Page 91 of Secret Seduction

His birthday is next week, and we’re keeping it small, just family and friends coming over to the condo to celebrate.

Before Lorenzo can respond, his phone rings, and when he glances at it, he hits Ignore and pockets it.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he says too quickly.

“Try again.”

He sighs. “It’s the nanny agency. They’ve found someone, and they want to see when I’d like for her to come interview.”

“Why would you—” And then it hits me.

Next month, I won’t be here. The threat is gone, which means I’ll be back at school in Seattle and Lorenzo will need someone to watch Leo while he’s at work.

I open my mouth to say something, but there’s nothing to say. Because we both know that the time has come, and even though they’ve become my world, I have to go back to school and follow my dreams.

“I think a zoo-themed birthday will be cute,” he says with a soft yet sad smile. “I can’t believe he’s turning one. I feel like I’m going to blink, and he’s going to be all grown up.” He stands and takes my hand, threading our fingers. “C’mon, let’s go play with our boy. The water looks refreshing.”

But as we splash and play with Leo, it now feels tainted, like there’s a ticking time bomb, counting down until I have to leave, and I realize every moment with them is the last one I’ll get.

31

Vanessa

Lorenzo

My sister is coming to get Leo this afternoon after his nap. Be ready to go at 6:00 and pack a bag for the weekend that includes a couple of nice outfits to wear out. Maybe a dress that will give me easy access …

I stare at my phone with a mixture of excitement and confusion. It’s Friday, and when Lorenzo was leaving for work this morning, we mentioned watching a movie tonight and ordering in sushi to keep it simple since we were both still exhausted from Leo’s birthday party last weekend. You’d think a simple kid’s birthday at the house would be easy enough. But add in the decorations, the cake, getting enough food for everyone, and planning the kids games, and the one-day affair felt like we had been planning a monthlong vacation.

But all of it was worth it to see the smile on Leo’s face when everyone showed up and spoiled him. He played in the pool with his cousins, ate lots of food and cake, and squealed in delight when we helped him open each present.

Unfortunately, in the middle of the party, I had to excuse myself to register for school because the classes I needed fill up quickly, and with it being my last semester, I needed to make sure I got the ones required for me to graduate on time. As I selected the classes and jotted down the days and times—because I have to be there in person—realization hit that while we’d been pretending like life was normal, in a few weeks, everything was going to change.

And as my finger hovered over my mouse to pick my classes, I considered putting it off, lying to Lorenzo and saying that I couldn’t get the classes I needed and that I would figure it out next semester. But the thought of not graduating on time after everything I’d worked for made me confirm my classes. Because as much as I love Lorenzo, I refuse to put a man above my dreams and future.

Lorenzo

And maybe add in one of those sexy lingerie pieces you were working on the other day.

I choke out a watery laugh at his text as what he’s doing hits me. With Christmas coming up, he’s taking me away before I leave. And the thought makes me both smile and tear up because if I were at a different point in my life, Lorenzo would no doubt be the man of my dreams. But right now, the only dream I can afford to have involves me graduating from college and getting a job in the fashion industry.

Vanessa

I’ll see what I can do.

I spend the rest of the morning playing with Leo, and when he naps, I pack my carry-on luggage, noting the irony in the fact that the last time I used this luggage, it was to go to the Bahamas to escape getting trafficked, which led to marrying Lorenzo, and now I’m packing it to spend a night away with my husband.

My husband …

We haven’t broached the subject of getting an annulment. I know it’s what needs to be done, but the thought of doing so makes what we have feel less real … even if the marriage was only out of convenience.

Once I’m done packing, I take a shower and get dressed in a nice pair of linen navy-blue pants and a simple white top, pairing them with cute white sandals—stylish but simple since I don’t know what we’re doing tonight.

As I’m double-checking everything I packed, my phone rings with a call from Kora, the designer I used to intern with.

“Hey, Kora! How are you?”