chapter 17

Isabella Pov.

Mr John Mcqueen, was really making me question my sanity at the office, each minutes I always caught him stalking me. Concentrating on work was heatic and now I had a man drawn to me, Jada would wink at me occasionally.” Someone is falling” She would whisper and I would roll my eyes at her. It was either he wanted to treat me to lunch or he wanted me to bring a file to his office office.

I was beginning to get comfortable with him but deep down my mind was racing.

Was he the man from the bar?

They had same scars

But he doesn't look anything like it.

Drinking was over for me, I had sworn to myself on the night I had Peter.

If only I wasn't drunk maybe just maybe I would have done things differently.

John asked to treat me to dinner, I agreed cause I was beginning to get acquitted with him, he asked too many uncomfortable questions and I lost my patience.

John had begged repeatedly to drop me off after work but I never ran out of excuses.

I would peep through from the blind to see him waiting for me to walk out, I would secretly tiptoe and run off through the back door.

I went under the knife to change my face cause I didn't want anyone prying in my business.

I just don't want anyone coming to close or trying to feel a vacuum I would rather leave empty.

The last two people I trusted stabbed me in the back in places that hurt the most.

I don't want John knowing about Peter just not yet, I had sworn to protect Peter with everything I had even if it meant putting my life on the line.

And lately Peter was growing inquisitive by the day and I just couldn't take chances. It was always a different story every week.

I hailed at a cab and headed to the nursery to pick Peter. His face looked grumpy, he didn't rush to me like he always does. I hasten my steps walking towards him.

“Baby, ain't you happy to see mama”. I asked rubbing his face, my hands running through his body to know if he was having a cold.

“Mom”. He called out close to tears, my heart pacing.

“Yes baby”. I answered lifting him off the ground and patting him.

“Dose my daddy loves me?”. Peter asked, his face meek, tears gathering in his eyes.

“Yes baby….yes daddy loves you so so much”. I responded my heart heavy, I smiled to back up the lie I just spilled out. He continued.

“Jasper daddy got him a Superman, I want daddy to get me a Superman”. He said raising his hands to the air.

“Oh did he?”

“How about we go to the store to get youaSuperman”. Excitement lit his face,” Yayyyyy” he hugged me tightly his small arm over my body.

I hailed a taxi and we went over to the store, I made sure he got every toy he pointed, the prices were quite over the budget but I couldn't help the smile that spread through his face the moment I threw them in the trolley.

“Thank you mummy”. He murmured the moment I arranged them in his room.

“Do you love mummy?”. I asked rubbing his head.

“I love mummy”. He answered jumping over the place with his superman already carried away

I looked at him in amusement.

Kids will drain you.

“Mummy loves you so much, I would do everything to see those smiles”. I whispered, cleaning the tears that threaten to pour with the back of my palm.

I fixed dinner and tucked Peter in while reading bedtime stories till I could hear him snore.

****

Every morning was always a thing of war, it’s either he doesn't want to wear a sandal or he wanted to go to school with the TV remote.

One time the teacher saw my brassiere in his bag, I felt embarrassed the day I was called to pick it up.

“Peter I don't have time for this, I don't want to be late for work”

“Open your mouth and eat”. I shouted losing patience, he started wailing, rubbing his eyes vigorously.

“Peter stop”

“Mummy you don't me, mummy is always shouting at me”.

“Well that's cause you don't listen”

“I want to go to grandma”

“Alright after school I will take you to grandma”. I pushed the last scoop of cereal into his mouth.

My phone beeped, there was a board meeting in thirty minutes and I was nowhere close to the office.

I hurried off, grabbing Peter's lunchbox and his bag as we headed to the nursery.

His tutor was standing outside by the time we arrived.

“Peter you're late”.

“I’m so sorry, he's being a handful lately”. I apologized tucking his shirt in.

“I can understand ma”. She responded walking him in.

“Bye baby”. I screamed waving, he turned and waved back.

When they were out of sight, I crossed over and took a taxi, I had fifteen minutes left before the meeting.

Fifteen minutes later.

I rushed into the office, adjusting my tag, scanning the whole room to see everyone seated and not in the conference room.

I walked to Jada's desk, my eyes darting back and forth.

“I’m sorry I'm late”

“Did the HR notice?”. I asked my mind to pace.

“Nobody noticed, I covered for you”. Jada said smiling at me. I felt relieved.

“Why is everyone seated, the meeting should be in session?”. I asked confused and retired to my seat.

“It was cancelled, you didn't get the mail”. Jada responded, opening a file on the system.

“Oh”. I unlocked my phone and saw the meeting had been cancelled. My breathing returned, I unbuttoned my shirt feeling relieved.

I scanned my table, running through the unattended files when my phone rang.

It was Peter's school.

Did I forget something?

I was certain I kept his assignment the night before, I picked off and what I heard threw me off balance.