06. An offer you can't refuse

Mariana drums her fingers on the office table and stares at the blank screen, a sign of her fatigue and stress.

Now that was an irony, since the office was in her home, and working indoors was supposed to be the appropriate solution to keep her calm.

It had been a week since the terrible incident in Mr. Jones' office, and every time she remembered the look of sadness, shock, disgust, and death wish on her boss' face, she felt red with shame.

That week's prenatal appointment was still coming up. Mariana didn't want to know the sex of the baby. Just knowing that he would be healthy, and that he would have a more dignified life than she herself had...

The girl sighs. She gets up and goes to the garden to look at the flowers.

Her mother had been much more generous than she had ever thought. When she told her what her scoundrel of an ex-husband had done, and the situation Mariana was in, she had made a point of letting her keep the property she used to rent. 

Now, besides having a job and a corner, she just needed to rest and not throw up on people. It seemed easy.

Her memories wander back to the day she left Maximilian's house three months ago. She was already entering her fourteenth week of pregnancy.

As if he knew he was the source of her thoughts, Mariana's baby kicked her.

"Hey, you little rascal," she speaks to the baby, placing her hand on top of her own belly."

The girl spends a few more minutes staring at her own blooming garden. That feeling of peace was incredible.

Mariana returns to work. While adjusting some forms, she receives an e-mail in her inbox.

The e-mail address is unknown to her. She minimizes the notification and continues working. Maybe it was spam or an advertisement.

After five minutes, however, Mariana gives up. The woman checks her inbox again and looks for the most recent e-mail. 

Mariana clicks.

As soon as Mariana opens the e-mail, her heart races. 

"Mariana, I hope this message finds you well. You may remember me. I have heard about your pregnancy and the... difficult situation you have been facing for the past few months.

Although we have never been exactly close, I know that you need support. Not just advice and congratulations, of course, but something that can really add to your life. Especially now.I would like to help.

I know that it is difficult to trust someone who makes no mention of identifying himself, but believe me, this is only for my and your protection.

I am genuinely willing to do whatever is necessary to remedy the situation. I have financial resources that I can make available to ensure that you and your child have a dignified life. However, I ask that we first talk in person.

I am in your city, and I also know where you work. Don't worry, though. I won't break into your home. Tomorrow at four thirty in the afternoon I will be at the local coffee shop. I will meet you there.

Sincerely, A Friend."

Mariana is speechless at the message. 

She rereads the e-mail several times, trying to absorb the content and process the surprise it brings. Who could this mysterious "Friend" be, and how did he learn about her pregnancy and predicament?

A mixture of curiosity and caution invades Mariana. She considers the carefully chosen words in the e-mail and ponders whether to accept the proposed meeting. 

Although the idea of receiving financial help and support is tempting, Mariana is also aware of the risks involved in meeting an unknown person.

For a moment, she wonders if this could be some kind of trap or scam. However, when she remembers the reference to knowledge of her workplace, Mariana is even more intrigued. Who would have access to this information?

The only people who knew about her pregnancy were James, the man who helped her leave Maximilian's house and the only one who had real faith in her potential, and her own mother. None of them would betray her like that. The very idea was inconceivable.

Slightly shaky, but doing her best to stay calm again, Mariana closes the e-mail and gets back to her work rhythm. 

However, even though she tries her best to concentrate on the numbers, names, and the most diverse information that is rapidly being typed into her computer, there is no way she can stop thinking about that message.

The next day, Mariana complies with her schedule, turns off her computer, and checks the time on her wristwatch. Four o'clock in the afternoon.

She tries to speculate about who this mysterious "Friend" might be. Could it be someone from her past that she didn't recognize from her e-mail address? Or maybe someone who knew her situation through a third party?

The girl takes a deep breath.

It was risky, but she didn't have much choice but that.

After putting on a beautiful black dress, combing her hair and putting on her favorite sneakers, Mariana leaves the house and walks with moderate steps to the coffee shop three blocks away.

The last time she accepted a stranger's invitation for coffee, it didn't end very well.

Taking a deep breath and fighting her own nervousness, Mariana arrived in the slightly crowded room and looked around. There were no familiar faces.

The girl did her best not to freak out as she sat down at one of the tables near the window. If her "Friend" was someone whose face she remembered, that was an excellent place to spy on him.

But her plans didn't exactly work out.

For a person sits down right in front of her, placing her fancy purse on the wooden table.

Mariana doesn't even try to pretend that she is extremely shocked.

For the said "Friend" was none other than Isabella Philips, Maximilian's mother.

"Hello, dear."