CHAPTER TWO
1442 Words
Latoya’s Pov
I flopped down hard on the sofa, frustrated. Today I was just a few minutes away from spilling the little secrets I said I would take to the grave.
I walked to my room and my head hung down in shame. I pulled out a drawer and brought out a picture of Renny.
My fingers felt through the picture as tears ran down my cheek, “I am sorry, Renny. I hope you understand mummy has to do this for your future.”
I put the picture back where it was from.
“I can do this….It is for myself and my children.”
I stripped down and got dressed in my nightwear. I walked out of my room to Donny’s room.
I slid the door slowly and found him sleeping lightly. This was all I wanted—to be able to provide for my children.
My phone beeped and I opened it to check—it was a text from Jack.
WE NEED TO TALK—JACK
I exhaled, Jack just proposed marriage to me and I am confused about everything.
My phone beeped again—OPEN THE DOOR.
Oh my God he is here.
I inhaled and exhaled as I walked to the door. When I opened it, Jack stood there on the porch with his hair falling to his face, in a well fitted suit and his face as handsome as always.
My heart skipped a beat seeing him in front of me.
“Jack…what are you doing here?” I asked in a low voice.
“Can I come in, Latoya?” He asked with a smirk which made my stomach flip.
“Yeah….” I shifted to the side and he walked in.
Jack and I have known each other for a few months now and he has helped me with a lot of things.
I had a little crush on him and I know he feels the same but he had never asked me out until this evening when he proposed to me.
We walked into the living room as he pulled down his suit jacket leaving only the shirt which had two buttons undone.
I swallowed hard seeing his hard chest on display.
“Let me get you something……” I was about to go to the kitchen but he held me back and pulled me close.
“Hey….I’m not here for that.” He said, as his face was a few spaces away from mine. My eyes glanced at his lips—those lips I wanted to kiss so badly.
“So….what are you here for?” I asked in a hushed tone.
He pushed my hair behind my ears, “You…..my proposal!”
I opened my mouth and closed it, “Hmm, sorry what Proposal.” I asked, trying to act oblivious.
“The one I told you about, Latoya. I am serious about it. I want to marry you.”
Jack dropped the bomb again and I froze.
Do I want to marry him? Yes but he doesn’t know me and I don't know him.
“Jack, I don’t.”
He placed his hands on my lips, “shh…I know what you want to say. We don’t know each other that much to get married. Yes I know and I am willing to date you but I want to marry you, Latoya. You are the person I want.”
My eyes filled up with tears. I wanted to scream that you don’t want me with all my baggage. I am a used girl and a liar but I held myself back.
“Jack, I have a son…What will people say, your family?” I tried to stop the train.
He looked into my eyes, “They would say that I love you and that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter if you have a child, I want you and I would gladly take Donny as mine.”
I swallowed hard, I wanted to come clean right there and then but for some reason I held back.
“I don’t know about this, Jack.”
“I get you…let me make you a deal.” He said.
“Deal? What deal?”
“Let’s date for a while and in the next two months, you are still unsure, I will walk away.” He said to me, trying to bargain.
I looked at him, my mind was telling me not to do it, “Okay, Fine, Jack. Two months.”
He smiled, “Good girl.”
He bent down and placed a soft kiss on my lips and my stomach erupted with butterflies.
**********************************
Two months later
It has been two months now since I held a picture of my daughter—Renny, in my hands. It has been two months since I broke down as I held her picture whispering words of apology to her hoping she would hear it.
Life had in a lot of ways I had never imagined. I was now Latoya Sloth, the wife of the ever powerful Jack Sloth. It was taking a while to get used to it but I would get there.
I stood by the balcony of the penthouse I stayed with Jack and Donny, a cup of steaming hot coffee in my hands as the morning air brushed through my skin.
The city below is busy with life as different cars honk, people rushing to get to somewhere, buildings towering like silent witness to my transformation.
I exhaled deeply
I had never lived this life before, it felt overwhelming but I also felt….safe.
A little giggle broke my thought chain.
“Mummy! Mummy, Look what dad bought me.” Donny, my little bundle of joy came running towards me. His tiny feets ran as fast as they could carry him. In his hand he held a tiny toy airplane and his eyes were filled with so much joy, “daddy got me this! Look how high it can fly.”
I dropped my coffee as I crouched down to his level with my arms spread out. He rushed into my embrace.
“That’s so sweet of daddy.” I kissed his chubby cheeks as I inhaled his baby scent, “did you tell him thank you?”
Donny nodded, “Yes mummy, I did but, but I want to show you how high it can fly.”
“Oh, really…..let me see it then.” I encourage them with a smile.
Just as he was preparing to launch the little toy up in the air, we heard a deep voice.
“Careful there, buddy, you might end up flying with it.”
We turned to see Jack walk into the room with a commanding aura but it softened when his eyes landed on me and Donny. Harry looked so handsome, with his white long sleeve shirt which was rolled up and two buttons undone. He looked like a mafia king and I was trying not to drool.
Donny had a wide smile on his face, “Daddy, watch me!”
Jack stepped forward as he knelt beside the both of us, “Alright, lets see what you got!“
With determination written all over his face, Donny threw the plane with all his might and it flew across the balcony before landing on Harry's feet.
“Hey, that was awesome!” I clapped as I ruffled his curls, “my baby is going to be a pilot one day, right?”
Donny grinned, “maybe…..”
I smiled back at him, this moment was perfect.
After a while, Donny got distracted with his toy, Jack gaze found mine, “You look happy.”
I smiled softly, “That's because I am happy…”
He stared for a while, his eyes darkened, as his fingers slowly brushed through my arms, “so, why do I feel like you are still secretive. Like you are holding back on telling me something important.”
I swallowed hard, he always saw through me.
I cleared my throat, “I am just trying to adjust to this new life, Jack.” I glanced at Donny, “This new life—us, is a lot to take in.”
Jack sighed, his hands cupping my cheeks, “Babe, I have told you already, take all the time you need. I got married to you because I love you and I really don’t want to be apart from you, that’s how I feel at least, from my end.”
The statement made my breath catch in my throat. The tone of his voice sent shivers down my spine.
- Writer
