An inquisitive stranger

Allison's POV

I heaved a huge sigh as I sat down on one of the park benches, placing my bag beside me.

Fluttering my eyes shut, I reclined against the bench, trying to replay the interaction that had occured between that bastard and I.

After five good years of living peacefully with Aiden, Leo decided to show up as my new boss.

I couldn't help but wonder the sort of crime that I must have committed in my past life that the heavens decided to be so mean to me.

Hell, where would I go from here? How was I supposed to get a new job within a short timeframe?

I had also resolved against telling Tasha that I had encountered Leo today because I thought it was unnecessary. After all, I had resigned and didn't intend on ever seeing him again.

"Oh, great heavens," I exhaled heavily, gently massaging the throbbing blood vessels at my temples, just as I heard someone clear their throat beside me.

"A dollar for your thoughts?" A deep voice came from beside me, forcing me to flap my eyes open with a frown to behold a man.

He was clad in a navy suit, and he also looked quite attractive. His hair was black and smoothly sleeked back. However, unlike Leo, he had no sexy undercut to increase his appeal.

Shit, what the hell is wrong with you? I inwardly admonished myself, upon realizing what I was doing.

Leo was and will forever be nothing but a waste of space to me, nothing more.

The stranger darted me a smile. "A dollar for your thoughts?" He reiterated, to which I huffed.

Trust men to always be nosy and in a woman's business.

"No, thank you." I said, with the coldest tone I could muster.

Nodding, he folded his arms across his chest and gazed intently at me. "Something is bothering you. What is it? Is it your partner, work, school? What exactly is it? You can confide in me, you know."

I couldn't believe my ears at the man's utterance. "And why would I do that? Who even are you?"

"Woah, petal. There's no need for the aggression. I mean, I love feisty women but I'm just trying to help. You can think of me as a stranger that you will never see again, and vent to me."

"Well, I don't want to." I snapped, and he raised his arms in surrender.

"Okay, alright then. I'll just sit with you and tell you about myself."

"I didn't ask. Can you please just leave me alone?" I hurled.

"No, petal. I'm sorry."

"Stop calling me that!" I spat, glaring at him.

Normally, I wasn't a rude person but the vain ignorance and cockiness of this man was really getting on my nerves.

I mean, who the hell did he think he was to speak to me like that?

Did he think everything was a joke?

Giving him a once over, I quickly realized that he probably thought everything was a joke, seeing how he oozed with luxury and wealth.

He had probably never known a day of suffering in his life, and had more than enough money to take care of his needs, so that was why he was pestering me.

"Alright, I'm sorry. What's your name then?" He asked, and I scoffed, inwardly deliberating whether or not to tell him the truth.

I decided to stall. "Why do you want to know it?"

"Well, you don't want to be called petal, so what else would I call you by except your name?" He shrugged, eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint.

"That's fair." I nodded.

I had no idea what I was doing. I had initially come to the park to contemplate my next line of action now that I was resigning, because of Leo.

Yet here I was, having a banter/conversation with an egotistical yet intriguing stranger.

"Yeah, so will you tell me your name now?" He asked, and I sighed before standing up and grabbing my bag.

"Dorcas. My name is Dorcas." I fibbed, and started walking away, without darting him a backward glance.

"We both know that you are lying, petal. I will find out what your real name is very soon," He yelled after me, and I snorted, stifling the urge to laugh. "Anyway, my name is Max, and it was nice talking to you."

"Can't say the same thing about you," I muttered, underneath my breath.

On getting to my car, I discovered that I had missed several calls from Tasha, as I had forgotten my phone in the car.

My heart thumped with trepidation as I dialed her number, inwardly hoping Aiden was okay because for her to have called me fifteen times, it meant something was wrong.

Since she worked from home, she often helped in babysitting Aiden, and thankfully, her husband also loved my son, so he didn't think it was a hassle.

"Babe, where are you?" Her voice rang into my ears the moment she answered. "I've been calling you for a while now. I was so worried, I thought something had happened to you."

"I was out on an errand and left my phone in the car. What happened?" I inquired.

Tasha paused momentarily then sighed. "Babe, I'm currently at the ICU with Aiden. He had a seizure earlier."

"What?" My throat suddenly felt parched like a desert.

"You have to come quickly." She said. "But he will be fine. My godson is a fighter."

At that moment, everything felt like deja vu. The memories of how Dr Swan had called me five years ago only for me to be told my mother was dead, was still very fresh in my head.

"I-I'm on my way," I forced out and hung up before pulling the car out of the driveway.

"Oh great heavens, I beg you to please spare my son." I muttered, as I sped my car to the hospital in a deranged fit.