One night, Two hearts

Episode3

Lena's smile waned, its warmth dissipating as Liam's question hung in the air.

It faltered, slowly losing its vibrancy and flavour, like a candle flame flickering in the wind.

She has dodged the truth once before, telling him his father was in Baltimore City.

But now, the inquiry struck a chord.

How could she reveal the identity of a man she has never known, a fleeting encounter with no name, no face to recall?

"Yes, baby, hopefully," she replied, forcing a smile.

The next day, Lena arrived at the airport, her luggage in one hand, Liam's tiny hand in the other.

His charming presence drew smiles, waves, and admiring glances. Some blew kisses, while others took his small hand in theirs.

Lena was accustomed to her son's captivating charm, but she couldn't help wondering if his adorable features would one day make him a celebrity.

As they hailed a cab, Lena sighed, reflecting on her overnight search for a single-bedroom apartment.

She had contacted a few companies, and now, she gazed out at the buzzing city, her childhood home.

Twenty-one years of memories, both joyful and painful, lingered here.

Yet, she had returned, determined to rebuild her life, free from the hurt of the past.

Three years had passed since she left, and the wounds had healed. She assumed Darnell had moved on, perhaps married to Monica.

Lena's focus had narrowed to a singular devotion: her son and herself. She was living for their sake alone.

Lena arrived at the esteemed corporation, accompanied by her son.

She was scheduled for a job interview, hoping to secure a position that would provide a stable future for them.

As they entered the sleek, modern building, Lena's apprehension began to intensify.

At the reception desk, the secretary looked up, and their eyes met.

Lena's heart skipped a beat as she realised it was her old friend, Rachel, whom she had lost touch with when she left Baltimore years ago.

Rachel's eyes widened in astonishment, and she rose from her seat, embracing Lena warmly. "It's been an eternity!" she exclaimed.

Just then, the director emerged from his office, his expression austere. "Miss Lena, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. The Chairman of the Board has requested to interview you himself.",

Lena's curiosity was piqued. The Chairman of the Board? That was a position of unparalleled authority, surpassing even the CEO.

What could they possibly want to discuss with her? Why would the Chairman himself propose to interview her?

As she waited, Lena's mind raced with possibilities. She glanced at Liam, who was busy exploring the reception area, blissfully unaware of the tension building inside her.

What could the Chairman want to discuss? Was it related to the job, or something more? Lena's nerves were on edge as she waited for the answer.

Rachel's gaze suddenly shifted to Liam, and her eyes widened in astonishment. "Just tell me this adorable little boy isn't your son!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a mix of surprise and incredulity.

Lena's expression turned grey as Rachel's next words cut through the air like a sharp blade. "I thought you broke up with Darnell," Rachel continued, her tone tinged with curiosity.

"Who is the father of this precious child?"

Lena's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape from the uncomfortable question.

She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "Liam's father.... is a story for another time, Rachel. Let's just say he's a reminder of a night that changed my life forever.

Rachel's eyes sparkled with intrigue, but she nodded understandingly. "I see. Well, you've certainly got a beautiful secret here," she said, smiling warmly at Liam, who they thought was oblivious to their conversation.

Lena's gaze followed Rachel's and she couldn't help but smile too. "Yes, he's my world now," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of love and trepidation.

Just as Rachel and Lena were engrossed in their conversation, the director reappeared, his expression urgent. "Miss Lena, I'm afraid I need to dispatch you on an assignment immediately. It requires your presence outside the company premises."

He handed a file over to her, "You'll meet the Chairman outside. Hand this over to him"

Lena's eyes widened in surprise as she hadn't even been interviewed, but she quickly composed herself.

"Of course, I'm on it," she replied softly.

As she prepared to leave, she turned to Rachel. "I'm so sorry, but could you watch Liam for me? I'll be back as soon as I can."

Rachel nodded graciously. "Take your time, I've got him covered."

Lena handed over Liam to Rachel and rushed out of the building, her heels clicking against the pavement.

In her haste, she almost collided with a sleek, black Lamborghini that had screeched to a halt mere inches from her.

As the door swung open, a tall, imposing figure emerged, his bespoke suit and luxurious fragrance exuding an aura of refinement and opulence.

Although his attire was stylish, it seemed more suited to a high-end social gathering than a professional setting.

His piercing gaze locked onto Lena, and a hint of a smile played on his lips.

"Careful lady," he admonished, his deep voice laced with a hint of reprimand.

"You should be more mindful of your surroundings." His expression turned disapproving, his chiselled features accentuated by a faint furrow between his brows.

Lena's heart skipped a beat as she took in the stranger's chiselled features and the Lamborghini's gleaming exterior. Who was this enigmatic figure, and why did she feel an inexplicable jolt of connection?

Lena's eyes flashed with indignation as she shot back, "I should watch? You're the one who came barreling in here, disregarding the traffic sign! You're lucky I was able to stop in time or you would've run me over!"

The figure's expression changed from disapproval to surprise, and he raised an eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by Lena's bold retort.

His countenance transformed, becoming impassive and unyielding. His gaze locked onto hers, steady and unwavering.

"I'm intimately familiar with these streets," he declared, his deep voice firm, yet velvety smooth.

"I don't need to adhere to every traffic sign to know I had priority. The error is yours, not mine."

Lena's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

Lena's anger boiled over, and she let loose a string of expletives, her voice rising in indignation. "You think you own the road, don't you? Well, newsflash, buddy, you don't!"

The stranger's face darkened, his face flashing with anger, but before he could respond, his phone rang, shrill in the tense air.

He snatched it up, his voice curt. "Hello? Really? Okay, I'll be there."

He groaned, frustration etched on his face, as he realized he had to leave. His presence was clearly needed elsewhere, and urgently.

"I'll catch you some other time," he growled, his finger pointed accusingly at Lena as he retreated back into his Lamborghini.

Lena watched him go, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.

"Just get out," she muttered, feeling like she'd emerged victorious from the exchange.

As the Lamborghini's roared to life and sped away, Lena couldn't shake off the feeling that this wasn't the last she'd seen of the enigmatic stranger.

Their encounter was concise, but intense, and she couldn't help but wonder what other sparks might fly if their paths crossed again.

Lena strode back into the company building, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

She made her way to the director's private office, a sense of relief washing over her as she closed the door behind her.

"Director, I didn't get to see the Chairman," she reported, trying to keep her tone neutral despite the encounter with the stranger still simmering in her mind.

The director looked up from the papers on his desk, a hint of apology in his eyes. "I'm afraid the CEO had to leave unexpectedly. Something urgent came up, and he has to attend to it immediately."

Lena's mind began to whirl with possibilities. Why did she get the feeling that it was connected with the stranger in the Lamborghini?

As she left the director's office, Lena couldn't shake off the image of the stranger in the Lamborghini.

"That scumbag can't possibly be the Chairman of a multi-trillion-dollar company," she thought to herself, incredulity etched on her face.

In her mind's eyes, she pictured the Chairman as a staid, middle-aged man in his early fifties - someone with a distinguished air, greying hair, and a paunchy stomach. Not some young, arrogant playboy who thought he owned the roads.

She chuckled to herself, thinking that the real Chairman would be a far cry from the stranger she had encountered.

"Probably some bespectacled, buttoned-up executive who's seen it all," she mused.