INLOVE WITH A ONE NIGHT STAND

Chapter 6

"I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention" she quickly apologized, looking up only to be met with brown eyes that seems to be looking into her soul. "have lunch with me in my office, I need to talk to you" Jake said, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

Liliana hesitated unsure of what to say.

What could this be about, does he know. She thought for a split second.

For some reason, the thought of having lunch with him in his office made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

"I just want to know you better outside of work ". Jake said as if reading her thought. "Okay sir", she replied.

"Just call me Jake".He said leading the way. "Okay Jake", She replied trying to mask the nervous tune in her voice as they both headed towards the direction of his office.

As they sat down at the table in Jake's office, Liliana couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had wanted to avoid him for most of the week, but now they were alone, about to share a meal. She fidgeted with her napkin, trying to calm her nerves.

Jake, seemingly oblivious to her discomfort, began to unwrap the sandwiches he had ordered from JGrace. "I hope you like turkey", he said, smiling.

Liliana forced a smile back. "I do thank you".

As they started eating, the silence between them was palpable. Liliana tried to think of something to say, but her mind was a blank. She couldn't believe she was having lunch with the man who had unknowingly fathered her child.

Jake on the other was at ease since he wasn't the one trying so hard to hide a secret after all. He will occasionally glance at her while making random conversation.

Liliana's appetite remained steadfast, despite the unsettling surroundings.

"How did you come to work here",he asked taking a sip of his coffee.

For some reason Liliana found it suspicious that she was given fresh juice instead of coffee, as if he knew she wasn't supposed to take coffee. I just pray my suspicious aren't true. She thought to herself.

"I set a notification on my email to notify me of any job opening around and that's how got the notification and decided to take the shot and now here I am", she said with a smile.

As they ate and talked, Liliana found that the anxiety she was feeling was starting to go away. "You look beautiful by the way", he said making her blush.

"Tell me about yourself", he said leaning back on the chair, his gazed fixed on her pretending not to have noticed how much she has been eating. She chewed the last bite and drank a reasonable quantity of the fresh juice to accompany the food before responding.

She took a deep breath, her eyes gazing downwards, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know where to start. My life's been a bit of a mess lately. I'm an orphan, grew up in foster care. I never really had a stable family or home. I had to work hard to make ends meet, and I thought I'd finally found some stability at the bar where I used to work and with Mark...." she paused collecting her thoughts before continuing, "but I found him balls deep into another woman the same night I got sacked from the bar, then we broke up and that was how I ended up at that hotel with you that night".

Liliana's eyes welled up with tears, but she fought to hold them, blinking randomly. "I'm sorry because now that I think about it, it feels like I used you that night. I was feeling so lost and alone and I needed to forget the pain and the hurt even it was just for one night".

Jake's expression softened, his eyes filled with empathy. "Liliana, you're stronger than you think. You've been through a lot, and it's okay to feel lost but you don't have to be sorry for anything, it was concentual and I don't regret what happened between us that night, just know that you can come to me for anything I'd be more than willing to help you". He assured her.

Liliana's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at Jake, her heart filled with gratitude for his kindness. She felt an overwhelming urge to share her secret with him, to tell him about the tiny life growing inside her. But as she opened her mouth to speak, she hesitated.

Something held her back-fear of being a burden. She didn't want to assume that Jake's offer of help extended to taking on the responsibilities of a pregnant woman. So she kept her secret locked away, hidden behind a gentle smile.

"Thank you Jake", she said instead, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Anytime Liliana". Liliana nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt for not being truthful.

"Since we're done here can I get the paperwork for you to sign, it's all sorted and ready for you to sign?". She asked.

"Yes please" came Jake's reply.

"I'll just grab the paper work from my office" she said, her voice steady.

Jake nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Take your time, Liliana. I'm not going anywhere". Liliana couldn't help the blush that appeared on her face. She couldn't believe this side of Jake actually existed.

She returned with the documents and placed them on the office table in front of Jake. "thank you", Jake said smiling, his eyes crinkling at the side. "You're welcome", she said returning the smile.

Just then, the door opened and a woman with a warm smile walked in. "Hello son..!!!", came her excited voice as she went to hug her son. "Mom, I didn't know you were coming", Jake said returning the hug. "I wanted to surprise you because I brought someone to see you".

"Ahhh... I'll be in my office in case you need anything", Liliana said when she noticed her presence was invisible.

"Alright, I'll see you later, Liliana", Jake said as she turned and headed for the office exit.

Just a few steps to her office Liliana bumped into someone for the second time that day, this time she landed on her butt. "Ahhhh!!!", she screamed from the pain of landing on her butt. "Well, well, we'll. If it isn't the bartender who couldn't even keep her job". Liliana looked up to see who the familiar voice belongs to and saw Katherine Wales. "Are you always this clumsy", She scolded.

Liliana stoop up from the ground, dust herself and looked straight at Katherine.

"Clumsy? That's rich coming from you. Your condescending attitude is a thin disguise for your own insecurity. Try being kind instead of superior, it won't kill you", Liliana said and worked away...