Laura
"Ma'am, you have a call," my bodyguard said, stretching the phone to me.
"Thanks," I said, collecting the phone from him. I glanced at the caller ID. It was Shawn calling.
I answered the call. "Hello, baby," I said, loud enough for Lorenzo to hear me.
Lorenzo stiffened and his facial expression turned grim. He glanced briefly at me with an arched eyebrow.
"I'm just leaving the company, baby. You can come pick me up for the date by eight, honey," I said, forcing a smile on my face. "I love you. Bye."
Lorenzo cleared his throat, and avoided looking at me.
"Ms. Roberts, are you dating someone else?" A reporter questioned. "Have you completely moved on? Weren't you madly in love with Mr Lorenzo?"
"Lorenzo is my past." I braced myself for his reaction.
"Laura—"
"Ms. Roberts," I corrected.
"I'm sorry for what happened five years ago. Give me a chance and—"
I pulled my shoulders back, lifted my chin defiantly, and stared straight into his eyes. "I have to go. I really do not want to miss my date," I said with a smile. I turned to the Press. "And to everyone watching this. You don't realize what a precious thing you have until you lose it."
Lorenzo looked visibly hurt and disappointed. He just stood there, his mouth agape as he watched me get into my ride.
"Please hear me out," he insisted, his tone sad and placating.
I took a deep breath before I spoke. "Get me out of here."
An hour later, I was standing in front of the mirror, staring at myself in my black fitting no-hand dress laced with tiny bits of diamonds. I admired my look in the mirror.
"You look perfect, ma'am," Fiona, my hairdresser and make-up artist said with a smile.
"Thank you," I said, smiling back at her.
A guard walked in. "Mr, Shawn is here, ma'am."
I nodded. I grabbed my silver purse. I started heading to my kids' room. I slowly opened the door and saw Luke and Lena paying attention as nanny Kate read their favorite storybook to them. I smiled and slowly closed the door.
I went downstairs and saw dad seated on a couch. "Hello dad," I said with a low-pitched voice.
He averted his gaze to me. "My beautiful damsel," dad uttered, standing to his feet. I approached him and hugged him. "You look so beautiful, my child."
"Thanks, dad."
"Now, don't keep that young man waiting," he said. "Have a great night."
"I will."
I walked out of the building, to see Shawn leaning on his car with a bouquet of roses.
A guard helped me walk down the stairs. I approached Shawn. "Did you send me flowers this afternoon?"
"No, I didn't," he said, a bit worried. "Here. This is for you. Mr. Roberts said this is your favorite."
I took the flowers from him. They used to be my favorite flowers but after that divorce, things changed.
"Thanks," I said, my eyes raking him. He had a thing for blue suits but today, he was in a black shirt, with all the up buttons opened, like the first day I saw him and a black pair of pants. His chest was exposed. His black midnight hair looked wet and longer. He smelled very nice. He looked sexy and enticing.
I locked eyes with his charming green eyes.
"You're so pretty and elegant," he said, huskily. "So flawless. You're quite a charm."
"You're flattering me, Shawn," I drawled.
"I swear on my life, I'm not."
"You look great, Shawn," I replied.
He quickly opened the car's door for me. "Please get in, my lady."
"Shawn," I called out, shyly as I got into the car.
He got into the driver's seat and started driving.
We arrived at a hotel.
"Hello, Mr. Shawn and Ms. Roberts," a lady said, as we walked into the building. "Please come with me. Your reservation has been made."
We followed her to a secluded peaceful and very beautiful room. There were dim lights, flowers on the floor and table, a dance floor for couples, bottles of wine and a waiter.
"This is too much," I muttered.
"You deserve more," Shawn said, taking my hand.
"I hope you like this, Mr Shawn and Ms. Roberts."
"It's beautiful," I said, smiling widely.
"You did a great job, Rosa."
"Thanks. Have a great time," she said, cheerfully and left.
Shawn brought out the seat for me. I sat down and he sat down, too.
"I feel so lucky."
"It's not luck, Ms. Roberts, it's hard work. You worked hard for this. You're the most hardworking woman I've seen in my life."
"I'm hungry," I said, as quickly as possible. I hadn't eaten anything since morning and I needed to slide the topic away.
The waiter came closer. "This is the menu, dear couple—"
I laughed, heartily. "We are not a couple."
"Oh, sorry. I thought you both were married," the waiter apologized. "What would you guys like to have?"
We ordered food and ate.
"Do you want to dance?"
"I can't dance. Never really danced."
"Well, you have to try something first before—"
"Trust me, I deserve to be in the Guinness Book of Record as the worst dancer in Atlanta Bergen."
Shawn began to laugh. His laughter was infectious and it made me laugh too.
He stood and stretched his hand to me. "Well, I am so good at dancing. So, I will teach you how to dance."
We started dancing to the rhythm of a slow love song.
"You called me baby, earlier today."
My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. "Um... Lorenzo showed up."
"He did?"
I nodded. "You should have told me. I won't spare his ass."
I laughed.
"What did he want?"
"He wanted me to hear him out. He wanted us to get remarried."
"After what he did to you? Who the hell does he think he is?"
A tear rolled down my cheeks. "I never thought I would see him again. Not to talk of him wanting me back."
Shawn's fingers traced my cheeks.as he cleaned my tears. "He's not worth your tears, Laura. You have moved on. You are successful and so many people look up to you." He looked at my hand and kissed it. "I'd never let anyone hurt you again."
I stared at him. "I'm fine. Lorenzo is my past."
"Do you still love him?"
I stood on my toes, biting my lips, "Kiss me."
His hand traced the back of my neck, gently and at the same time fiercely, then he bent down and took my lips. He sucked on my lower lips and the next minute our tongues were curling around each other. He pressed his knees in between mine. We were alone, at the moment.
My breathing was heavy, as he carried me in his arms. My hands were tracing his hair, neck and his chest.
"Are you sure you want this? We can stop, now," he whispered in my ears. I could hear his heartbeat.
This was the only way to forget about Lorenzo. But I just couldn't do it.
I kissed his lips and whispered back in his ear, "I want to go home."
***
I arrived home and walked straight to my kid's room. I slowly opened the door and walked in. "Hey, Kate, are they asleep—"
"Mummy," Luke and Lena screamed in unison, climbing down the bed. They rushed to where I stood and hugged me.
"Sorry, ma'am. They refused to sleep. Lena and Luke have something to tell you and they were waiting for you to come home," Kate explained.
I got worried for a hot minute. I knelt in front of them. "What is it that you want to tell me, that can't wait until tomorrow?"
Lena and Luke exchanged looks which made me tense. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, mommy," Lena said with a smile.
"So, what's it?"
"Do you know Uncle Lorenzo?" Luke asked.
My eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Where did you hear that name from?"
"We actually met him, today, in school," Lena said, folding her arms.
"He came to pick up his daughter from our school and made friends with us. He's so nice."
His daughter?
"And he says I remind him of someone..."
Did he already know they're his children?
"Of who?" I asked, fear surging through me.