Josephine
This has to be a joke. What is he even doing here? If he was able to find me this quickly, that means my father and my alleged fiancé will also find me in no time. In as much as I hate to do this to Jayden, but we have to leave immediately before they find us.
“We don’t have all day love.” My handsome lover announced, pulling me out of my inner thought. “Get going Josephine,” he leaned forward, enjoying this reunion way too much. “Or should I call you Jose?” I rolled my eyes at him. “Which ever it is, you need to go get your things, I intend to spend the night with you on my bed.”
Smiling tightly at him, I walked closer to him, not wanting other costumers to overhear our conversation. “I’m sorry to burst your bubbles Romeo, but whatever we had that night ended that night, in that very room. You can’t just show up out of nowhere, demanding I go with you.”
He relaxed back and arched his brows. “Why not?”
“Because that’s not how things work!” People around glared at me and I muttered an apology. What happened to his fiancé? “Why exactly are you here”
“Didn’t I make myself clear? I told you I’m here to take you home.”
Take me home? My eyes instantly narrowed. “Did my father send you?”
“I’m nobody’s errand boy.” He responded firmly. “I am here on my own accord.”
I thought as much, he doesn’t look like someone who takes orders from people. But that doesn’t explain why he’s here, demanding that I return with him whilst engaged or possibly married to another, unless…. Unless he wants to make me his mistress. Men! “Whatever happened that night was a mistake,”
“It wasn't to me.” He interrupted.
“Well it was to me.” I snapped, conscious of my tone. “You need to go back from wherever it is you crawled out from.” Can’t he see I’m pregnant? Why want a woman carrying a baby? “Do not be a nuisance to me, I have more than enough drama in my life as it is, so please, just leave.”
The bulky guy behind him leaned down and whispered something in his ear which made his jaw tighten. Fixing his cuffs, he stood to his feet. “I’ll leave for now love, but be rest assured that I’ll be back.” He took a step towards me and I took one back involuntarily. “Do not run, I’m done playing this hide and seek game with you.”
My hand covered my bump protectively and his eyes followed my movement. He frowned at my bump and quickly averted his eyes. My fake blonde hair fell forward, covering my face and he glared at it. “Get rid of the hair, black looks better on you.”
“Is everything okay here?” Marietta, our manager asked.
“Yes.” He answered in a clipped voice. “I was just applauding her good services.” He dropped dollar bills on the table. “Tips for a job well done.” He turned and walked out of the restaurant with long powerful strides.
Why do I feel like a w***e who got paid for her services?
I felt someone touch my shoulder “Are you okay?” Marietta asked. “Do you know that man personally?” Something about her tone made me shrug off her concern, besides I do not want to discuss my personal life with my boss.
“No, I do not know him.” I stared at the cash on the table. “Like he said, he was just applauding our services.”
“I’m not stupid Jose, that man did not make an order plus when he walked in here, he demanded to see you.” She tilted her head. “He called you Josephine. Is that your full name?”
“My name is Jose.” I picked up the cash. If I’m going to run away, I’m going to need it. “He confused me with someone else.”
It is obvious she doesn’t believe me, but she decided to let the matter die. “How about you leave early? You aren’t suppose to work this late anyways.” She waved Robert over. “Walk her home. I need to make sure she gets home safely.”
Of course she believes that man was harassing me and he’s paying me off for my silence. “I don’t need anybody to walk me home.” I walked out, giving the diners the privacy needed and Marietta followed me out. “Really Marietta, I don’t need anybody to walk me home.”
She flagged down a taxi for me. “You’re pregnant Jose, walking home alone has never been a good idea.” The taxi stopped and she opened the door for me. “You may not consider me a friend, but I do.” I smiled in response. “If he shows up at your doorstep, give me a call, I’m faster than 911.”
Chuckling at her statement, I nodded in agreement just to please her. The driver asked for my address and I gave it to him. Relaxing back, I thought about what happened few minutes ago. The irony of his statement made me chuckle. If only he knows the truth…If only he knows what that one night between us created. No matter how hard he begs or try to convince me to become his, I won’t.
I refuse to be a mistress and my child will not be called illegitimate. I’ll work my ass off to make sure that I give my baby all necessities of life and more. I have friends in Canada who will help me climb the social ladder in the fashion world, but that will expose everything about me including my location and this pregnancy.
“We’re here ma’am.” The driver announced. I paid him and got off the car.
The quiet yet homey house stared at me. The light brightening the house greeted me, which means Jayden is home already. He works at a studio close by and although he wants more, he doesn’t want to draw attention to himself.
I feel bad already. How can I tell him to leave with me now that he’s beginning to enjoy his stay here? Heaving out a sigh, I rubbed my bump. “Mummy is doing all these to make sure you have a great life.” Dad will never accept me with this pregnancy, and I’m sure my alleged fiancé won’t look at me twice.
How did my life get to this?
‘A night of ecstasy.’ My subconsciousness mocked. Chuckling at my situation, I walked towards the house but stopped suddenly when I saw a black Mercedes with tinted windows. Fear gripped me. Nobody owns a Mercedes around here, which means this car could possibly belong to my father’s men or maybe my fiancé is finally here to make me pay for humiliating him.
It’s very funny that I can’t even remember the name of the family I was suppose to be married into. My feet pushed into action, I ran into the house and almost stumbled into Jayden who was on his way to dispose trash.
He dropped the trash immediately and steadied me. “What the hell woman? Did you forget you’re pregnant?” Pushing him further into the house, I slammed the front door. “Did you miss me that much that you couldn’t wait to hug me?” He waggled his brows teasingly.
“We need to leave now.” My voice shook with terror. “I was so stupid to think they won’t find out.”
Every trace of humour disappeared from his face. “What’s going on Josie? Who found us?” I walked briskly into my room and began packing few necessities. Jayden who is obviously still confused grabbed my arm to halt my temporary madness. “What is going on Josie? Who found us?”
“The black Mercedes.” I muttered and he frowned.
“What black Mercedes?” I shifted my gaze to my window. Freeing me from his hold, Jayden walked to the window, he cautiously pulled the curtain and looked out.
Swearing under his breath when he saw the reason for fears, Jayden hurried back to me. “If we’re running, then we won’t be needing those. This little peanut will slow us down as it is, we don’t need an extra. Just grab your phone but leave it off until I’m sure they’re not tracking us.”
I feel like crying…. No scrap that, I’m already crying. I thought this was it, I thought we didn’t have to run anymore.
Jayden grabbed my hand softly and led me towards the back door. “We should be able to leave through Jacqueline’s garden, hopefully, they won’t notice us leave.”
I walked hastily behind Jayden, my hand wrapped around his as he led me out of Jacqueline’s garden into the silent dark alley while making a short phone call.
“Who was that?”
“My friend Toby, he’s going to drive us to his cabin in the woods, you’ll stay there while I get us our
boat ticket.”
“I’m not staying alone with Toby.” I whispered-yelled. “In the middle of the woods with someone I know nothing about? I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
“Do you have a better idea?” He questioned, frustrated with my reasoning. “Toby is married with kids and he loves his_” The rest of his words died in his throat when a black Mercedes pulled over at the end of the alley, blocking us. We turned around quickly, ready to pick our race, but the hefty men with gun, matching towards us hindered our plans.
Jayden cursed underneath his breath. “Stay behind me, and don’t say anything.”
The driver’s door opened and a young man clad in a black suit rounded the car to open the door for their boss. I expected my father to get down from the car, but when another familiar face who isn’t my father got down, I knew this was my fight.
Jayden narrowed his eyes at him. “Who the f**k is he?” He glanced at me from the corners of his eyes. “Did your father hire a new boy toy?”
This man will hand Jayden his balls if he hears him speak about him like that. I may not know him, not even his name, but there is this powerful aura around him. “That’s my baby daddy.”
“What?!” Jayden hissed. “The married man that you slept with? What is he doing here?”
“He wasn’t married when I had s*x with him, he was engaged.”
“To be married.” He retorted and I rolled my eyes at him. “What does he want now? You didn’t tell him about the baby, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.” I’m not stupid.
“Hello love.” The handsome stalker greeted me with a smile, but glared at Jayden. “You going somewhere? I can give you a ride.”
I think he knows I’m trying to run. “What are you doing here?” Why won’t he just leave me alone? “Didn’t I make myself clear at the restaurant earlier?”
“I think we both made ourselves clear love, or so I thought.” He dipped his hand into his pocket and rocked on his heel. “I thought I told you that I was tired of this hide and seek game that you’re playing?”
Jayden placed his hand on my shoulder, reminding me that he’s here to protect me. “You didn’t tell me you met this asshole earlier?”
“We didn’t have the time to sit and discuss.” I reminded him.
“This asshole is ready to order a hit on you if you don’t take your hand off her shoulder this minute.” His voice may be calm, but the dangerous tone is made known to all who are willing to pay attention.
Jayden tightened his hand on my shoulder just to spite him, but I calmly shrugged his hand away. He scowled at me. “Let’s not annoy him Jay, we do not know what he is capable of, especially with his armed securities standing behind us.”
“Listen to her Jay, it seems she’s a lot smarter than you.” He mocked with an annoying smirk.
“Enough of the insult.” I stepped forward, shielding Jayden with my body, an action that didn’t go unnoticed by him. “What do you really want?”
His eyes remained on me, his head tilting a bit as if contemplating on my question. After what feels like forever, his gaze shifted to Jay who has stubbornly refused to hide behind me. “I want to take you home after I kill him.” He said the words so casually which made me wonder if he has murdered someone before.
“Jayden has done nothing wrong, so why kill him? Besides how will your wife feel about this? Bringing your mistress home.”
My statement confused him. “My wife? Mistress? What are you on about?”
I scoffed. Playing ignorant, are we? “I know you were engaged to be married. Do not take me for a fool.”
He blinked slowly at me, every emotion on his face vanished. “I see you as many things love, but definitely not as a fool. How did you know I was engaged?”
“That’s not important.” I refuse to confess that I invaded the privacy of his phone.
He frowned. “Was that why you left without a word? You thought I was getting married?”
“How about you state what exactly you want mister?” Jay snapped, interrupting our walk down memory lane. “What do you want from her?”
“I do not take it likely when unimportant people interrupt me.” He informed him arrogantly “I shut them up permanently when they do.”
Jesus! “You need to leave! Stop threatening my friend before me!”
His jaw clenched at my loud voice. “Stop raising your voice, you’ll upset the baby.”
My hand flew to my bump. “My pregnancy is none of your f*****g business.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You sure about that?”
The certainty in his voice alarmed me. “What did you just say?” I whispered.
“Can’t you see you’re upsetting her? Go away!” Jayden demanded. “Leave her the f**k alone!”
It all happened quickly, one minute Jayden was asking if I’m okay and the next moment we heard something click, that was when we realised that a gun is being pointed at Jayden.
“I have this great urge to end your life right now,” he gritted out, his finger curling round the trigger. “First, you ran away with my fiancé and now you’re playing father over my child!” He roared. His clenched fist shook with anger. “Tell me one reason why I should let you live?”
Jay’s hand slowly left mine, his shocked face mirroring mine. I swallowed loudly, my palm clammy with sweat. “Did you…did you just call me your fiancé?”
His eyes swiped to me. “Yes, you heard me.” He hissed. “I am Mr. Lopez’s eldest son, Dominico Lopez, your husband-to-be and evidently the father of your unborn child.”
My body couldn’t take the shock, so it shut down. The last thing I heard was Jay screaming my name before everything went black.
Aksara