Chapter 31- The Strange Feeling
" Mom, what are you talking about?" I asked her as I turned to Bella so she doesn't see my face, my mom always had, should I say a superpower, because she'd look at your face and already know what you're thinking. It was scary sometimes.
" I'm your mother and you seem to forget I'm a very observant woman, I saw the way that man looked at you, and from what you told me, your company is a very renowned company, so which of the boss is he?"
" He's my boss, like the CEO of our company,"
" Now can you tell me what a very busy CEO was doing in this room? When he could send someone in his stead I know he doesn't do this for all employees, so care to explain,"
" I'm his secretary mom, so if I don't come to work everyone would surely know and I'm closest to him than the other staff"
" Let's say I believe you, explain why he was looking at you the way he did, I know when a man likes a woman, don't fool me, Anna, I know you're hiding something," Now I was trapped.
" I..I.." There was no way out, if Cole was here he would be very upset with me, I had told him I couldn't bring myself to tell my mom because Luke was in the room and the situation at hand, but now she was asking me who he was to me and I was stammering unable to tell her the truth.
My mom looked at me with her arms folded her eyes studying me.
" You guys are in a relationship isn't it?" Busted, I was busted.
" Mom, I…Yes," I finally accepted as I looked down ready for her scolding. I knew my mom, she had always been the strict one among my parents.
" Anna," She called my name as the room went silent. I knew she was making up a full encyclopedia to blast me with.
" He's your boss and you're both dating, what do you think people would say about this?" She asked sounding disappointed, I don't know why she was judging me, I didn't do anything wrong.
" That's why we both decided to keep it a secret, it was my opinion to keep it secret, he didn't care about showing me to the world," I told her.
" People are still going to talk,"
" But I met him before I found out he was my boss,"
" And might I ask what kind of relationship you both had when you met?"
" Mom please stop interrupting me like this, I'm an adult and I know what's good for me," I said trying not to get angry and sound disrespectful.
" Listen to me young lady, I remember how you called me crying when that young man was it Derick or whatever his name was. You were crying and the last thing I want is a repeat and even worse you're at risk of tainting your image, do you want that?" She asked me and I shook my head.
" Then break up with him,"
" No Mom, I won't, I can't break up with Cole,"
" I'm telling you this is going to end badly, I'm warning you now to break up anything you have with him before you get too attached, listen to me now Isabella, please,"
" Mom, I'm fine, Cole is not a bad guy, He's the best guy I've met, you don't have to worry about anything,"
" I still don't like this, people are going to spoil your name if the information about your dating goes out, that's the last thing I want,"
" That's why we're being careful Mom," She didn't say anything but I knew she didn't accept the relationship because she was worried about me.
But Cole was it for me.
I came out of the hospital room to get coffee for Mom, I had a lot of work at the office and I was worried about how Cole was doing in the office, I was working from the hospital room trying to reply to emails and carry out tasks I could do remotely.
I got the coffee and returned to Bella's room, Mom was cleaning Bella's body as she whispered for her to wake up, I kept the coffee on the table informing her that I'd brought the coffee.
" Mom, when is Dad going to come?" I asked her as I sipped on my coffee.
" He would have come with me today but he was on a leisure trip with his friends when I told him about the news, he has to fly from Italy to Texas, so he'll be here by tomorrow,"
" Okay Mom, I'm glad you're here," I said.
The doctor came to check on Bella and we hoped for some different news but he told us the same thing that he had been telling us for the past two days, I was getting really scared.
Mom was trying so hard, I could see the way she was blinking away tears so she didn't become a sobbing mess in front of everyone although she couldn't control the silent tears that fell from her eyes.
My Mom and a nurse were taking care of Bella while I resumed work.
The house was so empty without Bella, her presence in this house always made the room lit up. I couldn't wait for her to wake up and come home.
I got into my car and drove to work my whole body feeling exhausted and drained, the last thing I wanted was to go to the office and I knew Cole wouldn't mind but I didn't want to do that, I didn't want to use the girlfriend privileged that it becomes suspicious to others.
As I reached my office I dropped my bag and then I sat on my chair with a sigh not until I noticed the flowers on my table, I hadn't noticed it earlier because I was absent-minded.
They were beautiful red roses and there was a note, I thought Cole had stopped his flower sending.
I opened the note as I read it;
" Whenever you feel like giving up or you feel sad, remember that you have my handsome face to look at."
Love, C.
I couldn't help but chuckle. I was still looking at the note when Cole walked in.
" Good morning Sir," I said with a smile as his eyes went to the flowers and he smiled at me knowingly before walking into his office.
Funny man.
The day went by in a rush and soon it was time to go home, Cole had dinner with his parents courtesy of his mom who wouldn't stop calling, so he had no choice but to go.
I packed my bag as I got ready to leave, I took my flowers and then walked out of the office.
As I entered my car I felt like something was off, maybe my mind was trying to tell me I forgot something in the office but I couldn't think of anything I must have forgotten. But the feeling wouldn't go away so I decided to go back to my office.
Just as my hand touched the car door a hand covered my mouth and when I looked at my mirror to meet familiar eyes, my heart sank.