Chapter 32 32
Chapter Thirty-two.
Tess_
After spending the entire weekend with my mom and sister, I was finally ready to go down to London as Damien as requested but I had ulterior motive.
Flashback.
“So do you want to tell me who the father of your baby is?” Jane asked as we sat outside the house and was moon bathing.
“I don't think I want to.” I replied.
“Why? What happened?” She questioned.
“I messed up big time and I was so stupid to have believed his words and gave it a try.” I said, speaking in code.
“What are you trying to say? What exactly happened?” She asked.
“Uhmm, well…the father of my child is my boss at work and the CEO of the company I work for.” I said and immediately Jane gasped. “That's right, go ahead and mock me, call me stupid for everything.” I said, without looking at her.
“I wasn't going to do that, I am surprised you're such a badass, I never knew you had it in you…to fuck your boss talkmore he is the CEO of the company, that's a dope move right there.” She said, then saluted.
“Stop that….you don't have to pretend.” I said.
“I'm serious, I always admire you and this is my top tier, you didn't go for the tail, you went for the head…that'd something huge!!” She replied. “And he is on the number one richest CEO in California, c'mon that's good.” She added.
“It isn't like you think it is.” I said, then looked down on my juice as I took a sip.
“What do you mean? Did something happen?” She asked, reading my facial expression immediately.
I shook my head. “No, I am just saying.” I said, trying to lie but my face gave me away.
“You know you're lying and you can't even hide it well.” She said, catching me through my expression.
“Okay fine, we are having a tiny issue and I don't know…I mean–” I was about to lie again when she interrupted me.
“You haven't told him about the baby, have you?” She asked.
I let out a sigh. “Yes, I haven't.” I replied her.
“And why is that so? He should know about the child since you decided to keep it, you didn't even ask him if he wants the child or not, it–” she was still speaking when I interrupted her.
I scoffed. “I should have asked him if he wanted the child?” I asked and she nodded. “Are you being serious?... okay tell me, if he says he doesn't want it then what happens next? I end the child's life? And kill myself too? Cause you're clearly not thinking straight here, the child belongs to me too and I get to decide if I want to keep the child or not and I have decided I want the child alive so he doesn't have any right to know about my child's existence.” I said, a little bit loud due to the rush of emotions I was feeling.
“Did you just say you're not going to tell him about the baby? So he won't have any idea he has child? Then what happens if one day your child asks for his or her father? Huh? You going to tell them what? He's dead? Or he chose to run away from his responsibility like our father did!!” She yelled at me and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
I was quiet for a few minutes then I decided to speak. “You clearly don't know what I have been through and I am not ready to explain myself again, because this conversation never happened.” I said, stood up and left her outside. I entered the room and I laid on the bed, my heart racing profusely and I couldn't stop thinking about what she said.
‘Am I going to be a mother who keeps their father away from them because of my selfishness? Is it really worth not telling him I am carrying his child?’ I thought to myself as I held the blanket tight and buried my nose and mouth into it, leaving my face in the open.
As the night wore on, Jane came knocking on my door, creaked the knob and opened it, I turned my back as soon as I knew she was there, I was still very angry at what she said to me so I didn't want to see her.
“I just wanna say I am sorry for speaking out of tone earlier and I wish I could take back everything I had said and also tell you, that you have every right to decide for your child and not involving their dad won't end up well, I just hope you would understand and give it a thought….good night.” She said and left, closing the door behind her.
I turned back to face the door and just then I knew how sad my little sister was, not having a father figure right from birth must have been very hard for her and having to take care of Mom after I moved to California was the toughest she had to do.
“I am a bad sister for not seeing things from your view, I am sorry.” I said with tears falling from my eyes. I heard her footsteps retreating as I continued to sob till I fell asleep.
The next day, I typed a letter on my laptop and sent it as an email to Damien, telling him I had thought about his offer to go down to London and I am ready to go, in less than a minute I got a reply from him.
“I am pleased to hear this and would be getting the ticket ready and flight time.” The email says. I smiled and closed down my laptop, walked out of the room and headed to the sitting room.
“Mom, I'm so hungry.” I said, while my mom replied from the kitchen.
“It is almost ready!!” She responded.
Jane walked out of her room, looking so tired as she clutched tightly to her bag and was ready to leave for work. “I will get going now.” She said, I felt my heart tightened as I looked at how sad she appeared.
“Hey.” I said and she looked at me briefly then took an apple, headed to the kitchen to bid my mom goodbye and also picked up her lunchbox. “So you're not going to talk to me?” I asked.
She stood halfway and looked at me again then was ready to walk away. “Hi, I'm going to be late.” She said.
“I'll walk you to the bus station.” I said, stood up and wore a jean trouser and a Jacket, picked up my phone and was ready to leave. “Mom, I will be right back okay? I gotta walk Jane to the bus station.” I said as we left the house, closing the door behind us.
“Don't take too much time okay?” She replied.
“Okay ma'am, byee.” I said. We walked down the street, there was an awkward silence between but I decided to be the bigger person and spoke first.
“I like your jacket.” I said and regretted it immediately, that wasn't a way to start a conversation.
“Thanks.” She replied, coldly.
I swang my hands forth and back before speaking again. “I am going to London on Monday.” I said.
“Ohh, that's great…safe trip down there.” She replied and we went quiet again, when I saw we were getting closer tonthe bus station.
I stopped her from walking further. “Look, I'm sorry for everything that happened last night, and how I reacted to you…I really want to explain everything but I just don't know how to and I really appreciate you looking out for your niece and nephew but it's deeper than you think.” I said.
“You don't trust me enough to let me in on it?” She asked.
I let out a sigh as I reached out to her hands and held it tight. “Therer is definitely no one else I trust in the world than you…aside Ana but that's not the point…I love you and I always want you involved in my life, Ana isn't even aware that he doesn't know I am carrying his child.” I said.
“Is that meant to make me feel good?” She questioned.
“Of course not, I am just saying there are other things that is stopping me from telling Damien he has a child with me.” I said.
She smiled. “His name is Damien…how magical, Tess and Damien.” She said writing it up in the air.
“You don't have to do that.” I laughed as she did that and I was also glad she had a smile on her face. “All I am saying is when the right time comes, I will tell you everything and let you decide if he is worth telling about our baby.” I added.
“Promise?” She said and stretched for her pinkie to me.
I curbed it and smiled back. “Promise.” I replied then we hugged. “I am sorry I haven't been the best big sister, I will definitely make it up to you.” I said.
“That's fine, I forgive you.” She replied and we pulled away from one another.
“Why don't you come visit me in California once I get back from London.” I suggested.
She was surprised and excited. “Really!?” She asked and I nodded. “Don't lie to me, I can come?” She added.
I nodded and was smiling hard. “Yes, yes you can come.” I said and she jumped in excitement and hugged me, just then the bus arrived.
“Alright, I got to go…I will see you once I get back okay? Don't have fun without me.” She said, hugged and and ran to enter the bus.
I waved at her. “Bye, I love you.” I said and and she waved back at me as the bus moved.
“ I love you too.” She replied. I waited for the bus to move and disappear Into thin air before I walked back home. Just as I was about entering the house my phone rang. It was Derek.
“Heyo.” He said as soon as I answered the call.
“What's up?” I replied and we began to talk, just then I got an idea on how to make Damien get so mad.
Flashback Fades Away.
I left the house as early as 6am, my flight was scheduled for 8am in the morning, I wondered why. I boarded the plane to London, my heart racing with excitement and a hint of mischief. My plan was to "accidentally" bump into Derek, make him catch me from falling, and also make sure Damien saw us together. I wanted to make him jealous, to spark a reaction from him.
As I arrived in London, I headed straight to the hotel that was booked for us, I didn't come to London alone but I arrived alone, sooner or later the other workers would be here any minute. I made my way to the lounge after resting in the room all day. Leah and Lucy's flight was scheduled for later in the evening and Derek came without the company's flight payment, my heels clicking on the pavement.
I wore the first dress my hand could pick after showering and changing, my hair styled in a ponytail, and my face was bare and it looked tired. I wasn't expecting to make an impression on anyone and really hope I don't have to.
I spotted Derek outside the lounge building and quickened my pace to talk to him, as soon as I saw Damien seated at the far end of the room. "Derek!" I exclaimed, as I approached him.
He smiled, and we exchanged a brief hug. I made sure to linger a bit longer than necessary, knowing Damien was watching from across the room. We talked for a while and when I saw I was becoming worn out, I decided to call it a night.
“We would talk in the morning yh?” I said and he nodded. “See you later.” I added, stood and turned to leave, I knew Damien would follow me so I decided to walk slowly.
Mission accomplished.
As I kept walking away, I heard a familiar voice behind me. "Tess, can we talk?"
My heart skipped a beat. Damien.
I tried to brush and walk past him, but he grabbed my arm, his eyes burning with intensity. "We need to talk about us, Tess. About what's going on between us."
“There is nothing to talk about Damien, nothing.” I said.
“Well you hear me out?” He asked but I wasn't ready to listen to him feed me more lies.
I remained silent, trying to wriggle free. But he pulled me back, his lips crashing onto mine. I melted into his embrace, our passion igniting like a wildfire.
But our moment was interrupted by a shrill voice. "Damien, what's going on here?"
Helen. His fiancee.
My heart sank as I realized she was in London, and she knew exactly where to find him, he must have been here so many times.
Damien's eyes never left mine as he replied, "Just a business meeting, Helen. Nothing to concern yourself with."
But Helen's gaze was fixed on me, her eyes blazing with suspicion. I knew I had to get out of there, fast.
I pushed Damien away, my heart racing. "I need to go."
But Damien's grip on my arm tightened. "We're not done, Tess. Not by a long shot." He pulled me closer and led me away.