CHAPTER TWOLydia’s POV
CHAPTER TWO
Lydia’s POV
My heart still beats fast, and my hands are shaking from my encounter with Eric. He is still the way I remember: handsome, blue eyes, jet black hair, and an Adam apple that I get lost in every time it bobbed—like today.
“Mommy, you aren’t listening,” Leo says, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I look at him from sitting next to me on the bus.. “I’m so sorry, darling. Mommy got carried away. What’s up?”
“What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
“Pizza,” I say softly.
“But we had pizza yesterday,” he whines and sulks.
“I’m so sorry, Leo. I forgot to restock the fridge. I’ll do that during the weekend. Please?” I turn to him and give him a pitiful face.
He nods and gives me a soft “okay.”
We get home, and he rushes to his room while I place the pizza into the microwave. As the timer chimes, Leo takes his food and dashes for his room.
When I hear his door click shut, I crash into my chair and sob. I can finally break down. I went over my momentous encounter with Eric today. First, my accidental run-in with him; when I spilled the hot coffee all over his chiseled hard chest. My shock at seeing him again made my heart jump.
Then came the realization that he didn’t even recognize me. The man I spent a glorious night with, who took me to heights I had never before experienced...did not recognize me! My cheeks start burning as humiliation sweeps over me once more.
To make matters worse, when the HR director brought me to his office to introduce me to my new boss, I thought I would faint! Eric Greene. THE Eric Greene. The new owner of the company and the man I had a one-night stand with over 7 years ago are one and the same!
How can fate be so cruel?
My mind drifts back to that fateful evening. He was charming when we met at the bar. Our connection seemed immediate as did our attraction. He never gave me his name and he never asked for mine. We spent the evening talking about myriad subjects…except ourselves.
When the bar closed, he offered to take me home in a taxi. I was grateful for the offer. I invited him in and… At the memory of what followed, I can feel my cheeks flush again. My heart contracts at the thought of the “Eric” he was then.
We were supposed to meet the following evening at the bar again. He said he’d like to get to know me better and take me to a quiet restaurant where we could talk and get better acquainted. But I sat around at the bar all night waiting with no sign of him.
All at once I’m overwhelmed with a flood of emotions. Shock, humiliation, regret, disappointment merged and I start sobbing. I cry for the times I’ve withheld my tears; I cry for the loss of what might have been. I cry for the future…how can I possibly work for him, being near him every day, knowing that he doesn’t even remember our night together?
And there’s Leo…how can I ever tell him that he is Leo’s father? When I picked up my sweet son from school today, the resemblance between the two was overwhelming.
My phone rings and I raise my teary face from my palm. Makayla’s picture displays on the screen and my heart melts. Exactly what I need.
“Hey, Kay,” I sniff and greet her in a feigned happy tone.
“Girl, if you know what’s good for you, you better get your ass off whatever it’s on and come open up the door for me. I have been standing here for the past ten minutes clicking the darn bell, and I am very certain you are home.”
I let out a cacophony of laughter, forgetting my previous grief. I grab the key and go for the door, unlocking it. I was so deep in my sorrows; I didn’t even hear the doorbell ring.
Outside stands my friend from college, Makayla. She’s been there for me when I was pregnant with Leo and has helped me even more than my parents have.
She wears a pair of flares with her breezy top and wavy hair. She flicks at me with a daring, skeptical look and examines my look. “Girl, you don’t look too good. You look like you’ve been crushed by horses.”
I give a sad smile and hug her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I know you are. Now tell me, what’s been going on, because this look on your face is suspicious.” She walks past me and takes a seat on my sofa. I close the door behind me and take deep breaths.
“Where is Leo?” she asks.
“He’s doing homework,” I say. “You want anything? Water? I’ve run out of supplies so I can only offer that now.”
She taps the space close to the sofa and offers me a seat. “Don’t be silly. I don’t want anything. Sit. Tell me what has been happening? I thought you started your new job today?”
I take a chair beside her and like before, tears gush out like a running tap. She is quiet and waits for me to recuperate. When I do, I face her.
“I ran into Eric today and I spilled his coffee.” I wipe my nose with a tissue.
“Who’s Eric?” She is looking at me intently.
“Leo’s father.”
Her eyes widen in shock. “That’s beautiful. Did you shove the seven years’ worth of child support in his face?”
I laugh shortly, then frown. “He’s my new boss, Eric Greene.”
She blinks fast in surprise, then gasps. “Eric Greene is Leo’s father? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Well, I didn’t know that the man who I had a one-night fling with, is Eric Greene…as in heir of Greene Industries. And he’s not the man I knew before - he has changed.” I rub my forefinger and my thumb on the bridge of my nose.
“So, will you tell him?”
“Do you expect me to walk into his office as his new assistant and say to him: ‘Eric Greene, you are the man I slept with seven years ago and a son is the result of our coupling.’ Do you?”
She nods slowly. “Well, of course. Isn’t he the father?”
“He doesn’t even remember me. I’ll just make a fool of myself. Plus, you need to see the way he treated me because I mistakenly spilled coffee on him. He literally would have broken my bones if he had the chance to. Those cruel eyes,” I let out a shudder.
“I knew there has always been a resemblance between him and Leo,” Makayla says. “Anyway, how have you guys been faring?”
“I don’t know how I’m going to cope, but the rent’s due. I’m even behind time.” I bit my lip. I lost my previous job when the small business I worked for went bankrupt. Finding a new one has been challenging, until I chanced to run into a former boss who helped get me this new one.
Makayla searches her purse, and when I notice, I shake my head. “No. For how long do I have to extort money from you? You also have needs. You have your coffee shop to run.”
Makayla snorts. “Well, I don’t have a kid to take care of so you have more needs than me. For the record, you are not ‘extorting’ me. For the record also, you can always pay back when you have enough.”
“And you’ll refuse saying: ‘Lydia, you need the money more than me.’” I try to make the best impression of Makayla when she’s being super nice.
She laughs “silly you. That’s because you need the money more than me. I’m also doing this for the sweet, little kid.”
“Thank you, Kay. I appreciate it. Thank you so much.” I pull her into an embrace and stay there for a time, happy there is a shoulder I can always lean on. And great perfume!
“You’re breaking my ribs, Miss,” she says, and we laugh.
“You’re welcome.”
“Don’t forget to call,” she says as she gets up. “I’ll be on my way. The coffee shop needs someone to run it, sadly.”
I nod. “But you’re sure you don’t want some water? It’s good.”
“Keep your water to yourself.”
I laugh loud and true with Makayla. “I love you.”
“I love you more.”
At that, she leaves, leaving me to drown in the thought that Eric Greene is my boss slash the father of my son.