Chapter 1No Maternity Leave Till My Water Broke

When my due date approached and I requested maternity leave, my boss replied with just two words: "Request denied."

Holding up the hospital admission notice from my doctor, I asked him, "My water could break at any second. What then?"

He pushed the slip back across the desk. "Then we'll talk when it does."

I let out a soft laugh. "Fine. Have it your way."

The next morning, I walked into the office right on time, carrying my hospital go bag.

The bag sat by my feet, a disposable underpad lined my office chair, and a portable oxygen canister was placed right next to my computer.

When my boss walked past and frowned, a sudden, sharp contraction seized my abdomen, forcing me to grip the edge of my desk for support.

Then his eyes fell on the wet puddle spreading rapidly at my feet, and he froze, completely terrified.

* * *

Mike looked up, his eyes briefly scanning my swollen belly before darting back to his computer screen.

"Another day off?"

Outside the glass door of the HR department, a few coworkers pretended to fetch water, their ears straining to catch every word.

"It's not a sick day. It's maternity leave."

I placed the doctor's notice on his desk, keeping my voice as steady as possible. "The doctor says I'm full term. My cervix is already beginning to dilate. I need to be admitted to the hospital today or tomorrow to prepare for delivery."

Mike picked up the slip, glanced at it for barely two seconds, and tossed it back.

"The project launch is the day after tomorrow. If you leave now, who wraps it up?"

"I already handed everything over to Tina, and I sent an email to the client explaining the transition."

Tina, who was leaning against the doorframe, let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Oh, Kelly, don't say that. There's no way I can handle your workload. I'm just an assistant. If something goes wrong, Mike will eat me alive."

She called me her senior, but her eyes were glued to Mike.

Mike frowned. "You hear that? There's no one to take over your files."

"But this is legally mandated maternity leave."

"This company isn't a charity. Don't use your pregnancy as a shield."

Outside, the sound of pouring water stopped.

I looked down at my feet. My shoes were tight and pinching from the swelling. Inside my belly, the baby gave a soft kick, as if telling me not to be afraid.

"Mike, I haven't missed a single day of work these past few years. Even when I had complications in the first trimester, I stayed up to finish the project proposal in my hospital bed before letting them admit me."

"And?" He leaned back, his eyes full of impatience. "Am I supposed to hand you a medal for that?"

Tina covered her mouth, giggling softly. "Kelly, Mike is just looking out for you. Women who take too much time off after having a baby lose their touch and get left behind. You should work as much as you can now to secure your spot."

"I'm taking maternity leave, not resigning."

"Who knows the difference these days?" Mike threw his pen onto the desk. "You female employees always make grand promises before getting pregnant, but once you conceive, it's one leave after another. First it's prenatal checkups, then it's maternity leave, then it's nursing hours, and then sick leave whenever the kid gets a cold. Is this company a business or a welfare program?"

The room fell ice cold.

I stared at the paper on his desk, my fingers slowly tightening into fists.

"Mike, would you care to put that statement in an email?"

His face darkened instantly. "Are you threatening me?"

"I am simply asking for a written response."

Mike stood up and shoved the notice back into my hands.

"Request denied."

Those words fell like lead.

I held the admission notice in front of him. "My water could break at any moment."

He sneered, pushing my hand away. "Then we'll wait until it does."

Outside the glass, someone gasped.

Tina immediately looked down at her phone, pretending to be busy.

I let out a soft, quiet laugh.

"Fine. Have it your way."

As I turned to leave, a heavy, dragging ache pulled at my lower back.

Penny, our junior admin, hurried after me. "Kelly, don't force yourself. Just go home and let HR handle it later."

From the breakroom, Tina's voice drifted out. "She's just playing the pregnancy card. Let's see if she's still smiling when she finds out her desk has been cleared."

I squeezed the paper in my hand, leaving a deep crease.

The elevator doors opened, and Mike stood at his office door, his voice cold and loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I expect you at your desk tomorrow by nine. Any later will be counted as an unexcused absence."