FIVE

Amelia’s POV

“You’re pregnant?” She muttered, disbelief clear in her voice.

My mother’s face was filled with shock and disappointment, which slowly changed to that of concern.

“Omg…” she whispered in shock.

“I’m sorry mom” I whispered, knowing I had disappointed her.

“Who’s the father?” She asked.

“I have no idea how to reach him,” I said, feeling embarrassed.

“Oh” she replied, trying to sound unbothered.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get through this together, sweetheart. You’re not alone in this.” She comforted me.

I drew me in for her famous bear hug which calmed me down like it has always done in the past.

I burst into fresh tears, relieved that my mother wasn’t angry or judgmental. I felt enough strength to take up my new responsibilities knowing I had her back up.

***^^^^****

A year had gone by... My days were filled with baby bottles, diaper changes, and the sweet, innocent smiles of Aaron, my cute baby boy. I now lived in a small apartment and raised Aaron alone but as promised my mother still showed her support.

As a waitress I barely had enough to take care of both of us. I had become a master at budgeting, learning to make every dollar count. Aaron was my motivation, my reason for pushing forward, even when times were tough.

One morning, I was scrolling through job listings online. When I stumbled upon an opportunity that seemed promising, an assistant position of the CEO at the biggest pharmaceutical company. It felt like a lifeline, a chance to secure a more stable future for Aaron and me.

Finally the day of my interview arrived, the sound of Aaron's loud cries brought my attention to him. Aaron’s cries seemed to intensify just when I needed to focus the most.

“Shh, sweetie, we’re going to get you ready too,” I cooed to Aaron, attempting to soothe him while holding him in my arms. He looked at me with his big, innocent grey eyes, he definitely got his gorgeous eyes from his father.

I carefully dressed him in his cleanest baby outfit, buttoning up the tiny onesie, making sure his little socks were on straight, and securing his baby booties. It was a delicate dance, trying to get him ready while ensuring he stayed calm.

“Almost done, Aaron,” I said, kissing his forehead gently.

With Aaron dressed and somewhat settled, I moved on to getting myself ready. I slipped into my best outfit, a simple yet professional black skirt and white blouse that I had reserved for this very day. I buttoned up my blouse and checked my appearance in the mirror.

My nervousness start to sip in. What if I messed this up?

I picked up Aaron’s baby bag, ensuring it was packed with everything he might need during the day, from diapers to a spare bottle.

With Aaron securely settled in his stroller and a diaper bag hanging from the handle, I knew it was time to leave.

“Here we go, Aaron. It’s a big day for both of us.”

I pushed Aaron's stroller down the sidewalk, my thoughts occupied with the interview, and I barely noticed the vibrant city streets around us. The morning sun cast a warm glow on everything, but I had to focus on dropping Aaron off with my parents and still manage to arrive at the interview on time.

Suddenly, Aaron's cries escalated, louder and more insistent. I tried to comfort him, my heart racing as his wails filled the air. I was so absorbed in trying to calm him that I almost missed the changing traffic light.

Just as I stepped onto the crosswalk, a blaring horn echoed loudly. The world seemed to slow down, and my heart leaped into my throat as a flashy sports car screeched to a halt mere inches from us. I froze, the stroller tipping just a bit, and I clutched it tightly to ensure Aaron's safety.

Shaken and terrified by the near miss, I glanced over at the driver of the expensive car. A strikingly handsome man, dressed in a luxury Armani tuxedo, stepped out. His well-defined features, chiseled jawline, and confident gaze draws the attention of anyone in his presence.

His expression was that of irritation.

"Are you okay? You could have gotten yourself and the kid killed!" he snapped, his voice filled with anger.

I stammered, "I... I'm really sorry. I didn't realize the traffic light had changed. I was trying to calm my baby."

He seemed to relax a bit, his irritation giving way to concern. "Well, just be more careful, alright? You both could have been seriously hurt."

"I will, thank you." I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

He gave one last, disapproving glance before getting back into his flashy car and drove away. My encounter with the gorgeous stranger still lingered in my mind and I couldn’t shake off the feeling like I had met him before.

After dropping Aaron off with my parents, who had graciously agreed to babysit him for the day, I rushed to the location of the interview. My heart was still racing from the earlier near-miss, but I couldn’t afford to let that distract me.

I entered the extremely tall building and made my way to the reception area. Thankfully the receptionist was friendly and directed me to the interview room.

The interview went surprisingly well. They seemed impressed by my qualifications and thankfully they offered me the job on the spot.

Overwhelmed by relief and excitement, I eagerly accepted.

“Great! Let me introduce you to the CEO, who you’ll be working closely with. He’s been looking forward to meeting you.” The HR manager, who conducted the interview, said.

I was led through spotless marble tiles into an office with floor-to-ceiling windows. I was greeted by the striking view of the city skyline. But what truly took my breath away was the man sitting behind the sleek glass desk.

It was him—the same man I had run into earlier!