Two Years Later...A knock on the door sounded, and I looked up from the documents on top of my desk to the office door.“Come in,” I called.Mrs. Cove, a woman in her mid-forties with her brunette hair pulled back in a severe bun and dressed in a skirt suit, walked in. She was currently acting as my secretary at the company.“Sir, your meeting with the department heads is in half an hour. Should I go and make preparations now?”“What room are we meeting in?”“The third conference room on this floor, sir.”I nodded slowly. “Thank you, Mrs. Cove. And yes, please start the preparations, I’ll be done before the meeting.”“Of course, sir,” she said.With a short, bowing nod, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. I frowned down at the documents in front of me, wondering if I could finish this before the meeting, or if I could postpone it until afterward.I glanced at my phone beside my computer keyboard and picked it up. I unlocked the screen and paused for a second, b
“All right, that’s it for today. Don’t forget your assignments, and I’ll see you all in our next class.”After his closing statement, the lecturer picked up his stuff and left the room. Right on his heels were student leaving the lecture room, going from silent to noisy in seconds. I didn’t get up, waiting for the crush of people to leave so I could follow after. As the room slowly emptied, I stretched my arms out and allowed myself to relax.How the hell did I ever put up with this? I grumbled to myself.I didn’t miss school. In a lot of ways, college was worse than high school. The classes were less, and I got plenty of free time every day, but I also had assignments and stuff to study that filled up that free time, and the lectures were incredibly long. I just sat through a more than two-hour-long lecture, and my ass had fallen asleep, my hand was cramping from all the notes I’d written, and I still had one more class for the day.Can't I just skip? I whimpered to myself, but I kne
It was the weekend. Since I’d petty much given up my previous, carefree life, I sometimes worked on Saturdays for half the day and took Sunday off. I didn’t go into the office when there wasn’t work for me to do there, but it was a big company that was still growing, so there was still plenty of research I did during my free time into the company’s future.On one such weekend, I was sitting in my home office, working on my computer, when I got a call from Dad. I only hesitated a little before answering it. If this was before, I might have even thought of ignoring the call, but those days were over.I couldn’t say Dad and I were closer than before, but at least, we didn’t go through moments of pretending the other didn’t exist.“Hello, Dad?”“Jake,” he said, voice deep and calm. “Do you have any plans this weekend?”I stared at my computer screen. I had my browser opened and was looking through a few pages. I was only in the research stage so far, so there wasn’t any hurry.“I’m free,
I arrived at school early on Monday, and all over campus, there was a building excitement.A guest speaker was coming to the school tomorrow. His name was Richard Black. I had been with the school for so long, so even though I liked to keep to myself, how could I not know who that was?There were photos of him spread all over campus, and one couldn’t help but feel excited. After all, it was a success story so close to home that could give anyone hope. Though he’d been at the school a long time ago, longer than I had been alive, only a few people from the school had copied his feat, so he was still a pretty big name, though the school had alumni to boast about.As I sat waiting for my morning lecture to start, I was practically vibrating with excitement. It was the first time since I’d been back to college that I was this excited about anything. I had my son to support now, after all. I had to succeed in life if I wanted to give my baby boy a good life.“Hey, Klara!”I looked up to see
Two days flew by quickly. I’d taken Dad’s advice to heart and gone around sightseeing my first two days in New York, but the talk day arrived quickly.Dad wanted me to be with him when he went to the school. I found myself wondering if it was for moral support or something. I’d always stayed in Cali, or when I strayed, at least stuck close, even when it came to school. I didn’t see much reason in me showing up at the school when I wasn’t an alumnus, but maybe it was hard for him going there? Especially since we’d all been there for my brother’s graduation, and Dad even gave a speech on that day.As far as I knew, it was the last time he’d been by.I figured I’d feel out of place, but under the impression that it would help Dad bear it easier, I decided I wouldn’t fight him on this.Ever since I lost my brother, I’d become more understanding toward my parents. Thinking of things from their point of view instead of staying a selfish brat that wouldn’t even listen to his parents’ words.
I’d arrived early for the speech because I knew the place would end up being packed, and if I wasn’t early, I’d end up sitting in the back. Julia had been there with me, and we’d found seats pretty close to the front.Walking beside Jake as we left campus, I praised that decision.Even though I had no idea how to search for him all this time, he appeared in front of me.Julia had been curious when I told her I’d be staying behind. I wasn’t the only one that hung back. Other people wanted to try and talk to the men of the Black family, but they’d been surrounded. I hadn't been sure how to talk to him. We’d locked eyes when he was on the platform, and I didn’t miss how he kept throwing looks at me, so he hadn't forgotten me, either.I’d been worrying about how I’d be able to talk to him in private when he walked up to me on his own.The two of us were silent as we walked. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling. Of course, I’d been shocked to see him, and a part of me had been p
I meant it when I told Klara I couldn’t wait. All those times I wanted to see her, now that she was in front of me, all I could think about was the night we spent together and how much I wanted to have her again.When we walked into the bar, I’d taken a glance around the place, an old habit that I hadn't been able to kill from my wild partying days. After paying for our meal and drinks, no one so much as blinked at us as I rose with Klara’s hand in mine, and tugged her toward the back of the bar.There was a discreet door, half-hidden behind a corner. Some signs pointed the bathrooms were in that direction. Instead of going through that hallway, I pushed the door, and it opened. We found ourselves in an alley, and I closed the door behind us, feeling satisfied.We went down a little in the alley, just in case, someone came out of the bar. We’d spent more time in the bar than I thought, and it was already dark outside. Little light got into the alley, but that worked more to my advanta
It was a minute before Jake finally let me down. I sighed as my feet touched the ground. My thighs were still trembling, so I leaned back against the wall as I righted my clothes. Jake helped, reaching behind me to zip my dress up for me. I blushed a little as I fixed the crotch of my panties.Out of nowhere, I burst into hysterical giggles. I slapped a hand over my mouth, but besides arching an eyebrow, Jake didn’t seem put off.“You’re laughing right after we had sex. Should I worry?” he asked, a corner of his mouth quirking up.I let out a few more giggles before I got a hold of myself, shaking my head.“Um, no. It’s nothing like that, just…every time I meet you, I do things that don’t seem much like me.”“So you don’t let random strangers take you to their hotel rooms while you’re drunk?” he asked. “Or spend a whole day with them and have sex in a limo? Then meet them two years later and fuck in the back of a bar?”I giggled again. “Um, no. I’ve only ever done that sort of thing a
It was easy enough to figure out.Klara was hiding something, and there was no way I could meet her, or try to talk to her, while I doubted her. It might have been easier to just ask her, but I hadn't been sure if she would have told me, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear what it was, if it was what I’d been thinking.What I found out was so far out of my expectations, though, that it took a while to process.Brian, my old college friend and current PI, had worked faster than I expected. He’d told me who Ben was within a day, and the moment he told me the dates that aligned with his birth, it was easy enough to count back roughly nine months to when Klara and I met.She’d told me herself that she hadn't been with anyone besides me for the past two years, and even in the middle of my doubts and suspicions, I was still inclined to believe her. Going by her character, in that time, there wouldn’t have been anyone else before me.The conclusion I came to, was that the child was mine. C
Jake had wanted to spend the whole weekend with me, but after practically running away from him so I could get home, I was a little worried to see him again. I hesitated to call him, but when he didn’t try to call me either, I got worried enough to call him first.I didn’t get a reply. Even when I sent texts, there was still nothing. I figured he was annoyed at my behavior.Dammit, Klara. He must have realized something was wrong. You were too damn obvious!That evening, since I didn’t get any form of communication from him, I stayed at home. It turned out Dad and my siblings had gone out so the kids could have some fun.Mom took Dad aside to talk, and when they came back, the expression on his face was strange. She must have told him about the one night stand. I was glad that she’d told him so I wouldn’t have to, but I had a feeling Dad wouldn’t be looking at his little girl the same way again. It would be impossible not to realize I was an adult when I came back pregnant, but neithe
I got home just before lunchtime. I’d already known by the texts she’d kept sending yesterday, but she was pissed.The moment I walked inside, it was to find her in the living room with Ben in her arms. She sent me a cold look, then got up and walked to the kitchen without a word to me. I sighed but didn’t immediately follow her. The house was quiet, and I wondered where everyone had gone. It was a Saturday, but they might all have their stuff to do.I ran upstairs to put away my clothes. I wasn’t in the same outfit I’d worn yesterday, and I doubted she’d missed it. She would want to talk to me, and I wanted to see my baby boy before I went back to meet Jake again, so I went down to talk to Mom.My heart trembled a little. A good part of why I was always such a behaved girl, besides being introverted, was because Mom could be scary when she was angry. At least I knew, while she was holding Ben, or as long as he was in the room, she wouldn’t start shouting at me.“Hello, Mom,” I called
When I woke up the next morning, Klara was still in my arms. I didn’t know why, but I felt relieved. Until I remembered last night.Klara groaned, and I felt her feet flex as she stretched her body out. I looked around the room. Even with the curtains closed, the light coming in was bright, so it was probably late in the morning. I blinked my eyes, feeling like I hadn't gotten enough sleep. After the words she’d said, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time afterward, but I didn’t dare wake her up to ask, either.Nothing is wrong.I told myself that several times, but I didn’t really feel that way. After all, something was actually very wrong.Could Klara have someone else?We didn’t know each other well enough. We hadn't known each other that long, either. But I was pretty good at reading people, and I didn’t think she was the kind of person to do something like this. She didn’t look guilty or anything when she was with me, and even when she tried to hide it, her emotions were pretty
Meeting Klara had been a pleasant surprise, and I wasn’t ready for it to be over so quickly. After we spent the night at my hotel, she had to go back home. But, this time I had more information about her, and more importantly, I had her phone number.Klara and I spent a lot of time together. She still had classes at the school, so I had to be patient at times, but when I wasn’t in the hotel room, I was out somewhere waiting for her to be done so we could meet up.I wasn’t sure if Dad knew something was up, but on the day we were supposed to go home, I woke to a text, asking me to meet up in the hotel’s café.Thankfully, Klara wasn’t with me when it happened. I showered quickly and got dressed, then went down to meet Dad.We sat together silently, only speaking up to order the food. Up until our breakfast arrived, neither of us spoke. Dad was the first to break the silence in the middle of the meal.“I’ll be heading back this afternoon,” he said. “You didn’t let me know about your plan
It was a minute before Jake finally let me down. I sighed as my feet touched the ground. My thighs were still trembling, so I leaned back against the wall as I righted my clothes. Jake helped, reaching behind me to zip my dress up for me. I blushed a little as I fixed the crotch of my panties.Out of nowhere, I burst into hysterical giggles. I slapped a hand over my mouth, but besides arching an eyebrow, Jake didn’t seem put off.“You’re laughing right after we had sex. Should I worry?” he asked, a corner of his mouth quirking up.I let out a few more giggles before I got a hold of myself, shaking my head.“Um, no. It’s nothing like that, just…every time I meet you, I do things that don’t seem much like me.”“So you don’t let random strangers take you to their hotel rooms while you’re drunk?” he asked. “Or spend a whole day with them and have sex in a limo? Then meet them two years later and fuck in the back of a bar?”I giggled again. “Um, no. I’ve only ever done that sort of thing a
I meant it when I told Klara I couldn’t wait. All those times I wanted to see her, now that she was in front of me, all I could think about was the night we spent together and how much I wanted to have her again.When we walked into the bar, I’d taken a glance around the place, an old habit that I hadn't been able to kill from my wild partying days. After paying for our meal and drinks, no one so much as blinked at us as I rose with Klara’s hand in mine, and tugged her toward the back of the bar.There was a discreet door, half-hidden behind a corner. Some signs pointed the bathrooms were in that direction. Instead of going through that hallway, I pushed the door, and it opened. We found ourselves in an alley, and I closed the door behind us, feeling satisfied.We went down a little in the alley, just in case, someone came out of the bar. We’d spent more time in the bar than I thought, and it was already dark outside. Little light got into the alley, but that worked more to my advanta
I’d arrived early for the speech because I knew the place would end up being packed, and if I wasn’t early, I’d end up sitting in the back. Julia had been there with me, and we’d found seats pretty close to the front.Walking beside Jake as we left campus, I praised that decision.Even though I had no idea how to search for him all this time, he appeared in front of me.Julia had been curious when I told her I’d be staying behind. I wasn’t the only one that hung back. Other people wanted to try and talk to the men of the Black family, but they’d been surrounded. I hadn't been sure how to talk to him. We’d locked eyes when he was on the platform, and I didn’t miss how he kept throwing looks at me, so he hadn't forgotten me, either.I’d been worrying about how I’d be able to talk to him in private when he walked up to me on his own.The two of us were silent as we walked. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling. Of course, I’d been shocked to see him, and a part of me had been p
Two days flew by quickly. I’d taken Dad’s advice to heart and gone around sightseeing my first two days in New York, but the talk day arrived quickly.Dad wanted me to be with him when he went to the school. I found myself wondering if it was for moral support or something. I’d always stayed in Cali, or when I strayed, at least stuck close, even when it came to school. I didn’t see much reason in me showing up at the school when I wasn’t an alumnus, but maybe it was hard for him going there? Especially since we’d all been there for my brother’s graduation, and Dad even gave a speech on that day.As far as I knew, it was the last time he’d been by.I figured I’d feel out of place, but under the impression that it would help Dad bear it easier, I decided I wouldn’t fight him on this.Ever since I lost my brother, I’d become more understanding toward my parents. Thinking of things from their point of view instead of staying a selfish brat that wouldn’t even listen to his parents’ words.