SARAYA’S POV
I stood in front of the mirror, struggling to gather my hair into a ponytail, but the knots kept getting in the way.
“Ugh,” I muttered under my breath, running my fingers through the mess I’ve made of my hair.
“Need help with that?”
I turned around to see Mary standing behind me.
I smiled. “I could use all the help I can get.”
Mary chuckled softly, taking the brush from my hand. “Let me handle this.”
I sat down, letting her work through the tangles I’d created.
“You’re so good at this,” I said, watching her expertly untangle my hair.
“You know,” she began, a soft smile tugging at her lips, “after I had Evan, I always wanted a daughter but was too scared to try again.” Her voice softened and she had this vulnerable look on her face.
“When he was little, I used to style his hair all the time. It feels like…” Her voice faltered, and she sniffed. “I’m reliving those moments of Evan’s childhood right now.”
“Mary…” I whispered, unsure of what to say.
“And we are done,” she said, placing her hands gently on my shoulders. “You’re so beautiful, Sara.”
I held her hands as I looked at my reflection. “Thank you. You really worked some magic on my hair.”
“You’re welcome.”
Still holding her hands, I hesitated before speaking again. “Hmm, if you don’t mind, can I call you mom?” I asked quietly. “You can think of me as the daughter you never had, and you can help me with my hair every day.”
Mary gasped, her eyes wide. “Really?” She lowered herself to embrace me. “I’ve always thought of you as mine, Sara.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed, interrupting the moment. “Sorry about that,” I muttered, pulling it from my pocket. “I have a meeting with Mr. Arlan Reef this morning. I think I should be going.”
Mary clapped her hands as though remembering something. “That reminds me,” she said. “I overheard your dad and Arlan talking on the phone last night. Arlan is expecting a child with Matilda.” She grinned. “Can you believe that? Arlan’s going to be a father.” She said excitedly. “I’m so happy for them. You should offer your congratulations when you meet with him.”
The moment the word “child” left her lips, something shifted within me. Before I knew it, I was in Mary’s arms, trying to catch my balance and breath.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with concern. “You almost lost your balance.” She lowered herself to inspect my heels. “Do you need to change your shoes?”
“I need to go,” was all I could manage to say and rushes out in a haste.
*
At the meeting, I tried to keep things professional but I couldn’t help but get mad at minute things.
Sharing the same space with Arlan was beginning to get to me but I was taking it out on our respective secretaries, although, they have nothing to do with it.
What more? Arlan eyes were on me, though I wasn’t looking at him directly. It was looking at him through the corners of my eyes.
“Hello ma’am.” Peter knocked on the table to get my attention.
Jolting out of my thoughts, I apologized. “I’m sorry, what did you say again?”
“What about we take a recess and continue in fifteen minutes.” Arlan asked and threw a look my way.
I didn’t object to Arlan’s suggestions because I needed the recess more than anyone in the room to comport myself.
Soon, it was just me and Arlan in the room. We stared at each other, saying nothing.
“What is wrong, Saraya?” He asked with an innocent look on his face, breaking the silence between us. If I didn’t know better I would have fallen for his charm.
“Congratulations, I heard you’re expecting a child with Matilda.” I revealed and I saw him faltered. “When were you going to tell me?”
“It’s not what you …”
“It’s not what you think.” I said alongside with him cutting him off midway. “Aren’t you tired of the same excuses?” I yelled at him, letting my tears roll down my cheeks.
“I don’t intend keeping it away from you, I just found out yesterday.” He said in defence. “Saraya, I never meant for this to happen. You have to believe me. It wasn’t planned… it was a mistake.”
“A mistake?” I repeated, my voice bitter. “You don’t get to call it a mistake when you’ve been lying to me from the start.” I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. “I can’t do this. I can’t be in the same room with someone who lies to me and betrays me like this.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Turns out you slept with her, after all.” I pointed to his chest. “You told me nothing happened, I was such a fool, I saw you two in bed and still choose to believe you but you know what I’m not going to do?” I asked. “I’m not going to sit here in the same discussing with a betrayer like you. We are done and over for real.”
“Sara… please.”
But I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. If I did, I might let him convince me that there was still something worth saving, something to hold on to. But there wasn’t. Not anymore.
I left the room, my steps quick and determined, even as the tears continued to fall. I could feel my heart breaking with each step, but I knew I was making the right choice. I had to walk away, for my own sake.
ARLAN’S POV:
As the door clicked shut behind her, I went on my knees like someone who had been drenched in water.
My heart was still racing, but I knew
deep down that I had lost her. “It’s all over.”
The fifteen minutes recess must have passed because Charles came in and saw me on the ground.
He ran towards me and knelt beside me. “Are you okay sir?”
I couldn’t answer him right away. My mind was too clouded, too consumed with the image of Saraya walking out of that room, leaving me behind.
“I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Sir … What are you talking about?” Charles asked.
“I guess the meeting is over.”
“Yes sir, the meeting was cancelled and postponed.” He replied. “Peter just informed me that Ms. Newman isn’t feeling too well.”
I picked up myself slowly from the ground. “Let’s go.”