Nightmarish.

Chapter Three.

It feels like ages ago since I walked into the firm's building, the feeling of nostalgia rushes through me while I look up at the building, through the window of the cab like I was seeing it for the first time.

I pay the taxi that dropped me off, reaching back to get the baby's bag in the backseat beside me.

"thank you ma'am". says the driver, handing over my change, "here you go".

"you can keep it, thank you too". I reply, stepping out and shutting the door.

He nods, a grateful smile on his face and drives off.

Walking pass, I enter already feeling the busy atmosphere with people speed walking around, trying to get jobs done. I head straight to the elevator not minding the curious glance I got from the receptionist. I don't blame her, I never came out all through my pregnancy, she's probably surprised as to why the boss's cousin is carrying a newly born in her arms.

I press in the number to Dylan's office, thankful no one else is on the elevator with me. I hope it remains that way till I get to my destination.

Holding my breath I walk in to see his secretary on a phone call, I signal to her and get a curt nod in response.

I knock on his door, just to stall.

"come in" Dylan calls out.

"of course he's expecting me " I mutter to myself, rolling my eyes.

Pushing the door, bag in hand, I step in.

"I thought I mentioned not bringing along your baby" Dylan bursts out, rising from behind his table.

"what do you mean?, you really did expect me out to bring my baby along? I ask him, giving that fierce look.

"alright then, he better not disturb our discussion" Dylan grunts, sitting back down.

He knows better than to make a deal out of this.

"so what was so important for me to leave sleep to be here?" I ask already sick of being with this jerk I call my cousin.

"well, now that the baby's here, what's going to keep you busy till you go back to uni next year?" Dylan asks, pretending to care.

Rolling my eyes, I look at him questioningly.

"uh just asking, is there harm in that?"

" okayyy" I drag out. "i think i want to focus solely on taking care of Kieran Jnr. i can take on remote social media management jobs online, i just finished a course on that". I say, getting a yawn from my baby. "look who's sleepy, momma's boy" I coo at him. "is that a smile i see? uh"

I look up to see Dylan watching the little show i and Kieran were putting up. I look back quickly at my baby ignoring him.

Holding Kieran Jnr up, I ask" and what more does uncle Dylan want?"

"well, there was a paid internship opportunity at a friend's but since you already have that sorted, no problem". Dylan replies.

"thank you but I won't be able to intern while looking after a baby "

" I never even offered you anything since you came in" Dylan admits shamefully. " water seems like the best option as you're breastfeeding".

"of course. thank you".

He gets up and walks into his office kitchenette. Within seconds, he's back with a room temperature bottled water and hands it to me.

"thank you" I mutter before gulping down the water, not realizing I had been so thirsty all these while until he mentioned water.

"so you're heading home after here?" he asks, typing out on his macbook.

"I have a date with Kieran". I reply, ending it there to avoid further questions. I doubt he will get the memo though.

"ohhh" he glances over at me briefly before going back to his macbook.

Seems like whatever he's doing on there is important for him not to ask more questions.

"yeah"

"do you need me to call my driver to drop you off there? He inquires.

"uh I don't mind" can't say no to a free ride now, can I, I almost add.

"alright. he should be somewhere around the premises, I'll just put a call through" Dylan assures.

I'm not surprised as to why Dylan is being nice to me. I remember threatening to tell our family everything that happened that day.

I smile inwardly, pleased I have him wrapped around my fingers. Asking for a car doesn't seem like a bad idea but I'll hate to blackmail him into getting him to buy me one. He just better be on his best behavior and not move to me again.

A knock on the door cuts my thoughts short.

"that should be the driver, just tell him where he should drop you off" Dylan announces.

The driver comes in, muttering a quiet hello, helping me with the baby's bag as I stand up and place the baby's head on my shoulder, careful not to wake him up.

" bye Dylan " I call out without looking back.

"bye Faye " he replies shutting the door behind us.

I wave at the secretary as I walk pass, seeing as she's on another phone call.

Setting on the passenger's seat, I dial Kieran's contact to tell him we were on our way.

" hey babe, Dylan's driver will be bringing us over. what's the direction?"

"hand over the phone to him" Kieran answers over the phone.

I watch as the driver keeps saying alright to everything Kieran says. I really do not what Kieran is up to, looks like a surprise to me.

The driver hands the phone over with a small smile and starts Dylan's range rover.

I look up from scrolling through the internet on my phone when I realized the driver was slowing down. Outside the window, Kieran was standing in front of a fancy restaurant, I smile wondering what he was up to. The driver starts to open his door to help me with mine but Kieran beats him to it. I thank the driver as I highlight from the car, grabbing the baby's bag.

"hey babe" Kieran swoons, kissing my lips. "he's asleep?"

"yeah " I reply.

"let me have the bag then, I don't want to disturb his sleep". Kieran resigns.

Kieran leads the way as we walk into the restaurant.

Looking behind at me, he says "I made reservations for us already in the private session. they don't mind the baby being here also".

"that's great babe, thank you" I reply, smiling back at him.

We reach our seats in no time. Settling down, I take a moment to look around the area. It's quite different from the main restaurant. It's a cool modern vibe here with some beautiful oil paintings on the wall and artfully designed chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

"have you checked out the menu Kieran?" I ask as i try to carry the my baby in a comfortable position for him to sleep in.

"no, I haven't. they have different opinions though. there's Mexican, Chinese, African, American and European dishes here. What would you have?" He states.

"let me see the European options, I think I'll go for an English dish". I mention.

"maybe roast chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, that sounds yummy or roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, pot roast pork with apples or roast lamb green beans and mint sauce, this one's the basic English breakfast though". I read out the menu, looking up at Kieran with that doe eye I'm good at, adding"Babeeeeee, they all sound niceeee".

"do you want to get them all then?" He asks.

"yes babe".

"i don't blame your appetite, you're breastfeeding"

"uh uhn" I add, my mind already devouring the food. Breastfeeding can be stressful and draining too.

"so since that's settled let's see what I'll be getting. I think I'll go for a Mexican seafood dish, camarones a la diabla, it's deviled shrimp". Kieran explains.

"that sounds delicious too" I say, planning to have a taste of his order.

The waiter comes over on Kieran's signal, saying hello and taking our order.

As he leaves, Kieran begins to ask how my meeting with Dylan went.

" he just asked to know what I'll be doing to keep myself busy as I'm looking after the baby and before continuing uni next year. Told him about my plan to get a remote job in social media management. He added that he had a friend with an internship opening, although it wasn't remote".

"oh. you completed the online course already, yeah?" He inquires.

"yeah, finished 3 weeks ago. I already interned and I've applied for a couple jobs too. Just waiting for a positive response".

"that's great babe. I'm proud of you. Of us. We're parents now, I'm glad we're getting our lives together". He says, reaching across the table to grab my hand and squeeze it gently.

"I love you" He adds, staring directly in my eyes.

" I love you too baby''. I reply, mirroring his expression. " how's your classes going? Did you complete the app you were building for Dylan's client?"

"yeah. Dylan said the client is planning to do more, he even referred his friends. Dylan added that I'll be getting a sixty five percentage on every payment from now as it was fifty before". Kieran says.

"babe, that's impressive. I'm proud of you"

"thanks". Kieran replies, smiling sheepishly, looking over at the approaching waiter.