CHAPTER 18

It was a weekday. I got up from bed, and Aaron was awake and playing—my happiness. I made my way towards the kitchen to prepare breakfast and helped Aaron get ready. At the same time, I too got ready and left home.

Day by day, he was becoming a big boy and acting so mature at this young age. I am proud to be his mother and am so lucky to have this adorable child. I reached the company and was making my way to my cabin, and when I entered my cabin, I noticed Patricia was waiting for me: "Hi, good morning; you are Anastasia, right, Ran secretary." Ran is supposed to be my nickname if everything did go; accordingly, it's too late to dwell on it. "Hi, Ms. Patricia, yes, I am nice meeting you." "Delighted Ana." She was scrutinizing me from head to toe. Was she trying to rate me? "Well, Ana, you know I am engaged to Randolph." "Yeah, of course, everyone does; congratulations!" "Whatever, I really don't care about his past shitty affairs; I just want you to know that he is taken. I don't want to make sure of every bitch of his past, but you both are working under the same roof, so better be within your limits; he is mine, and I will make sure to keep my words at any cost.".

Is she threatened by me or threatening me? In this situation, staying mute was the best option; nothing needed to be proved to both of them. Again, Patricia continued, "Ana, I guess you got what I was trying to convey." "Yes, crystal clear." "That's great; can I get your number?" "What?" "Is there any problem with sharing your number?" "No, not at all." After taking my number, she bid me goodbye by informing me she was going to call me soon. Yeah, whatever bitch, anyone getting engaged to him was bound to be insecure, but with her, something is 'off'. I am not able to put my finger on it, and it's not my fucking business.

I made my way toward the car after collecting her number. She is fucking nothing in front of me; not even a single thing could be compared. From head-to-toe disgusting like hell, he had an affair with her, Randolph, and his pathetic taste—didn't he have any class in choosing his flings or even one-night stand—came from the low class. What could be expected from him?

Why did I fall for him in the first place? When I saw him at some party, I became clean bold, and from that day on, I had eyes for him. I never gave him a second thought after knowing his Playboy image. I knew he was attracted to me at the same party when our eyes met, so I was waiting for his approach. Sure, that idiot didn't have balls; not even once did he take the courage to approach me. He stayed from afar, ogling bloody hell, who gave him that title. I knew I was irresistible and could get anyone by just snapping a finger, and I never so desperately waited for any man to approach me, but with Randolph, everything was different. I couldn't wait anymore and gave up the idea of waiting for his first move and made everything easy by taking a step from my side.

Everything is fine between us; he is seriously trying to overcome his playboy image and trying to get rid of everything that may cause any trouble between us, but why the hell has he not fired his secretary still now? What the hell should I think about keeping his old fucking bitch beside him? How the hell am I going to take this lightly? Is he not able to forget what they had between them? I am not able to stop myself from thinking these things. I have done a thorough background check on her. He had spent so much on her before. Recently, there were no transactions other than salary. He had appointed another secretary to accompany him. There was not much interaction between them. I was still not able to digest her working over there. When I heard she had a child, I was terrified. I did a DNA test. Thank God it was not his, or else I would skin him alive. I have enough proof on my hands to prove nothing is cooking between them, but still, I am not convinced.

I was watching Aaron play with other kids, and when I saw his smiling face, a smile would always erupt on my face, and the feeling was so nice. We both are in the same boat; we don't know who gave birth to us, threw us, and successfully hid their identities.

I want to divert my mind, so I will bring Aaron every weekend to this park, but for the past few weeks, I have hated coming over here because these ladies won't let me breathe peacefully. Always poking their noses in my life, trying to find answers, especially about Aaron's father. For a few ladies, I had killed him, and in return, they were killing me by showing sympathy to such an extent that I wanted to puke myself. So, I gave up the idea of killing, so for a few other ladies, I told them he betrayed me. They started giving suggestions, provoking me to date again, on how to find good men based on their experiences. A few times they tried to set me up on a date with random guys. Ladies, please don't bug me for God's sake. Please mind your own business for once and leave me the hell alone.

These scenarios were scarring me. I was not able to convince these ladies how the hell I was going to convince Aaron in the coming days. He will start going to school, and making friends and kids talk will lead to one thing or another. Today's kids are so smart that someday this question will pop up. I am not going to tell him that he is adopted, at least not now, but maybe in the future when he is mature enough to digest these things. From now on, I should prepare myself for every strike from Aaron's side regarding his father. I need to give him well-prepared answers. Why the hell didn't I think about all this before? How am I going to convince Aaron? These days, kids are very smart and dangerous; I can't babble in front of them. I should come up with my own story with a well-written screenplay.

I was doing my work when I received a call from Patricia: "It's Patricia; meet me at a restaurant by 6 p.m. without fail." That's it; only her side conversation didn't bother to say hi, hello, or wait to hear my reply. Please, someone, teach her basic manners.

I reached the restaurant and was waiting for her. Patricia was fashionably late. I greeted her and returned with an attitude. I stopped minding jerks and bitches long before, never mind finishing the conversation, and ran from here; something was always off with her.

"I hope you are fine. Ana, you know sometimes we can't control certain situations. For example, I fell for him and couldn't control it after knowing his history with his secretaries and many others. I hate his Playboy image to the core, but Randolph is trying to overcome it because of me. I am a lucky one, right? Frankly speaking, I hate you working over there; you both were a 'thing' on top of it; everyone in the company knows about it. He got engaged; still, you are sticking over there, which is something I am not able to digest. On the bright side, why the hell should I feel threatened by someone who can't be compared to me anyway, right, Ana?" This bitch was indeed threatened by me, but she was trying to cover it up.

"I agree we were a thing long before, but nothing is going on between us; he is my employer, that's it." "Better be, or else consequences would be beyond imagination." "Noted strongly anything else, Ms. Patricia? I have enough on my plate and don't want to add this classy bitch and that bastard at any cost. "Good, I need a favor from you, Ana, as you are Randolph's secretary, maintaining his daily schedule. I want you to forward the same to me every day without fail." "Wait, what? Why would I do that, Ms. Patricia? You can ask directly to Mr. Anderson." "If that were the case, do you think I would approach you, Ana? Please use your brain. Sometimes I don't want him to know about this at any cost." "How can I forward without his permission? It's highly impossible; it's against job ethics." "You are not doing it for free; I will pay you; don't worry." "Mr. Anderson is paying me my salary; that's enough. Sorry, Ms. Patricia, without his permission, I can't do what you are asking for." "Fuck with you and your ethics; you people don't get anything dying by sticking to bullshit morality.".

She was burning with anger, which caught the attention of everyone. Trust me, for the first time, I was afraid of this woman. "For the last time I am asking you, will you forward it or not? I am fucking paying for the same." "If I were your secretary, if anyone had approached me, I would reply in the same way." "You are fucking dare to say 'No' to me. Get the hell out. Don't fucking show that pathetic face of yours." Her hands were on the table, and she started scratching the glass using her nails and her anger. Nothing was normal when she started shouting like a maniac, which was terrifying.

I ran from that place towards the exit and started catching my breath. What the hell just happened? What the hell is up with her? Can't these rich bitches take 'No' as an answer? For a few seconds, she showed me hell what was wrong with her, and the first person that came to mind was 'Randolph'. Why the hell was I feeling happy? What a match indeed—a match made in heaven. The bastard was trying to find a perfect wife but was going to end up with a psychopath. That asshole deserved this by smiling goofily as I made my way towards home.

"What the hell is wrong with you? How many times have I cautioned you, always repeating the same mistake?" "Please don't scold me; I couldn't stop myself." "That doesn't mean you fucking act impulsively. How the hell can you ask her something like that? She is fucking his secretary working under him. Why the hell will she share that information with you? Can't you think before you act? At least you could have discussed it with me." "I am sorry; I should have at least discussed it with you." "Why did you speak about their affair with her? After knowing everything, you pursued him right above all of this. You fucking investigated both of them, and are you still not convinced?" "Why the hell is she working over there?" "Let her; that doesn't give you any right to question her; your fucking investigation outcome is negative. What more do you want? For months together, you investigated. What if she brought Randolph to the knowledge of your stupid act? You are engaged to him; something was created between you both; don't ruin it as you did with your ex," and that made me shut my mouth at that second.

My only best friend, Nora Simmons, was, as usual, scolding me for my reckless behavior. We were close friends from childhood, and the only person I trust most is Nora. She knows everything about me, including in-depth things. She is the one who bears me how I am, and she has stuck with me till now. She has never betrayed me like my other b*tches. Soon, I showed them their places. Everyone feared me, at least for taking my name, but Nora earned my trust long before she would stand for me at any cost. We were sipping our drink, and yet her anger didn't come to control.

"Please don't talk about my ex that bastard, still not able to overcome his betrayal", "You are making me Pat, why the hell you got engaged when you were not ready, you were so dying to date him within a few months got engaged too, what's your problem now", "I can't help it sometimes because of his playboy image", "He is trying to change for you dam serious about you give him a chance, he is not hooking up with anyone you know about that too, what else you want", "I am trying to trust him as I said I can't help it", "Are you taking your medication and consulting therapist?" That made me gulp down once again; she was going to get a blast.

"No, I have stopped." "What are you kidding me? If you act this way, trust me, you are going to ruin this relationship too." "Please don't say that; you are my only best friend, and you know I will listen to you always." "What else do you want me to say? If you want Randolph in your life, start consulting a therapist and also take your bloody medication."

I was frustrated. I know she was right, but "How many more years? I am fed up with everything." "Still, you have not recovered. Don't you want Randolph in your life? Do you want to lose him? Still, I remember when you saw him for the first time and how your eyes were sparkling at that moment. I knew you would do anything to get him. Finally, your dream came true. For god's sake, don't ruin this either. At least until you get married to him, take your medication, and start seeing a therapist. After that, you may change. Miracles do happen. Maybe Randolph is the one, and you may recover soon." "Do you think so? Trust me, baby, he is the one, and he may change you." "Do you think so?" "Trust me, baby, he is totally different from every other guy you have met; he is head over heels for you; you are not going to get a perfect partner like him." "You are right. After getting married, I may be able to overcome my disorder. He is the one whose love may change me. I should start taking my medication and start attending sessions too. Thank you so much, Nora, for sticking with me always." "You know I will always be there no matter what; you both are made for each other." A bitch deserves an asshole like him; indeed, a fucking perfect match. "You are my savior." "Please, no big words; I want your happiness, and your happiness is Randolph." "Yes, mine forever." "Of course, darling, he is yours forever." Bastard, you deserve this. I am so in love with this pair of matches made by me.