Chapter Four

How could I have been so careless that night, having sex with a stranger? How will I tell him I'm pregnant when I eventually see him? What will he think of me? Will he accept, believe, and take responsibility for the child?

I tried as much as possible to be focused at work; I moved through tables, delivering orders and ensuring that clients were satisfied.

Then I noticed him sitting at a corner table, staring at me with his piercing look. My back hair stood up, and the blood drained from my hand.

When our eyes locked, my heart skipped a beat. His eyes had a knowing light in them as if he had been anticipating this moment.

The fact that he was in my workplace adds to the air of unease that surrounds him.

The tray I was holding came crashing down, and all eyes were fixed on me.

We locked eyes for a few seconds, and I tried to wipe up the mess, but one of the cleaners was already on the ground to assist.

I returned to the kitchen quickly, my hand on my chest, panting.

"Take a deep breath!" I said to myself. I tried to make up a whole sentence on how to approach the mysterious stranger.

I steadied myself and approached his table, my head racing with questions.

"Good evening," I murmured, my voice firm.

"Jasmine," he said, his voice smooth and deep, sending shivers down my spine. "It's good to see you again."

Despite my inner misery, I kept a professional demeanor.

"What can I get you for dinner tonight?" I asked, taking out my notes.

He smiled, "Surprise me."

I nodded and returned to the kitchen, my mind racing; what brought this stranger into the restaurant? Is it purely coincidental, or did he have an ulterior purpose?

"Someone seems nervous," Lily, my partner, asked with worry.

"Nothing, I'm perfectly fine."

"Why are you staring at Gabriel?" Lily inquired, a grin on her face.

"You know him?" My interest piqued.

"Of course, who doesn't know Gabriel Jones? He is a wealthy billionaire in his early thirties. He owns chains of hotels and nightclubs in town and across the country.

He was recently voted the most gorgeous man, and I heard he is still single," she continued in a sing-song voice.

I smiled and shook my head, knowing that I was carrying his child. This is quite difficult for me.

Finally, with a platter of wonderfully cooked foods in hand, I returned to his table and placed the platter in front of him.

"You seem to have a mastery for surprises," I said, my voice tingling with curiosity.

He chuckles, his eyes gleaming. "Life is full of surprises, Jasmine. Sometimes we just have to accept them."

His comment piqued my interest even more.

I attended to my other customers throughout the evening, but my gaze was fixed on Gabriel. There was a sense of unease as if something major was about to happen.

As the night drew to a close and the restaurant began to empty, Gabriel motioned for me to join him. As I approached his table, my heart raced.

"What exactly do you want?" I inquired, my voice tinged with fear and curiosity.

"Jasmine," he whispered, his voice desperate and broken. "I've been looking for you, I need to talk to you. There are things I think you should know."

I was overcome with confusion. "Why? Are you stalking me?"

He sighed a look of remorse in his eyes. He shook his head. "I am sorry for showing up in your workplace.

Our bond that night was clear. I need to find you again to check if the spark between us is genuine."

My heart was ripped open by an inflow of emotions. Memories of our intense encounter flood my head, reminding me of the longing and freedom I had felt in his embrace.

And I understand your hesitation. But I can't deny that we share something deep.

His words lit a spark of interest in me. But I couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind.

"Gabriel, if you want to pursue something with me, you must be truthful."

"Wow! Someone did her homework," he interrupted. "I know it's because I called him by his name."

I gave him a stern look, and he raised his hands in surrender and muttered, "Sorry."

"Tell me everything, the truth about who you are and why you left the following day."

His gaze wavered, and I caught a flash of vulnerability in his eyes. "I... I apologize."

"Alright, Gabriel. However, keep in mind that trust must be earned. Show me that you're worthy of my time and trust."

Relief flowed across his face; he cracked a tiny smile. "I'll do it, Jasmine. I promise you won't regret it."

"Good."

Then suddenly, I blurted out, "I'm pregnant."

He glanced at me, stunned.

"I know it's sudden and all. I just met you, and I'm not sure how you're going to take this. It's perfectly fine if you don't want to be a part of our lives, but it's just that after that night, I can't stop thinking about how I ended up in bed with you. I'm sorry," I said everything in a rush.

Then I felt his finger on my lips, followed by a wave of emotions that I hadn't felt with just a touch.

"It's all right," he said.

I was dazed. "It's alright? Just alright?" I asked.

He nodded his head and looked at me, his eyes filled with longing.

"I... I believe you're pregnant, Jasmine."

Gabriel reached across the table and softly took my hand in his. His gaze met mine.

"Jasmine, I want you to know that I am here for you. Whatever you decide, I will support you. We'll go through this together."

What he said made me feel relieved that our paths crossed again, and my child would not be fatherless.

Then I remembered, "What was it you wanted to discuss?" I inquired."