*Andrea*
“You have a lot of explaining to do. You know that, right?” Alejandro said, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips.
I raised a brow, confused by his words. I owed him nothing, and he knew that.
“I don’t understand what you are getting at, Mr. Alejandro.” I placed my two hands in my front, squared my shoulders, and looked directly into his eyes.
“Quit the act already, Andrea. You understand perfectly,” he said.
“Please, you should wait here for Mr. Shaw, or you should wait for him outside. I have to go back to work.” I bowed slightly in respect, ready to keep up professionally with him.
I turned and walked out of the office. I could still feel his gaze on me, but I refused to turn. I closed the door behind me and rested my back on it.
I placed one hand on my chest, which heaved up and down.
“What do I do?” I couldn’t stop my chest from beating rapidly inside my chest. It was a struggle to remain composed in front of him.
I stood straight and inhaled sharply. This is for the best.
Alison and Austin were waiting for me by the elevator.
“What did he say? What kept you there for so long?” Alison looked behind me, probably to check if he was behind. “Did he say anything about…” she paused, her eyes trailing to Austin.
I shook my head.
“He needed something with work,” I said, and we stepped into the elevator together.
I tried to remain calm. But I couldn’t.
I turned to face Austin.
“Why did you go to Dave’s office? Haven’t I warned you about sneaking in there? You disappointed me today, Austin; you didn’t listen to me,” I said, a bit over the top.
His eyes softened. He hid behind Alison’s back.
“Andrea, calm down. It’s not his fault.” I passed my hand over my hair, quickly realizing what I had just done.
The elevator dinged, and we stepped out.
Before they left, I placed my hand on Austin’s shoulders and met his height, “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t yell at you.” Alison was right; he did nothing wrong in connection to Alejandro.
Austin’s eyes were filled with tears, “I’m sorry, Mom.” I hugged him, ignoring the stares I got from those around me.
“I’ll see you at home.” Alison nodded, leaving her hands wrapped around Austin’s arm as she led him away.
I went back to my cubicle and sat.
“Are you alright?” Harper asked, and I nodded.
“I am,” I replied and went back to work. I didn’t speak to her for the rest of the day; she seemed to have read the mood and understood that I was not in the mood to speak.
After work, she hugged me and said, “It will be fine; I don’t know what you are going through, but it will get better, whatever it is.” I smiled at her and nodded.
I’ll keep saying it: Harper was a blessing.
That evening, I should have gone to Dave’s office and gone shopping with him for drinks as per our usual arrangements.
But I couldn’t.
I wasn’t in the right state of mind to go out with anyone.
I got into my car and drove home. On my way home, I decided to put the day behind me, but I couldn’t. It kept hunting me, sticking to me like a shadow.
I couldn’t kick him out of my mind.
I stopped in front of a bridge, stepped out of my car, and looked over the water.
Other cars passed by at full speed, and my hair flew in the wind.
Maybe I was being too harsh. Perhaps I should have at least listened to him. What if he had something important to say?
But I was scared. Scared that once I gave him a chance to speak. Once I listened, I would open my heart to him once again and allow him to walk over it just like he did.
And now he is married.
It was sinful on my part to carve him the way I did right now.
I touched my necklace and closed my eyes.
Maybe I should throw it into the water. I pulled it away from my neck and raised my hand, ready to throw it, but couldn’t.
I dropped my hand to the side and inhaled a scent of breath.
I didn’t wear the necklace. I stepped into my car, threw it in the back seat, and drove off. I couldn’t go home, so I went for a drive around the city.
By the time I got home, Austin was already asleep.
Dave and Alison were in the sitting room chatting.
“Where have you been?” Alison asked.
My lips shook as I tried to smile.
“Well, I was around,” I said and flung my bag on the couch before moving to the fridge to take Anglas sod water.
“You forgot about our arrangement, Andrea; how would you make it up?” Save asked.
I placed the water bottle on the table, “you’re asking me that?”
“Is there anyone else over there?” He asked.
“Guess I’ll have to sleep over it. Right now, I’m as exhausted as anyone can be.” I said and took my bag.
“Austin had something to show you. It’s a waste you didn’t come early.”
As I washed myself that night, I couldn’t help but wonder what Alejandro meant by the request.
What was I explaining? Did he know now that Austin is his son? Was that what all the explanations were all about?
I shook my head. There was no way he would know that. And even if he knew, he wouldn’t stay quiet.
But immediately, I thought about that; I smiled mockingly to myself, the last conversation we had seeping into my brain.
“As if he would even care.”
That night, I had a terrible dream. I was suddenly in Alejandro’s penthouse.
I was standing in front of Alejandro, holding my stomach and bawling my eyes out. I was so close to his feet, but he didn’t budge, not even when I told him I was pregnant.
He held Nora and then kissed her.
The place soon morphed into Dave’s office. I was giving birth, and he was the doctor, but he refused to help out, not even when I was pleading.
I woke up with sweat dripping down my head and neck.
My heartbeat accelerated as I thought back to the dream. I laid my back on the frame.
What sort of dream was that? I looked at the table clock close to my bed on the bed stand.
It was past three in the morning.
After meeting Alejandro, I concluded that it was only normal that I dreamt about him.
After a while, I laid back into my bed, hoping to sleep, but I kept tossing and turning on the bed, my eyes completely open.
I didn’t know when I fell asleep again.
I woke up to a little tap on my leg.
It was Austin, “Momma,” he kept calling.
Slowing, I opened my eyes, sat on the bed, and blinked rapidly, adjusting my eyes to the bright light.
“Muffin!” I called and smiled before planting a quick peck on his cheeks.
It wasn’t until I rested my back on the frame again and took a good look at him that I noticed that he was already dressed for school.
“What time is…” my nose tinged, and a lazy yawn followed, “what time is it?” I asked, placing my foot on the floor and sitting on the edge.
“It’s past 8 am.”
“Austin! Austin!! Where are you?” It was Alison.
“I’m with Momma,” Austin yelled from inside my room.
Alison soon stepped in.
“We have to go. You’d be late.”
“I’m already late. It’s already past 8,” Austin said.
It was as if the time just registered in my head. I leaped out of bed and stepped down, running quickly for the bathroom door.
“Why didn’t you wake me, Alison?” I yelled over my shoulder as I locked the door.
“Thought it would be better to allow you to get more sleep. Have you seen yourself in the mirror? You look sleep-deprived.” She yelled and left the room before I could reply.
I got to work late.
And as usual, I was scolded by the iron lady.
“She didn’t notice when you were coming early all the time, but did immediately you came late,” Harper clicked her teeth in distaste as I sat close to her.
“It’s all my fault,” I said. If only I hadn’t allowed Alejandro to get me so much.
I began my work for the day late, and I knew at that moment that I would be working late. I had not been focused yesterday, so there were some unfinished jobs from yesterday. Coupled with today’s, it was much.
And what was more? I was asked to submit it today.
My eyes were pinned to my screen, my hands dancing around my keyboard when my phone ran-a call from an unknown number.
I pinned the phone between my shoulders and my head, continuing my job. The person on the other side was quiet, ‘Hello, it’s Andrea.” I said into the phone, though I should not be the one introducing myself.
When the person refused to speak even after thirty minutes, I decided to hang up. What a weirdo. It happened yesterday and now.
“Let’s go have lunch,” Harper said to me after some time.
“Oh, it’s time already?” I asked.
I had not even realized it. “Yes, ” she said, already standing.
I wanted to go out, but I was far behind. “I don’t think I’ll be able to join you today,” I said.
“Don’t try that. I can tell you there is a slowdown here without breakfast. Are you going to skip lunch today, too?” She was right.
“I should,” I said, and my stomach rumbled that moment.
“I don’t think your stomach agrees with that,” Harper said, and I decided to have lunch.
While we were eating, she pointed to a girl at the side, chatting with her friends as she ate.
“She got her nose done.” She said.
“Oh… didn’t notice.” I flashed the girl a quick look. “I wouldn’t if she didn’t keep touching her nose.”
“No, you wouldn’t if you didn’t keep staring at her.”
She went ahead to tell me another thing: the lady on the second floor who had just gotten engaged.
The manager was in the process of a divorce because his wife caught him cheating with his secretary.
Without Harper, I would not know what was going on in the office.
“Did you know we are now patterning with that brand that tried to scout our designers?” I paused briefly before resuming eating, my fork clinking on the plate.
“I do.”
“It was a twist. A very unexpected twist.” She said, and I nodded in support.
“But it’s not bad though.” She said.
I was done with my food and got hold of my juice.
“Why do you say so?” I wanted to hear her thoughts.
“For several reasons. First, it will benefit the company.” I took a slow sip from my drink. That was correct.
Dave and Alejandro made a very good deal, which benefited both parties.
“Second,” she paused. I raised a brow, my interest insanely piqued at this point, “second…” I urged her to continue.
“We’ll get to have a new eye candy,” she said.
“Eye candy?” I was confused.
She nods, “what’s that?”
“It means Dave will not be the only handsome CEO.” One side of her lips pulled up in a smile.
“Huh?”
“yes. Think about it. From what I heard, the CEO is a very handsome man. More handsome than Dave.” My hands held the drink, and I sipped from it.
I passed my tongue over my bottom lip.
“What was his name again?” She slanted her head to the side, “Alejandro.” She smiled, and my hands, which were lifting the glass, stopped mid-way.
“Is there Anything wrong?” she noticed, and I shook my head, turning away from her gaze.
“Speak of the devil. I mentioned his name, but who knew he’d be here.” She whispered.
The air in the cafe shifted, and everyone suddenly became quiet. I didn’t mind. I placed the juice on my lips, ready to gulp its last content.
Just as I removed my cup from my lips, my eyes caught a glimpse of him.
“That’s him. Alejandro.” Harper said.
I spat the drink in my mouth, spilling it on Harper.
What the fuck was doing here?