by S. G. Sonysa
It wouldn’t be wrong if I would say that the Christmas dinner or any dinner with my family would always end as a disaster, for me at least.
They were all happy and settled in their lives. They had what Evan called a “perfect life,” a wife, a beautiful house, and a son.
My office door opened and it brought me back to reality. I glanced up and found Clara making her way to my table. I groaned inwardly at her presence in my office.
She stood in front of me, wearing a white knee-length dress and black stilettos. Her hands were placed on her waist while she glared at me like I was some kid who had done something bad.
“What are you doing here Clara?” I asked her in annoyance.
“Oh…so I guessed it right, you forgot.”
I looked at her and raised my eyebrows.
“What did I forget?” I asked her.
“Argh. Chase, you’re impossible. Today we planned to have dinner together because you have no important meetings lined up. You were supposed to pick me up at eight from my house. I waited for you for an hour, I even called you, but you didn’t answer. Then I called your secretary, and she told me that you are still at the office.”
Her face looked red after she finished her speech. Sometimes, I wondered how she could speak this much without taking a breath, but I refrained myself from asking her anything that would lead me to hear another speech.
Now, I had to take her out for dinner if I wanted to live another day. I picked up my car keys and closed my laptop so she wouldn’t see Hailey and Noah’s picture on the screen.
“I’m very sorry Clara. Do you have any place in mind where we can go?” I asked her.
I was also starving.
She glared at me and walked out. I followed her. We went to our favorite restaurant and ordered dinner.
“Chase, we have been with each other for a year now. We have known each other for our whole life. My parents want me to get married, so when are you going to propose to me with a ring?” she asked me.
My eyes widened, and I choked on my food.
“Clara, how many times have I told you that I don’t feel the same way about you? We are with each other for a year as good friends and nothing else.”
“But Chase, the paparazzi have already published news last month about our engagement. You cannot do this to me. It would be so humiliating,” she told me.
“Clara, I told them that news wasn’t true and you should have done the same,” I said.
“Chase, why do you think they don’t believe you? They have always seen you with me. You don’t go out with any other girl except me. You don’t have any girlfriends. Even they have tried making scandals of you with some models. But all the news of you being in a relationship with any model was wrong. Last Sunday in Boston’s magazine your name was mentioned in the list of five youngest billionaire bachelors of the year.” She said it like it was a very important thing.
“Clara, I really don’t care what media or magazines say about me unless if it affects my business or my reputation,” I said to her.
She looked mad but stopped arguing. The waiter placed our order on the table, and we ate our dinner peacefully.
When we were done, the waiter approached us with the bill. I gave my credit card, but the waiter came back and told me my card wasn’t working. I went with him to the payment counter and left Clara at the table.
I came back after paying them with cash because their machine was not accepting credit cards. The waiter repeatedly apologized to me for the inconvenience, and I assured him it was alright. I went back to the table but found Clara talking to someone on my cell phone.
“And just for your information, I’m Clara, his fiancée,” she said then ended the call.
I walked to her angrily and snatched my phone from her hand. I checked who she was talking to and found an unknown number as the last received call.
“Who were you talking to? And why did you say that you were my fiancée?” I asked her angrily.
She looked at me with anger.
“Tell me, Clara,” I said, gritting my teeth.
“I was talking to a girl. She said she wants you to call her at that number. I thought she was one of your one night stands and told her that I am your fiancée. Even her name was disgusting, Bailey, Hailey.” She made a face.
My heart froze when I heard the name Hailey from her mouth.
Could it be possible that Hailey called me?
“Clara, find a cab for you because I am leaving,” I said and left the restaurant.
I went to my apartment and thought if I should call her or not.
I groaned to myself. Why was I so nervous? It was Hailey. Why was I feeling like a teenage boy?
“It had been three years, Chase,” my mind reminded me.
I dialed her number and waited for her to answer my call. At the third ring, she answered my call.
“Hello,” she said in her same sweet voice.
I stopped breathing. I forgot how to speak.
“Uhh… Hello,” she said again.
Suddenly, my breathing hitched and I panicked and ended the call.
I tried to calm myself. Oh, God! She called. It meant she wanted to see me.
Then, I remembered what Clara said to her, and I started to curse my luck.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Surprise
Hailey
My alarm went off, waking me up. I sat up on the bed and groaned. I glanced at Noah sleeping beside me. He looked so cute with his hands under his head and a small amount of drool on his face.
I smiled looking at him and picked the tissue from the bedside table then cleaned his face. I ran my fingers through his silky soft hair and placed a kiss on his forehead.
I loved my son so much. Noah had become my life even though he reminded me of the man who broke my heart and rejected my love.
I felt my heart squeezing at the thought of Chase’s engagement. So he had finally moved on and started a new life with another woman.
I didn’t need him now, but Noah does. My son was the one who was missing one of his parents, and I knew very well how it felt. I didn’t want him to feel the same pain I felt all my life. I would try to talk to Chase again.
Then, I saw the time on my wall clock; it was already 9:20.
Crap! I had to hurry now, or I would be late for class.
I sprinted towards my closet and picked my clothes then went to the washroom. I did my usual routine then put on my clothes and applied a minimum amount of makeup, which consisted of mascara, liner, nude pink lip shade, and light blush to give my skin a little color.
I picked up my bag and checked the contents again to make sure I had all the stuff I wanted for class. On the way out of the room, I picked up my cell phone and black ankle boots. While walking down the stairs, I worked on putting on my boots and strapping them without falling and breaking my neck.
I found my mom in the kitchen and said, “Good morning, Mom. Noah is still sleeping. Please keep an eye on him just to make sure he is sleeping on the bed and not under the bed.”
“Hailey you don’t have to tell me all these things every time. I know what I need to do. I have been taking care of him for three years now,” she said with a smile on her face.
“Sorry, Mom. I just cannot make myself stop worrying about him when I am not around him.”
I kissed her on the cheeks
“I know, Hailey. That’s how it feels to be a mother,” she said with a sad smile.
“When will your class end today?”
“My classes will end around two in the afternoon.” I gulped down the juice that was on the table.
“Do you want breakfast?” she asked and offered me some cereal.
“No, Mom. I’m not hungry. I’ll eat something after class. Bye.”
Julia was waiting for me outside in her car.
I got inside the car, and said, “Good morning.”
“Good morning, babe,” she said with a smile.
&nbs
p; She was wearing a white fitted top and high waist black jeans. Her lips were coated in red lipstick.
“You are looking beautiful, Julia,” I said.
“Thanks, but I know I am nowhere near as beautiful as you.”
I rolled my eyes at her.
“You only think I am beautiful because I have curves,” I said, staring at her.
“Yes, you have curves, which I don’t have. And you’re looking gorgeous. I am obsessed with your hair and curves. I think I am turning bisexual because of you.”
I laughed at her stupid words.
“You’re the weirdest person I have ever met,” I said, making her glare at me. “Okay, sorry. I have curves that every girl wants including you, and I am supposed to believe whatever you say.”
“Yes, you have to believe me because I am always right.” She shrugged.
“Yeah. You’re always right except that one time when you claimed that the bra store changed your bag and gave you the smaller size when it was you who bought the smaller size to make your boobs look bigger. And that time when you said that black jacket guy had been following you but turned out, he worked at the same place and was just waiting for your shift to end so he will start his shift,” I said, making her blush.
“Ugh! Please don’t remind me. They were embarrassing. And for your information, I am always right except for those two times.”
“Sure.”
“No. I think I was wrong that time too when I said Vanessa and Frank are meant to be together,” she said, and I couldn’t stop laughing after that.
Then for the whole ride, we reminded each other how many times Julia was wrong. When we arrived at the college, we ran to the classroom to make sure we would get to class before our professor.
***
After three hours of class, I was ready to murder anyone. Yes, the class was that boring.
Julia, Vanessa, Matt, and Ethan were kind to my close friends. Julia and I became friends in high school and decided to go to the same college.
I met with Vanessa, Matt, and Ethan in college, and we all built a pretty good friendship. Vanessa and Matt were dating, and Julia was dating Oliver. Oliver was her high school boyfriend. Ethan and I were the only ones single in the group.
Ethan was very handsome with blonde hair, mesmerizing blue eyes, great height, and strong build. Almost every girl in college had a crush on him except me, Julia, and Vanessa. Ethan was a complete flirt. He slept around, but he was our good friend, so we had no problem with that.
Then suddenly, an image of Chase popped into my head, and I groaned.
“Why are you groaning, Hailey? Did you imagine something kinky?” Ethan asked me with an innocent face.
I hit him on the arm with the book, and said, “Keep your dirty mouth shut.”
He just laughed at me.
We were walking towards the parking lot to go out for lunch when I halted on my steps.
“Mommy, Mommy!” I heard Noah’s voice and looked to my left to see him running towards me.
And when he ran like that, it meant I am supposed to kneel down and catch him in my arms. I had no other choice but to do so.
There was complete silence in the parking lot. A few people stopped and stared at me.
I stood up with Noah in my arms and looked at them.
“Baby, what are you doing here? Who brought you here?” I asked Noah.
I knew my parents would never bring him here like this unless it was a life or death situation.
Noah gave me a sloppy kiss and smiled at me broadly.
“Daddy is here. We wanted to surprise you,” he said, pointing his finger at a man.
I stopped breathing when my eyes landed on the man standing in front of me.
It was Chase. Chase Edwards, the man who made me fall in love with him then ripped my soul by leaving me without any explanation.
He was staring at me with those grey eyes I saw every day when I look at my son. I felt my heart breaking at the sight of him.
Chase looked almost the same in his black jacket and jeans. His hair was cut short on his head, and looking disheveled like he had run his fingers through them. The stubble on his jaw made him look mature, strong, and handsome.
Chase walked in my direction, and I found myself frozen.
“Hi, I brought Noah here. I hope you don’t mind,” Chase said in his deep voice.
My knees weakened after hearing his voice. I felt like I was sixteen-year-old Hailey again who felt scared of this guy and forgot how to speak in front him.
Maybe I was in shock seeing him after three years?
Oh, God! Why does he still look handsome like before and why does he have the same effect on me after three years?
Before I could say anything to Chase, I saw Brittney making her way towards me.
Shit! She was coming to create a scene.
She smiled at me evilly, and I shuddered.
Brittney was a little messed up in the head. She kind of wanted Ethan, but he didn’t want her, and that was where I come in. She thought that I had something to do with Ethan not reciprocating her feelings.
Brittney asked him out in front of everyone last year, and he let her down politely. But she didn’t take the rejection very well and made it her mission to degrade me in front of him.
“Hailey, you never told us you have such a cute son.” She cooed to Noah while I glared at her. “What’s your name little man?” she asked him.
“My name is No-Ah.”
“Awe you are really cute. How old are you Noah?” she asked him sweetly.
He showed her three fingers using his right hand while gripping my neck tightly with his left hand.
“Oh…wow! Hailey, you are twenty if I am not wrong, so it means you were probably seventeen when you had Noah,” she said, and my grip on my son tightened.
I knew where she was going with this and I didn’t want my son to hear her rubbish. I was ready to leave when her words stopped me.
“So did you end up getting pregnant because of a one-night stand? Or you were just sleeping around like a whore,” she said in her bitchy voice, and her friends giggled.
I wanted to rip her blonde Barbie hair extensions. But I controlled myself and opened my mouth to put her in her place when Chase decided to speak.
“Miss whatever your name is. You have no right to call my wife names when you are the one dressed like a whore in your barely there shorts and that crop top that looks like a bikini,” he said, making all of us gasp in shock.
Oh, God! Chase just did not call her a whore and insulted her clothes.
I thought he was finished insulting her, but he continued.
“Please kindly inform me what’s wrong if she has a three-year-old son when she’s in her twenties? She has a right to live her life the way she wants,” he said, making her gulp.
I was just staring at him with my jaw slack.
“And for your information, we have been married for four years, and I know very well where she sleeps every night. You don’t have to worry about that. I would very much appreciate it if you respect my wife and don’t try to insult her again by calling her names,” he said in anger.
Now Brittney’s mouth almost hit the ground. I would have laughed at her face if I wasn’t standing there in shock. Brittney blushed in embarrassment and left stomping her feet.
Chase turned to me with a triumphant smile.
Vanessa took hold of my arm, and whispered, “Hey! You never told me that you are married and have a cute son. You never mentioned that Chase Edwards, the CEO of Edwards Investing Company, is your husband. You slay little thing.”
“I’ll explain everything to you later over a coffee,” I said, making her nod.
Then I saw Ethan glaring at Chase with hatred and disgust. He looked jealous, and I was confused by his actions.
He noticed me staring at him, so he averted his gaze. Then suddenly, he turned and left without saying anything.
I knew this would happen if I kept it a
secret. I should have told Ethan about Chase. Ethan and Julia knew about Noah, but Ethan never asked me about Chase, so I kept it a secret.
During the second semester, Ethan and Julia visited my house to discuss our thesis, and that was when they met Noah. I introduced Noah as my son to Ethan.
Julia was my school friend and best friend, so she knew everything about Chase and Noah. She was more like a sister to me, and it was her advice to keep my story of marriage and divorce hidden.
No one in college knew about Noah except Ethan and Julia, so it was a shock for everybody.
After hearing Chase, I didn’t know what I was supposed to say.
Should I get angry at him for coming unannounced and even bringing my son with him? Or should I thank him for defending me in front of everyone?
Chase reached out and took Noah from my arms into his and said, “I’ll be waiting for you in the car.”
I wanted to ask him why he would wait for me in the car, but I stayed quiet and turned to my friends.
“Guys it seems like I need to go. Have a great Christmas all of you,” I said, sliding my bag on my arm.
I followed Chase to his car. Noah was already buckled in the back of the car in his car seat.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him.
He straightened up, and said, “I’m here to take you home.”
“What?”
“I know you didn’t bring your car because the breaks were messed up and it’s in the workshop, so I came here to pick you up,” he said, making my mouth drop again.
How the hell did he know about my car? I looked at him irritatingly.
“I caught a ride here with my friend, and she will drop me off.”
“I think she just left,” he said, making me turn to my left to see Julia speeding off.
Now he was scaring me. How did he know that I hitched a ride with Julia? And how did he know I was talking about Julia?
I glanced at him suspiciously, and he gave me a dazzling smile.
“I will take a cab,” I said.
I was about to open the back door and pull Noah out from his car when he grabbed my wrist.