Mason
I will end things with her. It was clear I was still in love with Lydia. It has taken a lot of time toe to terms with that fact
I stepped into the restaurant. A waiter leads me to a waiting Julia. She has a smile stered on her face as she sees me approach, She stood and hugged me, wrapping her arms around me. I catch myself wishing that she were Lydia.
I pushed the thoughts away from my head as I took a seat.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting for so long.” I apologise.
“It’s fine. I know you are busy, you obviously don’t have all the time in the world.” She <b>said</b>. This was it with her, sometimes I felt bad for her. She did <b>love </b>me dearly.
“This restaurant was introduced to me by my friend. I heard the food here is amazing.” She said, and I nodded, taking the ce in. noticed there were not many people here, the ce was almost empty.
We were seated in a secluded ce; <b>we </b>sat close to the window. Breeze rushed through the window.
“You are always trying out restaurants.” I found myself smiling as I finally began to rx, but when the waiter came, “You can pick whatever you want, I’ll have anything you decide.” I said.
“Alright.” She scrolled down the iPad that she was handed, “he doesn’t eat eggs, make sure the sd is… yes, he likes this.”
As I watched her speak to the waiter about my likes and dislikes, I felt the nervousness creeping back in.
She knew everything about me.
Technically, not everything, but most things about me. I threw my head to the side, deciding to spare myself the sight, and studied the painting spread over the wall. Some were framed with a celebrity’s signature.
When the waiter left, I refused to look at her. “That’s a painting done by Amanda Von Darin. She is famous for such work.” She said.
I turned to her; she was smiling from ear to ear.
“How did you know her?” I asked. “I didn’t know you were good with painting.” Her smile didn’t tter, though I saw her brows twitch like she was disappointed that I didn’t <b>know</b>.
“always bring a painting whenever I visit.” She <b>said</b><b>, </b>and my mind quickly reverted to the times she would always bring paintings. But I never thought much about it.
“There are things you don’t know about me, Mason,” she said and leaned into the chair. Her hair is styled neatly to the side with a few strands falling on her face. A pearl ne is <b>seated </b>on her neck.
I nodded, agreeing with her, “but no worries, I think we have enough time ahead of us to do that<b>.</b>” I nodded again without sa word.
She pointed at one of the paintings, which was a painting of three hands. Two big ones and one tiny hand, holding each other. There was no face, but it was clear that there were a family, a father, a mother, and their child.
She went ahead to say something about it and also exin the next two paintings, but I didn’t pay attention to her words.
“I’m so happy we get to spend time here. What do you think about visiting a gallery together? I know of an exhibition thR’S happening this weekend, so I can free up my schedule. The waiter walked in with two others at that moment, and <b>they </b>served b
It wasn’t surprising that we were having three–course meals. For starters, we had Creamy tomato basil soup.
Slow music resounded from the speaker, setting the mood.
She ced a spoon in her mouth and paused. She closed her mouth with her hand, “This is so good. You should try it.”
She is right.
“Delicious.” Were my words, I said before digging into the bowl. We are in silence.
“About the <b>gallery </b>event. You didn’t tell me if you’d being.” She said, We are now on the main course.
I leaned into the seat, sipping from the ss of water.
Tinhaled sharply. It won’t be possible for me to apany her to this ce. I am here to end things, “well,” I began sucking in another breath.
I didn’t think I’d feel guilty. I don’t love her, and I should be able to do this without any stress. Maybe it’s the food or the fact that she <b>is </b>always considerate.
Before I could speak<b>, </b>she beat me to it, “and Mr. Redmond is going to be there. Did I tell you he is a friend of my father?” My ears picked up on her words. Mr. Redmond was the man Daniel told me about earlier.
“No,” I said, trying to be calm. If he is her father’s friend, that means one thing it would be easy to nail this contract.
“Well, he <b>is</b>.” She continued, “Before he left the States, he’d alwayse visit us. He basically called me Baby Jules, he still does.” She said and smiled. Her smile is evident that she’s just remembered a memory.
“That’s nice,” I told her.
I don’t know what else to say<b>. </b>
“I’ll introduce you to him when we go together.” She said.
I poured myself a ss of wine. Did she know that I wasing to break up with her? Is that why she has been extra nice, and now she’s trying to use Mr. Redmond to trap me?
Different thoughts ran through my mind. But this was a golden opportunity. Many people are trying to get his attention. So many people.
If Julia can introduce me to him, I’ll have the greatest edge over them. I’ll get the contract and be able to get rid of Julia and her father from my life for good.
Maybe it wasn’t the right time to end things, so I decided to push back the <b>date </b>of the breakup.
“It’s okay if you don’t want toe. You’re always busy, I just thought you could use some time off.”
“I’ll have to check my schedule. If I’m free, then I’ll give you a heads up,” I said, and she nodded.
“Alright.” After dinner, we walked out together. She moved closer to <b>me </b>and entwined her hands with mine. I don’t pull away. I have to endure, just until after this meeting with Mr. Redmond..
Chapters
I
This rtionship was purely business from the get–go, so I don’t feel guilty about using her to get the deal. Il mont and she knows about it too.
Thank you so much, Mason I really enjoyed my time here, the food tasted better when we are together.” She said
She is throwing our hands forward and backwards as we awaited the Valet to get our cars from the underground parking lot.
My car came into view. Julia stopped throwing my hand back and forth.
“Can I ride with you?” She asked.
I furrowed my brows but then quickly schooled my expression.
“Why would you?” I paused and shook my <b>head</b>, “I mean, you can use your car.” I said.
My car came to a stop in front of me. A man in a ck suit stepped out, walked around and handed my keys to me, he bowed before he left.
“I didn’te with my car.” She revealed.
“Why didn’t you?” I questioned whether my voice sounded a bit too sharp, so I decided to <b>tone </b>it down.
“How did you get here?” “My mom dropped me off.”
Good, I’m quite sure the entire world knows about us having dinner here.
I made an oh with my lips. “Fine, you can ride with me.”
We settled into the car in the next minute, and I drove off.
I drove past a slowly moving truck, pressing down the elerator.
“Have you ever thought of having children?” Julia asked out of the blue. Her question took me by surprise, and I couldn’t help but ask myself why she would ask that.
I tried to shake it off. I don’t care.
“Well, that’s abrupt,” I say.
“I know. I shouldn’t have…” She paused and inhaled sharply.
After Lydia got pregnant by my stepfather, I didn’t think too much of it anymore.
“I don’t know. Never thought of it.” I said.
“Wow! Men and women sure are different.” She said.
“Would you?” I asked, and she nodded. I caught her eyes briefly.
I my partner says they don’t want them, it’s fine.” I know why she was getting at it. If I don’t want, it’s fine with her.
“But ifr
“Oh,” I said.
“Well, do
you think you’ll want?” She asked. It was obvious she was expecting me to affirm. She wanted children, and the eye
Chapter 69:
contact may have been brief, but I saw the joy in her eyes. She loved children.
“Maybe.”
I gave another vague response.
We came to a stop in front of her house.
She stepped out, “I think you’ll make a good dad, Mason.” She said before stepping out
I drove off; I had no destinations in mind until I stopped in front of Lydia’s building.
Would things have been different if I had never found out about her affair with my stepdad?
<b>AD </b>