Chapter - [ 1 ]

( Evangeline )

My sleep is broken by the loud buzzing of the alarm. Morning has always been earlier than ever for me for last five years. Stretching my arms lethargically, I blinked my drowsy eyes to get rid of the traces of  hardly three hours' sleep.

Slipping out of my comfortable bed, I went to my room' window. It has been my daily routine to start my day by welcoming the rising sun and it's optimistic golden rays which gives me the hope and new zeal to start fresh with the only love of my life but today isn't my day as grey clouds studded the sky and it may start raining anytime.

My only source to live, my heart beats for his smile. He mostly filled the emptiness and dejection of my life after the unfortunate day leaving me on a crossroad of choosing a never travelled way. I left his father for the sake of mine and my unborn son's future.

It was a mistake marrying Colton Black but my silly heart chose a wrong path and I ended up falling for a wrong man who reciprocated my feelings with betrayal.

I was lost.I was broken but then my son's unexpected coming in my life gave me a reason to live for.

Spending a good ten minutes to myself, I freshened up and changed into my work clothes. I glanced at the clock, I still have an hour and half before leaving for my job.

First I need to wake my son up so I went towards his room. Slowly sneaking inside, my lips curved upward seeing the only source of light in my darkness. He was cocooned in his blanket. His mouth opened slightly just like his father.

I tiptoed near his bed and sat on the edge of his bed and kissed his forehead.

"Wake up honeyboo."

"Umm."He pulled the blanket over his head.

"Wake up baby or Mommy will throw you in the water tub." I play with his soft hair curls.

And my trick worked. His eyes jolted open in horror. He hates getting wet.

"No Mommy see Chase is up." He sat straight rubbing his grey eyes, inherited from his father. In fact he is the little version of his father.

"Good morning baby." I showered his face with kisses.

"Eww Mommy I am a big boy now." He made faces. He doesn't like when I kiss him all over his face.

"But you will always be Mommy's small baby." I ruffled his soft black hairs," Now get up fast and bath,y ou don't want to be late at school?"

"You're so bad Mommy. Is it a way to wake up a innocent child?" He whined and trailed behind me to the bathroom.

I smiled on his antics. No one can say he is just five. He acts way mature than any other kid of his age. He understood me thus never questioned me about his father after I cried in front of him when he revealed his wish to meet his father on his last birthday.

I am proud of my baby, my Chase who was created in the most beautiful moment I spent with my husband and after next few days changed for me and soon I found out I was pregnant with his baby and him cheating on me with my own sister.

I was surrounded by a web of lies and betrayals all those years yet my blind love for him never let me see their true faces.

But now, I hate him with every single fibre in my body because he did not only threw divorce papers on my face, he also planned to kill our unborn child. It was the last thread of my patience with him and our toxic marriage.

"Mommy, my toothbrush." Chase nudged my elbow thus snapping me out of my memory lanes.

I looked down at my little bundle of joy. He is staring at me with his big shiny grey eyes.

"Yeah here take it and call me when you're done. Mommy is going to prepare our breakfast." I helped him to sit on the stool so he could easily reach upto the tap.

He nodded his head and I made my way to the kitchen to prepare a simple breakfast for two of us.Veggie sandwich for him and scrambled eggs in tomato paste for myself.

It took me only fifteen minutes and then I returned back to check upon my son who took a long time brushing his teeth but my got a big surprise.

"You bathed yourself?"

"Yes, Mommy see I am a big boy now. I can bath myself." He stated proudly.

"Aww my baby. Let's get you ready then." I picked out his clothes but he snatched it from my hands.

"No Mommy from today I will bath and dress myself. You work hard, Mommy. You get very tired. I trouble you a lot but now I will be a good boy and do my work." He said in his clear accent. His words held sincerity rarely seen in a child of his age.

My eyes teared up. I hugged him tightly. I felt blessed to have him.He filled the place that Colton vacated five years ago.

"Mommy loves you so much and you don't trouble Mommy. I love to do things for you hmm." I stroked his cheeks.

He wiped my tears with his tiny hands and shook his head negatively."Mommy looks pretty when she smile, bad girls cry." He said.

He hated it when I cry and that brought a faint smile on my lips. Finally, I got the immense love from Colton's flesh whereas he used to give me coldness.

Chase is a part of the man whom I insanely loved but his one mistake demolished the future abode I built in my dreams with him and our future children.

I laid out our breakfast in two plates while Chase came there fiddling with his shoe laces.

"Mommy help me with these annoying laces. I hate them."He said with a scowl on his face.

"Here sit and eat your sandwich first while I tie your shoe laces."I helped him to climb on the chair which was a bit higher for him to sit properly.

"No Mommy you will eat with me then tie these ."His face cringed.

"Aye Captain."

I bowed in defeat and he giggled. We had our first meal of the day laughing and giggling on his remarks about his school incidents. He developed a habit to tell me about his school hours and activities he had done. I admitted him in a play school recently and his progress amaze both I and his teachers.

"Lets go honey or Mommy will get late for office and you know your Uncle Grumpy. He hates late comers." I said taking his school bag and my hand bag. He fetched car keys.

"Don't call him that. He is my Ironman and he never scolds you for anything. Do not bad mouth about your best friend." He defends my boss and his godfather.

I dropped him at his school. He hurriedly jumped out of the car.

I hunched down at his level.

"Be a good boy hmm and yeah I forgot to tell you that Aunt Kate will pick you after school because I have a very tight schedule today but I promise,we'll dine at your favorite Mc'donald."I kissed his forehead.

"Okay Mommy but I can't promise you if Eunice eats my lunch and sit with me." He waved his hand and rushed inside his school with his friends.

I sighed in defeat.He is a carbon copy of his father not just in resemblance but also in his antics and behavior.

I always put efforts to teach him good morals that would turn him into a good human being in his adult age. I want to keep him away from the evils he is unknown about his father and his world.

I stared at his retreating figure. Hollowness again invaded my mental piece. Chase is the best distraction from my agony but whenever is isn't around, I feel at my lowest, even hectic work schedule doesn't help in a better way.

Driving off to my office, I managed to reach on time luckily. I still had ten minutes to arrange my things that I was going to need in my pre scheduled work.

Hell!I won't get time to breathe either.Okay it's too much but seriously my boss burdened me in the behalf of my whole team.

All the attention turned towards me as I directed my way to the elevator.They whispered among themselves.I knew what they were gossiping about me.It had been happening since I rejoined this company. Everyone thought that something was cooking between me and my boss. I usually ignored them but deep inside it was effecting me badly. Dominic is the friend who helped me when I had no one and no place to go. He was there when I delivered Chase, he looked after him when I used to attend my college. I owe him a lot.

I walked passed them and entered inside the elevator to reach at my floor when someone shouted.

"Stop Eve!"

The kindest employee and my friend in office and my son's godmother, Katherine came running like a lunatic who escaped from an asylum.

"Easy Kate. You are on time when what was the need to run." I pressed the button for 40th floor and then offered her my water bottle.

"Thanks."S he gulped down few sips of water,"I wanted to spend few minutes with my friend before we start our work so I ran to catch up with you." She smiled.

"You're unpredictable, Kate you know that." I laughed.

"So, our Boss who is going all Romeo for someone very special." She teased me.

"Stop it Kate. He is just being nice to me and there is nothing like your pretty head is imagining." I warned her.

"Accept it Eve. He has feelings for you. It's clearly visible in his eyes and gestures. Please give him a chance. Think about Chase, who loves him and adores him in the way a son do for his father." She advised me for I assume for millionth time.

"I can't replace his father by someone else Kate. This is unfair to the man who created him." I gave her my most determined look.

My heart ached for my son who deserved his father's affection and warmth but his father doesn't deserve a son like him. Perhaps, he might have other children with his second wife aka my sister. The image of them being happy as a couple shoots another pang through my heart.

"As you wish Eve. I want to see you and Chase happy, that's all." She patted my shoulder meanwhile,the elevator dinged open and we made our ways to our respective work place.

Placing my things on my desk, I took the container that I brought for my Boss on the insistence of Chase who told me to keep a piece of banana cake for his suparman.

I took the final draft of my statics report and container and walked to his cabin which was on the next floor. I climbed the stairs this time.

When I entered in his cabin, he was busy typing on his computer.

"Good morning Sir." I wished him.

"Good morning Evangeline and please when will you stop calling me Sir in private." He finally looked up and smiled at me.

"And I told you each time that I can't disrespect my Boss. You are my friend outside this building but during office working hours, I must act professionally. " I said placing the container on his desk.

"Banana cake, Chase kept it for you." I answered his puzzled yet excited look.

"I can feel water inside my mouth. I am coming over your house at evening to meet buddy." He said taking a bite and closed his eyes,"It's heavenly delicious." He moaned munching on the soft sugary treat.

"Dom, sorry but today we have a mother-son dinner out but you can join us for lunch on Sunday." I made apologetic face.

"My bad luck." He pretended to have a heart ache.

"You're funny, Dominic Rodriguez." I shook my head, he is a funny guy in a tough man's disguise.

"And you are a beautiful soul, Eve." He said. His eyes stared me with a strange emotion which I want to ignore but they force me to dwell on what Kate and others say.

"Sorry, I forgot to share something very exciting." He opened his drawer and pulls out an invitation card. Sliding it towards me, he gestures me to read it.

With confusion and excitement, I open the beautiful silver card and after reading the name of the host, my eyes bulge out of my socket.

"Dominic, is it true?" I asked him to confirm.

"Yes, the Riccardo family has invited us to their charity gala where we can meet new investors for our new projects. Think about it, we are now among the very few people who got their invitation. You know what does it mean for us?" He replied in an excited tone, his eyes reflect the same enthusiasm,"You will be joining me to smooth the negotiation if we find some new allies there. You're best at convincing people."

The mention of Riccardo's charity gala refreshed more memories.

I and Colton attanded it three times and everytime he used to leave me alone and involve in his corporate friends. The rich ladies used to mock me on my infidelity to keep my husband glued to me.

"Back to earth, Eve." He snapped his fingers in front of my face thus bringing me back in the present.

"You keep zoning out whenever we talk, Eve. Is everything alright with you?" He asked.

"Dominic will be there." I share my reason of nervousness. It has been five years since I last saw him during the finalization of our divorce. The only thought of coming across him, drops my heart in a deep pit.

His smile dropped on the mention of his step-brother.

"I won't let him hurt you again, Eve. I promise you but if you're not willing to go, I can ask someone else to accompany me." He offered but I can't let him down for my personal reasons.

"No, Dom, I will be fine, trust me. It's been five years and I am no more that twenty one years old girl who used to succumb to his bullying. I can take care of myself." I try to assure him but whom was I kidding? The mere mention of his name reminds me of those horrible days I spent at his house as his trophy wife.

"Okay, if you say so. Be ready at seven. I'll pick you up from your house, meanwhile you can ask Kate to babysit for Chase." He suggested leaning back on his chair.

"I will." I forced a smile and take my leave from his office to resume my work but I have a nudging feeling inside my heart that tonight, everything is going to change.

I don't know if it's for-

Better or worse.