CHAPTER FOUR
1164 Words
ROSA’S POV
“Oh, my little superstar,” I caught Mickey as he jumped into my arms excitedly and spun him around.
“Mummy, did you see my— ouchy.”
My heart drummed loudly. I quickly dropped him and searched for what made him wince. There was a bloodied scratch on his arm.
I panicked.
“Oh my, how did you get this?”
“I fell,” he muttered, rubbing the wound, his nose scrunched.
My mummy instincts kicked in immediately. I took him to the bleacher and brought out a small first aid kit I always carried around when he was outside. You know kids and injuring themselves.
“It's only a scratch,” he grimaced, trying to hide his arm from me.
“It could get infected… unless you want to get an injection, then that's fine.”
He stuck out his hand quickly and I chuckled, a sound only my son was accustomed to hearing. I didn't care if everyone saw me as a shrewd, emotionless proxy — it wouldn't stop me from cheering my son up and putting on a smile anytime he was around. I'd always tried my best to make sure he was comfortable around me enough not to ask about his father.
I looked up at my little sunshine as he grimaced from the sting of the antiseptic. A carbon copy of Liam.
Anyone who had eyes would know they had to be related, and it scared me even though I'd never admit it to anyone.
Liam was in town. He could run into Mickey someday, and I was very much prepared to make it sink into his head that Mickey wasn't his.
“Mummy,” Mickey called nervously, looking at something.
“Yes baby.”
“Why does that man keep staring at me? It looks creepy.”
I frowned and turned my head.
Liam.
My breath caught sharply.
Leaning against a tree, his wide eyes were fixated on Mickey like he'd seen a ghost.
When he realized I'd seen him, he started walking towards us.
I quickly grabbed Mickey, got up, and took another route.
“Rosa,” he called out.
I froze, trying my best not to panic. Not in front of him. Not in front of my son.
I swirled around, putting an emotionless mask on my face.
“The forty percent is still giving you sleepless nights, isn't it, Mr. Carter?”
His gaze ping-ponged between Mickey and me. “I would love to speak to you, Rosa.”
“It's Ms. Vandermeer.”
He ground his teeth, the nervousness from the boardroom completely gone. I lifted my shoulders, refusing to cower.
“I would like a word, if you don't mind.”
“Well, I do mind.”
Mickey wrapped his arms around my neck, something he did when he got scared. “Mummy, who's this man?”
“It's just a business partner, baby.”
Liam's gaze moved to Mickey and a sly smile that brought out the undeserving beauty on his face appeared.
“A friend, she meant. What's your name, little one?”
Mickey didn't respond.
Smart boy.
“Why are you here, Liam — I mean Mr. Carter? If it's to cause a scene, you are terrible at it.”
“Rosa, why are you acting like this?” the c***k in his voice nearly made me flinch. He stared at me like he'd ever cared about my existence. “You weren't like this five years ago.”
“I am not the Rosa you used to know, Liam!” I hissed. “What were you expecting? I'd be crying at your feet?”
“Rosa—”
“I don't want to hear anything from you. You came here for a business deal and it's been settled. We no longer have anything to do with each other again.”
I attempted to walk but he grabbed my arm.
“You didn't tell me you had a child.”
I dragged my hand away, eyes wide with fury. “I wonder what your wife would think if she finds out you are harassing another woman.”
“Don't be full of yourself, Rosa.”
“In fact, I'd wonder what the world would think. Don't mess with me, Mr. Carter. One phone call and whatever crumbs you have left would be destroyed before your very eyes.”
“You can't threaten me, Rosa,” he growled, the fire in his eyes making me smirk. I'd craved to see this look on his face.
I took a threatening step forward and his whole countenance dropped. “Try me, Liam Carter.”
I leaned close to his ear. He shuddered.
“You may have kicked me from your home once, but I promise to ruin your life if you don't stay away from me.”
I bumped my shoulder against his and walked to my car. Inside, I put Mickey in the back seat. He smiled, clapping.
“Mummy is a superwoman!”
I chuckled, feeling a rush of relief. I actually did that. I chuckled louder and ruffled his hair.
“You can say that again, baby. I think we both deserve an ice cream.”
“Vanilla with chocolate chips for me, please.”
“Right at you.” I kissed his cheek and he blushed.
I went to the driver's seat and kicked the car to life. From the rearview mirror, Liam stood still, looking at me in shock. I smiled, waved him a mocking goodbye, and took off.
After getting ice cream, I drove us back home. Mickey had fallen asleep already. I carried him in and dropped him gently on the bed.
Exhausted, I took a cold bath and was already putting on my clothes when the doorbell rang. I frowned, not expecting anything today. Maybe Helena decided to surprise me.
I walked down and opened the door. My shoulders slumped.
Standing at the door with a nervous smile and flowers was Peter, a politician’s son I'd met in South Africa who had been disturbing me with calls ever since.
I decided to give him a shot, but like all men, he ghosted me after traveling back to France.
“You finally decided to return the flowers you stole, didn't you?”
His smile widened. “Fiesty as ever, Rosa.”
I rolled my eyes and walked in. He followed behind me, closing the door. We talked for an hour, with him apologizing and me barely listening. I wasn't interested in getting married again, but it didn't mean I wasn't interested in a relationship.
His reasons sounded valid, so I didn't push. Besides, he was nothing like Liam, and a part of me wanted Liam to find out he wasn't my last bus stop.
A few minutes after Peter left, my phone rang.
I felt the urge not to pick up, but when my eyes locked on the screen, they widened.
Eunice?
- Writer
