Mr. CEO, I Cannot Be Hidden Anymore

CHAPTER 2

Amaka's POV:

"Maureen, you know that 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 small husband in her arms.

"Don't mind your mother, I will put you in school, okay? There's a small children's school here, so I will go there with you now," Maureen said to Jason, and he 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 dressed him for his new school.

"Maureen, you cannot be so serious. Jason is my son and I get to decide for him," I told her. Her mother had another room. Maureen and I shared her room, although I could move out and get an apartment of my own, but I didn't want to be selfish.

I was able to go for part-time business training classes with Maureen's mother's help. She looked after Jason for me until he was able to walk. My family didn't want to have anything to do with me. Well, maybe now that they see that I am 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 am 22 years now, and I don'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, as Maureen and I were agemates 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 become globally recognized, and now he was set to marry Maureen and take her off to the city.

As her marriage was still pending, her groom had arrived with his family. I watched with teary eyes as my best friend got engaged to the love of her life. But I remembered Joseph Ericson and the silly promises he had 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 neighbours knew where the affluent family had moved.

"You shouldn't worry, Amaka. Jason is my son too, as I was there on the day he was born and watched him grow up. So I am his big aunt and mommy too, while my mom is his godmother," Maureen smiled.

"Fine. I have to hurry for this business interview I told you about. You know I want to have another job to support us now that you will be getting married. I plan to move out too and get a new apartment so that 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 going to school, but I just wanted him to grow up a bit more before sending him.

"My mom wouldn't send you away, even if I go with my husband tomorrow, Amaka. Why do you worry about irrelevant things? Ugh. Anyway, you're running late and Jason will be late for school. 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 to my lips.

I donned a red top and black skirt, understanding that the company didn't approve of trousers. Although I didn't want to discuss my son's dad with them, I knew that 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 I was sent away from my parents' home, I had called Maureen on the phone, knowing that she was the last friend I had, before her mother relocated to the city. But then, there were those billionaires living on one side of the city, while the working people like us lived in another busy area. So that was why I wanted my son to grow up before putting 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 that 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 had blocked me online and told me to get rid of his spérm. So traumatic.

"You must be joking, Amaka. You're Amaka Richard. I think your son has a full birth name. That reminds me: Jason Ericson. 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... name Jason whatever you want as his surname, but know that I don't have anything to do with his dad again," I said.

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

"Fine," I said. I put on my black shoes by 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 in the living room. She was a good woman and Maureen's mother too.

"Good morning, Ma," I greeted her, and she smiled. "Morning, my dear, are you going out?"

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

"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 go to the Island?" she asked.

"No, I'm not going there. It's still on the 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 the kitchen to prepare my tea.

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

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

"Oh!" she smiled understandingly and nodded her head. "Maureen so loves Jason, and now she will soon be going to her husband's house. I wonder how she will cope. Maybe she'll take Jason along with her."

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