Tasha’s plane touched down in New York city on Tuesday at 11:27 am. It was a typical late spring day, the city buzzing with the promise of summer already. Tasha passed through the security check and collected her luggage.
Nervous excitement passed through her body as she walked into the open air. She hailed a yellow cab and gave the driver the address of the hotel she had booked online. She had got a hotel that was close enough to the Carter Industries headquarters.
“Okay, ma’am,” the driver said after he read the address and started the car engine. He drove expertly through the traffic as they journeyed to the hotel.
The taxi pulled up at the hotel forty minutes later and it was everything she expected it to be. She stepped out with her luggage and went to the reception.
“Welcome to Hotel de la Bliss, madam,” the young lady at the front desk greeted with a charming smile.
“Good day,” Tasha smiled, feeling relaxed a bit since she woke up that morning. “I’m Tasha Harrison. I have a reservation here.”
“Okay, ma’am, will you hold on please as I checked it out?”
Tasha nodded.
The lady confirmed her reservation and gave her the key to her room. A bellboy came over to help with her luggage and led her to the room. Tasha patted the curtains as soon as the bellboy left to look outside the window and she graced with the beautiful view of the skyline.
“New York, here I come,” she whispered and closed up the curtains.
A surge of fear washed over her as she unpacked her bag and freshened up. She picked her phone and called Blake that she was around and would soon be in his office before she left the room.
Downstairs, she made use of the hotel cab service and they left for Carter Industries.
“Please, can you wait for me?” She told the driver when they arrived at their destination. “To take me back to the hotel?”
“How long are you staying here?” The cab driver asked.
“I’m not sure,” she replied. “I am going to pay for your time, plus the trip back to the hotel.”
“I’ll wait,” the driver flashed her a smile.
“Thank you,” she said and got out of the taxi.
She was directed to take the elevator to the top floor by the front desk staff. Where she was directed to Blake’s office.
Vanessa smiled at her when she got to the outer office and told her she was Tasha Harrison.
“Professor Harrison?” She asked for clarification.
“Yes, please,” Tasha responded, hoping the middle-aged woman would not see how nervous she was.
“Mr. Carter is expecting you,” she pointed at the door. “You go ahead.”
“Thank you,” she walked to the door, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach. She took a deep breath and knocked gently on the door.
“Come in,” she heard Blake’s voice beckoning to her.
She opened and walked in, shutting the door behind her.
“Oh my God, Tasha, you are here,” Blake flew up from his chair and walked up to meet her in the middle of the room.
“Hey,” she whispered, taking a good look at him for the first time in nine years. She couldn’t count on their meeting two years ago. Tasha couldn’t even look at his face. She was scared and annoyed.
Blake stood tall and confident as usual, exuding authority and charisma. He hadn’t changed much, though there were gray hairs here and there, but they made him look distinguished.
“Hello, Tasha,” he pulled her into a hug. “It’s nice to see you again”
“It’s nice to see you again too,” she said after they pulled apart, smiling genuinely.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m good,” she looked around the office. “I can see you are good as well. You are now the top executive you’ve always wanted to be.”
He said nothing. He simply nodded with a chuckle.
“Please come and have your seat,” he led her to sit on one of the visitors’ chairs across from his seat. “You are highly welcome, Dr. Harrison.”
He rounded the desk and sat in his chair.
“Blake,” she whispered, fear curling up on her back. “I have come for something very important.”
“Okay,” he leaned back in his seat, folding his hands in his front, wondering for the umpteenth time why Tasha would want to see him. “I’m listening.”
“Blake,” she exhaled sharply, shifting in her seat and crossing her ankles under the table. “There’s something I should have told you a long time ago.”
Blake’s interest piqued up. He set his elbow on the desk and put his other hand on his chin, nodding gently.
She tightened her lips together. “You remember the day I came to your apartment back in Buffalo and I met you packing?”
“What about it?”
“I came that day to tell you…that I was pregnant.” She struggled to get the words out. “I decided not to tell you anymore because of what happened that day.”
“You were pregnant nine years ago?” Blake widened his eyes at her.
“Yes,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “And I…I gave birth to a son eight years ago.”
“You what?” He shot up out of his chair and set his palms on the desk. “You had a baby and decided to keep that piece of information away from me for eight years, Tasha!” He glared at her; his stare made her stomach churned, and she looked away.
They both said nothing for a few moments. And said, “I know this is a shock and I’m sorry for keeping it away from you. I was angry.”
“You were angry, Tasha?” He was suddenly exhausted. He plopped back into his seat. “So, why are you telling me now?” He asked angrily.
“Tyson is sick,” she gave a wry smile. “That’s his name. H…he has aplastic anemia and needs a bone marrow cell transplant.”
“Really?” He retorted. “He is sick and you suddenly remember that he has a father, right?”
“I am not a match,” she started explaining, not minding that he was angry. “Everyone I know had tested, but they too came back negative.”