06- The Father of My Child

“Cheers!” smiling widely, I click my glass with a shocked Owen's and an unenthusiastic Bella's.

“What's wrong with you guys?” I ask, setting down the glass of champagne which probably worths more than my salary.

“What's wrong with us?” Owen looks flabbergasted, covering his mouth with his hand with has a cute barbie bandaid on with the curtesy of Bella.

“As far as we are concerned, What's wrong with you?” He continues.

Rolling my eyes at his exaggerated concern, I take a sip of the alcohol. The thing is, I couldn't do it alone. I didn't know how to play the part of a sugar baby alone. I didn't know how to put a dent in Cruz's bank account because God help me! It takes more than a hundred chanel bags for that to happen. This man is loaded. I mean loaded with billions. So, I had to drag my friends along with me and buy them anything that their heart desire. I know I may pay for it later on. Cruz won't be too kind to me afterwards. But again, he didn't put a limit for me to use.

Owen takes a bag and takes out the box of a brand new Rolex.

“Do you know how long I've been wanting this damn watch for?” Owen questions, lovingly and delicately patting the box.

I smile warmly at him. Knowing him, it will take him years to finally take the watch out of the box and actually dare to wear it.

“I know, Owen, I know. It's not like you've ever stopped talking about this watch. You worshipped it like it's your God.” He looks offended, carefully putting the box inside the bag.

“That's not the point, Willow.” Bella begins, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. It's her nonverbal way of saying that she is with me no matter what.

I take a knowing breath. I can tell a long lecture is coming. I'm surprised that it didn't come earlier. Perhaps Owen was too pumped that I left that lady at the store speechless and bought him a wristwatch which he has been dreaming of for a long while now. For Bella, it's probably because I promised her I would tell her later.

“If we gather all the bills today, it will add up to around….” She seems lost in thought, “I don't even know and that tells you something. I never lose count of things! And yet here we are dining at a fancy restaurant. I'm sure the bill of our dinner will be higher than three of our salaries altogether.”

“And we are talking about you Low! You, the great miser who refuses to get a second beer unless you absolutely have to drink. You, the great frugal who takes count of even a cent. And now this great frugal is spending thousands!” I try not to let his words sting because it's true.

Sometimes I wish my friends didn't know me that well, but here we go!

“I’m well aware that I owe you guys an explanation.” I use my most sincere voice, my face mirroring my tone.

“That's an understatement.” Owen butts in, gaining a glare from me.

“Trust me, guys.” I brace myself before continuing. “I haven't stolen this card from anywhere if you guys are worried about that.”

“That's not what I was thinking about.” Owen interjects again, receiving death glares from both Bella and I.

He ignores our glares and continues with his rumble, “Don't be shy, Low. Everyone needs a sugar daddy in life. If you got yourself one then that's awesome! All I want to know is where to find one for myself? Maybe I will wear the lingerie that I bought for my potential girlfriend and do a little show with that. Tell me, will that earn me a sugar daddy as well who will let me spend millions in a day?”

“My bills are piling up as well.” Bella says, indicating that she wouldn't mind getting a sugar daddy for herself.

I blink my eyes at her in utter shock. Am I seeing right? Can money really hold that much power that even the great Bella is willing to go down this path?

My train of thoughts comes to an abrupt end when someone clears their throat behind me. Absentmindedly, I look behind to meet with the shock of my life. There stands Cruz in his fashionable suit and tie, smiling down at me as if I'm his chirstmas gift wrapped in a colorful wrapper.

Turns out, I'm not the only one who is shocked at the sudden appearance of Cruz. The occupants of other seats have their mouths wide open as Cruz waves his hand at them and takes a seat beside me without showing any sign of hesitation. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Bella and Owen's eyes almost come out of their sockets when Cruz wraps his muscular arm around my chair. What's happening? My mind is having trouble wrapping itself around What's Cruiz is planning.

“What?” Cruz asks innocently, seeing our shocked reactions.

“Why are you guys so shocked?” He asks, throwing a little smile at us.

Neither of us think of replying him. Just when I thought I had the upper hand in this situation and I'm teaching Cruz a lesson, he comes raining on my parade.

“Oh, it looks like you had an eventful day.” Cruz comments, eyeing the shopping bags scattering around our table.

He takes full advantage of our speechlessness and continues to dominate the conversation, having his own share of fun. The little smirk dancing on his lips gives me that idea and that idea also makes me want to wipe that smirk off.

“I'm glad you used my card and bought yourself something pretty. It's also very generous of you to buy your friends something good.” He keeps talking more to himself than to me.

I dare to steal a glance at my friends. They look like they have seen a ghost; a deadly handsome ghost if I may add. Cruz is looking absolutely delicious in his navy blue coat, the color complimenting his eyes perfectly.

My heartbeat quickens as soon as blood rushes to my cheeks, tainting them a crimson. A shudder runs through my spine when his arm makes contact with my back. His hand has gotten lower to rest on my back now. What is he planning? Looking at his face to search for answers yields no fruit whatsoever. All he does is spare me a grin; a mischievous one.

“You….” Owen begins to stutter, pointing a shaky finger at our boss.

When he opens his mouth to speak again, I wish he didn't speak at all. “You are the sugar daddy who is pampering Low?” Disbelief clear now his eyes.

From the corner of my eyes, I see Bella elbowing that idiot but the cat is out of the bag now. The grin on Cruz's face molds into a knowing smirk, making him look even deadlier. How can I find someone so sexy yet so annoying at the same time?

“Is that what they call a super rich boyfriend?” He looks amused as he asks, throwing us all off-gaurd again.

For the last time, I want to dig myself a grave and bury myself there. Who would have thought Cruz will turn out to be such a lunatic that he will out us like that. Wasn't he so against the idea of me that he wants me to unimpress his grandmother so desperately? What's he getting out of it?

One look at his wicked face and suddenly realisation hits me hard. He is deriving ultimate pleasure from this. He is getting back at me for putting a dent in his bank account. Maybe he got the hunch that I don't want my friends to know about him and he is taking full advantage of that.

“Don't mind them, honey. They were just pulling my legs.” I play along with his lies, putting my palm on his chest and giving it a reassuring rub.

A look of surprise crosses his face for a split second before he turns back on his grin but this time it's a challenging one.

“Right. I'm a little too younger to be her sugar daddy, don't you think?” Cruz asks, giving me a wink before placing his hand on mine.

My heart starts hammering against my chest like crazy. Panicking at the sudden physical contact, I withdraw my hand. However, I manage to keep a smile on my face as I look back at my flabbergasted friends who are looking at me as if they have spotted a traitor.

“I know I've been keeping secrets from you guys, but meet the father of my unborn child and my loving boyfriend.”