"Oh really? What other way could you mean it that I did not think of?" Axel asked further. The fact that he has never seen Maya the way she is now, made him push a little further. 'I wonder to what extent she is going to tolerate my intimidation.' he thought. 'Damn! She looks even more beautiful closer.' The phone to Maya's office began to ring which brought an end to the staring contest. Maya let out a breath and reached for the phone, while Axel got up from the table."Yes. Ok." Maya simply said and dropped the line. She looked up at Axel, who is now walking around the office. "I don't think Mr Bratkowski will be coming back today. You might have to come back tomorrow." Maya stated."Good. I have another excuse to come see you at work." Axel said with a wink.Maya sighed and shook her head in defeat.***Meanwhile, at the hospital, Eliana told the doctor her symptoms. The doctor had some tests done on Eliana. It would take a moment for the result to come. Eliana and Jace waited
"So, how did it go with Mr Bratkowski?" Maya asked. They had dinner at her place. "Let's just say, you are going to have to put up with me a lot because Jace agreed to be a partner." Axel explained, after releasing Maya from an embrace.Axel had his meeting with Jace and Mr Wyatt on a Saturday. After that, he went to Maya's place, where she prepared dinner for them. But Axel already had dinner with his now new business partners."That is great. I knew it would work out because those were some good plans you guys have there." Maya said. "We should celebrate then."She added and went to get them a drink. "To a new beginning and bright futures ahead." Maya said, raising her glass after she had poured the drinks for them."That is very accurate." Axel said with a chuckle. "To new beginnings." He added to their toast.Moments later, the bottle of wine was empty. The two drank and talked about their childhood lives. "You must have been really close with her." Maya said. When she had a l
Seeing her in a panic mood, almost got him into one too. But he had to put his shit together and help her. They were the only ones in the house."Good. Now close your eyes while still doing the breathing exercises and count to ten, starting from ten. Can you do that for me?" Axel asked, still avoiding touching her. Maya nodded in response to what Axel asked her to do."Ok, good." Axel said.Maya did as she was told and when she reached one, she heaved a breath and then opened her eyes. Her eyes were back to their usual light brown color. Unlike when she was in a panic that they turned a few shades darker.Only then did Axel move closer to her and give her a side hug. Maya leaned closer too and wrapped both her hands around him. The two remained in the same position as minutes passed. They were like that for like 15 minutes before Maya gently pulled away.Maya looked at Axel in the eyes and said, "Thank you, Axe. And I am sorry you had to put up with -""You have nothing to be sorry f
"Hubby, you didn't have to take permission from me to decide who you work with. I am sure you have a good reason for that and I hope it all turns out great." Eliana said to Jace, putting her hand on his and also gave him a reassuring smile. Eliana is laying on the bed, while Jace is sitting by her side. They arrive home from the hospital after they were told she is pregnant. Jace convinces Eliana to get some rest, saying he will be the one to get her whatever she needs from then onwards.Recalling he was supposed to have a meeting with Axel that same day. He had already gone through the ideas Axel had. They were really good and would be beneficial if he invested in it. Although, he still felt the need to inform Eliana about it. He needed to know if she is ok with him and her daughter's father working together."This is Axel we are talking about. He has a history with-- with my family so I have to be sure it is ok with you." Jace reasoned, caressing Eliana's face."That is fine by me.
Weeks and months have passed."Are you ready, babe?" Maya asked. She turned her attention to Axel who tightened his grip on the steering wheel."I think I am." Axel responded."Relax. They are going to love you. Especially my mother. She has been dying to meet you." Maya said, robbing on his shoulder to get him relaxed a little.Maya's parents learned about her new relationship. Her mother has been pleading with her to introduce her new boyfriend to them. Maya asked for a little more time. She wanted to be sure of the direction the relationship was heading before she did that.She told them he is a footballer and at the time they found out about him, a new season for the games had begun. It was when it was over that she finally brought him to meet her parents."I don't think I have ever done this before." Axel confessed when they came out of the car."Done what?" Maya asked."Meet the parents." Axel simply said. Maya chuckled as she held his hand and said, "I must be really special
"Mr Thomas, you wanted to speak with me." Axel spoke when he arrived in the living room. His words came out more as a statement rather than a question.Jordan's gaze remained elsewhere as he answered Axel. "Yes. Seat." He pointed to the chair opposite him. "I can't help it. I have to talk to you now."Axel did as he was told. He sat and gave his full attention to the man. 'He looks so much like Coach Grayson and has a very similar personality to his daughter.' Axel thought. He had to smack himself mentally, reminding himself this is not the time for that."I have heard a lot about you from my daughter and from Grayson as well." Jordan said. He relaxed back in his seat and continued. "I need to clarify certain things from the horse's mouth.""Sure. Anything you want to know, Mr Thomas." Axel responded with full confidence."Hmmm." Jordan said."First, I have to tell you, my intentions towards your daughter are sincere. I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her." Axel
"wifey. Wifey love. I am here." Jace said, panting."What took you so long?" Eliana screamed. Her face was covered with sweat. "I - I had to change into this and scrub my hand before they allowed me into the labor room. I am sorry. Aww." Jace let out a sound when Eliana squeezed his fingers. He could swear one or two of them are broken. He tried to hold it in but Eliana is still squeezing his fingers. The pain was becoming unbearable. Jace began to sweat as well.Eliana's water broke in the morning. She was still in bed when she felt wet. She sat up trying to understand whether she wet the bed. Since she could not hold the contents of her bladder for a reasonable amount of time anymore.When she felt her back felt like it was about to break, she then realized it was her water that broke. Which means her baby is coming a week earlier than the expected date of delivery.Eliana woke Jace up, who was still sleeping and they rushed to the hospital, leaving Amelia with her nanny. When Elia
"Hey. Where is the last mother In town?" Chelsea announced, while entering the room.Eliana looked up at her and smiled. She was breastfeeding her baby when Chelsea walked in. Her breast milk started to come early. Unlike when she had Amelia. Her breast milk did not come until the next day."Oh sweet. You look good already. Didn't you just have a virginal delivery moments ago?" Chelsea teased, putting her hands on her waist. Eliana chuckled. "I think I did. From the feeling I still have down there, then I definitely did." She added."Oh poor thing." Chelsea said and walked to her with open arms. She gave Eliana a hug and then kissed her forehead. "You will get better soon. Congratulations." She added."Thank you." Eliana said, returning the hug with her free hand. "Want to hold him?" She asked."Of course! Here, I will burp him for you." Chelsea said, excitedly. "Where is the new daddy?" She asked while picking up the baby from Eliana. "Jace went to shower and outfit. Then he will b
**A day earlier, before the opening of the new hotel.**Maya came out of a spa, her phone on her ear with the support of her shoulder. When she exited the place, she then held the phone with her hand."I am on my way home now. I will be home in ten minutes -" Maya was speaking to Axel on the phone when she sighted Noah exiting his car. He then got into another car that was parked In Front of his car."Maya? Can you hear me?" Axel asked when Maya went silent while talking to him."Make that twenty. Twenty minutes. Something just came up." Maya quickly said and ended the call and got out of her car to hail a taxi."Go straight, " Maya ordered after getting into a taxi. They came in sight of the car in no time. She then told the taxi driver to follow the car but he should be careful not to be caught by the car In Front of them.They continued to follow the car low-key for another fifteen minutes. They arrived at a motel.maya was confused. "Stop here." She told the taxi driver before he w
"Wifey, Where have you been?" Jace spoke with a sleepy voice. He stared in his sleep and felt the other side of the bed empty. Almost immediately, the door opened and Eliana walked in. Jace's attention turned to her. Her phone in her hand and her face looked determined."I was making up my mind on what you asked of me last night." Eliana replied as she walked to Jace.Jace sat up on the bed. "Yes?" His face was hopeful of a positive answer from his wife.Eliana bit her lips nervously before saying, "I decided to take on the job -""Really!? That is wonderful news. I know you are going to do great." Jace said, holding her hand, excitedly.Eliana chuckled. "You didn't let me finish." She reasoned."Oh.. what else?" Jace asked."I will take the job on one condition." Eliana said, raising one finger up."Whatever you want, my love." Jace confirmed."I want Zia by my side in the kitchen." Eliana said. "She would act like the strength with authority there." She added."Done. Anything else?
Eliana walked into the bedroom and her husband was on a call. She could easily make up what he was discussing on the phone. It was about the new hotel that was about to be launched. They haven't decided the date yet but everything was ready. It took Jace and his good friend Jayden to get the hotel done. Even though it was an expansion not completely a new project."Hey, beautiful." Jace said after ending the call. Walking towards Eliana, who was also walking to her husband."Hey, Babe." Eliana replied.They hugged each other after sharing a kiss."I love you so much. Today was just amazing." Eliana said."Anything to make my wife happy. Besides, you deserve it all." Jace said. Putting his chin on her head. "I love you even more.""Even Zia and her entire family!" Eliana said. Her hands still wrapped around his torso as they swayed gently in the silence of the night. "You are just so amazing. When did you have time to pull that off?" Eliana probed, looking up at him."Quite some time a
*** A year later ***A maybach drove into Bratkowski's mansion in the evening. In the back seat of the car, Eliana and her husband sat. Eliana looked sad."Wifey, this is supposed to be a happy moment. Why the long face?" Jace asked, caressing her hand.Eliana sighed. "Hubby, I invited them all but no one showed up. They all had one excuse or the other. Not even Maya. She works for you, you should have forced her to show up at my certificate awarding of culinary school." Eliana said with a pout.Eliana got to meet Maya in one of her visits to Jace's office. She was so happy when she met her and realized she was the same lady Axel was drooling over at her wedding.eDestiny is what brought them together because they were destined to be together. As Eliana believed.Jace chuckled and kissed the back of her hand. "I can't force anyone, especially if it is not work related. You know that, right?" He tried to reason with her. "I know." Eliana said, still pouting."Good. Now let's go. The ki
A week has passed and Eliana decided to put one of Chelsea's advice into action. She had already planned everything before she left home that morning.At school, she quickly concluded her practical for that day early so that she can achieve her mission. She headed to the company afterwards.Walking to the front desk at the entrance, Eliana approached the receptionist."Hello." Eliana said at the receptionist. She was still nervous but tried to put on a smile. She was holding onto the lunch she packed for them from school and some things she bought on her way."Good day, how can I assist you -" the receptionist began before looking up. When she looked up, recognition flashed in her eyes. "Oh, Mrs Bratkowski, you are welcome." Eliana was a bit relieved. At least the receptionist recognised who she was. 'She must have attended our wedding.' Eliana thought to herself. That could only be the explanation, since she has never visited the office."I am here to see my husband, can you direct
"Want more sauce?" Eliana asked."Me. Me. Me." All the three little girls at the table cooed, raising their hands up with excitement. They were all savoring the dishes served to them. Eliana prepared the food with the assistance of her kitchen staff."Wifey, this is amazing." Jace said when he was done with his meal. "It is 100 times better than anything I have had that was not prepared by you " he added, while cleaning his mouth.That made the adults on the table laugh. Although they also find her cooking amazing."Thanks hubby." Eliana said with a smile. The children were served a little more of the soup that they wanted more of.Days and weeks later. In the Bratkowski's mansion sat Chelsea and her husband, Jayden, with their two girls, Reha and Myra. Then the Bratkowski's family too. They were having dinner all together. Both families seemed happy as they sat and ate cheerfully around the table.Liam, the little one was on his highchair as well, having his own version of dinner.
"What are you guys not telling me?" Eliana asked. After following Jace into the closet. "After all, I was trying to play matchmaker for Axel." She added, putting her hands on her waist.Jace chuckled as he put on his pajamas pants. "I didn't know that. When did you decide to do that? Playing Cupid and all." He asked."Since our wedding." Eliana said. Picking up the towel Jace earlier had on him. "I noticed how he was gawking over a lady that was sitting at a different table. I wanted to introduce myself to her but then I was distracted for a moment. Before I could get to her again, she was nowhere to be found." Eliana explained.They both walked out of the closet. Jace first and Eliana tailing behind."It turns out he worked it out all by himself." Jace said before sitting on the bed. Eliana walked back into the bathroom. She hung the towel where it should be and then walked back into their bedroom."Yeah, it did. They would have been a perfect match though. She is beautiful and lo
"Wait! What!?" Eliana exclaimed. Her eyes grew wide at Axel's suggestion. She abruptly got up from her sitting position.Jace's eyes were wide as well. "You are joking, right? Don't get my hopes up and then you would say you are joking. Just tell me it's a joke." He blurted. Jace is still seated, but he was close to standing up as well because he was sitting by the edge of the chair.Axel looked between the two as they acted very surprised by his words. "No. I am not. I am sorry I caught you both off guard. After everything I have made you go through. This is the least I can do for her happiness and my way of feeling less guilty for the things that happened." Axel explained."Oh and Jace, that makes you the highest shareholder of the company." Axel announced with an assuring nod. "Because half of mine now goes to my daughter." He added.Alex was still at Eliana and Jace's home when he told them that he was waiting for his lawyer. A few moments later, two lawyers came to their house. T
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! You are here." Amelia cheered, running towards Axel. The butler that walked him into the house took a bow and walked away."Hey Princess." Axel said, opening his hands wide for the running Amelia. He picked her up and swung her around before hugging her close to his chest.Axel laughed and Amelia giggled at that. "Woah. My Princess is getting bigger by the day." He said, after putting her down."Yes. I am a big girl now and a big sister too." Amelia said, as she pulled her father's hand towards the living room. "Mummy, daddy is here." She announced, looking at the direction of the stairs.When Axel arrived, he called Eliana and let her know he was at the gate. The gate was then opened for him and he drove through the huge compound of the mansion.Eliana was changing Liam's diaper then. She told Amelia her father was downstairs. That made Amelia run down the stairs. She was screaming her father's name and could not hear her mother's calling. Telling her not to run