I stepped into the office that morning ready to tell him everything. My heart was beating too fast but my mind was clear. Lorencio's face stayed in my head like a shield. No more running, no more fear.
Before I even reached my desk, his assistant called my name.
"Miss… the CEO wants to see you."
I felt it immediately.
Something is wrong...… very wrong.
I walked to his office slowly and when I opened the door, he was already inside, standing with his back to me facing the glass wall that showed the whole city.
He didn't turn.
The room felt cold but eerie and dangerous and then I took two steps in and that was when I saw them.
On his table...…..
Pictures....
My breath caught in my throat.
Me...….. pregnant.
Me holding Lorencio...
Me sitting outside my mother's house...…..
Me on my last day before I left town.....
My hands started shaking.
How did he get these? Who took these images? And when?
A lot circulated my head but then his voice cuts my thoughts.
"Is there an explanation to why I'm seeing pictures of you, your mom and a boy who looks like me on my table?"
" i …..I didn't... I....I wanted to meet you, and I didn't send them….." I stuttered totally lost of words as every speech I practiced throughout the night escaped from my head.
The sound that followed shattered the room.
He grabbed a porcelain vase from his table and threw it hard against the wall smashing into pieces. I screamed without meaning to, body jumping back in fear then he turned to face me. I had never seen him like this..... his eyes were red.... Empty... broken...hollow..... and I caused all of this.
"How could you do this?" he yelled.
I was speechless, broken, lost of words, devastated and all I could do was just cry cos he wouldn't understand.
"What is his name?" He added voice a bit controlled.
"Lorencio." I croaked out.
"Why?" He whispered
"I wanted to tell you."
"All you've been about was your family's business. I had to protect him cos they would have taken my son!" My voice rose bitterly.
" I was just 19..... I had no job, no money asides what you gave me, I would never win such a case over your family."
"I did what I had to and I'm sorry you got caught up in all this."
"You didn't even give me cha—"
"What would you have done?"
" I would've just ended up like—"
It came out before I thought about it and I saw the hurt on his face again.
"I.... Am...Not... My... Father" he spoke slowly and dangerously as he took a step closer to me.
"You never trusted me nor believed in my love for you. Heck you never even loved me....."
"How could you do this to me?" He whispered
"You know that's not true...…. I loved you so much, I just—"
"I'm sorry....." I broke down in hot tears.
"Will being sorry take away the pain you caused me? Or bring back the time apart from my son?"
"I would've done anything…..I …..I jus—" then he stopped taking a deep antagonizing breath before turning away from me, voice unfamiliar and numb.
"Get out!"
"Andro...I"
"Don't call me that! Now leave before I say something I'll regret for the rest of my life."
.........….
A whole week and nothing from him, when his message came, it was only one line.
"Meet me Tonight."
I told myself I wasn't afraid. I told myself he wouldn't hurt me. He wouldn't...… No matter how cold he could be, no matter how furious he is, I knew I'll always be safe with Alessandro.
Still, my hands shook as I smoothed my dress and walked into the restaurant.
I came early quite early, anything to not anger him even more. I sat straight my eyes on the door my heart pounding like I was waiting for a verdict.
When he walked in, the room shifted..... he had a Black suit on with no tie. His presence alone quieted everything around him, his eyes found me immediately and something flickered there...….
Suprise....
"You're early." he said as he sat across from me.
"I didn't want to upset you" I replied quietly.
His jaw tightened and I knew this wouldn't be gentle. He didn't waste time, straight to business.
"I've done a lot of thinking and I've come to a decision."
"You both are moving in with me."
"What?" I gasped in shock
"How dare you!" My voice rose already furious.
"You think you can just waltz in here, make such demands and expect me to abide by it?"
"We are going to get him right now..... I've prepared your rooms and everything you both will be needing to get settled."
"Tomorrow we"ll be going to his new school to get him registered, already made arrangements for all of that."
I stare at him in utter disbelief, my mouth still wide open and confused at what my ears were hearing. I know I expected the worse but this! I never imagined.
"You can't be serious..."
"Well I am...…. except you want us to do this the hard way."
He leaned toward gaze darker and terrifying but I wasn't intimidated. I won't let him treat me like a property.
"Then you're in for one hell of a ride cos that is not going to happen." I countered back with finality.
"Alright."
"I'm taking my son"
The words landed like a gunshot.
I froze
"What?"
"My son," he repeated calmly.
"He's coming with me."
My breath hitched.
"You don't get to just—"
"You don't get to decide that anymore," he cut in
"You made decisions alone once and you don't get to do it again."
"I want full custody of lorencio."
"You think you can walk back into my life and take my child like he's some property? Y…..you can't do this."
"You have no right to take my son Alessandro!" My voice rose but then as if he knew this would happen so it was just us there.
"I have every right and you know me too well , you cannot win this fight."
"Please.... Don't do this to me." I broke
"Then move in quietly while I'm still being nice."
"How do you expect that to work? If you didn't hate me before I guess you do now cos it's evident. And what about Celia?"
"Aren't you both together? Do you even care how she'll feel about all this?"
Whatever I have with Celia or anyone is none of your business. You will do as I say or loose access to Lorenzo.