Chapter 3

"Hello, good morning! I'm here to see Mr. Dylan Aragon. Is he in his office?" I said to the woman at the front desk of the company building.

She raised her head and arched me an eyebrow. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but this is important—"

"I'm sorry, miss. You need to have an appointment first before you can talk to the CEO. Come again if you already have an appointment."

Great! Do I look like I want to have a cat-fight with her? She doesn't need to raise her eyebrows at me. It only made me angrier. 

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. "Miss, can you at least tell him his ex-wife is here?"

She was caught off guard and immediately stopped what she was doing. She looked at me with her lips parted. "Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am! I didn't know. Please, give me a minute."

She took the phone from her side and brought it to her ear. I only waited a few minutes before she nodded at me with a smile.

She pointed at the elevator. "You can go now. The CEO is in the 13th floor."

I walked towards the elevator and entered. I could feel my heart in my throat as the elevator gets closer and closer to the 13th floor. When I got out, I stood there for a moment, looking at the table that used to be Dayana's work desk. A wave of sadness overcome me.

Even though a lot of time has passed, the pain is still here. Back then, I had nothing but love in my heart for Dylan because I adored him so much.

"You may come in, Miss Gaviola." A woman in a white blouse and pencil-cut skirt came out from Dylan's office. I think she is his secretary. She seems to be in her early twenties.

I entered the only door on that floor. Dylan's office is huge and had a wide space. The floor-to-ceiling window has a breathtaking view of the entire Manila. In the middle of the room is the CEO's desk table.

The seat where Dylan is was facing the outside view, so I couldn't see him. I'm sure he already knows I'm here.

I waited for another minute until he finally turned to me. He was holding papers in his hand which he put down before looking up at me.

I swallowed hard when our eyes met. He still hasn't changed, still as handsome as ever. He looks a little more mature now, more manly. And his skin tone is slightly tanned, hotter than ever.

"Long time no see, Tanya." He smiled at me with those white and beautiful teeths. Fuck.

I have prepared myself for this moment, but why am I still getting nervous? My hands are sweating, and I can feel my heart pounding faster.

I nodded at him and tried to smile. "Hey."

"Take a seat." He briefly looked at the chair in front of his desk table.

I tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear before sitting on the chair. He turned his attention back to the papers in front of him so I had a chance to look intently at his face. Unlike before, he now has a mustache and a beard. His hair is still curly, just like Thalia's. I saw him last week at a grocery store, but I wasn't able to get a good look at his face. I was overcome with fear.

"So, what can I do for you?" After arranging the papers on his desk, he then faced me

I breathed deeply. Tanya, get to your senses. You are here for the sake of your child! This is for Thalia.

"I have a daughter."

He suddenly stopped, but it was only for a brief moment. I guess he didn't expect what came out of my mouth.

He got serious. "Oh, really?And what's that supposed to do with me?"

I bravely look at his eyes. "And she's also your daughter."

He was again taken aback. His naturally thick brows furrowed this time. "Are you saying... I'm her father?"

I opened the bag I was carrying and took out some papers that proved Thalia was indeed his daughter. "Yes."

He looked down at the documents I put on the table. He took them one after the other. "And you think I'd believe you that easily just because you showed me... what? These birth certificates?"

"My daughter will be three years old. I am three months pregnant when I left the mansion four years ago!"

"And it was three months before you left since you and Timothy met."

I stopped immediately. I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious? Until now, that's what you still believe?"

His face was blank when he met my eyes. He didn't speak, but I could feel the anger in his stares.

"Dylan, Timothy and I have no relationship! I never cheated on you!"

He sneered at what I said. "You know what? It's not important anymore. Steffi is gone, and I have my own family now."

I swallowed hard after what he said. I ought not to have let my feelings consume me. It's time to stop bringing up the past.

"What do you want from me?" I was silent for a minute. I couldn't answer right away. "I don't have all day, Tanya."

I swallowed again. "Take responsibility for my daughter."

His brows furrowed at what I said. He didn't say anything, and it irritated me more when he spoke again. "Why am I responsible for something that is not mine?"

"Do you think Timothy is the father of my child?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "If you've never been with another man."

"How dare you! You're the one who had an affair with someone else! You're the one who got another woman pregnant!"

He got silent with what I said. I saw him swallow a few times before he shook his head.

My clenched fists were shaking. I want to cry and scream in anger. How dare he accuse me of something I would never do!

"Tanya..."

I looked up again when he said my name. The tone of his voice was strange. I think I've heard it before... four years ago before we broke up. Before we lost Steffi.

"I want you back."