Chapter three: Blessings in Disguise
1068 Words
Valerie's POV;
When people asked me if I regretted putting my life on hold, getting pregnant out of wedlock at the young age of 21, and raising the kid all by myself, all I had to tell them was to take a look at Henry.
I was still in awe of my seven year old myself. He reminded me of Julian in so many ways but he had my forest green eyes. It filled me with joy to see my best attribute reflected in them.
And while it might sound like torture to some having to see the face of your ex in that of your son, it wasn't exactly an issue for me.
Julian was no doubt an attractive man, and while his was on the rough side, Henry's was much more softer. He was the best thing I had created.
Even though I strived to give him the best, the life I had moulded for him wasn't perfect. Which was why I had stooped as low as going to beg Julian got a job. I was only human. I didn't have a college degree and I was trying to catch a favor from an ex whom I hadn't ended a relationship on best terms with.
There were mountains of bills stuck in my kitchen drawer. My landlord was on my neck for being behind on two payments. I could barely afford a three square meal for myself if I wanted to keep my son fed. Not like my appetite was in existence. On top of that, I still had to fend for my sister and her two kids since she became a widow.
It made me wonder if her plan for me to seduce Julian was for Henry's sake or hers.
I was fiercely in need of a miracle. But I still couldn't bear the thought of telling Julian about Henry. It was a mentality Sage couldn't nor even try to understand.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!" She hissed at me, another attempt at getting me to do her bidding.
I was sick of the constant badgering already. All I wanted was to pick my son and retire to our two bed, hole in the wall apartment. Sage was babysitting for me that afternoon.
"You don't think he would term me a master manipulator?" I asked drily, already exhausted from the recent day event.
"Men are blind when they are in love."
"Oh for heaven's sake, Sage, he's not in love with me. Whatever we had ended ten years ago."
"Some things just need a little push to be rekindled."
"And so I should just shove the existence of a bloodline in his face? Wouldn't he think it is very convenient being that I just discovered he is a billionaire?"
"None of these changes the fact that he wouldn't turn the boy away."
It was true. The Julian I knew would take full responsibility. The con was that his hatred for me would extend to an impossible level. Besides, I wasn't willing to let him know about Henry. I might have been a lot of things, but I wasn't a leech. I wouldn't use my son as a gateway for my comfort.
Wrongly sensing that I was buying her words in, Sage continued, "The man deserves to know that he has a kid."
I gulped because that too was true. Ten years ago, I had made the decision of not telling him due to some circumstances. The same circumstances that made me break up with him and hurt him. Would I come to the same decision again now so as to keep my pride intact?
"This shouldn't even be an hassle, Val. You would benefit a lot from telling him. So would he," Sage added.
I shook my head. "You want me to tell him I have a son for him and then seduce him. That's just asking for too much."
"You think you're such a saint?" Sage bit out, her patience running low. She had a temper. I mostly said yes to her requests and followed whatever order she gave me so dragging this out was new for us both.
But doing what she wanted went against all my principles. "I know I'm not."
"Good because if you think you have a place to fall back on when your landlord evicts you, that place isn't here. I'm not going to take you in."
Sage inherited a house from her late husband. A cozy three bedroom whose remaining mortgage had been paid by me. But she was going to turn me out in time of need. It was ironic.
Sighing, I leave her in the kitchen and head to the back garden where I knew the kids would be. "Henry, it's time to go!"
His lips stretched into a dazzling dimpled smile when he spotted me. He gave the ball he was playing around with one last kick before walking over to me, a confidence I recognized in his every gait. The sun shone on his ruffled curls that fell over his forehead. His father's son in every aspect.
Sam and Alice, Sage's 4 and 7 year old daughters mumbled hello and goodbyes, focused on the dirt they were digging.
"Just promise you'll think about it." Sage was still in the kitchen when Henry and I made our way to the front entrance.
"I've thought about it," I croaked out. Sage was the older one and I had always deemed her the smarter one but maybe that was questionable. It was hard saying no to her when she was a very persistent person and I was a pathological people pleaser. But this was where I drew the line. "And my conclusion remains the same."
He lips thinned into straight line. "Very well then," she said icily. "I wish you good luck."
I knew then that my sister wouldn't be doing babysitting duty for me anymore. Which meant I had to add the payment for a babysitter to my endless list of expenses.
I had just started the engine of my rundown car when a message from J&J tech firm applied on my screen.
My heart thudded as I tapped it open and skimmed the content.
Jack Winston, Julian's partner had just granted me the role of being his personal secretar
y. And I hadn't even interviewed or sent for the position.
CHAPTER 4
- Writer
