Nicholas's jaw tightened as he stared at her, his knuckles were white around the pen he was still holding and though he said nothing Rache could see every bit of it in his eyes.
Rachel sat back elegantly, her fingers playing around the edge of her wine glass, "What's the matter, Nicholas?" she asked sweetly, looking into his eyes, "for some reason, you look upset."
The silence from him was enough to answer her question, but she asked anyway to enjoy the moment.
"You didn't mind having other women back then, going around different cities having one-night stands with different girls telling them how much you loved them." she continues, "Loyalty shouldn't be a thing for you if I remember right."
Nicholas's eyes darkened.
"Well my boyfriend." she continued, her tone softening, "He's never looked at another woman, he's been loyal, Kind and easy going." She pauses and watches his expression, "And you think I'll just drop him for you, because you showed up with a pen and a contract?"
Nicholas twisted in frustration and Rachel saw the little bit he showed her.
Nicholas returns his gaze to the contract, staring at it for what felt like an eternity, his pride screaming at him not to give in.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, "Fine," his voice low and dry, "If that's what it takes."
Rachel smiled and reached forward and picked up the pen and signed her name on the bottom of the document. Her signature on the paper felt like a victory.
She returned the signed contract back to him and met his eyes,
"Congratulations, Nicholas," she said smoothly, with a smile, "You've got your wife….but not your woman."
Nicholas said nothing, staring at both the woman in front of him and the folder containing her signature.
He felt had won, yet somehow, it felt like a loss.
Rachel took the last sip from her glass, setting it down with a soft clink and without offering another word, she rose from her seat and turned away from the table.
Nicholas didn't move, he just sat there, staring at Rachel walking away, with little clinks of heels.
She didn't look back.
A small victorious grin formed on Rachel's lips as she walked out of the restaurant, her figure like a queen leaving her throne.
She told herself, 'This is only the beginning, Just a fraction of what is to come, a fraction of what he made me suffer.'
Rachel removed her heels the moment she got into her apartment, the cool wooden floor calming her sore feet.
But before she could even make it to her room, a soft voice called out.
"Mommy?"
Her eyes immediately towards the living room. David sat on the couch, with a blanket half sliding off his tiny shoulders, his favourite stuffed lion in his arms.
"David?" she blinked, "Why are you still up?"
He rubbed his eyes sleepily, trying to send it away, "I couldn't sleep, I wanted to see you."
Rachel's heart softened immediately.
Whatever armour she was wearing during that dinner disappeared in an instant and she walked over to him, kneeling beside the couch.
"I told Tessa to put you to bed," she whispered, brushing back his hair backwards.
"She did," he murmured, "But I was waiting for you to return, mommy."
Rachel sighed gently and wrapped her arms around him, "Well, I'm here now," she said, smiling softly.
"Mommy?"
She brought her gaze back to his, "Yes, sweetheart?"
David turned his gaze to his fingers, "Where is Dad?"
The question had hit her harder than it should have. She was hoping he had forgotten and hoped that the stories she had told him about his dad being a busy doctor or faraway hero would keep him from asking more questions.
But it didn't.
She knew she would have to talk about it one day And with Nicholas already convinced she had a boyfriend, it was only a matter of time until he would have to meet him.
Rachel finally spoke, "Baby, He's…..he's still far away."
"Where?" David tilted his head, clearly not satisfied with her words.
She forced a small smile, "He's working overseas, Somewhere very far away and a very special job in which he helps people, that's why he can't be here right now."
David frowned a little, "But why doesn't he call me?"
Rachel swallowed, hating herself. "It's hard where he is, the connection is really bad there. But he thinks about you all the time and he asks about you through….someone I know."
David's lips pressed together in thought and smiled a little, "Okay….but when will he come back?"
Rachel tucked the blanket around him a little tighter and kissed his forehead, "Soon," she whispered to him, "Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but someday and You just have to keep being patient and strong, you can do that for me right?"
David nodded and Rachel gave him another hug.
Rachel carries him from the couch to his room, slowly and steady.
She tucked David into his bed and sat beside him watching his eyelids close as sleep began to take him. She leaned down and places a soft kiss on his forehead, whispering, "Goodnight, my sweetheart."
She quietly walked back to her own room, the house was silent and her mind replaying the evening's events. She closes her room door behind her, Rachel let out long air from her lungs.
She slipped out the fine dress and wrapped herself in her towel. Tonight reminded her just how broken things still were, how David deserved more not her lies or confusion she brought to him.
He deserves better.
Rachel walks into her shower, trying to build the ideal man for her and her child.
She imagined a man, strong, kind and patient. Someone who would make David laugh and teach him how to ride a bike or protect him when she couldn't. Someone who would love her not for obligation, but because he chose to.
She closed her eyes and chuckled softly under the pouring shower, "Time to find the perfect candidate for the job."