Are You My Mother?

Diane's POV

My green eyes searched his face. He had to be joking. How could he ask me to marry him just like that?

"I am— I am very flattered by your request but I feel... It's too hasty..." I said and swallowed the lump in my throat.

He adjusted to the edge of his seat and looked into my eyes. It felt like he could see deep into soul. He brought his hands to the table and relaxed his broad shoulders.

"Besides, I wouldn't want a scandal with your girlfriend or—"

"I don't have a girlfriend," he interjected firmly before I could even finish.

I was tempted to ask about Owen's mother but the darkness in his eyes told me to seal my lips, I wasn't going to like the reply. Besides, if his mother was alive, he wouldn't ask me to marry him, would he?

"What are your concerns?" His deep voice asked lightly as a scowl suddenly sat on his face.

He looked so much like Owen in that instance I felt a pain cut through my heart. If situations were reversed, if we met in different situations, maybe there could have been a chance but not like this.

"Sir, I love my job and I don't want to lose it... If you want me to stay with your son for a few days, I can take three days off and spend some time with him to help him... But marriage..." I trailed off.

Marriage was going too far.

"Seeing him a few times a week or a month won't cut it. He already has nannies and caretakers. He needs a mother," he said in that deep voice of his.

"But sir, I can't be his mother... People don't just become mothers like this," I pointed out.

"Owen is emotionally attached to you for some reason I don't understand, Diane. It will be best if we lived together... And I don't mind if marriage will make you more comfortable," he said with a shrug like he was talking about a mere business deal.

I didn't know where I got the strength to do it but I got off the chair and gave a small bow in his direction. "I am sorry sir. But I can't marry you," I said, and then slowly walked out of the office before he could say another word.

As my legs carried me to the elevator, I found it difficult to breathe. My brain felt detached from the rest of my body.

What sort of drama was this? How could my boss ask me to become a mother to his son? Was this a joke at this stage of my life?

A time when I still battled with my loss... It felt like the universe was mocking me.

All I have ever wanted was a family of my own. A son, I lost and a man, who would love me for who I was and never let me go.

I spent weeks through my pregnancy dreaming about how my wedding with Liam was going to be... I imagined our wedding night before everything got snatched away from me and now, it was being offered to me on a platter of gold.

But not this way... I couldn't marry someone I barely met last night.

I got to the elevator and pressed the button. When it opened I leaned against the wall and tried to stay in control of my swirling emotions as it took me down to my station.

My heart was ramming so fast in my chest that I was tempted to call Sophie and cry out my pain to her but she would be performing at this time. I had to hold it all in till I got home.

Besides, I wouldn't want to distract her or burden her with more of my problems. I was older now and I had a job, I should learn to handle my problems on my own.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I quickly took it out, hoping it was Sophie but I found a strange number and they were requesting for a video call.

Who could this be? I wondered as I took out my air pods from my pockets and connected them to the phone.

I accepted the call and the lump in my throat returned as the small face with bright green eyes came to the screen.

He was smiling at me and he stared into the screen.

"Hey Owen," I whispered as I felt my eyes prick with tears.

I didn't want to admit this to myself earlier but Owen reminded me so much of the child I lost.

If my child didn't die, they would have been around the same age at this time.

"How are you, Owen?" I asked rather than reply, he opened his palm and beckoned to me to come and then placed his hand on his chest.

I fought back the tears not wanting to cry in front of the camera. I sniffed and smiled at him.

"Can you wave at me... Please?" I whispered to him and my eyes turned glassy as he raised his small digits and wiggled them at me.

"That's a good boy..." A warm feeling spread in my heart and I was overwhelmed with the need to hold him close to me.

Suddenly he dropped the phone.

"Owen, where are you going?"

I watched as he picked up a tab behind him. He typed something on it and my eyes furrowed wondering how smart he was.

The other day, he had called, I thought his father helped him dial my number but now, there was no one in the room with him yet he called on his own.

Owen's cute face returned to the screen and he held out the tab to the screen.

As my eyes scanned the words, air got knocked out of my lungs and I grew speechless. The smile on my face vanished and the tears I had been trying so hard to hold back, streamed down my cheeks.

"Are you my mother?" It read.