Chapter Twenty-Two

News Flash

Maria's PoV

  

  I woke up thinking about Maria's statement about me and Sebastian, and even as I got ready for work, the statement still won't leave my head.

  “What did she mean by oh Maria you are so wrong about you and Sebastian?” I asked myself as I styled my hair.

  I heard a knock on my door and turned to see Nathan followed closely by Emily.

  “Who's there at my door?” I asked dramatically then gasped and half shouted. “Oh look! It's my son! And he’s sooo ready for school.”

  Nathan laughed and raced towards my ready arms. I grabbed him and started tickling his chubby baby body until he raced his hands and started shouting amidst laughter. “I surrender! I surrender!”

  Laughing hard as well, I placed him down and planted many kisses on his face.

  He looked at me and said, “When I grow up, mommy, I will tickle you many many times.”

  “Well, that's when you grow up but till then I will….” I crouched low and started for him but he screamed and raced out of my room amidst laughter.

  “Has Nate's breakfast been served as instructed?”

  “Yes ma'am. We came to inform you that breakfast has been served.” Emily informed me while gesturing to Nathan who was peeking at the door.

  I styled my hair into a chignon then followed Nathan and Emily to the dining room for breakfast.

  “Morning Lena.” I greeted Helena who was already seated and munching on breakfast. She pecked Nathan then shifted closer so she would feed him his breakfast.

  Nathan was already learning how to eat by himself but Helena was that aunty who was ready to pamper him all the way. She loved him that much.

  “Emily dear. Please turn on television and switch to the major news station. I'd like to know what's going on this morning.”

  Emily did as I asked and immediately I took one look at the television, I spat out water in my mouth.

  “Are you okay, ma'am?” Emily asked with concern smeared all over her sharp featured face.

  “Yeah, yeah I am okay, Emily.Thank you.” I replied to Emily quickly so that intuitive Nathan would not pick up that something was wrong but then I shared a look with Emily who had a surprised look on her face.

  'My phone!’ I thought to myself. 'My phone would probably be buzzing right now.’

  Then I stood up and headed to my room and saw that I had missed calls and texts from Sebastian.

  The first text simply stated: I can explain.

  And the last text stated: I am coming over.

  She went to the sitting just in time as the doorbell rang so she knew who it was already.

  “Emily, Lena, is Nathan done with his breakfast?”

  “Yes ma'am.”  Emily replied immediately, sensing the change in my attitude even though I tried to hide it for Nathan's sake.

  “Let's go then.” I replied as I carried my suitcase and held Nathan's hand.

  Helena sensed that I would need support, quickly packed her briefcase and was behind me.

  Before we opened the door, I glanced at the television again and there on the screen was a picture of Cassandra, my step-sister gushing about a ring as she placed her hand on different parts of Sebastian's body.

  The news was happy to talk about how one of the most eligible bachelors in town had finally been snatched.

  “Maria.” He breathed my name immediately when he opened the door and saw us and then rested his gaze on Nathan who was too busy singing his rhymes with Helena, he didn't notice Sebastian. She was trying to distract him so that he wouldn't sense that something was wrong.

  I moved quietly behind them but Sebastian moved towards me and whispered. “I am sorry, Maria. Please believe that I have called the news station and they have taken it down after indicating  that it was false news.”

  “Please, Sebastian. I need to take my son to school.” I replied him firmly then walked past him into the elevator.

  I followed Helena’s car instead of mine and ensured that she had driven out of the building by the time he came down from the elevator.

  “Are you alright?” She asked me after I dropped Nathan off at school.

  “Yeah! It's just funny how we get to see craziness that concerns us directly in the news now. I am probably an unknown celebrity at the moment.”

  Helena chuckled at my last sentence then asked thoughtfully. “What if it's the work of you know who?”

  I raised my eyebrow and stared at her. “He was forced to meet up with Cassandra and forced to allow her to touch him like that?”

  “Are you jealous?”

  “Noooo! No! I am not jealous. I just mean that he should have more class with his actions and also try to avoid situations that would place me or him in the news.”

  “Interesting!” She replied with a knowing look.

  “Don't you dare give me that look.” I half warned her.

  She raised her hands in surrender then smiled. “Well, you know he is waiting for you at your office so go and sort that out.”

  “Will you still see Keith this evening?” I asked her, seriously trying not to think about the fact that she was right.

  Sebastian was most likely waiting for me in my office so I need to prepare myself mentally, emotionally and in different aspects.

  “Yeah!” She replied with a false enthusiasm then blew air loudly out of her mouth.

  “Well, I wish us all the best today.” I replied then we did our best friend's handshake and I headed to my office while Helena drove to hers which was not so far away from me.

  I took hesitant steps into my office building which was already buzzing with activities from the staff inside.

  “Maria, Maria can we talk? Please?” Sebastian whispered as soon as he came close to me.

  “Sebastian please, I have a long day at work today and I am very certain that I don't need any of this.”

  “Please just hear me out. All of that you saw in the media was arranged by Cassandra and whoever she was working with.

  “Okay.” I have heard you. I replied while working fast towards my office but Sebastian kept my pace.

  Anyone who saw us would think that we were just walking fast and having a conversation but between us we knew what was going on.

  I knew that the situation with Cassandra was arranged and all but for some reason I couldn't quite understand, I was angry at him for allowing himself to fall for the trap set by the cheap trap set by that wench, Cassandra.

  When we got to my office. I turned towards him then folded my hands in front of me.

  “First of all, I am so sorry that I allowed the situation to become this messy. I knew something was wrong. I had no idea that that was the plan. The news stations have taken it down and I have sent a video indicating that it was false.”

  “Okay, but my question is what happened?’