The CEO’s Masked Bride

Moving Forward

Aria’s POV

Five years later, I was still grappling with the misery that a single night had unleashed on me. The only reasons that kept me going were my family-my mother, Zoey, who had stuck with me through the thick and thin of my life, and of course, my two little angels that the same night filled with misery had gifted me.

As I walked into the house tiredly from grocery shopping, Lily announced my arrival to Jenner and Jenny who were in their room. On hearing their grandmother’s call, they slipped out of their room and raced against each other to welcome me.

The kids clung tightly to my leg, cheering excitedly as I dropped the grocery bag on the kitchen counter. On seeing them, the weariness on my face gave way to a bright smile. “Why were you running so fast? Do you have any plan of breaking these tiny legs of yours?” I teased them, giving their hair a gentle stroke.

“Why would you say such, mum?” Jenner asked, feigning annoyance as he pulled away from me, “See, our feet are strong and wouldn't dare to break” he added, jumping up. Jenny also joined him in jumping and they circled me.

“Mum, can you see?” Jenny asked in between their giggles.

Lily and I busted out laughing at their approach to showing how strong their legs were. I gently swept them off their feet into my arms and carried them back to the living room. We collapsed into one of the Sofas together, our laughter filling the air momentarily, lifting the burden I felt in my heart.

“Mum, did you buy us ice cream?” Jenner asked when the laughter had subsided.

“And did you get us a new book like you had earlier promised?” Jenny added, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I smiled weakly at them, as I struggled with how best to explain that the outrageous price of groceries had made it difficult to have extra cash to get them treats for their sweet tooth. The peanut income I earn from my babysitting job now barely covers our basic needs, let alone luxuries.

I don't even know how best to inform them about the thought of returning to the old city- a place I had earlier left behind for a fresh start- to search for their father, with the hope that he might be able to help us out of these financial difficulties that have plagued us.

A gentle tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality. It was my mum. “What is going on? In that little mind of yours?” She asked.

Letting out a deep sigh, “I was just thinking about how to make ends meet, my salary keeps losing value every single day with the rise of things, and I don’t even have any decent savings to fall back to,” I admitted.

“Don't let that bother you so much, Aria,” Lily said softly, “I have told you several times that I, don't mind getting a job to help with taking care of things around here, paying the bills, and others,” she squeezed my shoulders gently, “I just have to get a job that would clash with your work time so when I am out you would be home to take here of Jenner and Jenny”

“Mum, we have spoken about this issue before, I don't want you stressing yourself doing the menial job and…”

Before I could complete my statement, the doorbell rang. Pushing the children away from my body, I stood up to get the door. On seeing that it was Zoey, Jenny, and Jenner ran to the door to welcome her, hugging her. “Look at you too!” Zoey exclaimed, her eyes glowing with admiration as she squatted to hug them properly before handing them a fancy bag, “Thank you, Aunty Zoey,” they both chorused happily before running back to their room.

“Hey mum,” Zoey said, getting on her feet, waving to Lily.

“Zoey,” Lily called out, shining her teeth at her, “It is nice seeing you again, how have you been?”

“Very well mum, and you?” She questioned back, returning the smile.

“Just as I have been,” Lily said in between white giggles.

With her gaze darting back at me, and her expression serious, “I want to talk to you, Aria”, Zoey said.

“Yeah sure, go on you have my ears,” I replied with my hands folded across my breast. She raised her eyes to look at my mother who was now picking the toys the children had used to litter the living room and I at once understood she wanted us to talk in private. “That’s fine,” I stated as I took her by the hand and led her back outside the house to the courtyard.

Once we were seated on the wooden bench in the greenery yard, Zoey slipped her hand onto her back and handed me an invitation card. “What is this?” I asked, opening it, “Whose…” I stopped in my tracks as I noticed that it was an invitation to Nick’s wedding.

“I have moved past this Zoey, I don't care about whatever it is that is happening in his life,” I said flatly.

“You know it is okay to show your emotions sometimes instead of pretending to be strong, right?” Zoey gently admonished me. She does this every time I try to make something that is hurtful feel like it didn't get to me.

Tears rolled down my cheeks immediately as her words hit me. “I feel better seeing that he’s not getting married to that w***e Jessica, that he cheated on me with,” I said through my tears, sniffing.

Pushing me gently to the side, “Our feelings are jinxed, I feel the same way too,” Zoey replied laughing. “Now that you have seen that Nick has undoubtedly moved on with his life, I think it is time for you to do the same also,” she continued.

“I have already moved on with my life, Zoey, you know that,” I insisted.

“No, what I know is that you just moved from one city to another. That doesn't equate to moving on with life,” Zoey paused, “If you have moved on with your life, you would come back with me.”

“I think it is best I remain here, Zoey. I have nothing back there to return to, except the nostalgic memory it has to offer, and I can't trade my life now for that, even if I know I am still broken”, I answered, and a brief silence fell between us.

“I have a job for you,” Zoey broke the silence a moment later, “Though the CEO is a bit of a crackhead, I don’t think that is something you wouldn't be able to deal with.”

“I have a job here also, Zoey.”

“You can't call whatever it is you are doing here a job. It can't even fend for your children, or pay your bills. How on earth are you comfortable with that sort of job?”

“You are speaking like I have a choice here” I retorted, getting annoyed.

“Oh yes, you do have a choice, Aria. I have always presented you with several options in the past, and I am doing it again now”, Zoey started. She was equally getting annoyed, and her voice was raised a note higher.

“If you are not careful, Aria, you will soon be out of the street, hungry and homeless,” she added. That was a lie, even if I lost everything today, I know Zoey wouldn't let such a fate befall me.

“You know that is never going to happen,” I replied weakly.

“The job I have for you has a high pay that would comfortably sort out your bill without you getting to stress yourself so much, all you have to do is move back to the city and the job would be all yours”, Zoey went on, ignoring my last statement.

“Tell me more about the description of this job of yours,” I said after a short pause.

“Nothing much. The position is being a personal assistant to the CEO, he has parted ways with more than ten personal assistants employed by him just this year alone because he is a dickhead, but as I said earlier, he is not a situation you wouldn't be able to handle” Zoey explained further.

“So how did you meet this dickhead of a man?” I asked curiously. I know Zoey is a social type, but not someone to keep up with any trashy attitude.

“Let’s just call him a friend of mine” She answered. “So are you in? Your accommodation will be settled once you accept the job offer, and then you don't also have to bother about the cost of relocating back,” she posted and took out a check from her bag, “This should be able to take care of that and get you started.”

“This is huge Zoey!” I exclaimed as I stared at the figures boldly sketched out of the check which read Nine thousand USD.

“Are you in?”

After hard thought, I decided to give in and move back with Zoey, realizing that I had nothing to lose by doing so and imagining the opportunity that awaited me. And then my aged mother wouldn't have to stress about getting a job to support me in taking care of things around the house, and also my little angels would get to feed well and enjoy other fancy things they have always wanted.

“I’m in” I whispered, “What is the worst that can happen anyway?”