MARRY ME NOW

I gulped. I could hear the sound of my heartbeat, it was fast and loud. I’m sure he’s heard it too. Why do I have to be in this awkward situation right now? I wasn’t ready for this.

“Tessa,” He said making me look up at his eyes. That contented look on his face. “It’s you.” He said as if he couldn’t believe it.

What was I going to say? I felt dumbfounded. And the way he was looking at me wasn’t helping at all. Praying silently that the elevator should stop soon, it didn’t, it looks like it was moving slower than usual.

“Answer me.” He said. His voice sounded demanding. I remembered when we were together, he was that type of controlling husband.

But, we weren’t together anymore and I wasn’t going to let him control me. “I don’t have to,” I said.

“She’s my child, right?” He ignored what I said and looked down at Anne. You wouldn’t need a DNA test to prove he was Anne’s father.

There were lots of similarities between them. He bent down towards Anne, but I didn’t know why I pushed her behind me.

He noticed this and stood back up, he tucked his hands in his pockets. “Now, you’re not going to let me see my child?”

The elevator stopped right then and I wanted to cry out in joy. “I’ve every right to see my kid, I’m not going to let you take that away.” He said and it was true.

Just calm down and face your past, you know you can’t run away from this forever. My subconsciousness scolded.

I think she’s right. Let’s just get this over with. But sudden dropping this kind of bomb to Anne that he was her dad is something else. She might be happy. But I don’t want him back in my life

It’s your kid’s life he’s coming in.

“It’d be nice if we go out with my daughter. You could come too. I’m free tomorrow..” He said. He was so awkward.

“I can’t’-”

“Why?” He asked cutting me off. My jaw made a quick clench. “I can’t, just say what you want to say here,” I said.

“I don’t know what got into me, Tessa. Months after you’d left, it kicked in, I searched everywhere for you, tr-” I cut him off. I thought he wanted to talk about Anne, and here he was, saying something I don’t want to hear.

I’ve moved on with my life. Yes, it was really painful after he had cheated on me. I wasn’t able to get over it for over a year, I kept mourning like I had lost someone important in my life.

Well, at a point, he was important. “I thought you wanted to talk about Anne,”

“Tessa..”

“Save it. You’re going to talk to her or what? I have something to do right now.” I said. He winced slightly at my tone. I don’t have to be nice to him.

“Why? Don’t tell me you’re with another man.” Said Carson. Looks at him as if he has gone crazy. How is it even his business? If I have a boyfriend or not, it’s not his concern.

“I see you have nothing to talk about,” I said grabbing Anne’s arm to walk away, but he grabbed my hand before I could move an inch.

“Where are you going? I’m not done talking to you.” He was saying something before? Didn’t seem so. Calming myself down, I gave him a go-ahead only for him to go back to the topic if I was in a relationship or not.

“Okay, first off, it’s none of your business an-”

“So you are in a relationship,” He said, trying to confirm what he said. “I’ve always known you were a slut, I’m sure you went to another guy’s house the moment you left mine, I won’t be surprised-” I can’t believe he was saying all these in front of Anne.

One moment, it seems like he was trying to apologize and now he was calling me a slut.

“Baby?” A voice called, a voice I never thought I would ever hear again. The voice of the person, I used to call my best friend ruined my marriage. Sara.

So he said all those to me and he is still with her? He has no shame! No decency.

My jaw clenched. “Who are you talking t- oh, look who it is… Tessa!” She said with a fake smile on her face.

I guess she thought she looks good.

I’m sure if she heard what Carson said to me earlier, she’d go crazy. “You ran off, so suddenly!” She continued.

I was chased out of my home, because of her. Who knows if he had other girlfriends while we were together?

“And who is the bastard baby?” She asked. Okay, that was it. “Don’t you dare call my child a bastard you slut!” I snapped furiously.

“Why? It’s true.” She mused with a tiny voice.

“Sara..” Carson said.

“What?! I’m saying some facts here!” She dragged like a stupid baby. I wasn’t going to spend my precious time on her. Time must have gone far by now and I had to cook dinner.

I took Anne by the hand and we scurried to the car, I heard Carson’s voice calling my name from behind.

We got to the car, locked it, and I drove off. “Mommy? Who is that man?”

“It’s not time for questions.”

Third Person’s POV

Tessa scurried off to her car as Carson called from behind. “Tessa!” He called. His girlfriend, Sara scowled at this.

She hated Tessa, so much. When they were friends, her hatred sometimes comes out with aggression toward Tessa, but she’d apologize just minutes after.

Then, the opportunity to seduce her husband came, and after having an affair with her husband for six months, Tessa found out.

She was so glad. She’d gotten rid of Tessa and made her husband fall in love with her. For the first time in three years, she’s doubting if Carson loves her.

The way he looked at Tessa and the way he ran after her confirmed her doubt. Minutes after Carson practically ran after Tessa’s car, he came back to see a crying Sara.

The tear, of course, was fake, but it always got to Carson, he scurried to her side her cooed to her. “I was screaming your name, but you weren’t answering me.” You could say she was a good actress.

“I’m sorry baby, are you okay? Is the baby okay?” He asked rubbing and soothing her stomach, she was with his child.

She sniffed and nodded her head a little. “I don’t think I can walk to the car, can you help me?” She asked. Carson nodded and gave her a sweet smile.

She was with his child and he wanted her and the baby to be okay. Sweeping her off the floor, he took her towards his car ignoring the stares and cheering.

He got to the driver’s seat. He still loved Tess. And she had his child. He had to find where she lives and who she was with.

~

By the time I got home, it was 4:54. I put the stuff I bought on the counter trying to stop myself from thinking about what had happened in the mall.

When we met earlier, you know before Sara came out of the mall. I would have thought he was single or something from the way he talked to me.

But he wasn’t, he was just playing? I never knew they would take their relationship to a whole another level. I thought.

I managed to clear the thoughts out of my mind and made dinner. I and Anne ate in comfortable silence. Well, not silence because turned her plate into a drum, singing a Dora song.

Really?

By the time we were done eating it was almost getting dark. We watched a movie together. Having the feeling to sleep next to Anne tonight, we slept off in my room.

~

Waking up, I did the usual morning routine. I wore a gown today, I normally wear a suit, but I just wasn’t in the mood so I wore a simple yet professional gown.

It reached my knees.

I took Anne to school before going over to my office. I wasn’t in my cheerful mode today. I can’t believe I was letting what happened yesterday get to me.

You could tell just how much Sara hates me. Friends I had turned out to hate me. Like, what did I ever do to them? Other than friending them.

I got to my office. I was glad I didn’t see Gwyneth, not because I didn’t want to see her, like I said, I just wasn’t in the mood.

I haven’t gotten any call from Mr Kings since I got here and I was happy about it. I pray he won’t come today. The office phone rang, and answering the call, I heard the husky voice of Mr Knight.

Spoke too soon.

“File 576f,” he said as the call went dead. I sighed getting up to go find it. I found it after a minute of search. I looked at the file number, again and again, just to be sure it was the file he asks for.

I don’t want what happened last time to happen again. I strolled to his office and surveyed him for a second while his eyes were fixed on the papers before him.

I think he should stop looking so good. It’s a distraction! Not only to me but to other ladies here. Not that it’s my business.

“Here’s the file Sir,” I said placing the file on his table. I saw his eyes swept over me, as his face contorted into a scowl.

I pressed my lips together. Another insult. “What are you wearing?” He asked throwing me off guard, I thought he was going to throw me an insult.

“Uh… A gown?” I said, more like ask.

“Why is it so short?” He asked again. I looked at him as if he has gone crazy. He seemed to realize what he had just said.

“I mean. Uh. It’s so unprofessional.” He said. Did Mr Kings just stutter? I looked down at myself. The gown was completely fine and most people wear gowns to work, I don’t know what he was getting on.

“Uh. The gown seems fine.” I said to him. He glared. He was going to insult me now, by the looks of it.

“No. You’re wearing this to seduce another guy, aren’t you? Why? Jake isn’t enough for you?” He asked.

What have I ever done to him to make him hate me like this? He thinks I’m a slut.. When has what someone thinks about you got to you?

I shouldn’t let this get to me. “I’m sorry sir, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Get out.” He said. Ah! Thank God! I turned around and walked towards the door.

“Miss Carl.” He called before I could touch the door knob. Oh, what does he want now? Groaning inwardly, I turned back around.

He hesitated before he said. “Go home and change.” He waved me off. What?

“I’m sorry sir, but there is nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.”

“Whose building are you in?” He asked.

“Uh. Yours?”

“Right. I don’t tolerate inappropriate dressing in my building, now you’d go change that or don’t consider yourself a staff here anymore.” He said, his voice cold. I’m surprised it isn’t freezing in here.

Yeah, probably his hotness, keeping it from getting cold.

Shut up.

He’s such a psycho.

“Bu-”

“I believe I’m done talking to you.’ He said as his eyes went back to the papers.

I sighed in frustration and got to my office. I took my bag before going down the elevator. I got to Gwyneth’s floor and she immediately rushed toward where I was.

“Oh my! Tessa! Where are you going? It’s not the near closing time or the real closing time.” She exclaimed.

“Yeah, apparently, my dress is too short and I have to go change it.”

“It looks okay.” She said.

“I know right? But it isn’t to Mr Kings.” I said rolling my eyes. He was just doing this to make me quit. Well, I wasn’t, not till I get another job, that is.

Her eyes widened a bit. “Mr Kings thought so?”

“Yeah. He hates me.”

“Oh poor Tessa, don’t let this get to you, okay? Just don’t complain when he asks you to do something like this, when he sees you’re not bothered, he’s gonna stop. Hmm?” She said soothing my shoulder.

“Yeah, thanks.”

“So. I noticed we don’t talk anywhere except here at work, so why don’t I get your number?” She asked. I hesitated before answering her.

“Sure.” We exchanged numbers and bid each other goodbyes. I was now going towards Jake’s floor. I’m sure he’d notice me.

I got there and he did. He got to me. “You’re going now? It’s not-” I cut him off.

“I know, I know. But, Mr Kings thinks what I’m wearing is ‘inappropriate’ and asked for me to go change it.”

“What? It’s okay, come.”

“No, no. It’s no big deal, I’d just go change it and be back in a few minutes.”

“Well, if you say so.” He shrugged. Smiling, I waved at him and walked to the elevator. Getting in the elevators, I got to the second floor to the last.

Was going to enter the elevator, but someone walked out of the elevator.

Carson.

Seriously? What was he doing here? “Tessa!” He said immediately he was out.

“What are you doing here? If you’re here for Anne, she’s not here.”

“No, I’m here for you… I mean, I’d see Anne but. I came here in search of you. You’ve got to hear what I have to say..”

“Sorry, but I don’t want to hear anything, especially from you.”

“Te-” someone cut him off.

“What’s going on here?” I heard the voice of Mr Kings. Great, just great. He was probably thinking I was trying to ‘seduce’ Carson.

By the looks of it.

.

.

.

……