Karen shot out of bed in the middle of the night, woken up by a night mare of a wolf chasing her down the road.
She sat up, covered in sweat and breathing heavily. She looked around her, the familiar sight of her room reminding her that she was at home, in her bed and not being chased down a cold road.
She wiped sweat off her brow and got out of bed. A cold wind from her open window made her shiver and hug herself.
Nightmares. Her constant companion.
Ever since her escape, she struggled with them. Often times she would get drugs to help her sleep better but the drugs would only make her cranky and irritable. So she stopped taking them.
She walked out of her room, intending to get a drink of water. She passed her son’s room and backtracked. She walked inside, quietly so as not to make a noise. He was asleep in his bed, surrounded by stuffed animals. His favorite was a white wolf stuffed toy he had seen in a shop one day. He didn’t shut up till she got it for him. He was hugging the wolf tightly, fast asleep.
Karen sat on the floor beside his bed, watching him with soft eyes.
He was her son. The one gift she had gotten form her father’s evil. Having David made her want to live. She wanted to live and give him the best life she never had for herself.
She reached out and brushed strands of hair from his forehead. Seeing him asleep reminded her of Kai, the last night she had with him before it all went down. David had Kai’s beauty and striking eyes. He was just his splitting image. She noticed his hair was growing longer. She had to cut it.
She had wanted to tell Kai of her pregnancy before she was accused and imprisoned.
It was a decision she had come to after much deliberations. But she never had the chance to tell him. Till this day she wondered what his reactions would have been.
Would he have been happy? Or would he have been angry?
Karen watched her son, and she decided it was best that she didn’t tell Kai. He was going to marry Verena anyway, if he wasn’t already married to her.
Four years was a lot of time.
Karen rose to her feet and tucked him in, pulling the blanket up to his chin. He hugged his stuffed wolf tighter, a small smile on his face.
Karen vowed to protect him from her past.
She tiptoed out of his room and shut the door behind her. She made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water and drank it.
The clock read twelve thirty am.
Karen knew she wouldn’t be getting any more sleep. She made her way down to the dining and sat down in front of the envelope . She picked it up and opened it. Inside was a single piece of paper with writings on it.
Terms of employment. It read.
It was nothing out of the ordinary. There were no hidden terms or conditions inside it. Karen wondered why they needed her to sign it. Perhaps all the higher ups had to sign it.
She took a pen and signed the space for her signature. As she put down the pen she smiled to herself. this was one step closer to her dream of becoming director.
She put the contract back into the envelope and sealed it. All traces of sleep had vanished form her eyes. She knew it was going to be a long while waiting for the sun to rise so she could leave for work.
***
“Here is the contract, Mr Woods.” Karen said, handing over the envelope with both hands.
“That’s good.” The man replied and took the envelope from her. “I’m sure you read the terms properly?”
Karen nodded. “But I don’t understand, why the news for a contract?”
“It’s standard procedure. As you advance through the ranks, the higher ups bring up the kind of things. It protects not just your interest and that of the company.” Mr Woods explained.
“Oh, I get it now.”
“Anyways, expect a proper meeting in two days. You may return to work now.”
Karen nodded and turned to leave. As she turned she bumped into Jasper.
“Hello Jasper,” She said. Jasper smiled at her, rubbing the back of his head.
“Hey, Karen.” He said falling instep with her as she returned to her desk. “I um… I didn’t see you after work yesterday.”
“I’m sorry Jasper, I had some important errands to run that I couldn’t be late for.” Karen replied. No one knew she had a child, except the current director who kept wondering why she as always in a hurry to leave Karen had explained to him that she had a child and out of compassion he had given her shorter hours, allowing her to leave an hour and thirty minutes earlier.
No one else knew of her son. And she very much preferred to keep it that way.
“Oh, I would have loved to help,” Jasper said.
Karen laughed uneasily. “I handled it. Thank you.” She got to her desk and turned to face Jasper fully. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”
“Um, yeah. Are you free this weekend?”
Karen thought about it. David had a football game on Saturday and on Sunday she was going to hang out with her friends.
“The thing is,” Jasper continue. “I want to take you to dinner.”
Oh
Oh
Oh.
Karen understood now what he meant. She was instantly opposed to the idea.
“I’m sorry Jasper, but I’m not free.” She said with an apologetic smile .
“Oh,” He said looking a bit let down. “How about next week?”
Karen shook her head. “I’m not sure.”
“Tonight after work.”
Karen raised a brow. “I… I can’t exactly do that.” She said. “I’m sorry, but I should get back to work now.”
Jasper nodded. “Alright. I’ll keep asking.”
Karen laughed uneasily. “Bye.” She sang.
Jasper waved and left. She exhaled deeply and slumped on her seat.
He wasn’t the first to ask her out on a date. Karen had been receiving such offers which she turned down. She wasn’t interested in men or dating, all she wanted was to give David the best life, and repay Shelly for all her kindness while she was at it.
Men were the last thing on her list. No matter how kind and sweet Jasper was, it just wasn’t going to happen.
She pushed thoughts of men out if her head and focused on her work. She had to make sure the proposal was ready before she has to meet the board. It would be her first grand proposal as a manager.
She could hardly wait.
****
Karen’s phon chimed with a text as she was leaving the lobby after work.
“Hey babe, I picked David up and got us some snacks. Come home.” The text read from Beulah.
Karen shook her head and smiled. “Beulah and her ways.” She said to herself.
Beulah was her friend. She had met her when David was a month and a half old. Beulah’s mother was a very good friend of Shelly. And naturally Beulah and Karen became friends.
Karen liked Beulah a lot, and as David grew he saw her as an older sister. But Beulah didn’t know everything about Karen, she didn’t even know her real name And her past.
Karen drove home directly, stopping by the bakery to pick up some milky donuts she knew Beulah loved like nothing.
She got home and went inside. Beulah and David were in the living room doing his homework together.
David looked up and saw her, a bright smile on his face. “Mommy!” He exclaimed and rushed to meet her, hugging her tightly. “You’re home!”
“Yes baby, mommy’s home. Have you been good to Beulah dear?”
“Oh by the heavens,” Beulah said with a smile. “You’ve got the best kid there.”
David rushed back to his homework, pooring over the pages. Karen walked up to Beulah and handed the bag of donuts over.
“Oh my goodness…” She gasped. “You bought these for me?”
Karen rolled her eyes. “Duh.”
“You’re so kind! It’s awesome to have a rich friend that spoils you all the time;”
“Stop it ” Karen said and laughed. Beulah’s family was filthy rich. They controlled the second largest real estate firm in the world.
Beulah took out the donuts and took a bite of one. “This is amazing! It’s so good!” She picked one out and handed it to David. “Try one,”
“No thank you.” David said politely. “It’ll ruin my dinner.”
Beulah shrugged. “I’ll give it to your mama then.” She gave the donut to Karen.
Karen ate some it. “Thank you. I have a lot to tell you.”
Beulah rose to her feet. “Come on! Tell me now!”
“I thought you were showing David his homework?”
“Oh,” Beulah glanced at David. “We’re done. And now he’s just drawing you a picture.”
“Very well ” Karen said. Right this way.
They went to the dining area so she could still keep an eye on David. Beulah brought out the snacks she had brought.
“I got a promotion.” Karen said.
Beulah’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness babe! That’s fantastic news!” She reached across the table and hugged her tightly. “I’m so damn happy for you! Hey David, your mama got a promotion!”
David’s golden head perked up. “What’s a promotion?”
“It means she’s got a higher rank at work now and can make more money!”
“Congratulations mommy!” David cheered. “You’re amazing!”
Karen felt tears prick her eyes. “Thank you sweetie. And you too.” She turned to Beulah.
“We should go out and celebrate!” Beulah said excitedly.
“On a Tuesday?! No thank you ” Karen replied with an eye roll.
“Oh,” Beulah’s face fell. “I forgot. ”
Karen rolled her eyes. Beulah sometimes had her head in the crowd as a rich girl. But she was a kind and gentle person.
“Come on!” She said and grabbed Karen’s hand. “You need the perfect outfit to communicate your new higher role!”
Karen sighed. “Yes, madam. You’ll help me out with dinner later.”
“Sure!”
She knew that by the time Beulah was done it would be very late.