My father severed in the military. They met in a collage party while he was on leave and they clicked instantly. They had two blissful years together. I was told my mother was six months along when she got the call that he was never coming home. I only know him through pictures and video recordings like their wedding and when my mother got baptized.I missed him a lot growing up, but it was more from the wish of knowing him, I heard so many stories growing up from my mom and grandparents what a great man he was so he must be.Rodrigo Cruz is the kind of man I always thought I’d marry. Strong, honest. A good man. The kind you brought home to your parents, that wanted to settle down, have two point five babies in a pretty house with white picket fence, raising our children and having the occasional cook out with friends.I turned my key twice, kicked the door open and stepped into my dark apartment. “Honey I’m home” I say to my empty room then laughed at my weirdness.I smacked the swit
**This is actually very comfy I think as I twirl in another circle smoothing my fingers over than soft rich leather on one of the chair on the conference room.“Must be nice to be a board member” I finally commented after another twirl, He ordered Chinese they seat on opposite sides in the conference room.On the other side, Marcus sits looking unamused by my chair rolling activity. “You said we’ll discuss after you’ve had some food”“Right, sorry” I immediately straightened and pulled the paper bag in the middle in front of me. “I got distracted” I murmured and started bringing out the paper cups and plastic containers.“Would you like the fried rice or noodles?” I question because both was looking quite scrumptious at the moment. Marcus shook his head and I brought out the rice, unpacking the proteins and a fork and immediately began eating.On my other side, I have a notepad and a, I straightened after a few bites, drank some water and nodded “Okay what do you have?”“Ladies first
I watch the old buildings through the window as we drive by. I’ve made this trip numerous times I’ve lost count. I left my apartment at dawn so I could catch the first train to Boston. It was almost eleven when the taxi I took at the train station rolled through the iron gates, the words; St. Anne Nursing Home in white letters on a large brick poster. I settled the cab fare and stepped out, wishing I had gone with a pair of ballet flats instead of pumps but I’m still expected at the office in a few hours. I say hello to the receptionist whom I’m now familiar with, they’ve changed a few times in the past years. “I'm here for Melody Cruz if she can have visitors today,” I say as I sign in at the front while making small talk about the weather and if the snow is going to let up anytime soon as I wait to get approval and a visitor's badge. I head to the east wing of the residential area, and my mom’s home for the past eight years. I still remember it as if it was yesterday. It b
I see she’s laying the dramatics a little too thick just to get her way, I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She was my best friend growing up, we were a team. I used to tell her everything, when girls my age kept diaries and journals for their thoughts, I told my mom. When she got diagnosed and I was advised to ensure she avoided stress, I stepped up. When she asked, I told her about my scholarship and that I got a load skimming over the details. I took on jobs, virtual assistants, paid internships when could to support myself. There was a reason I qualified to work as the secretary of a chief executive officer of a huge firm right out of school. I had prior experience. I smiled at my mom I wanted to tell her, more than anything. I’m confused. Scared. And she’s done this before... I needed help to make sense of everything. I didn’t want to upset or make her stressed. Stress can affect her condition. Another reason it was recommended she stay in the facility, here she can b
I’m seated behind my desk two hours later at quarter past two, I actually made it back earlier than I expected, enough time to get a hang of what I might have missed. I immediately get to checking my emails. I could have done so on my phone while I was away but I’d been too worried about my visit to the nursing home and ultimately mom’s reaction to my news. Today was a good day for her and she’d taken it well. And then on my way back, I’d been consumed with the thought of my visit there. I felt much better after hearing from her, being with her, in her atmosphere, her infectious smile, and her approach to life. Having a child unplanned isn’t the end of the world. And Marcus, well…. We were figuring it out. Trying to do the right thing for the baby. The right thing for our baby. I’m going to be a mother. Gah. And in only a couple of months. Before the year runs out. I tried to imagine it. Then I tried to imagine Marcus as the father of said child. As though he heard his name
I forgot to sign it. Getting home with a raging hunger, I ordered takeout when I was thirty minutes away from my apartment in hopes of getting it as I landed. Unfortunately, I still had to wait seven long minutes for the courier to arrive. By that time my intestine and organs were just shy of devouring themselves. I’d eaten and passed out on my couch, missed my alarm this morning and by the time I finally pealed my eyes open the sun was out shining, I barely had time to jump into the shower throw on some clothes and rushed out. Then spent the next hour and half cursing New York traffic. I practically stumbled into Marcus’s office in my haste. “Good morning, Sir” He glanced up slowly. “Glad you could make it Miss Cruz, one question, is this going to become a habit?” I shook my head. “I’d like a heads up in case I need to start scheduling my own meetings and taking notes” he continued. “I’m here now” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.“I see that” he got up and rou
I’ll have James meet us at the front” Marcus says, typing away on his phone, I followed beside him as he moved towards the entrance. He motioned for me to step in through the revolving door.“There’s no need, we’re not going far,” I tell him when he comes out behind me and I begin to walk. Marcus pockets his phone, his long legs eating up the space in two large steps and he is beside me once more. We walk past other New Yorkers going about their days. Decked out in formal wear, the men carrying briefcases, the ladies large purses such as my own to fit just about everything we would be needing throughout the day. It was like every other day excluding who was walking by my side and that I was almost eight weeks pregnant. I pushed back the thought and crossed to road. “Would you slow down?” strong fingers wrapped around my wrist.“Oh, sorry, I’m usually in a hurry to get a good space at the nice eateries, it's lunch hour after all and before you know it everyone would be crawling out o
The walk back to the office was fast, Marcus stalking straight to his office without a single backward glance. What’d I say? So moody.I tossed my bag on the table and brought out my phone to see if I had any notifications. None. So I got to work. I had a busload of documentation to proofread due to my absence yesterday and I immediately got to it.The phone rang about twenty minutes later, keeping my gaze on my computer I leaned over with one hand and brought the phone to my ear. “Wayne Technology, Marcus Wayne office-““I have a thirty-minute window” a voice droned in my ear “I thought we might make good use of it.” “By…? I trailed off” my eyes widening by the possibilities.“Working on our list” Right, the never ending list, get your mind out of the gutter girlie, I shoved my chair back, slipping on my shoes. “Okay, I’ll bring my note” I dug through my bag for the notebook and slipped out, snagged a pen from my cup, and made my way into his office humming a tune under my brea
**The card came home with me. I couldn’t get a courier to deliver it, I couldn’t risk it. Just thinking of the consequences if it got lost, mixed up with some other delivery, or stolen. And I sure as hell couldn’t leave it in the office. I put on an exfoliating face mask after my shower, all this working was going to give me premature wrinkles and gray hair, I stand in front of my bathroom fifteen minutes later to wipe it off I put on some serums and moisturizer over my face, neck, and chest. Pulling down the front of my bathrobe to massage the products into my skin. I’d noticed a recent soreness in my boobs. I cup the right one then the left, my nipples immediately budding in my palms, fat and plump. My back arched as goosebumps spreads along my chest despite the heat in the bathroom from my hot bath. I took a moment to examine my body, other than the heaviness in my boobs, there were no other physical changes yet. I brought down my hands and righted my robe, returning to my bed
I groaned, “I had a shitty day, don’t even remind me,” I say when the elevator slid open and I made my way to my apartment. I’d been a little surprised when I saw the elevator was working this morning on my way to work. I’m sure it’ll be closed for maintenance soon though like everything else in this house.“Maybe you two are moving too fast?” Will questioned, on my screen, he moved into a dimly lit room and popped his phone somewhere as he moved around.Marcus’s driver Mr. James had dropped me off at the front of my house, Marcus had a work thing and I was invited. I had just stepped on the elevator when Will called me and I gave him the two four on my day. To which he was annoyed on my behalf and pleased when he learned Marcus had shown Brie and Renee the door.He was also proud I’d defended myself. Unlike someone. “Tell me about it” I grumbled and got out my keys, unlocking my door, I shoved it open.I heard the sound of rushing liquid and the clicking of glasses. Will returned i
“What the fuck were you thinking?” He snapped the second the door closed.I spun around to face him, “Me? I didn’t do anything, they started it” I frowned, surely he didn’t buy into any of that, they were clearly playing the victim. I’m the victim here. And I did not appreciate being scolded. With the shit they said to me, Brie should be glad all she got was a smack across the face.“And so you thought it best to get into a physical altercation while pregnant with my child? They could have retaliated, you could have been harmed, if Stacy had delayed in getting to my office, a little accident is all it takes!” The force of his glower had me taking another step back.I did wonder what brought him to the ladies' room. Stacy must have heard about it from the peeping tom and ran straight to Marcus.He began pacing. “Just this morning you promised me you were being careful, getting into fights is the complete opposite” he pointed at me, drawing to a pause.My jaw met the floor for the se
“Feel better?” I blinked slowly, glancing around, “What am I doing here?”“You fell asleep” Oh. I stifled a yawn, scratching the name of my neck. “What the time?” “Just in time for lunch, I have to wonder if your body is conditioned to know when is close to feeding time”I wiped my face with the back of my hand “Hey, I’m eating for two, so don’t judge”"Of course, thank you for your hard work."I got up shoving my feet back into my pumps one after the other. “Is my phone here?” “Come see me when you return” he says and I turn to leave. “Aye, Aye Captain Wayne” I met Stacy in the lobby and we headed out for our lunch where I was pointed at and stared at until we left. I couldn’t even eat my meal in peace. Some took pictures as discreetly as they could manage, pictures I was sure would be showing up on social media in the next minute. It was annoying. I ended up wishing I’d order some takeout and ate at my desk instead. “Dude, you’re famous” Stacy had exclaimed when I showed her m
I kept my eyes straight as I walked to my desk, sat and when I was in the secured space of my cubicle, I dropped my hands to my palms smiling like a loon, what the hell was that? A giggle burst out of me, trapped behind my palm and another. One moment we were arguing, or at least I had been and then he was- and it was-I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to give it a name. I had no idea Marcus could be like that, so gentle and soft and sweet, as though he didn’t want to scare me off and I felt the electricity all the way to my toes. My gosh. So different from the first time, it had been rushed, with a bit of stumbling as we were both intoxicated.This was skilful, seductive, perfection.I swiped my hands all over my face. I needed to stop thinking about it. About him.If only there was a way to turn off my brain, but now, instead it was doing a rewind, replaying the kiss over and over again. My nipples tightened behind my bra, warmth curling in my belly at the memory a
I have been having the hiccups for the past fifteen minutes all because I am avoiding the break room, I couldn’t concentrate, I could feel a headache blooming at the back of my skull due to dehydration, my neck hurts from the constant bobbing of my head and my tongue felt paper dry. This was getting ridiculous. Another five minutes and I’d had enough, I shoved my chair back got my bottle and marched with purpose towards the break room. If they wanted to talk let them talk. The door was opened so I walked right in calling out a “hello” as I made my way to the water dispenser where I immediately filled my bottle, gulped it down and filled it again. The tightness in my temples receding. As I drink, I see Louis and Ted pack up their half done coffee and race to the door almost bumping into Stacy on the way mumbling their appologies. I rolled my eyes and tipped my bottle back swallowing more chilled water.“How’s it going?”“Oh, just dandy, did you see how they rushed to get away from m
I didn’t see Marcus for the rest of the morning as he had some meeting with an external client and I was glad for it in fear that I might actually strangle him and then I'd get fired as Wayne Tech had a strict no-violence policy or spend the rest of my life behind bars if I was actually successful. With the way I am feeling, it may actually be the latter. And then who would take care of my baby?I can’t believe the stunt he pulled. After what he did yesterday too.I don’t know why has me more annoyed, that he went ahead and did this without even so much as asking me or how pleased he was about my reaction, as though it was an amusing pesky fly.I kept going back to the blog and other blogs that ran the news. The comments didn't let up, didn't think it was going to any moment soon, I don’t know which is worse, the dudes or the ladies. I didn’t know what I expected that they would be all nice and throw their heartfelt congratulations. “It’s a good thing, you know how many women are
They were still on this? Really? It was a new day for goodness sake. Surely some other interesting thing should have occurred to get the interest off me. Some celebrity scandal? A cheating couple caught? Anything? This is New York after all. It was one scandal after another. I almost feel bad for them for being popular but I guess it was the price of fame.I kept my eyes forward placing one foot in front of the other as I made my way to the elevator pushed the call button and waited for the car to arrive. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long before it arrived and I jumped in, except a few others got in alongside me and the weird looks continued. Haha. Jokes on them but a little staring and reprimand from the boss was not the end of the world. And as long as I had a job here, they had to deal with it. Period. I offered a curt nod to an older gentleman, Mr Philip who worked in the mailing room on the fifth floor. At least he was nice enough to meet my eyes this fine
I was wrong. Marcus Wayne is not sweet and not soft. The day starts out like every other, going over his schedule like we do every morning, confirming meetings with other personal assistants and secretaries over the phone, and then going over reports, and attending a few meetings, so, a normal morning. And then by afternoon, I have my chair leaned as far back as possible, my shoes off, to get the blood flowing back into my feet that’s been pinched in the heeled peep toes I wore today, a cute pair but damn, there was a pain.I have my cell tucked between the side of my cheek and shoulder, chewing slightly on the end of a pen.“He can be so over-controlling it’s getting out of hand Pen, because he is an investor in my company he thinks he can tell me how to run my own company,” Will said over the phone making me frown. I was well aware of his rocky relationship with his dad.While Will was what most people would refer to as a trust fund baby, Will was very hard working. I like Marcus