CHAPTER 02. She's not your mother.
1694 Words
Ryan's innocent curiosity often led him to question the world around him, and that evening was no different. As he asked about the person his father was conversing with, Ezekiel dismissively replied, "No one important."
Then, Ryan's hopeful innocence took over as he mistook me for his potential new mother, exclaiming, "Is she my new mommy... She's beautiful." His excitement was palpable, but inwardly, I was taken aback. His quick attachment to me, a stranger, sent shivers down my spine. Sociopaths weren't known for their ability to connect with others, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
Ezekiel's reaction mirrored my own disbelief. He adamantly denied Ryan's assumption, emphasizing that I was neither beautiful nor his mother.
When Ryan hugged me tightly, it was as if he'd known me for years, not mere moments. His affection was heartwarming, but it also presented an opportunity to get back at Ezekiel for his mistreatment of me.
Ezekiel's shock was evident as he questioned Ryan's action, clearly taken aback by his son's unexpected display of affection.
Despite my surprise, I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the absurdity of the situation. Ryan's request to show me around only added to the surreal nature of the evening.
Ezekiel's stern warning not to refer to me as a mother ignited a fire within me. It was time to push back against his tyranny, even if it meant risking my job.
As Ryan expressed his desire for me to stay, tears welling in his eyes, I refused to let Ezekiel bully him into submission. I scooped Ryan up, determined to protect him from his father's cruelty.
Ezekiel's frustration grew apparent, his remarks veering into insults as he tried to assert his dominance.
With Ryan in my arms, I stood my ground, challenging Ezekiel's authority with every word.
After Ezekiel stormed off, I tucked Ryan into bed, marveling at the luxury of his room and vowing to keep my promise to him.
The next morning, I rose early to prepare breakfast and lunch for Ryan, determined to shield him from the monster that lurked within his own home.
"I think you enjoy seeing me," I teased with a giggle.
"Don't flatter yourself, May," Ezekiel retorted, his tone turning cold as he shot me a glance that could freeze time. I immediately regretted making that joke. If looks could kill, he'd have vaporized me on the spot with his icy stare.
"Let me go take a bath and head to work," I said hastily, eager to escape his presence. Death felt like it was knocking at my door, and I needed to find something to do before I found myself unemployed.
"Good, remember, if you're late, then you're fired," he reminded me, kissing his son on the cheek as he casually munched on an apple.
"But..." I started, attempting to reason with him. Why was he being so harsh? I didn't sleep at my apartment last night, yet he didn't even acknowledge me this morning. This level of coldness was unprecedented.
"It's not like you're special," he remarked, his gaze cutting through me like a knife. Wow, he was really laying on the cruelty thick.
Under my breath, I muttered, "You don't know me, Mr. Knight. I'm a Potter."
Ryan piped up, "I want mommy to drop me at school, please."
"Whatever," Ezekiel sighed, rolling his eyes once again. If I kept track of how many times he rolled his eyes, I'd probably hit a million by now... or close to it!
"Maybe tomorrow I'll be free. I don't want to be late," I reasoned, trying to salvage the situation.
"Well, you can be a few minutes late just because Ryan likes you," he conceded with another eye roll before walking away. Those six-pack abs were distracting. Despite his attitude, I couldn't help but admire his physique. Oh no, I was definitely falling for the brooding boss trope. If I wanted a relationship, I'd jump at the chance with his Adonis figure.
"Let me go take a bath, then we'll get going," I announced.
"Yeah!" Ryan exclaimed, his excitement infectious as he anticipated our outing.
After my bath, I reluctantly donned the conservative clothes Ezekiel had brought. It was like he wanted to ensure no skin was visible. Well, I didn't have much of a choice.
Outside the Knight Mansion, I urged Ryan, "Hurry up, you're going to be late!" His uniform was immaculate, and he looked every bit the schoolboy.
Ezekiel emerged, impeccably dressed in his suit. Despite his silence, he exuded an undeniable charm. He climbed into his Maybach and drove off to work without a word. This man had issues, but his allure was undeniable.
Ryan apologized, saying, "Sorry for keeping you waiting, Mommy," as he climbed into the car.
"It's no biggie," I assured him, starting the car and activating the GPS.
Then Ryan spoke again, his voice tinged with sadness, "I'm sorry, Mommy, that Dad is mean. That's just how he is."
Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but ask, "Where's your mom?"
He replied quietly, "I don't know... I just heard from Dad that she left us."
I instantly regretted asking. The pain in Ryan's voice was palpable. I cursed myself for causing him further distress.
"Are you okay?" I asked, guilt gnawing at me.
"Of course I am. I have you, and I'm sure you won't leave me and my dad," he reassured me, his resilience shining through despite his pain.
"I won't leave you," I promised him sincerely.
As we continued our journey to the school, Ryan sought further reassurance, asking, "Promise?"
"Yes, I promise," I affirmed, making the sign of the cross with my hands.
We arrived at the school, greeted by the sight of Blue River Pre-school, a fancy and impressive establishment, at 8:12 a.m. It was located in Greenville, adding to its allure.
"Wow, your school is beautiful," I admired the view, imagining what it would be like to attend such an impressive institution if my mom were rich enough to afford it.
Ryan responded, "Yeah, it's just like you." His words caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but blush at his unexpected compliment.
"Do you want to be late?" I teased him, kissing him on the cheek before he exited the car.
"Of course not," he replied, getting out of the car and waving goodbye. "Bye, Mommy!"
"Have a wonderful day, sweetie," I called after him, watching him walk into the school building before driving off slowly.
I hurried to Knightdale, though I should clarify—I didn't exactly rush. I mean, I didn't drift my way to the office like a character from an action movie. I suppose I just drove faster than usual, maybe around 120 km/h, though I certainly didn't exceed the speed limit. After all, I couldn't afford a hefty fine if the traffic police caught me speeding.
By the time I arrived, it was already 8:35 a.m. at Greenville SC, Knightdale company.
"Sorry I'm late," I mumbled as I entered the building, though secretly, I wasn't sorry at all. They should appreciate the fact that I bothered to show up.
"This time, Mr. Knight won't spare you," the receptionist warned me as she handed me the sign-in sheet.
"It's not like I'm scared of Ezekiel," I retorted, feeling indifferent to his potential wrath.
"Well, you should be," Ezekiel remarked, his tone cold and unwelcoming. That look of his used to intimidate me, but now, I had to put on a brave face, even if it was an act.
"You have a meeting with Mrs. Johnson in 25 minutes," I informed him, trying to keep the conversation professional as we made our way to the office we shared.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the interns were abuzz with gossip, whispering about me and Ezekiel.
"Did you see what I just saw?" Bella, one of the interns, asked incredulously.
"I've been an intern for four weeks, and I've never seen Mr. Knight be nice to anyone. Is she that special? Like, WTF, she's 30 minutes late, and Mr. Knight did nothing about it," Lizzy remarked in disbelief.
"Not forgetting she just called him by his real name," Stacey chimed in, trying to discourage further gossip.
"Let's just mind our own business," Stacey advised, sensing that things were getting out of hand.
But Lizzy couldn't resist, asking, "Aren't you just curious what they're doing behind that door?"
Stacey, however, remained level-headed, saying, "Well, I heard that she was chosen out of 139 people. She looks so young."
Inside the office, I found myself staring at Ezekiel for no apparent reason, much to his annoyance.
"Why are you staring at me? Do I look like one of your family members?" he quipped, rolling his eyes dismissively.
"Point of correction: all my family members are hot. They don't look like they're related to Bigfoot," I joked, though I immediately regretted it when I saw the icy look on his face.
"Do I look like I'm related to Bigfoot?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oops," I muttered sheepishly, realizing I may have crossed a line.
"No, continue. Then, after being related to Bigfoot, I'm sure Scarecrow is my sibling," he remarked dryly, turning his attention back to his computer screen.
"You're too dramatic," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, though deep down, I knew he had a point.
"Did I tell you I hate the month of May?" he suddenly declared out of nowhere, catching me off guard with his seemingly random comment.
"No, you didn't tell me," I replied, puzzled by his statement.
"I'm telling you now: I hate May," he reiterated firmly, leaving me even more perplexed.
Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door, and Alice, the new shareholder, entered the room. She seemed polite enough, but something about her demeanor made me uneasy.
"Sorry to disturb you," she began, though her tone suggested otherwise.
"You're not disturbing anything, Mrs. Johnson," Ezekiel assured her, though I couldn't help but notice her lack of acknowledgment towards me.
I couldn't help but notice she was trying to seduce Mr Knight.
- Writer
