Perfect Deception

The Bakery Is Sold Out.

The breeze was cold and the sky gloomy. Thunder boomed in the distance and lightning flashed up in the horizon. I had closed the bakery and was heading to the usual dinner my best friend and I meet up. I walked faster, I didn't want to get soaked in rain. I brought out my phone and dialed a familiar number before putting it close to my ear.

"Hello Dominic," I said. "Are you in the diner?"

I heard a car honking through the phone and then Dominic's voice. "No, I'm caught up in a traffic jam," he replied.

Dominic was my best friend, he worked as a team leader in a very busy software company. His work took most of his time. The only day he wasn't really busy was Wednessays, so we usually meet up on that day.

"Are you almost there?" I asked.

"Yes, I will get there in the next ten or fifteen minutes."

"Alright, see you soon."

"Yeah." He said and hung up.

The diner was small and cozy. There were a lot of creative designs around its wall. I walked inside and sat by one of the windows. Soon, it began to rain. People ran into the diner for shelter while those who were prepared for the rain, brought out their umbrellas and used it.

I huffed and checked my phone. It's been twenty minutes, I hoped the rain wasn't disturbing Dominic.

A waiter approached me. I was kind of thirsty so I ordered a bottle of water for the meantime until Dominic's arrival.

I smiled when I saw him stepping into the Diner. His clothes were a little wet due to the heavy rain falling outside and it stuck to his clothes. His short black hair slipped down and water simmered as it dripped onto his shoulders. He had an athletic build which made him looked like he usually worked out. He didn't. He got those muscles by working himself up at his work. Yeah, Dominic was a workaholic.

He walked at a steady pace to my table and sat on the opposite seat.

"Hey, how was work?" Dominic asked, while sitting down.

"Fine." I said and called the waiter. The waiter came and we both gave out our orders. "But there was a man who came to the bakery and suddenly started insulting me unnecessarily." My face morphed into a frown. "It was like… like he knew me before. I'm not sure, but I feel we've had a clash before."

Dominic shrugged. "Maybe, he is one of those suitors you turned down harshly."

"Dominic, Do you—" the waiter came with our orders, making me pause.

She placed the orders on the table. The sweet aroma of tantalizing grilled beef drifted through my nostril. I ordered a hamburger with a cup of hot chocolate.

"Dominic, come on. Do you think I will forget a rich suitor?"

He leaned closer, concerned. "How rich is he?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. He looked super rich and he was even with an actress." I scoffed as I picked up the hamburger. I was getting hungry. "Besides, he acted like the world was under his feet by threatening to fire me from my job."

Dominic stopped eating his French fries and frowned. "Now, this is serious." He asked, "who does he think he is? How dare he threaten my girl just because he felt he had the f*cking privilege?!"

Many heads turned in our direction. I quickly cautioned Dominic "Dominic, mind your language, there are kids here."

He stretched his hands towards mine. "Okay, I won't curse again," he sighed. "I just don't like it that someone is using their status to intimidate you."

The corner of my lips quirked up in a small smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

I just wondered if I had met that man in the bakery before.

I pressed my lips into a tight line. Why do I feel like I knew him?

⚜⚜⚜

Early on Monday morning, I was brushing my hair when my bedroom's door creaked and my mom came inside. She sat on my bed, it made a loud c***k and tilted to the side a little. That reminded me, I should better call the carpenter to fix that bed before I fall from it.

"Good morning, Mom." I stood up, my foot touching the wet rug. My roof was leaking, so the rug got soaked whenever it rained.

She took a pillow and rested her back on it. "So, how was your date?"

She was referring to Dominic.

I groaned. "Mom, it wasn't a date."

She shrugged. "It would have, if you didn't put him in the friend zone."

"What?!" I blinked. "Mom, Dominic is just my friend!"

"Yes, he is your friend," she nodded. "But do you think he wants you to be just a friend?"

I gulped, I didn't have an answer to that question. Although, I was aware that Dominic liked me more than just a friend yet I wasn't ready for any sort of commitment.

I took my leather bag from the hanger. "I'm getting late for work," I turned to look at her. "I will see you when I get back."

I went downstairs and saw my daughter watching cartoons on the television. I crossed my hands and studied her. It was a good thing she didn't look like her father. I didn't want to be reminded of his betrayal. She looked like the younger version of me: We both had tanned skin and curly brown hair.

I picked up her lunchbox and approached her. "Come on Zoe, let's go to your new school."

Zoe jumped down from the couch and did a small victory dance. "Yes!" She looked up at me with her angelic eyes. "Mom, does this mean I will have a chance to make new friends?"

I took the remote and switched off the television.

Then, I nodded as I checked my wristwatch. Oh no, I was running late for work.

"Yes dear." I held her small hand. "Let's go. I'm running late."

I dropped her at her new school and gave her a lunch box. I squatted to hug her when I was about to leave.

I looked at her, still squatting. "Zoe, Mommy has to go to work, but promise me you will behave yourself this time."

I had to change her from her former school because she kept getting into fights with her classmates. It wasn't a serious fight, but the school changed my daughter's calm behavior, not me. I was still furious at the principal's words. She blamed

me that I couldn't raise my child properly because I was a single mother.

Do people think it is easy to be a single parent?

She nodded. "Yes, mom." She hugged me and my heart went warm. "I promise."

I patted her hair. "Alright,"

She dropped her hands and started walking away.

"Bye!" I said, waving at her like the proud Mom I was.

She waved back at me and went to her class.

I brought out my phone and checked the time. What? It was almost 8 o'clock? I rushed to the bus station without even closing my bag. It took me ten minutes to get to the bakery. Luckily, I arrived at the bakery at exactly 8:00 am. Wow, I didn't know I could be this fast. I took the shortcut to the bakery and passed the nook of the street leading to the bakery. I paused when I noticed a sigh board that wasn't there last night. What made me notice the sign board was because of the picture of the bakery on it.

There wasn't any reason why Mrs Bakare should post an advertisement of the bakery right in front of the bakery. The bakery was very popular in the neighborhood. I knew I was wrong about the whole advertising the bakery stuff when I checked the poster again. The bakery was actually sold out, like sold out! How was that possible, it was so wrong to believe, but it was clearly written there,

right in front of me.

I shook my head and walked to the bakery. I hastened my footsteps and quickly got to the bakery. I met Mrs Bakare's son, Sammy, by the bakery doorstep.

Sammy smiled when he saw me. "Good morning, Annie. Oh I'm very sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but the bakery is already sold out. Someone bought it yesterday." He looked at the door, casually. "I came here to close it down."

I stared at Sammy in disbelief and just like that, my career was over.