Chapter Five

Nikolas

I could be a prick. There was doubt about that but I did not think anything I said was wrong. We shared a night somewhere along the line. I was just trying to figure out when and where I had slipped up. I feared what would happen if my mom discovered she had a grandson, My entire world was sure to flip. I briefly hoped all of these was just a wild attempt to rope me. Maybe I would spare her if this turned out to be nothing but drama but  every encounter I had with the woman told me she wasn’t looking for hard cash. There was just something about her. I haltingly started the car and drove. I didn’t have the capacity to bear my mother at the moment, Not with all the disturbing discoveries I had made in one day. It made me consider; What if there was more of them? In spite of myself, I was deadly worried. What I did then was a stupid childish act. It did not cancel my mistakes but if I could turn the tides of time around, I definitely would. I was a young adult who had just inherited a multi-billion corporation. It was harmless fun for me then. The constant ringing of my phone snapped me out of the crippling thoughts finally. I stopped at the harbor front, hitting the green button on the screen to put an end to my doting mother’s worry.

“I'm home. You know you don’t have to constantly intrude on my life right?”

“Excuse me for being a concerned parent.” She retorted. “I called your PA eons ago, She told me you weren't in the office so tell me where the hell you went.”

Gosh, The woman was crazy!

“Business mom, Even if I don’t have to explain myself.”

I cut the call, heaved heavily and honked. The giant brick house ahead was what I called home. My mother rushed outside in a nightdress to open the gates, a simple task of pressing a button. She looked pissed. If I got it right, It would be something about beauty sleep. Which reminded me. Tonight was not right time to tell her how my day went.

i stopped the car in front of house, ignoring the eye lasers my mother was shooting at me. Just before I climbed out of the hood, She immediately hit me with a question I was guessing was still lingering in her mind.

“Its ten. Half your workers wouldn't be in the office this late. So where were you?”

“Like I told you before mom, Business.” I gave a vague reply. All while retreating to my room.

I heard her say one last thing before I entered my safe space, “Doria called.”

 I gave a long sigh and collapsed unto the bed. I would call her tomorrow. Doria wasn’t the type to call. At least, Not at the moment. She knew I was still very pissed knowing she chose her contracts over me at the time being. I pulled the duvet to cover me since I felt a little lazy to switch off the blasted Air conditioner myself. As I drifted asleep, my phone buzzed annoyingly. I sparingly grabbed it and took a look.

An e-mail.

It happened to be from the hospital and knowing what it could be, I turned pale. I opened the mail and let out a sigh of relief reading what it said.

Your DNA is now in lab processing. We’ll send you an email when the results are ready.

That was a fucking close call.

Alva

 I sat up the cold floor where I had spent the night. The warm light floating out the cheap blinds was what startled me awake and I slowly realized where I was. Oh Lord! I did not plan to spend the night here. Not while Samuel was still admitted. My stomach grumbled nonetheless and I was forced to remember I was on an empty stomach. I proceeded to the kitchen. We still had some instant ramen in the fridge. While I cooked, Anxiety rippled through me. I remembered Mr. Sica. The adoption authorities could not learn of Samuel’s paternity. I had lied at that time that I had no contact with his father or any of Samuel’s paternal family. It was a harmless lie but since last night, I was burdened with how that lie could ruin the perfect little life I and Samuel had. The smell of burning ramen managed to snap me out of my thoughts and I rushed to salvage our last food. God, He was getting to me. I tried to put him behind me. There was a good chance he would have forgotten about me anyway. If he didn’t, I hoped Samuel’s condition would improve so he could discharged. I had to put the disturbing images of the man whose incredible good looks was the cause of my misery. I sealed the salvaged food into a container and dropped it into my drop bag which was bundled with sturdy books; Assignments I had to turn over before nine. It was another typical day in the life of Alva Pierce. At least it would be when Mr. Sica was finally out of the picture. Five minutes later, I was rushing for the door. I didn’t stop running. Not until I was breathlessly panting for air at the front doors of the hospital.

“Alva Pierce. Mother to Samuel Pierce at ward 18.” I said to the woman behind the receptionist table.”

She looked bored with her life but she continued typing, tilting her glasses lower as she gave me a reply. “Welcome back Mrs. Pierce. The doctor will be with you shortly.”

I gave a thankful smile and disappeared for the hallway. I was a tad excited. Mostly from hope that Samuel was doing fine and I would be able to see his toothless smile once again.

“Samuel...” I said upon opening the door but never in hell was I prepared for what stood right in front of me. For a moment, I remained motionless, fighting the urge to be a dramatic little piece of work or just admit this wasn’t a dream.

It was Nikolas Sica and he was feeding Samuel.

“Miss Alva - Its nice to see you again.”

 He was truly a formidable foe. A vicious voice in my head whispered what was to be done and I instantly obeyed. I would be totally unaffected by his presence. I would play it simple and get this conversation done with.

“Samuel, Haven't I warned you about taking things from strangers?” I said tightly, dropping my shoulder bag and retrieving the noodles.

Samuel looked hurt. He tried to mouth words but I shot him a stern look to keep him shut. He wasn’t the bane of my misery. The man was.

“But I am his father.Isn't this my right?” He retorted, not hesitating to drop the disturbing bombshell. Samuel stared in my direction as if trying to receive some confirmation. My face sank. My heart thudded.

Charis, Laura Pierce certainly didn’t approve.

“You lost that right a long time ago Mr. Sica.”