2. The Question

“Everyone, this is Ethan Ambrose, the CEO of AMC. He’s my friend and the guest I was talking about. He will take a look at today’s demo,” I heard Mr. Smith, our president, but I wasn’t able to greet the guest along with my team. I couldn’t move my tongue and was left dumbfounded.

Months ago, I was so sure that New York is such a big city that it’s impossible for us to meet again. I was at peace for these past months seeing my career growth and how Jacques adapt to our new life, but now that I’ve seen this man again and knew that as long as we’re breathing the same air, it’s always possible for us to meet again, I don’t think I can still be at peace.

I know every child deserves to know their father, and I know Jacques needs his father too, but Ethan Ambrose is not the man I want to father my child. Rumors about him aren’t just rumors. He’s really ruthless and has a bad temper. I bet he will never want the responsibility of being a father, especially if the child was made by accident. I don’t want Jacques to get through rejection from his own father. For a child, it won’t only hurt him. It will scar him for life.

“Hello, Miss Ambers.”

My heart leaped when I was called by Mr. Smith. I saw how Ethan’s eyes drifted to me but I remained looking at Mr. Smith.

“She’s Julianna Ambers, the one who made this new product possible,” Mr. Smith told Ethan and it was the first time I hated my achievements to be told.

“Hello, Mr. Ambrose,” I greeted in a the most normal way I could. Our gazes locked for a moment, and the whole time, my heart was ramming on my chest. Thinking how possible that we’d meet, the thought that it’s also possible that he would somehow recognize me made me more nervous than I’ve ever been.

Ethan nodded, not even a small smile touched his lips. His electric blue eyes were blank, and noticing his prominent high-bridged nose, I gasped. I remembered Jacques. How can he take so much from his father when he’s not even meant to meet him?

The demo started and I struggled to keep my focus and do my work without glancing at Ethan’s way. I can feel his stare, but then maybe he’s not just watching me alone but the whole team. I don’t think he finds me familiar. I’m just afraid that if he had seen my face for long, he would recall me in the past. I really hope he slept with so many girls after that so he won’t recall even fragments of what happened between us.

The demo went well and I was relieved that I didn’t made mistakes just because I’m anxious with Ethan’s presence. Our team earned praises from the higher ups. Ethan talked with Mr. Smith and they agreed with each other. I was convinced that Ethan didn’t remember anything when he immediately left with Mr. Smith after that.

What do I expect if he did, anyway? Even if he did recognize me and remember what happened, I doubt if he’d bother himself to approach me about it. I’m sure it’s nothing important to him. What’s important now is that his presence is not a threat to my son.

“This calls for a celebration! What do you think, guys?” Rachel asked us.

“Yeah. We deserve a night out! Should we, Miss Anne?” Jake asked our head.

Miss Anne raised his brow. She the smiled. “Fine. Let’s have a team dinner, then maybe we can also drink a bit.”

“Sorry, I don’t think I can go,” I said that made them all turned to me. We have five in our team including me. Miss Anne, Rachel, Jake and Monique.

“Come on, you are the star tonight, Juli. Can’t you come with us just this one time?” Rachel smiled like a puppy at me.

“Yeah, you should be there,” Monique added.

“You know I’d love to, but my son is waiting for me.”

Miss Anne shook her head and sighed. “Fine, fine. You can go. Jacques is waiting.”

“Thanks, Miss Anne. See you guys.”

I sighed and went out of our lab. I went straight to the basement to get my low-end car I bought last month. Though, I stopped on my track when I saw who’s ahead of me.

Ethan Ambrose is leaning on a sleek black car, alone, and his dark blue eyes piercing through me. I’d like to think that he’s waiting for someone else, or that he’s just standing there to wait for time to pass, but the way he stared at me made me think that he’s standing there, waiting, because of me.

But since I don’t want to think that way, I tried to believe that I’m only assuming things as I continue walking, head-on but not looking at him.

But just as I was to walk past his car, I immediately regretted that I didn’t walk faster. He spoke all of a sudden that scared the shit out of me. He called my name. He fucking called my name.

“Julianna Ambers.”

I swear, my heart stopped beating.

Three long second passed, and then I breathed. He was already walking towards me.

At that point, I had no choice but to face him. I’d like to bet on running but that’s obviously not an option. I turned on his way, just the time when he stopped a foot from me, and I was betting that this is just all about the presentation I had earlier.

Maybe he just wants to praise me for being a good employee, or maybe he wants to comment on something I did earlier, or maybe…

I was lost in thoughts when I smelled his familiar scent. Suddenly, fragments of memories came running in my mind and I couldn’t help but tighten my grip on my shoulder bag.

I cursed myself at the back of my mind.

Get ahold of yourself, Juli! You are facing a great danger and you have time to think about that? Think about Jacques! Think about your son!

I feigned a polite smile. “Oh, Mr. Ambrose… you’re here. I didn’t notice you right away as I was thinking a lot of things…”

“Really.” He raised a brow as if he’s very much convinced that it was only an alibi. Like he knows I’m avoiding him on purpose.

“Well, if you have nothing else, sir, I’d like to leave first—”

“You were that girl, weren’t you?”

My eyes widened.

“The girl I slept with four years ago.”

No.

This can’t be.

“I…” my mind went haywire as I struggled to come up with something. “I think you are mistaken, Mr. Ambrose. I’m just a mere employee, why would you think that way?”

He didn’t say anything and just stared at me.

“Besides, I didn’t live here in New York for years. I just came back recently—”

“You came back? So that means you’ve been here before.”

Damn. This smart man is trying to catch me in my own words.

“Yeah, I’ve been here before. I studied here, but I had to go back to my town after college, and that was where I worked for years. So can how I meet and sleep with you, Mr. Ambrose?”

“Did you also suffer from amnesia, Miss Ambers? I can’t be wrong. You are that girl. I remember you.”

The way he said the last words with conviction shook my faith. How can he be so sure? I was drunk when it happened but when I woke up the next day, I was sober and I recognized him. He was my boss but I didn’t have direct interactions with him, but I’ve seen him many times. How about him? I doubt if he even knew that certain Julianna Ambers existed in the world and worked for him. So how the hell is he so sure?

“That... is impossible,” I uttered in disbelief.

“Of course, it’s possible. I could even remember vividly how you look that night,” he said in a low cold voice. “Your hair was shorter, you were wearing a black pencil skirt, white button down blouse and black blazer… the color of your undies were—"

“Stop!”

I looked at him with tears in my eyes. I was furious.

“Fine! I was that girl! So what? It has been years. Who gives a damn in one night stands today anyway? That was in the past and I admit, I was reckless to sleep with my boss while I was drunk. But I don’t care about it now, and I know the same goes to you. So can you please just shut up and act like that never happened?” I was almost pleading.

He can’t know about Jacques.

“Tell me. Did I get you pregnant?”

That question made my world stop.