The last person I want to see...

Maya's pov 

What is he doing here? His charming looks and smooth-talking ways don’t work on me anymore. I hate him to the core of my being. Rejecting him is easy. The way he’s looking at me, like he’s enjoying this, makes me want to slam the door in his face. Why is he here now, of all times? Doesn't he know that the sight of him only brings back painful memories I’ve worked so hard to bury?

“Won’t you let me in?” he asked, his voice calm but somehow feeling entitlement.

“In as what?” I snapped, his words igniting my anger like a match to dry leaves. He had some nerve showing up unannounced, pretending like everything was fine between us.

“You’re the last person I’d ever let into my house..” I began, my voice trembling with fury.

“At least I made it in, even if I’m the last,” he interrupted smugly, his lips curling into a small, infuriating smile.

“Let me finish!” I shot back, stepping closer to him. “The last person to enter my house will be when I’m dead. You married me out of pity, to retain your position as CEO of your father’s company. What are you doing here? I don’t understand. What could you possibly want from me now?”

“Please, stop crying,” he said softly, his tone shifting, as if he cared.

I hadn’t even realized tears were streaming down my face. His presence had reopened my wounds, wounds I thought had begun to heal. There is such a thin line between love and hate, and I was standing on it. I moved to close the door, but he blocked it with his foot, refusing to let me shut him out.

“There is nothing you can do to change my mind,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze. “Nothing. Your love was always selfish, and I’m done. This is my house. Leave.”

“You can’t do this to me,” he replied, his voice almost pleading now. I could see the desperation in his eyes, but I didn’t care.

“Where is my baby?” My voice cracked as anger and grief overwhelmed me. “The baby you killed with your negligence. A living being I carried for nine months. Gone. Gone because of you!” I turned and went inside, tears blurring my vision. Memories of the accident and giving birth hit me like a storm. The pain was unbearable, a weight on my chest that I couldn’t shake.

I collapsed onto the couch, covering my face with my hands. My body shook as sobs wracked through me, the anguish spilling out in all my nerves. Then, I heard footsteps. Before I could look up and throw him out, a cry of my baby came through.

I shot up and ran to my room. My baby was the only thing that mattered now. She would never betray me. She was my world, the one thing that kept me going.

I scooped her into my arms and cradled her close. “Please, stop crying, I wouldn't leave again,” I whispered and cried, patting her back gently. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? You’ve already been fed.” But her cries didn’t stop. Maybe she was still hungry. I laid her down and rushed to the kitchen to prepare her bottle.

Halfway through, the crying stopped abruptly. My heart raced as I hurried back to check on her. To my horror, I found Wale in my room, holding my baby.

“Give me my baby!” I growled, snatching her from his arms. My words spilled out before I could think. “What did you do to her? Why is she quiet?”

“Maybe she can sense I’ve changed,” he replied softly, his gaze fell on me, wanting my acceptance.

“Changed?” I scoffed. “You don’t fool me. Get out of my house.” I pointed toward the door, but he didn’t move. His gaze lingered on me, as if seeing me for the first time, as if he were searching for something he had lost.

A sudden idea popped into my head. I knew how desperate he could get, how he always needed to feel in control.

“If you won’t leave, I’ll call my fiancé to come and take me away from this danger,” I said coolly, grabbing my phone. His expression darkened instantly, and I knew I had hit a nerve.

I dialed Grayson’s number. “Hi, love!” I said sweetly, laughing the way a woman does when talking to her crush. “You didn’t keep your promise again.”

Grayson sounded confused. “What promise?” he asked, his voice cautious.

“It’s already 8 a.m., and I’m dressed, waiting for you to take me out,” I continued, adding a playful tone. “Don’t think I’ll forget. And just so you know, I’m lying on my bed wearing nothing.” I made a kissing sound into the phone, my voice dripping with mock seduction.

That did the trick. Furious, Wale stormed out of my room, his face was full of anger. As he left, I overheard him on a phone call, his voice low and menacing.

“Lucas, what are you waiting for? Do it now.”

The moment he was gone, I collapsed onto the bed, holding my baby close. My heart was pounding, and I felt a mix of relief and fear. Whatever he had planned, I would face it, just as I had faced him. My baby and I would be safe. We had to be.

What does he want to carry out? It's none of my business. Then suddenly he came back, and I for some reason, didn't want the both of us to be in the room.

“Please, leave my house. My fiancé is calling to carry me away. Your money or anything else can't buy my love.”

“I’m glad you accepted my gift…” He said and his eyes were on the pendant.

“Anonymous?” I widened my eyes and placed my fingers around the necklace, pulling it off my neck.

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have worn it in the first place. If you’re so proud of yourself, you should’ve written your name.”

“I hate you, and it’s over. Get out of my house, or I’ll make love with my fiancé in your presence when he comes.”

The moment I said that, he took a deep breath, stared at me one last time, and left. I went to the door, slamming it hard with all my force, venting my anger through the door.

I’m glad he left. But all the things I had said to Grayson came back to haunt me, in a form I wasn’t prepared for. I started feeling a hunger for someone completely out of my reach. My toes began to curl as I glanced at Alexandra. She was about to close her eyes to sleep again.

If I had that gigolo’s phone, I would call him now. I placed Alexandra on the bed and my fingers went straight between my thighs. I knew exactly what I needed. I needed ‘big daddy.’ He was the only solution to my problem right now. To intensify my need, all I had to do was close my eyes and gently say the words ‘big daddy’ while my fingers did what he should’ve been doing. Every attempt to stop my touch only increased my craving.

“Aagh…” I moaned as I entered the bathroom. A warm bath might help, but my fingers refused to leave my clit. Halfway to climax under the shower, I heard a loud bang on the door. My main concern was to relieve myself of my sexual urge, but then another bang echoed.

I wrapped a towel around myself and rushed to the door, fearing the sound might wake up Alexandra and make her cry.

“What?” I paused, thinking it was my ex-husband.

“Darling!” Grayson’s voice came through.

“Who is your darling?” I asked, confused.

“But you called me on the phone to come and take you out. I was surprised, and at the same time impressed.”

“I’m sorry… I was just kidding.”

“Kidding? But Maya, I love you. I think of you all the time when I’m alone. Wale may have broken your heart, but I’m here now, mending it. Look at all the good things you have now because of my love for you.”

“If you wanted me in the first place, you should’ve come straight to the point. From being Hudson, now you’re Grayson, and there was no Hudson to begin with. It’s irritating. Right now, my time is spent taking care of Alexandra. She’s become so dear to me…”

“But she needs a father’s care. I had hoped we could be together. That’s why I granted you the privilege of taking care of her. Maya, can we start from somewhere? If you don’t give my love a chance, how will you know? Now that your ex-husband wants you back, you and I could be a perfect match.”

“How do you know that?” I snapped at his conclusion. “Your friend Hazel told me so much about you, and everything she says makes me more passionate about you. I care for you, and I love you.”

Mentioning Hazel’s name spoiled my mood. He shouldn’t have said it. She was the one who deliberately ruined my chance of meeting that guy at the hotel. There was no way I could meet him again. I knew he loved me by the way he held me close to him.

“Maya…” I felt a hand waving in front of my eyes.

“What are you thinking?”

“Please, let’s talk later. I don’t know how I’m feeling right now.” I closed the door while Grayson was still standing there. My mind was consumed with a single thought-‘big daddy.’

Just when I was about to get to my bedroom, I had a thought, one I had never considered before.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My hair was still wet from the shower, and my body felt more alive than it had in months from the thoughts that had made me restless. I took my phone and dialed Humphrey’s phone number. 

“I can use him to get what I want,” I grinned.