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
27M I R A N D A "Ben?" I call out as I entered Hugo's penthouse.The three maids quickly ran to the main door and welcomed me."Where's Ben?" I ask them."He's already asleep inside the bedroom ma’am." One answers as she smiles at me.I smile back,, "Thank you so much for babysitting him for me."They smile at me and started leaving the penthouse quietly. I begin walking up to where Ben was and he was beautifully sleeping on top of this massive bed. I watch him sleep as I sit down next to him, I find it hard to wake him up because he looked too comfortable over it. I push his hair off his face and I'm hurting for him. He doesn't even know his real father is, yet Hugo’s already pushing us away so easily.Coward. If you have told Hugo earlier then this would not have had happened. He would have had been a father to Ben years ago if only you told him.Selfish. You have no right to hurt Miranda, you have been so selfish all these years. You have been so selfish for hiding everything on
28M I R A N D ALANDON: Dinner is still on tonight, yeah? :)I smile as I stare at my phone with his name on it.MIRANDA: Yes. Of course. Change venue. I'll meet you at 15 East? Can't wait to get some Japanese foods already for tonight!LANDON: Alright! But how about I'll pick you up at your place? That'll be better.I smile because he is making sure that I wont miss dinner.MIRANDA: You're making sure I won't forget you this time. Don't worry, I won't. :) But alright, pick me up. Thanks!LANDON: Yeah, that. Lol. So how's seven? Will that be okay with you?MIRANDA: Seven is perfect. See you.LANDON: Right. See you and Ben! :)Ben?He wants me to bring Ben tonight? Well that isn't a bad thing to do but I was expecting it was only me and him. I thought it was a friendly dinner for two but I think I can take Ben with me then.I slip my phone inside my pocket and went out of the staff's lounge to start working. I begin to gather some orders from table to table and I didn't know working a
87 T H E A Sebastian committed suicide. He ended his own life with a gun in his head. No one even knew how he had a gun in the first place and no one had any idea he was going to do that. He was supposed to meet Ben and the others tomorrow for a reunion. He was supposed to live a new life after being sentenced in prison for seven years. He was supposed to live in a tropical place and start a new life for himself. He was supposed to live a life filled with dreams now that he is out in prison. Sebastian was supposed to live. I was supposed to forgive him. The autopsy report stated that it happened around twelve midnight which means just a few hours after he left our home. I have never felt so depressed in my entire life that I wasn't even able to tell him a lot of things that I wanted to say. I didnt know what I was exactly feeling, completely lost in my thoughts and emotions after Sebastian's passing. I knew that there was something wrong in his eyes when he talked to me becaus
86T H E A"How have you been?" He asks.Sebastian wore blue, white and light pink plaided top, a pair of faded jeans and a dirty white sneakers. He looked older than the last time I saw him and his hair has gotten longer too. He looked different, but those eyes still frightens me.Those merciless eyes.I couldn't stare at him longer and I had to look away from his gaze. I clear my throat, "I have been well." I answered."I'm really glad that you are." Sebastian tells me."Um, do you want to drink something Sebastian? Tea?" Ben offers.I quickly held his wrist, stopping him from leaving me alone in here and stared into his eyes as I said to him. "Please don't leave me here."Ben stares intently at me before he turns to Sebastian who speaks, "You dont really have to offer me anything."I bite my inner cheek and breathe in some confidence before I faced Sebastian. "What are you doing here?"Sebastian stares at me eagerly."What do you want?" I asked firmly."I came here to see if you ha
85T H E AI couldn't sleep the entire night as I was bothered about Sebastian's release happening in just a few hours.Thoughts were filling and piling inside my head one over the other and I don't know if this was going to let me sleep at all.So I slipped out of the bed where Ben was sleeping soundly and headed out of bedroom to get myself a glass of wine from downstairs. I hate myself when I turn to alcohol every time my thoughts are fogged up and fucked up. I hate when there are questions left unanswered and my solution is alcohol.I hated it.I hated it so much I hate myself too.I finished two glasses of wine and spent almost thirty minutes just sitting on a chair where I tried to drown and sort my troubled thoughts. I finally pulled myself up and headed back to my bedroom only until I saw Xavier heading out of his room, crying. I rushed to his side and wished that he wouldn't smell the stingy scent of alcohol from my breath."Xavier." I cooed. "What happened?""Mommy I had a n
84T H E A“Why didn’t you tell him?”Benedict's question still lingers in my mind.Why didn't I tell Sebastian back in the day?I have been asking myself that same question over and over again for the past couple of years. I used to tell myself that I wasn't ready and I know I wasn't ready. I lied to myself when I said I was ready to confess to him about our child but I was absentmindedly denying the fact that my mind was filled with so many thoughts as soon as I faced Sebastian.When I saw him, I was reminded of how he raped me mercilessly. When I saw him, I was reminded of how dirty of a woman I was. When I saw him, I was reminded of how I didn't want this baby to be born if only it hadn't been for Ben.Ben has always been my rock and my strength after everything that happened to me. All these years, he accepted me no matter what and I have been beyond blessed to have a man like that in my life.That kind of love and care he showed me is going to be something I didn't want to waste
83T H E AI stare at my own reflection in front of the mirror, I gained weight but I look different compared to the old me a few weeks ago. My eyes travelled down to my baby bump and as I turn to my side, I feel more anxiety building in the back of my head. I am not confident enough that I will be a good mother to this baby once it’s out when I know this baby came from a man who I trusted so much but just raped me. My bump is starting to show now and I know I have a lifelong responsibility waiting ahead of me. I just hope I will be responsible enough.I rub my hand over my small tummy then smiled at myself.“You will be fine.” I told my baby.Ben is here for me and for us. He always has. He made everything feel better. He made me better and happier without asking too much in return. He is a very selfless man and I owe him my life. My everything and all that I have left.I breathe out heavily and tucked my hair behind my ears as I stare at myself wearing this white dress and white ba
82B E N E D I C TShe stands by the balcony sliding door, staring at an empty space wearing my shirt and some pajamas. Standing here afar from Thea, looking at her, I can see and I can feel that her mind is full. It’s full of endless thoughts and worries. I wish I could take some from her restless bothered thoughts and I wish I could help her with what she is going through.Thea is strong but I don’t want her to have another breakdown. I hope I can share the pain and confusions she is going through right now. I wish, at least I could make her happy despite of what has happened lately.But I don’t know what to do as well.I am bothered too, restless, anxious, troubled and angry. I still have this growing hate in me and unwillingness to befriend Sebastian.I hate him.I walk towards Thea and wrapped my arms around her. She didn’t budge but still sets her eyes out the window. “There are no stars tonight.” I say.She sighs heavily.“Aren’t you hungry sweetheart?” I ask.She didn’t answer
81B E N E D I C T“The CEO of Saintclare Enterprises , finally off the market!!”I read mentally the newspaper’s headlines as soon as I got into my office. I scan through the magazines which were also over my desk, and the headlines were also all about me.I sigh. “I knew this was gonna come out first thing in the morning.”The phone on top of my desk rings, I quickly picked it up, “Yes.”“Mr. Saintclare everyone is calling in for an interview with you. They’re all asking if you have any available time.” I can hear telephones ringing from my secretary’s background.“Cancel all interviews. Tell them I have a busy schedule up until next week.” I hung up.Suddenly the phone in my pocket rings. I stare at the screen and it was Mrs. Brown, my PR.I sigh as I answer, “I know what you’re going to say.”“It’s everywhere. My phone has been ringing since six o’clock this morning. I don’t know what to answer them.”“Did you say anything about Thea?”“No. Not unless you tell me to. I’m only wait
80BENEDICTI stare at Thea, and she has been looking out of the window for minutes now. I know she still has a lot of things in mind with what has happened lately and I’m sure she’s tired of thinking about it too. She has talked to Khaleel and I have had talked to him too. Despite her past, we wanted to keep it to ourselves than letting the others know about it. They wouldn’t understand what she went through to survive and it isn’t our story to tell.I have asked myself a couple of times why she had to choose such job but then I didn’t have the courage to ask her. I don’t want her to feel bad about herself and the more I ask about her past, the more she would think it bothers me.Honestly, it has been in the past and we all have had done crazy shit a thing or two. All of us deserves a second chance and women like Thea who strives hard to change herself to become a better woman deserves more than that. I am proud of her and she knows it.A smile creeps on her face as soon as I rubbed
79THEASometimes, in our lives there are instances when you just want to disappear because of awkward situations or embarrassing moments. And right now, that’s what I want to happen. I want to teleport to another place far from here.It feels like everything inside my system malfunctioned and brain feels dead. I have never felt more disgusted of myself and my past than how Sebastian is embarrassing me right now in front of Ben. No one has ever made me feel so little of myself, only Sebastian.This bastard. This one of a hell man. I wish he dies.My tears were just flowing from my closed eyes and I feel this growing pain against my chest. I try to breathe in but the pain grows as I exhale so I remained quiet. I don’t want to face anyone or see how they look at me with disgust and filth. I just want to disappear like one pop of a bubble or run out of this house and never look back.But I cant, I know I have to face them now. I have to face Khaleel. I have to face Benedict even if it’s