

Like Alan has been doing for the past few days, he parked in the back where I wouldn't have to worry about people being interested in speaking with me. Grayson said they will eventually lose interest and I was really hoping they would.

"Are we meeting Mr. Astor there?" Alan asked when he opened the door for me.

I nodded. "Yeah," I buckled my seatbelt and we were on our way. Traffic wasn't terrible and I was happy Grayson wasn't going to be able to use that as his excuse if he's late. But being late isn't an option when the doctor is already bending over backwards for us. If Grayson can attend every other business meeting on time, then he should respect this appointment and arrive on time.

When I arrived, I didn't have to wait for her to let me in the room. She was already prepared for our appointment to begin because it was already twelve. But time was ticking and Grayson was nowhere in sight.

"He should be here soon. Let me call him," I assured her when ten minutes had gone by and he still hadn't arrived. But when I called his phone it went straight to voicemail. I called three times and received no answer. If circumstances were different, I would've resorted to calling his assistant. But seeing as Grayson is such a difficult prick, he doesn't have one.

: where are you?

"Kalani, I can't wait much longer, hun," Dr. Chung awkwardly stated.

: grayson, please tell me you're almost here. you said you'd be here.

I was hopeful that with my million calls and texts he would answer me. But he didn't.

"We can just do it without him," I laid on the bed and lifted my shirt.

We went through my appointment without him and I was far too distracted by Grayson's absence to even pay attention to her words. The most important part is the baby is okay and healthy.

I got home and I was fuming. I wasn't interested in keeping my anger to myself and thankfully I have two amazing friends who don't mind hearing me rant—Eva and Ariana. Because I actually have people who fucking like me unlike Grayson.

We've all been friends for five years now. We met at a summer party the year we graduated high school and have been inseparable since.

"That's awful," Eva's mouth gaped. We sat in my living room while they enjoyed wine and I sipped on sparking apple juice.

"I know. He's such a fucking dick sometimes. He always has a stick shoved up his-"

My words were cut off by knocking on my apartment door. Each of us cautiously looked at each other before I got up to answer the door. It was to no one's surprise when Grayson stood behind the door. My first instinct was to shut the door, so I did. But he was faster than me and held it open with his foot.

"Really? You were going to slam the door in my face?" Grayson looked down at me with an unimpressed look.

"What is wrong with you?" I asked the genuine question that didn't seem to upset him. Maybe because he hears it a lot.

"I can name a few things. But I'm sure you're about to tell me," he grinned like this was something to laugh about.

"I can respect that your work is important to you. What I cannot respect is the fact that you don't respect me or my time. I specifically went out of my way to reschedule the appointment, only for you to leave me feeling stupid and embarrassed because you didn't show up," I ranted without even thinking of all the words I was saying. But I was genuinely so angry and wanted to get everything off my chest.

It's not Grayson missing the ultrasound that upsets me because it's just a simple check up. Of course I can't expect him to attend them all. But not only did he tell me he would be there, he made me change our original appointment and I had to leave work earlier to accommodate his schedule. Then I was left there waiting with no communication from him. If he would have just told me from the start he wasn't going to make it, things would be different.

"Do you have no concern for other people's time? Are you genuinely that narcissistic and conceded you can't reckon who your actions may effect?"

He started laughing. Right in my face like my statements were a joke. Today has been filled with nothing but disrespect from him and I wasn't going to take it.

"Me? Conceded and narcissistic? At least I can admit I'm not perfect. But you for one moment can't realize the world doesn't revolve around you!" He rose his voice, completely throwing me off guard.

Grayson isn't someone who yells. He's always calm and collected. He says bitter statements but he says them with a stoic expression, complete opposite of what he's doing now. Hearing him say he thinks I think the world revolves around me is ironic coming from someone who expects anyone and everyone to kiss the ground he walks on. He expects people to bow down to him, all because of his last name. It's disgusting and he's too tone deaf to read the room.

"This is the last thing I fucking need right now, Kalani. There are more important things happening in my life than missing a fucking ultrasound, so give me a damn break."

"Why did you even come here?" I looked at him in disgust. I was swallowing all my tears because his words really did hurt my feelings but I didn't expect an apology. Not from Grayson. So crying in front him would do me no good but serve to humiliate me further.

He scoffed, tossing his arms in the air. "I quite frankly don't know," he went back to his mocking laugh that made me feel small and insignificant. "Have a good night," he turned around to go down the hall to the elevator.