Velvet Shadows

CHAPTER FOUR

Ahvi's POV

Three Years Later

"Happy birthday Ahvi!" My fiancée, Luan, yelled as he lifted me off my feet, twirling me in the air.

"Okay okay! Thank you," I giggled, resting my hands on his shoulder to support myself. "Now drop me down before I get sick."

Luan looked up at me then winked. "Of course ma'am." With a swift movement, he dropped me, making me land softly with my feet on the floor. "I love you." He said as he leaned in and pecked my lips.

"Hmhm, I love you too." I giggled against his lips. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss until...

"Mom!" A little voice interrupted, echoing from the hallway as little feet can be heard approaching us. I pulled away from Luan headed towards my son, Milo.

"Hey baby!" I cooed as I carried him in my arms, gently kissing his cheek. He twirled in my hand and looked up at me.

"Happy birthday mama." He murmured under his breath as he leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you my love."

My son, Milo. Initially, I anticipated resentment, yet the moment of his birth eradicated all prior grievances. Holding him in my arms for the first time melted all my past hurt. He inherited his father's striking electric blue eyes, dark curly hair and straight nose- a physical echo of Nael. Though, once a source of unease, now, Milo is solely my son. My beloved, cherished child, born not of a one night stand encounter, but a responsibility I had fully embraced.

"I think I'm a little jealous of all the mother-son love," Luan snorted behind me before wrapping his arms around us both. "God, am I the luckiest man alive?"

I giggled as I leaned my head on my chest."Or I am the luckiest woman alive?"

"Come. Let's have breakfast." Luan said as he pulled away from the embrace, gesturing towards the kitchen.

Two years ago. I met Luan in his bakery. Milo, then five months old, accompanied me for an old -fashioned mother-son stroll around the city. Upon arriving in Miami, shortly before Milo's birth. I resided with Mrs. Cole, a friend of Mrs. Hale who needed an assistant. She secured an apartment for me, allowing time to deliver and care for Milo before my employment commenced. After his birth, I enjoyed three months of rest before I became Mrs. Hale's personal assistant, managing her business remotely. A nanny cared for Milo during work hours, and I also received time off, acknowledging my status as a nursing mother.

Returning back to Luan, I actively avoided romantic entanglements, scarred by my experience with Nael and my ex boyfriends. Relationships felt risky, I was hesitant to even make friends. Yet, Luan altered my perspective, unveiling facets of myself I hadn't known. I was completely captivated by him. Luan's relationship with Milo deepened my affection even more, despite knowing Milo's background, he embraced him unconditionally, behaving like a devoted father. He fostered a familial connection, a sense of belonging I'd never experienced. For the first time, I truly felt part of a family, not just surrounded by people.

"Thinking?" Luan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. We were done with breakfast but we both sat there, while Milo was in his room playing or watching TV perhaps.

I shrugged, rolling my shoulders. "Just...brainstorming about everything,"

He said nothing and smiled, reaching out for my hand, holding it in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to worry about the past,"

A sigh escaped my lips. "I'm not actually... It's just, well...surprising how I got there."

He was about to speak then my phone rang, interrupting our conversation. "Hold on, I'll get that." I reached out for my phone and picked the call without even checking the called ID which was a very mistake.

"Ahvi.." The sickening sound of my father's voice boomed through the phone.

"Father," I pressed my lip in a thin line as I answered, immediately Luan's grips on my hand tightened. "What is it?"

"Rents expired," he slurred, the sound irritating my ears. It was barely 10am and he was drunk already.

"So?"

"What do you mean by So?!" He yelled, making me flinch. "I need money and you're my daughter so provide it!"

I bit my lower lip, trying to conceal the harsh retort I wanted to dish out to him. "Unfortunately father, I also have bills to pay. My work hasn't been doing great, so therefore I can't provide for my family."

He snorted. "I am family,"

"I meant my main family," I gritted my teeth, my patience wearing thin. "My son and my fiancée."

"Isn't your fiancée rich? Doesn't he own two businesses?"

I let out a deep breath, Luan's eyes were still on my, soft and filled with worry. "He has to put his money back into his business in order for it to grow. You wouldn't know that as you're a f*****g liability."

He stayed silent for a moment, I had almost thought he had dropped the call until he burst out laughing. "Oh right..that's true. You f****d a random bastard at a club, gave birth to a bastard and now you're sleeping around with a baker,"

My hands curled into fist under Luan's grip, my anger was one button away from blowing over the rooftop. I cleared my throat. "Well, atleast the baker is capable of raising a family, unlike you father. If you hate me so much, then stop calling and asking me to pay your shits!" The last sentence came out as a murmur, but I was sure he heard me loud and clear as he began cursing before ending the call.

I slammed my phone on the table, careful enough not to break it. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I mumbled as I stood up from the chair. "I need to head to work now, I'll see you later." I walked towards him and kissed his cheek, then left the kitchen, headed to my room to get ready. After I was done, I picked up my keys and headed to Milo's room where he sat on the floor watching his favorite show. Tom and Jerry.

"Milo," I cooed as I walked in.

"Mama," he turned to me with a wide smile, got up and ran towards me with his arms wide apart.

I bent down to his level and kissed his forehead. "I'm off to work, take care baby." He nodded and went back to sit on the floor, now lost in his favorite show. I bidded Luan goodbye one last time, grabbed my things and left the apartment headed for work.

I had just remembered Mrs. Cole instructed me to come over for a serious meeting with a business partner she planned to cooperate with. Something N.Nickel Company or so. I didn't know much about it, but the owner was estimated to be worth over 20 billion, so I heard rumors.

I tapped the wheel nervously as I sat in my car. I was the one that was going to handle things on her behalf, would I do a great job? Honestly I'd rather stay at home and have cake with my son and lover, and celebrate my birthday in the best way I could. But nooo, I just had to be the one to present our small advertising company to a freaking billionaire.

Great!

It took me an hour to finally arrive and the moment I got down from my car, I was met with an angry Mrs. Cole.

"Mrs. Cole!" I grinned. "Surely you didn't come all the way down from your office to give me a hug for my birthday?"

She folded her arms as she raised an eyebrow at me. "Get upstairs young lady!"

I raised my hand in defense. "Sorry, traffic. Who's the client by the way?" I asked as we both walked towards the building. She pressed the elevator button as we got in.

"N.Nickel, that's his name. He only goes by his initials. A multi billionaire whose wealth is said to be from generation to generation, but that's not what makes him special. He is said to have his own money all by himself without mommy or daddy's help, he's extremely secretive and only few knows of his identity. We were lucky to get him to come to our company himself."

"Ohh, fancy" I rolled my eyes dramatically. "If he's that big, then what does he want with us?"

"Actually.." Her voice trailed off as the revelator door opened. "It's what we want with him. I've been trying hard to get a contract with his company. It's said that everyone who has done business with him, all are successful. If we were to get this. It's game on. However, that isn't why I need you, it's for something else."

I stopped walking, the weight of the responsibility pressed down on me. "And if it's that crucial, why me? I'm among the youngest of your staff here, so why me? And what is this something else?"

"Because," she sighed as she held the doorknob that led to her office. "You're among the brightest."

I rubbed my hands together and blew out air from my lips, summoning all the courage I could. We both walked into her office, I stood next to the door while she sat on her seat. The client, I suppose, sat on a chair opposite her, his back to me.

"Mr. Nickel. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Mrs. Cole then gestured towards me. "That is my personal assistant. Miss Ahvi, she will be handling business in my stead. I trust her enough to do a good job."

I swallowed hard and walked towards them, murmuring a silent prayer under my breath. I turned to face the client. "Hello, I am-" My voice caught in my throat when a familiar electric blue eyes stared into mine.

Nael?!