Paths Crossed III

Chapter Three.

Erika's POV.

I got into David's car while I let out a huge sigh. "You are perfect at acting." I complimented him while I burst out into laughter. It was funny, and at the same time, it was really painful.

"That is the father of your child? Are you sure you are okay? I mean, you, uhm, you haven't seen him in a while, and with the way he acted, it looked like he still had feeling for you." He questioned me.

"You know I am not that weak, and besides, my daughter doesn't have a father. I was the one who raised her, and I am her father also." I corrected him. 

I didn't think that I would ever be able to accept the fact that he was the real father of Rose. I knew how much I struggled to get to the stage where I was. It wasn't easy for me to raise up my child, so I wouldn't just want him to come and claim Rose that way. 

David ignited the car engine while he drove off. My mind went to all that happened in the past.

It was so tough meeting him today, even though I was the one who planned the meeting. I just wanted to show Charles that I was doing fine already, even though I was not okay.

The only way I could do that was to take someone with me, and act like I had already moved on. To be very honest, I don't know if I have moved on already. All what I felt today was irritation and disgust.

We got to my house in no time. "Thank you very much for your help." I appreciated David; immediately I came down from the car, and he came down from the car also.

"Are you sure that you would be okay after what happened this night? What if he doesn't want to partner with you anymore?" I questioned David out of worry.

"Are you kidding? It's going to be a huge loss to both our companies if he rejects the offer, so I don't think that there would be any reason for him to reject it. He might even want to get closer to you after what happened." David answered.

"Help me greet Rose." He sent his regards to my daughter. "Sure." I answered while I walked into my compound. David was a really close friend of mine.

After the both of us met when I gave birth, he even wanted to be the father of my child, but I turned down the offer since I was not interested at that moment.

I didn't want to be in any relationship with him; I just wanted to maintain the relationship that we had with each other. I walked into my house while I got welcomed with a very soft, warm hug from my daughter.

Furthermore, I squatted down to her level while kissing her on the cheeks. I love her so much, and I would do anything for her. "How was it?" Raven interrupted the mother-daughter moment that the both of us were having that moment.

*****,

I was on the bed, while I tossed around the bed trying to sleep, but I couldn't sleep. I came down from the bed, and then went to the balcony to watch the stars, and reminisce about the old memories.

Furthermore, I remembered what happened in the past between Charles, and me.

I thought my relationship with Charles was a disaster from the start. My relationship started with a contract marriage, without my knowing about it. My parents were excellent at keeping secrets, even though they were not meant to be kept. 

I still remember the first day Charles came to my house. I was just eighteen years old when I fell in love with him at first sight. Everything about him was the real definition of being perfect.

I remembered how desperate I was, for his attention then.

He discussed it with my parents all afternoon in the study. I was eavesdropping outside the door and only heard the word "share". Charles came out of the room to smoke, smiling at me, who was eavesdropping outside the door. At this time, my parents said to me, "This is the heir of the Evans industry and your future husband." I never felt a surge of happiness.

I was so happy that I was going to get married to a man as perfect as that. It was shocking to me, and at the same time, I loved him so much.

After that, Charles often came to my house to discuss the shares with my parents, even though I didn't get to know what they were talking about. 

After my parents died a year later in a plane crash, I found a contract while sorting through their belongings. Only then did I get to discover that my parents gave Charles their shares in Evans Industries at the cost of her marriage. Although I was sad about losing her parents, she still looks forward to her marriage to Charles.

We were in love already, and the contract was not important anymore.

I sold my mom's company after everything that happened between us. I didn't want to have anything that related to both of us together. 

I felt like sleeping, while I went back into my room, so I could get to sleep, and prepare for tomorrow.

******

I went to Wilson's; That was where I was working for now. I was a great asset to the company. Furthermore, I came up with some of the ideas for that company.

David was the CEO, while I was the manager. We work hand in hand with each other most of the time. I walked into my office while being welcomed by my personal assistant.

"You would be meeting with the CEO of Evan's group today." She informed me while I opened my eyes in surprise.

"Isn't that supposed to be David's work?" I wondered why I would be the one assigned to attend to Charles.

"It happened that you were the one meeting with him. David said, I should make you do it." She answered. I rubbed my head in frustration.

Why does it have to happen now, of all times? What is David up to? 

After a while, I walked out of my office, only to see my daughter and Charles together. It turned out that he was having coffee. When did he get here? 

"Rose!" I called out to my daughter while I hurriedly went to where s

he was.

"Take her away from here." I instructed my personal assistant.