I stared at the note with a completely stabled breath, almost numb. I was beyond shocked — I was scared.
How did he know about that tattoo?
How did he know me so intimately?
I exhaled and gasped for breath. It wasn't just that. My world was crashing down and my kid was smack in the middle of it. I couldn't let anything happen to him… he meant everything to me!
But how was I going to figure it out, earn myself back and save him, all at once?
…
I didn't do any work for the day. It was quiet in my cabin and it felt nice to have some peace. However, the clock ticked 6 PM and a beep resounded loudly — maybe in the entire company.
I guessed it was the time to go home. Even though the thought of going out alone scared me, I packed my stuff and came out of the room.
Thankfully, the corridor was empty. All I could hear were my footsteps and soon, I took the stairs to go down. I had always been afraid of elevators.
"Thank you, mam." I heard a voice that startled me.
I turned to see the receptionist with a sweet smile. Exhaling a sigh of relief, I managed to smile back. "There's no need for that."
She just smiled and I, finally, went out.
_________
Reaching my home, I searched around for Andrew — and finally found him sitting on the bed quietly, studying. I raised my eyebrows in shock.
As soon as I see him, my worries disappear. I almost forget about everything else.
"Wow. What am I witnessing today?" I asked with a sheepish smile.
He looked at me and smiled. "Hey, mommy. I just thought about completing my work so I can spend some time with you."
I went and sat beside him.
"Oh, what happened to you suddenly?"
"No-nothing."
I looked at him confused and deep down in my heart, I felt afraid. I didn't know what happened. What if Xavier did something? Maybe told him something? He was acting so weird and today, of all days?
"Did you meet someone new today?" I asked, trying to sound natural.
"Yes, mommy! There was this girl — Ava. She was so good to me."
"Girl?"
"Yes!"
"Who is she?"
"Just a new classmate, mommy! She made me her friend so easily."
I smiled. Then nothing was wrong. What danger could a six-year-old possess? I was just getting worried for nothing.
"Mommy, I am feeling hungry!" he suddenly said and I got up.
"Come on, I will make dinner."
"Yayy!" He said happily.
It is almost magical how easily children can become so happy. I smiled to myself as I prepared dinner.
"Yummy!" Drew said as he finished his dinner.
I smiled. "Now, go and wash your hands."
He ran to the kitchen. I shook my head, thinking how immature and how naive he was — and how important it was to save him from the cruelty of this world.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang and my gaze averted to the door. Who could it be, at this time? I don't have many visitors — and dad surely wasn't going to come back, after what he did to me.
I slowly got up and took careful steps towards the door. I peeped through the hole and gasped as I realized the person.
"I know you know it is me. Open, now."
I kept a hand on my mouth and looked around, finding someplace to hide or run. I didn't want to face him — not when I was with Andrew.
"Go away!" I whispered near the door.
"We can do this nicely if you just let me in. Otherwise, Andrew will have to see the drama."
I closed my eyes and exhaled. Having no other options, I opened the door.
He smirked.
I scoffed.
"Well, this is a nice place." He looked around.
"What do you want?"
"Well." He closed the door and invited himself to sit on the couch. "Nothing much. I just wanted to see your house."
"Well, then you can leave now."
He looked at me, his eyes sharp. "I have to do one last thing."
"What?"
"Andrew!" He shouted and I gasped.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you call him!?" I shouted back in a low voice.
Andrew came to the living room, confused. He looked at the man sitting on the couch and then at me.
"Mommy, who is he?" He asked in his cute voice.
I looked at him and then at Xavier, having no idea what to say. "I… he-he is—"
"A friend. A very close friend," Xavier cut me in between.
I looked at him and scoffed inside.
"Wow! Mommy, I didn't know you had friends too!"
I smiled while giving a half-glance to him. He got up and came to me, while I took a step back.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I whispered.
He smirked. "So, do you suggest we go into a room?"
I scoffed and went towards Andrew. "Drew, me and my friend here need to talk about something, so we will come back later. He… we just wanted you to meet him."
He smiled brightly.
"Okay, mommy."
I kissed his forehead and sighed, as he tickled back to his room.
Giving a sharp gaze to Xavier, I walked over to him. "Follow me."
He gave me a simple smirk, which evidently made my blood boil. Then, I walked inside my room.
He did the pleasure to lock it.
"Why did you lock it?" I tried to put up a strong face.
He smiled. "Well, we don't want Drew to pop in while we're doing things, right?"
I ignored his inappropriate statement, but pointed out what irked me, "You don't get to call him by his nickname."
"Well, what can you do if I do?"
"So why bother buying me in the first place? You could've just done what you wanted to!" I said in a louder voice, irritated.
"Well, here's the thing." He made himself comfortable on the bed. "You would have had every reason to fight back if I did it that way. Since now your dad's happy life is in my hands — you won't try to ruin it, right?"
"Why should I care about him? He deceived me." I lied.
"Well, it is okay. You'll learn with time that it is in your own best interests to listen to me." He smirked and got up, walking towards me.
I took a step back and let out a nervous laugh. "Y-You don't have work? You're a CEO. You might be b-busy."
"Oh, no, baby. I have the entire night for you."
I breathed heavily.
"No. No, you can't do this." I ran to the other side of the room but he chuckled.
"How long will you run?"
"As long as I can!"
"Well, I—" Xavier was cut off by Drew's voice.
"Mommy, there's someone at the door!" He shouted from the other side.
Seeing the wicked smirk Xavier gave, I understood that he had something to do with the late-night visitor. I sighed, thinking that it was kinda good — I will make sure not to lock myself in a room with him again!
I opened the door and got out.
"Why don't you go inside, honey? I will check the door. You should probably sleep." I patted his head and said with a smile.
He nodded and went back to his room.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips, followed by another doorbell. I went to the door and peeped — only to find a delivery man.
I opened the door. "Ms. Walker?" The man asked.
I nodded. He handed me over a big parcel and left.
Xavier came out of the room and looked at me with interest. I closed the door and stared at the parcel box — with no slip at all.
"How did he know my name without any slip?" I asked him.
"Well, maybe he was a personal delivery man. Just saying."
I sighed and kneeled down to open the box. As I successfully cut the tape and opened the folds of the cardboard, I gasped loudly.
Both of my hands covered my mouth in response and I almost screamed.