Two years Later

“Mom, can I have some more gummy bears?” Bryelle, Mayeli's two-year-old daughter asked, batting her long lashes that perfectly complemented her lovely face.

Bryelle was dazzlingly beautiful just like Mom and Dad, though she took her father's light blue eyes, his perfect lips, and his curly black hair. For age she was a smart, precarious child, always asking questions that left Mayeli stunned. She probably got that trait from both of her parents.

“No baby, you've had too much already, let's get you to school”, Mayeli replied, standing up to grab her brown Louis Vuitton handbag.

She was wearing a dark brown Everlane suit, with matching brown Steve Madden heels to complete the look. Her blonde hair was packed in a neat, low bun. As always, she looked perfect.

“Mom, please”.

“I'm sorry baby, let's get going. Uncle Nixen is going to pick me up from school today, cos I won't be back early and Grandma has somewhere to go”.

She straightened her daughter's white short-sleeved shirt, neatly tucked into a navy blue skirt. On her white socks, and covered feet were black Jane shoes, and her long hair was held in a neat ponytail.

She pulled at her daughter, heading for the door.

“Bye Mom”, she said to her pretty fifty-year-old mother who was sitting at the table munching a cookie.

“Bye Grandma”, Brielle’s little voice said.

“Bye, my babies”.

Mayeli unlocked her car door, carefully placing Bryelle in the child's car seat before heading for the driver's seat. Her mind was occupied with the words her mother had spoken two years ago when she informed her of her pregnancy.

“Do you have any plans on telling him?” Her mother had asked in a broken voice.

“Not, mother”, she replied.

She knew couldn't tell him. What would he take her as? A whore who slept with him, just to stick. She would raise the child on her own.

“Why did you do it, Mayeli? I thought you had gotten over him. I know the two of you were quite close, but isn't eight years enough? It's been a long time child.

“I don't have feelings for him Mother”

“Then why did you do it?”

“I don't know, I just missed him. Besides, I was on pills so I didn't expect to conceive”.

“He deserves to know Mayeli, she's his child too”.

“I don't know how to tell him, Mom”.

“Promise you'll tell him when you're ready. Promise me you'll give your baby the gift of knowing her real father. Please promise me my love”.

“Fine, I promise Mother, please stop crying already, it's hurting me”.

She had promised her mother she would tell him, but she wasn't certain she dared to ever do that.

“Aren't we leaving Mom?” Bryelle's little voice called her out of her reverie.

“Sure baby”.

She dropped off Bryelle at school and headed straight for the office. Nixen had just emailed her about an urgent meeting.

“Good morning boss”, Kreed said as she walked through the large doors of JCK firm. He looked nice in his brown Khaki trousers, White turtle neck, and white sneakers.

“Morning Kreed. Where is the meeting holding?”

“The board room. They're waiting for you”.

“Thanks Kreed”.

Trust her to be late to important meetings. She did that eight out of ten times.

She could hear noises emanating from the boardroom as she got closer. She wondered what the meeting was.

“Good morning Mayeli”, the voices of her co-workers chorused.

All eyes turned to her.

“Great, talk about making a quiet entrance”, she screamed in her head.

“Good morning guys, morning Nixen”. Nixen threw her an admiring smile.

“You look spectacular”, he mouthed, making her blush.

“Thank you”, She mouthed back, putting on her best, cute, innocent girl smile.

Nixen Smith was her boss slash the CEO of JCK law firm.

He had been sweet on her since her first day as a junior lawyer at JCK, over the years she had thought his crush would wane, but from the look of things, it grew stronger.

He had asked her to be his girlfriend during the May date on New Year's Day, and she had given him a simple “I'd need some time to think about it”.

Nixen was a great option, probably a perfect one. He was a CEO of a successful law firm at twenty-six, the son of a multi-billionaire, and a strikingly handsome man at that, but she wasn't sure was ready to give her heart out just yet. Besides, it longed for only one man, Killian Rylas.

“Okay, since we're all present, let's get on to the purpose of the meeting”, Nixen said, standing up. He was wearing an expensive-looking Navy-blue suit that contrasted wonderfully with his straight golden-brown hair which he had allowed to fall slightly on his forehead. His bright hazel eyes were focused on Mayeli.

Chairs wheeled closer to the large, brown table, and all eyes in the spacious, white-painted boardroom focused on the boss, Nixen.

“As you all know, Soter Group and Octavia Limited signed a partnership deal two years ago, or is there anyone here who's unaware?” Nixen asked.

Mayeli gulped. She hadn't heard of them in the past two years, that was mostly because she was trying her best to avoid Killian and anything else that reminded her of his existence, though.

“No”, the crowd of men and women mumbled.

“Good. The good news is that they've asked us to be their legal representative, which is huge considering how global they are. This could mean a lot of deals and contracts for us, and we need to do our best for them. We don't want to blow this up”. Nixen's eyes perused the crowd to be sure they were listening.

When he was certain his words had sunk into them, he continued.

“We'll need a lawyer to formally take up all of tMayr cases, with the assistance of others of course, but whoever is picked would be our firm’s representative when it comes to tMayr legal matters”.

“So?” James, one of the firm's most influential lawyers, asked. It was obvious he already thought himself the perfect candidate for the role. He was quite a proud one.

The Senior partners in the room exchanged knowing glances, and Mayeli tried her best to stifle the laughter threatening to spill. Diora made a face at her, making it harder.

“So, we would vote. The people eligible for this position must be senior lawyers though. All you have to do is write a name and toss it in the basket on the table. I'd give you five minutes to be done with that, then I'll announce the winner”.

He placed the basket on the table and sat down.

The men and women in the room set to work, scribbling and tossing. After five minutes, Nixen stood up to announce the winner.

Mayeli prayed silently that she wouldn't get the role. She wanted nothing to do with Killian, and in truth, she couldn't bear to face him, which would be quite impossible if she became his company's legal representative.

“We have a winner”, Nixen announced.

Mayeli could feel the tension in the room. Her sweaty palms were clammed tightly together.

“Claudia Williams”, Nixen's deep voice boomed. “Congrats Claudia, I'll see you in my office in a few minutes to discuss the details. The meeting is dismissed”.

“Me?” Claudia choked, surprised.

Claudia was a middle-aged, tall, pretty lady. She was one of the oldest lawyers at JCK, and with her professionalism, brains, and experience, she deserved to be chosen. Mayeli had worked under her as a junior lawyer when she first joined JCK.

Mayeli let out a deep breath she hadn't known she was holding. Relief washed through her.

She remained seated as the crowd of men and women left the room. Some are happy, while some are livid with anger, and most are jealous.

“Congrats Claudia”, echoed throughout the room.

“I was hoping it would be you”.

Mayeli looked up to see Nixen's tall, perfect body looming over her.

“And I was dearly hoping it wouldn't be me,” she said in her head.

“The people made their choice, and I support it fully”, she said out loud.

“Claudia won you by only one vote. She was just lucky”.

“It's fine”.

“How about dinner on Saturday?”

She threw him an assessing glance. The man simply would not just give up. And somehow, she found herself being drawn to him. She wondered if she was developing feelings for him too.

“Dinner is fine”.

“Alright, I have to get going now”.

She simply nodded watching him leave. She silently thanked God again for not being chosen, before standing up and heading to her office.