Trouble and a Greek god

Sienna’s POV

“Happy birthday, sleepyhead!” I raised my voice as I hovered over Livvy’s sleepy frame with a small birthday cake in my hand, its pastel pink frosting decorated with sugar flowers and a single candle flickering softly.

“Mommy…” Livvy stirred and stretched as her lashes fluttered awake. Once she got a glimpse of the cake in my hand through her half sleepy eyes, she gasped and immediately sat up from her bed, wide awake now.

I chuckled lightly. I had creeped into her room while she was still asleep to surprise her and from the look of things, it was mission successful.

“Happy eight years birthday, sweetie.” I settled onto the edge of the bed, beside her and pushed the cake gently towards her. “Come on. Make a wish.”

Chuckling in pure delight, Livvy pressed her palm together and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I wish that daddy would come back to us very soon.” Then, she leaned forward and blew the candle with all her might.

My smile weakened as her wish flooded my ears. I wished I could hold her hands and let her understand that Roman would never come back. There was just too much mess and drama, and I didn’t want us getting involved in it. We had gotten used to staying without Roman all these years. It wouldn’t be a difficult thing to continue doing.

There was no use chasing over something that was already gone. Even if I could barely control myself around him the other day at the park.

For the hundredth time, I would let Sabrina win again. As long as that would assure the safety of Livvy.

The most important thing was to make sure nobody found out that Livvy was Roman’s daughter. Regardless of whether or not their uncanny resemblance could pose a threat to my plan.

“Yay!” Livvy clapped her hands as she bounced on her knees happily, plunging me back into the present. Her eyes gleamed with joy. “Thank you for the cake, mommy.”

“It’s nothing, sweetheart. You deserve it.” I wore a small smile on my face and leaned in to plant a kiss on her forehead.

Unexpectedly, Livvy wrapped her small arms around my neck, squeezing me tight. I laughed softly at her actions.

“I love you, mommy.” She said to me in a small whisper. I pulled her against me even tighter.

“I love you more, sweetie.” Then, pulling away again, I glanced at the wall clock in her room. “Time to get ready for school. You don’t want to run late on your birthday.”

Livvy pouted and gave me the pitiable, manipulative puppy eyes.

“Can’t I just stay back home today? Pleaseeeeee?”

I laughed and ruffled her hair playfully.

“Don’t be silly. I can’t let you do that. You have to prepare for that maths competition you have coming up next week, remember? I’ll drop everything to be there cheering you on, so make me proud.”

Livvy’s shoulders slumped with disappointment and I continued to laugh as I rose up to my feet and headed towards the door.

“You have fifteen minutes to get ready, birthday girl. And your time starts now.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Amidst the bustling hum of morning energy as parents dropped their children off, our cab pulled up in front of Livvy’s school and I planted her a kiss on her forehead as I dropped from the cab with her. I handed her lunchbox to her.

“Be a good girl, okay?”

“Okay, mommy.” Livvy smiled and waved at me cheerfully before running off into the school compound. “Byeeee!”

“Bye, sweetie.” I waved back, watching her go off before I returned into the cab.

As the cab hit the road again, I glanced briefly at my wristwatch. It was already 8:30am and I was supposed to resume work by 9am. There was still a little time to get Livvy’s birthday present from the boutique. It was a pair of new sneakers that I planned to surprise her with, for her competition.

“She is going to love it.” I muttered to myself, smiling at the thought of it. I couldn’t wait to see the excitement on her face when I hand it to her later this evening. Just the thought of making her happy was enough to fill me with an overwhelming fulfillment.

Five minutes later, the cab pulled to a stop in front of the boutique.

“How much for the ride?” I asked him as I alighted from the cab and reached into my bag with one hand.

“Five fifty.” His voice was gruff with impatience but I didn’t mind. I was already used to the unexplained impatience of New York cabbies, even though I had just arrived in this city.

My fingers brushed past crumpled receipts in my bag, a pen, and a pack of gum. But no purse. Or phone.

I blinked and my heart paused. Opening the handbag wider, I searched through it with my fingers and my eyes. But still, nothing. I continued to rummage through it like my life depended on it. My stomach tightened with panic.

“What…where…” And then, it hit me at once.

What if the purse and my phone had fallen out of my bag when I escorted Livvy out of the cab?

I sucked in the sharp hot air in self annoyance a I ran frustrated fingers through my hair. How could I have been so careless? What was going to happen to me now? What would I do…

“Lady, you’re paying or what?” The cab man snapped, causing me to almost jump out of my skin. His impatience was mixed with anger now.

“I… I….” I rummaged through my bag again. Yet, nothing.

Fuck. I’m so screwed.

“What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to mess with my head?!” He snapped at me again, his eyes growing red with rage now.

“Please… just….just give me a second.” I was almost shaking with fear and a growing embarrassment, unsure of what to do or what was going to happen now. This was literally the worst situation that anyone would want to be in.

“I… I think I lost my purse… it must have fallen out of my back when I dropped my daughter off at school…”

“And how is that any of my fucking business!” He suddenly yelled at me, pushing open the door and stepping out, slamming the door shut behind him. I backed off a little as he stood face to face with me. It was as if he was going to lurch on me at any moment.

“You think I’m stupid? Huh?! You really think I’m dumb?!” His loud yelling was drawing the attention of passerbys now and I could feel heat rush to my face as embarrassment washed over me.

I wished the ground could just open up and swallow me whole this instant.

Glancing at my wristwatch again, my stomach dropped as I stared at the time. 8:50am. I just had ten minutes left to go. My day would be a total disaster if I arrived at work late.

“Please sir…” I could hear the desperation in my shaky voice. “I’m already running late for work. How about I get your phone number? I’ll wire the money…”

“Are you crazy?!” He advanced closer to me and I backed off again, shaky with fear. “You think I’ll fall for your dumb sob story? Pay me now, or I’ll call the cops!”

“Sir… please. Please try to understand…”

“I said pay me my goddamned money!” Before I could process what he was about to do, he reached for me and shoved me roughly with both of his hands.

I gasped in shock and my heart leaped into my throat as my feet slipped off the curb and my body tilted backwards mid air. Squeezing my eyes shut, I braced for the harsh, cold slap of concrete.

Trust me, falling pathetically to the ground in the busy street of New York City was never in my to-do-lists for today.

And maybe, I never had to tick it too. Because the impact never came.

Instead of my body kissing the hard grounds, it collided with strong, firm hands that gripped my waist tightly, yet with so much gentleness. The sharp scent of cedar wood cologne wafting through my nose, seemed to calm my racing heart in an oddly satisfying way.

Confused, I slowly peeled my eyes open, only to be greeted by heart gripping broad shoulders, chiseled sharp jaw, familiar forest green eyes, and a face that looked like it had been carved from stone. A face too good looking to simply be tagged as handsome. A face that portrayed the beauty of a Greek god.

Roman’s lips curled in a small smirk as he hovered over me, his arms holding me tight from falling.

“Always getting into trouble, are we?”