AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And yet, when I had approached the man who’d impregnated me by taking advantage of me when I got a little tipsy during our third date, he had gotten angry and had refused to take any responsibility, ordering me to ‘get rid of the thing’.
But the baby growing inside of me was innocent. I didn’t want to harm it. So, I had decided to keep it. At first, it had been a burden, a source of constant stress, and then, slowly and steadily, it had become more than that. It became a she and if there had been any doubts in my mind about keeping the baby, they were all dispelled.
Of course, the father of the child had been furious when he had discovered I was keeping the child. From the very charming man who’d talked me into one date and then another, he showed his true face, the ugliness lurking beneath the surface. The accusations that had been hurled at me, the threats and finally that stupid piece of paper.
Would I have signed it if I hadn’t been worried about my safety and that of my unborn child’s?
Sophie gurgles again, waving her tiny fists in the air and when I smile at her, she laughs.
Oh, how I love her.
There’s still half an hour before the workday begins. The new receptionist who’d been meant to just be temporary, Howard, would now be working under me, had to take the day off. I’ve met him before and he’s a pleasant enough man. But I’m grateful that the first day back, I can simply get back into the flow of things without someone constantly looking ove
r my shoulder.
The sound of the automatic doors opening has me blinking and I glance up before freezing.
Lucas Black, the lawyer for Starr Industries, is entering the building.
Lucas is one of those men who are handsome in that absentminded way. I swear I’ve never seen his hair combed since I’ve known him. He’s funny and sweet and he makes me laugh. He befriended me on my first day here and has been a constant source of support throughout my pregnancy, so much so that he was there in the delivery room with me when I was scared out of my wits. He’d been the first person who held Sophie.
Yet, there were times when I would catch him watching me with a strange look in his eyes. A look, that if I didn’t know any better, I would call longing. But of course, I know better.
I’m a new mother, so I still have most of my pregnancy body as in… I look and feel frumpy, thanks to my short height. Aside from the fact that Lucas could do so much better than me, why would he even look at me? I remember the look on his face when he’d shown up to pay me a visit and I’d been wearing faded pajamas with stains on them, my T-shirt ratty, my brown hair sticking up from all ends, whilst he had been wearing a pristine suit that probably cost more than my salary. He left within ten minutes of that meeting where I’d been stunned and had stammered out three times whether he’d like something to drink, which he’d refused.
Also, after my last experience with a man, I’ve been very wary of them all together as a species.
Although, now with me as a single mom, I don’t have time for a man in my life. Using that as an excuse to step over my slightly bruised ego, I pat Sophie’s stomach making her giggle.
The sound attracts Lucas’s attention and when our eyes meet, although I had been planning to play it cool and casual as if his snub from that day hadn’t stung me, I can’t help the giggle that escapes my own mouth at seeing the piece of burnt toast hanging from his mouth.
He is honestly, the most oblivious man, I have ever met.
I see his eyes light up and why that sends a thrill through my body, I don’t know, but I watch as he strides towards me, a huge grin on his face.
“Elise!”
He sounds so happy to see me that I end up smiling in response. “It’s good to see you, Lucas.”
“Did you bring Sophie?” He peers over the edge of the counter, and when his eyes make contact with my daughter, he looks delighted. “She’s grown so much in these six months!”
How can I hold any sort of hurt against this man who is looking at my baby girl with such affection?
“I brought something for her.” Lucas starts digging in his bag.
I wince. “You shouldn’t—”
He whips out a pretty little bib that has pictures of pandas on it. “I saw it in a store yesterday.” He dangles it in front of Sophie who just kicks out her legs again, beaming up at him.
“I—thank you,” I say, slowly. “Although, you didn’t have to …”
His smile automatically dims. “I wasn’t trying to be too forward or anything. I just—”
“No, no, that’s not it,” I hurriedly reassure him, but he looks wary and now I feel bad.
However, before I can say anything, he looks a tad bit reluctant before telling me, “When I came to your house that day, I thought you were uncomfortable with me being there, which is why I left in such a hurry. Lana told me that you got the wrong impression.”
I wince and curse Lana’s big mouth under my breath and then sigh. There is no way out of this. “It’s okay.” I smile at him. “Why are you here so early though?”
