Chapter 2

“Hello, Minerva.”

            Those words were a nightmare to her. She blinked once, twice. Minerva made sure she wasn’t dreaming all along. That Rhea’s lustful husband was just three meters away from her.

            “Hi.” That was all she managed to say. She inhaled the perfume he was wearing. But to no avail, it was pretty much putrid to her senses. It wasn’t that fragrant and redolent, especially when the one who’s wearing the perfume is a devil in a man’s clothes.

            “Hello, hon!” Rhea’s voice was as jovial as ever, making Minerva on the verge of vomiting in the middle of this conversation—if this can be called a conversation.

            The man, William, looked at her…perhaps more than that. Minerva felt like she was being undressed by just a mere gaze of this man.

            “Perhaps you wanna join us for lunch, Minerva?” That was more like a statement and invitation rather than just a plain question.

            Rhea looked at her, then to William, then back to her. Her so-called mother was about to open her mouth when Minerva spoke first.

            Rhea’s eyes narrowed as she spoke.

            “I would love to. But, I still have to fetch Derrick’s remaining things at his former home. Perhaps I’ll just take my meal to a local diner.”

            William’s right brow hoisted, but his face eventually shifted into a ‘gentleman’ kind of expression.

            “As much as I would like to give the entirety of my condolences in the form of a lunch meal, I was astonished that you were still as simple as ever, Minerva.”

            Minerva could see Rhea’s cheeks were stained with red due to rage. Her mother was just controlling herself not to slap and beat her due to William’s presence.

            “You don’t have to, Mr. William. After all, you just recently said your condolences.”

            She was being sarcastic. How could she not when her whore of a mother was beside her and the asshole that tore her family into pieces was just in front of her?

            Well, Minerva was being ethical. Despite all the hardships she encountered and the unluckiness that visited her, she still has manners. Unlike Rhea who just married a billionaire and was already acting as if she owned the entire planet earth.

            But if she were to be honest, her baby was somehow telling her to accept the offer—to have lunch with them. After all, it is the food that she will manage to enjoy, not the presence and company of these two horned devils.

            “Fine, if you’re not going to have lu—”

            “I changed my mind.”

            Minerva surpassed Rhea’s annoying voice—and words. She smirked at the corner of her face when William turned around and Rhea was on the verge of exploding due to irritation and livid.

            The two ladies followed William behind. Silence was just prevalent between them, making Minerva wholly curious on how come Rhea managed to volunteer herself and accompany her in her medical appointment.

            She was sure the bitch didn’t do it wholeheartedly and out of ‘respect’. She did it as if she was forced to do so. She accompanied her in her pregnancy check-up as if she was being told to do so—paid to do so.

            But, who could be paying Rhea to ‘take care’ of her? Was it William? Or was it someone else she has yet to meet?

            Either way, whoever it may be, she hopes that he or she has done it with a good reason, has done it out of compassion and altruism. And Minerva has yet a mystery to solve—she has yet a secret to unravel on who the hell has been telling Rhea to help her.

***

The restaurant was echoing with revelry. The clinking of wine glass and boisterous laughter of rich people resonates in her ears. She was lucky she had dressed properly even if it wasn’t that formal.

            After all, it wasn’t her apparel that made her alluring—unlike Rhea. It was her breath-taking beauty that was absolutely captivating and enchanting. She still looks beautiful even if she carries a child. She still radiates a strong sex appeal due to her hourglass-shaped body. She still looks fresh even if she had just recently experienced loss. Even if she was still in bereavement, she still manages to put on a sweet and innocent-looking smile in her porcelain face.

            The food was delicious—as all high-end restaurants have. The beverage was refreshing—just don’t look at the price or else you will have a headache.

            Minerva was still munching her well-done steak when she caught a glimpse of a familiar man beside their table. The man is tall. His well-built body could perhaps make any woman drop their underwear in just a glance of his naked body. His hazel eyes made him sexier. And his russet hair…it was the hair that every woman wished that they could hold a grip during a sensual intercourse.

            Minerva noticed that Rhea somehow recognizes the man. It was as if she had known the handsome man for a long time.

            ‘Probably one of Rhea’s sex buddy…’ Minerva thought while scooping a spoonful of mashed potato to her full mouth.

            She looked again at the man. He was talking to a silver-haired aged man. A business partner or a stockholder, Minerva thought.

            She focused her attention back. As she was about to seize the wine glass beside her plate, she accidentally caught a glimpse of William’s face.

            His face paints an unyielding expression. It was as if he was shrouded with…with jealousy. Yet, Minerva wasn’t entirely sure to which and to whom he was envious.

            Minerva finishes her meal and shoves away the look on the face of William. But, she couldn’t seem to forget the handsome face of the man beside them. He was utterly and heavenly handsome. No matter how Minerva tried, his beautiful face seemed to be registered forever in her memory archive.

            “Thank you very much for the lunch.” Minerva then bowed her head.

            It was William who spoke this time. “It’s great to have you, Minerva. Perhaps we could expect you to eat with us again.”

            “Some other time, Mr. William.” That was the truth. She cannot manage to be with these two even for the span of thirty minutes. In fact, if the steak wasn’t wholly sumptuous, she could just walk away and have her excuse that her stomach was aching.

            The car of Rhea and William were just a dot in the distance now when someone tapped her by her shoulder. It was Mariella Chu.

            “Glad I found you, girl! Rhea texted me you insisted on having lunch with them.”

            ‘Insisted? It was William who offered me to join them…’ Minerva silently thought. She then smiled at her best friend who was still wearing her nurse uniform.

            “I have good news, Minnie.” Finally, there’s a bit of hope she could hear after several days of darkness in her life.

            “You now have a job!”

            That was not what she expected, to be frank. Still, she was happy that, finally, she now had a source of income. She can now provide for both her child and to her months of pregnancy.

            “I referred you to a friend who owns a grocery store!”

            “A friend?”

            Mariella nodded.

            “And who is this dear friend?” Minerva said with a teasing tone as if she was sensing that the owner might be Mariella’s old or current flame.

            And Minerva prepared her speech of gratitude to her ever-beautiful best friend as they drove towards Derrick’s former home to get his remaining things.

***

            Being a cashier is no joke.

            Yes, it was not very difficult. But, it was not that simple either—especially to a pregnant woman like her, who only has herself to rely on and is due in five months’ time. 

She had been working for months now in the local mall which was a walking distance from the apartment she was living in.

            Her belly is indeed growing, which made it a bit more difficult to work than before.

            “Next!”  She grabbed first the products that the customer bought.

             Then, in a reflex action, she looked through the face of the customer. Minerva was flabbergasted. She never expected that the man would have his grocery at such a normal, average-looking mall.

            It was the handsome man from the restaurant.