Alethea
I finally managed to get Amelia into the house, though it wasn’t an easy task. She’s a bit taller and heavier than me, and dragging her inside feels like a workout.
After some effort, I settled her into the guest room, making sure she was comfortable.
With that done, I head to my son’s room. It’s become a nightly ritual for me to check on him before I finally sleep.
Pushing the door open quietly, I step inside and take in the sight of him. His small chest rises and falls with soft breath, his peaceful face is illuminated by the faint glow of nightlight.
A smile tugs at my lips, and my heart swells with joy.
Every time I see him, I’m reminded of the miracle he is. I can’t even remember how I survived before him, but now, I love him with every fiber of my being.
I lean down and press a soft kiss on his forehead. Then, I pull back and quietly leave his room, closing the door behind me.
As I make my way to my bedroom, the events of the night come flooding back, the overwhelming emotions, and everything in between.
My chest tightens, and I take a steady breath, trying to push the thoughts aside. Tonight has been a lot.
What was I thinking? Yes, I had a crush on him, but that’s not enough of a reason to lose control just because I saw him again.
I lay down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling as my thoughts spiral. ‘He thinks I’m beautiful and sophisticated.’
The memory of his words sends warmth rushing to my cheeks. I can’t help but smile, and with that thought, I finally drift off to sleep.
It’s morning already. My routine is simple: get dressed and prepare for work.
Selena, as always, takes the lead when it comes to Declan. Sometimes, I wonder if she’s his mother and I was just the surrogate.
‘Funny, right?’ That’s the kind of humor I cling to, especially since most of my life still feels like a mystery to me.
“Hello, sunshine!” I greet Declan with a wide smile as I walk into the kitchen.
He’s at the table, happily munching on cereal, while Selena sits beside him, giving instructions on how to hold the spoon properly.
“Good morning, Mummy!” Declan beams, his face lighting up with pure joy.
“Good morning, ma,” I say, turning to Selena with a bright smile of my own.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” I ask, fixing my wristwatch on my wrist. “I see you’re not dressed for the hospital.”
Selena glances up briefly, then shifts her gaze back to Declan.
“Nothing much-just a few consultations. Once I’m done, I’ll pick up ‘my boy’ from daycare,” she says with a soft smile, her eyes lingering on Declan.
‘There it is again.’ I can’t help but notice how easily she includes Declan in her plans.
But me? Not so much. Not that I’m jealous, far from it. I like how well she takes care of him. Declan loves having her around, and for that, I’m grateful.
“Well, I’ve got to run,” I say, grabbing my bag. “The app launch deadline is in a few days, and I need to make a lasting impression on the new CEO.”
Without waiting for a reply, I dash out the door, already mentally preparing for the long day ahead.
Amelia had to rush back to her apartment to get ready for work. ‘Who goes clubbing during the workweek?’ I curse inwardly for agreeing to tag along.
Typical Amelia, always dragging me into her chaos.
With hurried steps, I make my way to my office. Part of me hopes to see Amelia, but knowing her, there’s no way she’ll be on time.
Shaking my head, I focus on the health and fitness app, determined to make progress.
Just as I get into the groove, my phone rings, jolting me. It’s my supervisor.
“Hello, Ms. Carter. How far along are you with the app? The boss wants to review it today.”
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, my stomach dropping.
“Language, Ms. Weaver,” he snaps.
My heart races as I stare at the now-silent phone in my hand. “Three hours,” I mutter to myself, trying to muster some confidence. ‘I can do this.’
I roll my shoulders back and lean closer to my laptop. My fingers move swiftly over the keyboard, as I work to finalize the app. Every line of code and every design tweak has to be perfect.
Minutes blur into an hour, then two. The deadline is approaching.
My eyes sting from the glow of the screen, but I don’t dare stop. Bit by bit, I see the app coming together.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the last adjustment is in place. My chest rises and falls with relief as I test the app one final time. No glitches, no errors-it runs smoothly.
I sit back, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It’s done. The app is ready.
I double-check the app one last time, ensuring every feature runs flawlessly. With a deep breath, I call my supervisor back.
“It’s ready,” I say, trying to mask my nervousness in my voice.
“Good,” he replies without praise. “Meet the board of directors in the conference room. Don’t keep them waiting.”
“Yes, sir,” I responded, quickly hanging up.
Gathering my documents, I smooth out the creases in my blazer and take a moment to steady myself.
The stakes are high, and this presentation could define my future here. I glance at the clock. ‘Showtime.’
I step into the hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor as I make my way to the conference room.
My mind replays the points I need to cover and the potential questions the board might throw at me.
I step into the conference room, and every head turns my way. My breath catches for a moment, but I exhale slowly, my nerves easing as I catch the polite smiles on some of their faces.
I return the gesture with a soft smile of my own and find a seat, settling in as we wait for the CEO to arrive.
This is the first time most of us will meet him in person, and I can feel the anticipation buzzing in the room.
It’s almost like he’s intentionally keeping us waiting, building suspense for some grand, intimidating entrance.
‘Typical CEOs,’ I think to myself, always seem to exude this tough, untouchable exterior, as if daring anyone to challenge them.
But deep down, I know most of them feel threatened in some way, even if they’ll never admit it.
The door swinging open snaps me out of my thoughts. The air in the room shifts instantly.
My gaze darts to the entrance, and my heart skips a beat.
There he is.
My eyes widen as I can feel the color drain from my face. Our eyes lock for what feels like an eternity, but it is only a brief second.
He smirks, and the expression is unmistakably familiar.
‘Shit.’
The word slips from my lips in a whisper, barely audible, but the panic thrumming through me is impossible to hide.
How is this possible? How is he here?