Mr. CEO, I Cannot Be Hidden Anymore

Chapter 2

Amaka's POV:

"Maureen, you know I cannot put Jason in school now. He is only a baby, and I don't want to force books into his head," I said, looking back at my friend and her little husband in her arms.

"Don't mind your mother. I will put you in school, okay? There's a preschool here, so I will go there with you now," Maureen said, and Jason smiled sweetly at her.

"Thanks, Aunt," he said.

"You're welcome, sweetie," she replied and told him to wait, while she prepared his bath and his clothes for his new school.

"Maureen, you cannot be so serious. Jason is my son, and I get to decide for him," I told her.

As her mother had another room, Maureen and I shared hers. Although I could move out and get an apartment of my own, I didn't want to become that selfish.

I managed to attend part-time business training classes with Maureen's mother's help. She looked after Jason for me until he could walk.

My family wanted nothing to do with me. Well, maybe now that they saw I was well off on my own, my mother phoned me last week and claimed she wanted to know how I was, and if I still had the baby.

Unbelievable. I gritted my teeth and ended the call on her. Mom didn't need to know about her grandchild. I was twenty-two years old now, and I didn't need such parents as grandparents for Jason. They would never welcome him or love him like Maureen's mother does. Although she encouraged Maureen not to get pregnant like I did—since Maureen and I were age mates and fair in complexion.

Good heavens, Maureen was in a relationship with a good man from around here. He owned a small business that had gained global recognition, and now he was set to marry Maureen and take her to the city.

As her wedding was still pending, her groom had arrived with his family, I watched with teary eyes how my best friend got engaged to the love of her life. But remembering Joseph Erickson and the silly promises he made to me... After that night Joseph slept with me, he never contacted me again. I searched for his home address after my parents threw me out. But the harsh reality hit me hard.

Joseph and his family had truly packed up, and none of their neighbors knew where the affluent family had moved.

"You shouldn't worry, Amaka. Jason is my son too—I was there the day he was born and watched him grow up. So I am his big aunt and mommy too. As my mom is his godmother," Maureen said with a smile.

"Fine. I have to hurry for this business interview I told you about. You know I want another job to support us now that you will be getting married. I plan to move out too and get a new apartment, so you can go to your new house with your mom," I told Maureen. She had finished folding Jason's clothes as she intended to take him to a new school.

I knew my son wanted to go to school. He saw other kids around here going to school, but I just wanted him to grow up smarter first before I took him.

"My mom wouldn't send you away, even if I am going with my husband tomorrow. Why do you worry about irrelevant things? Anyway, you're running late, and Jason will be late for school. So I have to hurry and take him. You know, as a new student, he will need to do a lot of registration. What name should I file for him?" Maureen asked me, as I finished applying a little pink gloss on my soft lips.

I donned a red top and black skirt, understanding that the company didn't approve of trousers.

As I didn't want to discuss my son's dad with Jason, I knew Joseph would meet him one day—so long as he was still alive and in the city. It wasn't far from where Maureen's mother lived.

After my parents sent me away from home, I had called Maureen on the phone, knowing she was the last friend I had before her mother relocated to the city. But then, they had those billionaires living on one side of the city, while industrial people like us lived on another busy area. So that was why I wanted my son to grow up before I put him in school.

It was so busy around here.

"Just his name, Jason," I said, not wanting to mention my father's last name. My father said my child wasn't his, so I should take my baby to his father. But Joseph had blocked me online. Even though I had his younger brother's profile page, we hadn't chatted since the last time I introduced myself to him as Joseph's girlfriend.

I didn't want to ask Aaron about Joseph. I was heartbroken that Joseph blocked me online and told me to get rid of his spérm. So traumatic.

"You must be joking, Amaka. As you're Amaka Richard, I think your son has a full birth name. That reminds me—Jason Erickson. So deal with the fact that you got pregnant by someone, and your child has to bear his father's name in case of tomorrow," Maureen said, as she stripped off Jason's clothes to help him have his bath.

"Fine. Just name Jason whatever you want as his surname, but know that I have nothing to do with his dad anymore," I said.

Maureen replied, "I know. You should get going. I heard that new company, J.E. Global, is very strict. You shouldn't get late and miss your chance of securing a job with them. It will help with your studies and online job too."

"Fine," I said. I slipped on my black shoes beside the bed and waved goodbye to my son as I clutched my bag.

Once I got out of the room, I came across Mrs. Ann Austin. She was a good woman and Maureen's mother too.

"Good morning, Ma," I greeted Mrs. Ann, and she smiled at me. "Morning, my dear. Are you going out?"

"Yes, ma," I replied, and she asked, "Wouldn't you have breakfast first? There is still time. Or is it not school that you're going?"

"No, ma. I am going for a new job interview, but it's quite far from here. So I have to get a bus to take me to the area."

"Will you get on the Island?" she asked.

"No, I'm not going there. Still on this mainland. It's a new branch office," I said.

"Okay. But still have your breakfast so that you appear smart at work," she advised.

"Okay, ma," I agreed and went to prepare my tea in the kitchen.

"What of Maureen? Has she left the house too?" Mrs. Ann asked me, walking into the kitchen to meet me.

"No, ma. Maureen is in her room, preparing Jason for school."

"Oh!" Mrs. Ann smiled in understanding and nodded her head. "Maureen loves Jason so much, and now she will soon be going to her husband's house. I wonder how she will cope—maybe take Jason along with her."

I smiled and drank my tea. "Maybe," I said. I didn't know whether Maureen want to take my son with her.