22.5"Aunt Vivian, uncle Landon and I are going to talk about something." I answer him."Benny, uncle Arthur’s video games are upstairs. You know how to turn it on right?” Vivian asks.Ben nods.“You can play it upstairs if you want.” She adds."I can?” Ben smiles brightly. “Okay! I can practice so that I can beat uncle Arthur’s high score.” He stands on his feet and carries the glass of lemonade from the table, “I'm bringing this with me mom." Ben runs upstairs.“Careful honey!” I hollered to him.“Okay mommy!” He answers.I take a deep breath in and glanced at Vivian who was looking at me intently, waiting for me to say something. She looks at me confusingly and leans in forward as she whispers to my ear. "Are we going to tell him about Ben?"Landon glares at us while sipping his drink.I give Vivian an eye, "What? No." I spit.I pull myself away from her as I mutter to myself, "How do I start this."As soon as I told Vivian about what happened, she got so angry and it was expected
23M I R A N D A The following morning, 7:36 AM, I was already looking forward for dinner with Landon. I had the feeling that it was going to be a wonderful time spent with him and I am already freaking excited.My phone beeps and it was a message from Ned. I think he must have known about what happened to me and Devon.NED: I've heard the news from Kevin and Landon. I really feel bad about what happened to you. I’m sorry. I feel guilty because I was the one who offered you to work there. I am truly sorry Miranda. I didn't know Devon could do such a thing. He’s lways been a nice guy when I talk to him.MIRANDA: It wasn't your fault Ned. You were just trying to help me when I was looking for a job and I'm not blaming you because of what happened. Please don't blame yourself. I've gotten better and I am trying to be better. Righ now I'm just glad Devon is where he needs to be.NED: I know, it’s just hard to process everything. Landon and I made sure that he will learn his lesson in pri
23.5"Ned." I smile at him "Please stop thinking that it's because of you.""Because it was." He answer me right away. "Hugo told me before to offer you a job around here but then we were full and we weren't hiring. Now, after what happened, I needed to do something to at least ease my burdened thoughts out of my head."Does Hugo even know about what happened to me? "Does Hugo know about what happened to me?" I ask him shyly.Ned nods. "I told him."I purse my lips together and wondered if it even worried him or…. I don’t know, maybe at least I thought he would ask how I was after finding out about it."That's why he's been persuading me about giving you a job here and it’s safer if you are around under my supervision." He adds.I smile ruefully."Don't decline my offer please. At least when you're here working for me, my conscience will be at ease. I'll be able to know you're safe and you are not harmed in any way." He continues.I take another glance at the uniform and even though
24M I R A N D A Hugo smiles.Oh Hugo it's been a week since I've seen you and every time I see you I just feel like this all the time. It's crazy because I feel like I'm running out of breath when you're near or when you're around me. It's maddening because every time I see your face I can't help but want to tell you the truth but how am I gonna suppose to do that?How?It's not that easy and there are so many things left at stake. But Ben, it's obvious that he's your son and I know I need to find the courage to tell him and to tell you the truth.You're the only guy I had sex with all my life.I sigh as I think of how I badly want to tell him about these thoughts.I take a deep breath in and exhale heavily. Hoping my nervousness would release at the same time I exhale. I smiled back and greeted, "Hi…." I was caught with his handsome face and dimpled smile which I have missed seeing."Sir." I added."I told you to call me Hugo.""It's on the staff manual.” I answer him politely. “I
24.5Finally, Hugo's order was ready the same time she recognized who I was and I don’t really want to get into Fatima’s top ten most hated employee in Alfonso’s. I quickly grab the tray with Hugo’s coffee, "I don't know what you're talking about Miss Fatima." I lie to her. “If you excuse me.”I walk back to Hugo's table and place his coffee before him as he looks back at me and says, "Thank you."I smile, "You're welcome sir. Anything else you want?""Yes." He answers. "Don't forget our dinner."I giggle inwardly. I seriously want to scream at how Hugo is being really playful. Even though this was wrong, seeing an engaged man and having dinner with him, I try to think that we are going out for dinner as friends.I smile at him and he did the same thing before I leave his table again.By four, my shift was over and Hugo was no longer at his table when I came back out. I wasn't the one who gave him his bill since Fatima forced me that she should be the one doing so.Hugo hasn't texted
25L A N D O NWhere is she?I have been mentally asking myself about that same question for an entire hour now. I don’t want to think that something happened to her because she just got through that sexual abuse from her boss.I don't know where Miranda is.I sit here all alone in Per Se on this table with a bouquet of roses next to me but no Miranda. I even had a hard time picking these roses since I don't really give these kinds of gifts to women on first dates. I don’t really ask women for dates at all and nothing as fancy as this. I even had to wear my best clothes for this but she is not here.Usually, I buy women cocktail drinks because I meet inside my bar and we end up having a glass after another and we end up fucking. I'm up with one night stand guys these days since it's less hassle on my part and I won't have any commitment with them right after we do it plus I'm busy as hell.The thought of just spending one night together is fine because that will be it. The next mornin
26M I R A N D AAfter staring at the sunset on top of Hugo’s private balcony inside his penthouse, Ben decided to stay in instead of going with for dinner outside. I keep persuading him so bad to go with us and that he's not allowed to stay here without me and without my supervision.Hugo calls in some hotel maids, about three of them, to babysit Ben for the night and he specifically instructed to give Ben anything he wants to ask. Though I know Hugo is being so paternal over Ben, I wanna allow him to do so. Anyways, he's the father and he has the right to do what he wants to do with Ben. I'm just happy that he's giving him what he likes and every time that the three of us are together, I just feel ashamed of myself for not being able to tell him what he needs to know."Ben, why don’t you just come with us hon?” I ask him.“Mommy, I promise not to break things. And besides, I’m a big boy now and I want to play uncle Hugo’s video games.” Ben answers.“But Ben you know that I worry abo
26.5The appetizer was served first and we began to take a bite from it. It was amazing from the first bite and I want to take another bite."Wow. This is good." Hugo hums as he munches on another bite. "This is really good." He smiles at me.I smile back, "I'm happy to hear you are satisfied.""So Miranda, I was just really curious..." Hugo trails off. "Do you still communicate with Ben's father?"I almost choked on my food as soon as he asked me this question.In the back of my head, I feel like he is doing this as his own little investigation about Ben’s dad and I don’t like whenever he is asking me since I don’t know what to say to him, really. I don’t want to say something that would only pave way to let him analyze things coming from my mouth.I mean what if I slip?Would this be the perfect time to tell him the truth?I’m not ready.I can’t tell him yet.Coward. You are such a coward Miranda and you will always be a coward.Selfish, you only want Ben to yourself without actuall