Chapter 6

Although we hadn't seen each other for five years, I could still distinguish Brenda's voice. My hand gripped the door handle as my other hand covered my lips to prevent myself from making any noises. I wished they would leave the bathroom immediately because Mr. McWealth might be angry once it took me so long to be back in the private room.

"Girl, it's better if you will make sure he will not find out about your affair! You know how powerful Lance's family is!"

"Of course! I'm really thankful I always got rid of that asshole's baby!" Brenda's responded. I heard them giggling before I heard someone knock on the door. My heart thumped so fast, making it difficult to breathe when I heard Brenda add, "It seems someone is here. I see the cheap sandals."

"You don't need to be scared because no one wants to mess with you!" one of her friends exclaimed.

“Yeah, Freya is right? No one wants to fight with a powerful woman like you!” I heard her other friend comment.

Brenda laughed hysterically. She seemed to enjoy how the spotlight came to her. How could I ever not notice she was like the others who liked to have the attention of anyone?

“Of course! I'm married to one of the most powerful men. No one wants to mess with my man!” she remarked before I heard the splash of the water coming to the sink.

They continued talking about their secret life before they went out of the bathroom. I was in a rush when I left the toilet, making me almost scream in surprise when I saw Mr. McWealth waiting for me in the toilet.

His brutal eyes landed on mine while his hands were in his pocket. He was leaning on the wall, then turned his back on me when he saw me walking closer to him.

I was waiting for his harsh comments but he never said anything. We were silent when we returned to the private room.

“Let's eat...” he coldly uttered those words before he pointed to the opposite chair. To prevent him from getting mad at me, I obeyed him despite the inquiries in my head.

“My investors will be late so we will go back to the company.” he defensively added.

I nodded my head before I started eating the meal. I caught him looking at me several times before he cleared his throat.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked out of nowhere. My eyes dilated before I coughed several times. It seemed the delicious meal got stuck in my freaking throat.

“Mr. McWealth, I'm not married and I don't have a boyfriend.” I was hesitant about why I needed to answer his personal question. I didn't have a choice but to respond or else, he might be enraged again. What I noticed about his behavior, he didn't like that someone wasn't answering him.

“I don't see any reason why you don't have a boyfriend. Do you know you're quite popular in every department of my company?” I noticed how he became irritated when he spoke those words.

“I know my priorities. Having a boyfriend will lead me to---”

“It means you already got a boyfriend but you two broke up?” He cut me off by telling my excuses. He elegantly took his wine glass and then tasted it. He clenched his jaw before he gave me a severe look. “Do you cheat on your boyfriend, Miss Velasquez?”

“Mr. McWealth, I do believe that your question is too personal. You're my boss and I don't understand why you're interested to know about my past relationship. But to let you know about my past, my boyfriend cheated on me. He's married now.”

“Then what about you? You know I really hate cheaters.” I felt terrible because I was getting infuriated because of him. Perhaps he didn't want to work with a cheater that was the reason why he was asking me. “It's surprising I don't see any information about you. I want to ensure my employee is honest with me to prevent me from trusting a traitor in my company. Don't get me wrong, I've always investigated my new employees that's why I trusted them enough.”

Pain. That was the only emotion in my heart. If he didn't see any information about me, it looked like my father did anything to remove me from his daughter. I was known as his beloved and obedient daughter who would inherit his company.

“You don't need to investigate about me because I'm just a commoner here.” I acted like I wasn't bitter because of what I had thinking. How could my father easily remove me from his life and then enjoy being a father to Ava?

“You came from a prestigious university. It's written in your file, Miss Velasquez.” He snarled, making me flinched.

“I have higher grades. I became one of the scholars at the university I had graduated from.”

He nodded his head before he began eating. I was truly one of the scholars although my father was capable of sustaining my studies. I wanted to prove to him I could handle anything even though I was a woman.

Our lunch was silent and I didn't enjoy the expensive food because I was thinking about Adam and Adeline. I wished they would experience eating with me in the luxurious restaurant. I was fortunate I had two children who would understand me.

I thought Mr. McWealth would bring me to the meeting but he didn't. I was thankful because I discovered Lance was in the office.

“You can go home now. I want you to prepare for our three-day business meeting.” He turned his back on me before he left me sitting in my swivel chair.

“How's your day? I know how good Mr. McWealth is.” Laura approached me when we both saw each other in the elevator. My face turned sour but I tried my best not to expose my emotion.

Mr. McWealth was a bad and ruthless man. I didn't think he was fit to be called a good employer! If Laura knew what our boss always did to me, she might changed her perspective of him.

“Mr. McWealth is scary at first. It's his way to intimidate someone. I know him because I've been working with him for seven years.” she added. She chuckled when I only smiled at her. I didn't know what I should say to her because I didn't want to ruin her mood.

“Did he give you a hard time?” she didn't want to stop so I sighed and then nodded.

“He's scary. If I don't need money, I will not endure his bad treatment of me.” I answered.

“Oh! I'm sorry to hear that but every employee here likes to work with him. You're the only one who's having a hard time.” she was hesitant when she said those words and I didn't know why. “Is it okay with you if I ask why you need money? You're single, right?”

“Yes, but I'm a mother.”

“W-What? I thought you're single.”

“I am. I don't have a husband.” I plainly told her. She nodded, and she seemed apologetic that I became a single mother at my young age. I was, too.

I recalled when I gave birth to Adam and Adeline, I was sad and happy at the same time. Sad because my father disowned me and I wasn't prepared to be a mother for my children. Happiness that despite my being removed as his daughter, God still gave me two children who would light my dark world.

“Oh, most of the man is an asshole. I'm sorry to hear that, Katrina.” Laura was sad because of what she had discovered about me. I didn't want to correct her because it was humiliating on my part once she found out how foolish I was for getting pregnant by a stranger.

When the elevator opened, we separated ways and I went straight to the exit part of the company. I was checking my wristwatch when I accidentally bumped into someone.

“Oh my! I'm sorry.”

I was shocked when I heard her familiar tone. She rushed towards me and helped me from standing up because I wasn't aware my butt bumped onto the floor.

As our eyes met, her eyes became teary which made me look away. My heart clenched in pain when I saw how she looked. I swallowed hard when I felt the lump inside my throat.

“Katrina...” Ava called my name. I turned my back on her and then jogged out of the company. I was panting. I didn't want to see her.

“Katrina!” she yelled my name. When I turned to look at her, my body bumped into the car. A moan escaped from my lips when my head hit a hard thing before I fainted.

“N-No, Katrina...”