"I am so happy that you found me, I thought I had no one left in the world especially after the video." Sheila said as she hugged her mother's closest friend and her mentor Elizabeth Benson, the cheery old woman was a source of support and help when she was struggling to find her feet as a teenager.
Her green eyes twinkled and the crow's feet lining her eyes were visible as Mrs Benson almost tried to raise her. "My little Sheila! You have become a beautiful woman and don't you worry about whatever happened, I know for one that you are my prodigy and you are not one to mess up, I was telling Ed that it was not adding up, you will tell me all that happened. " they were in her store, where she sold antiques and pottery.
"Can I ask the guard outside that we will be taking our time?" Sheila asked before stepping out and signalling at the body guard Angelo that Sebastian has posted with her. "I will be having a brief meeting, then we can go. " the hulking man just nodded and took his stand near the door of the store.
Elizabeth looked at her in curiosity, it was obvious she demanded an explanation, "Hmm! The bodyguard assigned to monitor and watch my footsteps from Sebastian Rotelli, the video brought us together, but I am hoping to escape his clutches, he is so arrogant and condescending, he does not listen to me." She complained as Elizabeth brought out a tray of iced tea in tall glasses.
"It sounds like he's in love with you. I know the Rotelli family, they are of the good sort. Here! Have a glass of iced tea. You look tired, and pregnant." She stretched the glass to Sheila, who almost dropped the glass in shock.
"You know! Wait! I'm just a few months in. Like how did you know?" Elizabeth chuckled at the question, Sheila gingerly dropped the glass as she asked. "Honey! I have six children and seven grand children. I know a worried, stressed pregnant woman if I see one. By the way who is the father? Not Dylan? I hope it isn't him." Sheila shook her head in the negative and sighed.
"It is Sebastian's, I never gave in to Dylan, that was one of the reasons he gave for grounds of cheating on me with my half sister, Felicia. Look, Mrs Benson, I am tired of him trying to control my life, we had a huge fight and he almost..." Sheila did not know when she burst into tears.
Elizabeth grabbed her and rocked her, "He thinks... he thinks I am still in love with Dylan, he knew me from when Dylan introduced me as his fiancée, I noticed that we caught each other's eyes but I didn't give him a thought. Now we ...we have this child between us. I feel so sick." Sheila said as wiped her eyes while her mom's best friend rubbed her back.
"I think you need a break from all these happenings, remember the old house at Middleton, that your grandmother left to your mom. The place is a bit run down but it is far away from here and you can have your space. I will set you up with some money, is that all right?" Sheila could not believe her ears, she thought her mother had sold the house.
"Really? Thank you so much Mrs Benson! I never knew this." She jumped and hugged the beaming old lady. It was now time to face Sebastian and tell him she needed a break. She would not play the coward again and she needed to be honest with him, if she wanted to build whatever they were going to have on the truth.
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"Thanks for the lift Angelo, you and Carlos can drop the boxes in the places marked on them." Sheila said as she grinned, her grandmother's cute cottage was before her. Sebastian had given in and declared he will refurbish the house, He had set up the plumbing and wiring and a nice fresh coat of paint.
He had also bought a new wardrobe, furniture, home accessories and baby items, that took a whole lorry to bring in. She had also insisted that she would pay back the money once she started working or beginning her knitting business.
She patted her stomach and giggled "You are going to have the best life, I can give. I will also avenge of everyone that has hurt me." She whispered to her belly.
She entered into the almost different cottage and beamed, the interior designer was the absolute best and everything was so homely and cute. The pastel coloured walls, the flower curtains, the vintage furniture preserved from her grandparents' days made her feel giddy and warm.
"Hey cara, I am on my way, hope you like the design and also the restoration? " she heard Sebastian's voice slide over her as she picked his call. "I do, it is all lovely, I can't wait to bake, knit and care for the baby here." She said excitedly, Sebastian laughed over the phone.
"It must be really good for you to sound this excited, I will be bringing food over and some beverage since you can't have wine to celebrate your house moving. " Sheila grinned as she caught the teasing note in his voice. "Whatever! Just ensure it is Chinese, orange chicken and chow mein are very important and I want a pack of cream sodas." She replied as she heard the ruffling of papers and she knew he was still in the office.
"Yes Ma'am, whatever you decide. You are the boss! " Sebastian said and Sheila stuck out her tongue before saying her goodbye and ending the call. It was time to arrange all her stuff and get her plates ready.
It was not until seven o'clock in the evening, while she was dozing and journaling on the sofa, that she heard the door bell ring. "Sebastian! Hope you got my food? I..." Sebastian was not at the door to her surprise when she opened it. It was Dylan, her ex standing on her porch.