11

11

Emma Starr

Staring at how good-looking he looked while sleeping, a pout formed in my mouth that minute wondering why he had to be so annoying at times. I mean, there were good sides to Nicholas Russell, but it seemed like the bad side overshadowed the good.

God, what am I doing?

After a day of hot sex with him, I’m supposed to have a clear head on how we currently were. I mean I was dying but-

Right.

I’m dying.

I thought, looking around. What was I even doing here? I was supposed to be getting everyone ready for my demise. I’m supposed to make them feel like they could do without me.

“Dammit.”

I whispered, placing my head on the pillows in total frustration. I had a son. Leaving him to the poor world wasn’t fair. “What am I going to do? What, should I do? Talk to me, my Creators. Please, talk to me. Please, please, please.”

A yawn brought me out of my daze, making me look back to the sofa to see Nicholas stirring in his sleep. He unconsciously swooped a part of his almond-brown hair, making it sexily fall around his forehead. I sighed at how he was currently muddling with my thoughts even while he was sleeping.

Sigh.

“Just give me a sign on what to do,” I said, swiftly with a tired expression as I tried to stand up only for large arms to scoop me back. My eyes widened with a gulp in my throat as he groaned sniffling my neck and smiling to himself.

I arched my brows immediately at what all of this was supposed to mean. His warmth overshadowed my reasoning, making me feel safe in his hands. I blushed so much making little effort to wriggle out of them.

When I realized, it was better to take what I had, I hummed closing my eyes to sleep as it was still early.

-------------------------------------------------

“Emma...”

At first, I thought it was from my dream. So as the pats on my arms. But the sound became persistent.

“Emma…? Emma... can you hear me?”

“Emma, get up!”

I flickered my eyes open only to see Nicholas staring back at me. A sharp migraine passed through my head, with my body having this sickly and weak feeling. It was just like I couldn’t even lift myself, but I summoned the energy present at this moment saying,

“Why?!”

As soon as I asked that question, I heard a sarcastic chuckle making me look up at what he had to say.

“You’re kidding, right ‘cause Jonathan has to go to school!”

“Jonath- Oh my world, what?!”

I swiftly stood up, wondering how in the hell I slept like that. Staring at the clock opposite, it read 9:13 am.

“9:13?!”

I exclaimed, wide-eyed at how stupid this seemed. Jonathan had school by 8 am! I just had to wake up late. Damn.

What other bad habits are my deities waiting to unleash on me?

Even if I didn’t forget, I always woke up early no matter what. That’s how my body was programmed over the years, as a working-class mom. So, what happened today?

With these thoughts, I stared at the first person in front of me who seduced me with his arms.

“This is all your fault!”

I blurted, accusing him as soon as I could as I ran to wake and prepare Jonathan.

“My fault? Lol, how in the world is it my fault?!”

He called after me making me close my eyes in humiliation as I entered the other room. What was I supposed to tell him?

You held me so tight that I slept like a baby?

“Honey, wake up. You’re late!”

I said, stirring my son in his sleep when he suddenly opened his eyes. “Huh? What the friggin…”

His brown eyes were bright and alive, not like someone who just woke up.

“I already got ready, mom!” he exclaimed, going out of the duvet which showed him in his uniform.

“How?”

“You always go through the stress of dressing me up daily. My teacher says stress isn’t good for anyone so I got myself ready.”

I smiled at how smart he was becoming daily, pressing his cheeks as he giggled adorably.

Quickly, I went to pack his lunch and luckily, there were still leftovers in the refrigerator which were still fresh from being intensely frozen.

I washed my face, taking my bag and the first cloth I laid my eyes on. I some gum blue jeans which fitted around my curves and a milkfish white sweater.

“Okay, Jonathan, let’s go!”

“Yes, mommy!”

He said, running towards me with his bag. As soon as we got outside, I pressed my lips firmly in worry about how I was going to get a taxi only for the familiar grey Rolls Royce Nicholas drove, to drive to our side.

He wore a black shade, even if it was a morning with his brown hair packed to the back as usual in a little bun. They were sleeker, compared to earlier though.

“Get in,”

I arched my brows, “Yay!”

Jonathan’s little hands reached out for the door trying to open it. He figured it out, going in without any go-sign from me.

Sigh.

Looking at the desperation of things, I got into the car.

The first thing I did was wear Jonathan’s seatbelt for him. I got in the front seat folding my arms and looking out the window only for Nicholas to chuckle.

His finding this funny was the most annoying part.

Was I overreacting though? He was just trying to help, right? What was I doing?

“Your seatbelt, Emma.”

Nicholas said to me, making me jump on my spot on how I forgot. Why did I seem to forget everything little thing these days?

“Sure,” I said, before clearing my voice.

The car zoomed off that instant.

Luckily, we were able to drop Jonathan off at school.

His both parents showed up to explain the reason for his lateness, so the school kinda let it slide.

As soon as I got back outside with Nicholas, things became even more awkward. The day before, I had been screaming and calling him daddy. Right now…

I acted as if none of that happened and so did he.

We walked side by side in total silence.

“Guess I’m becoming good at this parenting thing, eh?”

I wriggled my brows at how confident he sounded which was quite hilarious making me burst into a fit of laughter.

“I-I’m sorry, so sorry. Terribly, sorry!” I continued laughing especially at the funny innocent expression that wrote on his face.

“It’s okay. I appreciate that you find me entertaining. It’s proof that you’re finally loosening up to me.”

He said, with an amusing look exhibiting in his brown eyes which stared at me. My cheeks reddened immediately, as I stopped laughing wondering why he glanced at me that way. Feeling so on guard, I tucked a part of my hair strand behind my ears.

“Don’t you like... have work to do today?”

“We do,” he said, snaking a firm hand around my shoulder blade.

“We? Like... seriously?”

“Yep, baby.”

I scrunched my nose at the realization of what he was currently rambling about. “I don’t understand any of this. Wasn’t that acting role just once?”

“It’s series, cupcake besides the original female lead is still bedridden,” he explained. “That’s where you come in. You... you seem to have this light and spark that represents just what I need. And I, Nicholas Russell going to hold on to that!”

“Pay me.”

I mumbled, in a playful tone. “Seriously? Is that what it takes?”

He said, halting and staring at me with direct eye-to-eye contact as he continued, “I’ll have my lawyer draft a contract as soon as you say the words then we could sign a deal, as long as you say the words.”

“Sheesh, that was a joke,” I said, looking down and walking past him. “Besides, why will I want to sign a contract with you? You got angry when I kissed the other male in the act.”

“Hmm, you have a point.”

He said placing his index finger near his lips like he was in deep thought. I wriggled my brows at why this was even a thought at all. Did he like me?

No. Certainly, no way a Casanova like him could fall so fast and get jealous. To think of it, he acted possessively.

Was it just my thoughts or it was true?

“I do have a point?”

I stared at him as we stood on the tarred road staring at each other. “Yes,”

“In what way, if I may ask?”

“I don’t like sharing what is mine with others. My women, my kisses, my moments. It’s all for me and shouldn’t be shared. At all.”

His face contained this serious and stern expression that made me figure. Nicholas Russell had begun to like me!