<b>Chapter </b><b>77 </b>


    Lydia


    Zoe is back; that was what I kept thinking about all these while staring at my screen.


    Why did she refuse toe back all this while? Why is she back now? What if Morn is right?


    Sigh!


    This was all too much to handle.


    I closed myptop and stood.


    She is the cause of this all. I don’t me her for being unable to tell the truth about what happened that day. If I got a chance to go back there and know all these would be repeated, I would choose to do the same.


    We had a good rtionship and could almost pass for sisters.


    I sometimes miss her.


    When I gave birth, at the earliest stage of my twins in my life, I found myself dreaming ofing home to meet her and ying with my babies. But that was what it was then, dreams.


    “Why are you back now?”


    I felt a small tug at my leg. “Mom.” It was Liam. I turned to him, “Baby!” I picked him up.


    “You didn’te down for dinner. Marcus said you have a lot of work to do,” he looked over to myptop, “but you aren’t working right now?” He stated.


    We walked to the bed and sat, “I was till a moment ago.” He touched my head.


    “Mnie said you’re sick,”


    “I’m fine now.” He looks so worried. Sometimes he acts older than his age.


    He climbed onto myp, “the other day at the mall, we <b>met </b>with that guy. The one that looks like Mnie. He thinks he looks like Mnie, too.” He said, resting his head on my chest. Ismoothened his hair.


    “How did he see Mnie?” I questioned.


    “I introduced them.” He stated.


    Oh no, he didn’t.


    “Why?” My voice is sharp and loud. He flinched and lifted his head from my blossom.


    “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you” I shouldn’t have done that, it wasn’t his fault he is <b>just </b>a boy. A litt


    who is amused


    at how much resemnce two strangers can bear. I pat his head.


    “Do you know him?? He asked, staring at me suspiciously.


    Iscoffed, “Why would 17 I still think you are mistaken.” I ced his head back on my chest so he didn’t see my eyes. He can tell


    when lie.


    “I’m not.” He said. “Oh yes, you are.


    “I’m not, mom.


    We bantered for a while before finally falling quiet. His head was still on my chest when he requested that I sing for him, and i did


    He fell asleep, and Iid him on my bed.


    Mnie slept with my mom that night, too.


    Mia entered my office with a smile stered on her <b>face</b>. “Guess who just contacted me.”


    I blinked, trying to understand what the excitement was for. There was no way all this was about business. Maybe she wanted to gossip. I don’t have enough time for that, but I could surely make some space for her..


    “You got contacted by the man you shagged that night after thinking it was just a one–night stand.” That must be it.


    “What?” She raised a brow and then burst intoughter.


    “Why would you even think that?” She asked, unable to control herughter,


    “Because you’ve been talking about it, and I’ve caught you staring at your phone a few times, no doubt waiting and praying <b>for </b>a text or call.””


    “You are so wrong.” She stated.


    “I wasn’t waiting for his text. Why would I…”


    <b>“</b>Come on girl, you can be honest with yourself if you aren’t with me.” She took the seat in front of me.


    “Well, you are wrong.” She then ced the iPad on the table before pushing it towards me with a finger.


    “Mr Redmond <b>has </b>not seen anyone since he arrived. He only meets directly with those he wants to walk with.” I knew <b>that</b>, and that was why we met with his assistant the other day.


    “But guess who just got invited to meet with him…” she pointed towards both of us.


    “Us!” It was followed by a squeal<b>. </b>


    I smiled. I knew we were going to get it.


    “The meeting has been scheduled to be held in two <b>days</b>.”


    “Did they decide the ce?”


    “<b>Yes</b>.”


    This was another milestone. When I get this contract, the first thing I n to do is to make sure they never have to do business with the Woods ever again.


    Mason was trying to open an airline; maybe that’s where I should begin. Make sure he never gets to do it. Or should I just allow him to open it and then take over it?


    Rays of sun fell on my face as I stepped out of the car. We were in front of the seven–star restaurant. The same restaurant Marcus had opened and gifted to me.


    “Let’s go in.”


    Mia walked by my side. She had suggested dropping off information to show that we’d been invited by Mr. Redmond, but I refused.


    It would be better to do that after we’ve concluded the contract.


    “Lydia.” A familiar voice called my name, making me stop in my tracks. I furrowed my brows; what is he doing here?


    I


    I turned, and just as I suspected, Mason was standing in front of me with his assistant beside him.


    I looked past him, maybe he was here to have lunch with his fiance, but she was absent.


    He was here alone.


    Okay, technically, he’s not alone; with his P.A., that could only mean one thing.


    I shook my head, not ready to buy the idea that he was invited by Mr. Redmond, right?


    “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you here?” He walked closer.


    After I asked him to stop texting me and blocked him as I suspected, he had tried to do so with several other numbers. However, he wasn’t able to reach me because I changed my private number.


    It was one thing to make out with him and another to keep in touch with him.


    “Are you here to have lunch?” he questioned.


    “No,” he is now beside me, and together we walked to the entrance. I hated the attention we were receiving.


    “I’m actually here for a meeting.” I said.


    “Me too.” He just confirmed it.


    There’s no way we are meeting the same people, right?


    “Nice.” That <b>was </b>all I said, though a part of me wished to rub the fact that I was meeting Mr. Redmand in his face.


    We walked through the door together. A man wearing a ck suit and tie stood a few steps away from <b>the </b>door, hands ced in front of him. He weed us <b>in </b>and led us inside.


    It came as a surprise when he kept taking us through the same hallway and took the same turns. We stepped into the elevator together.


    Mia stood close to me. I met her eyes, and she furrowed them.


    I know, I’m wondering, too. She has the same questions as I do shrugged my shoulders and looked ahead, trying to keep a reasonable distance from Mason. Hopefully, we’ll go differently when we step out.


    There was a man outside the <b>elevator</b>, he had his back turned towards us. When he turned around, I recognized him as t Redmond’s PA.


    “Wee; I hope it wasn’t too hard to find your way.” He spoke.


    “No, it was”


    “Not at all.”


    Mason and I spoke at the same time and then paused. We shared the same expression. Neither had expected to see the other here.


    Thirty minutester, we are seated in front of Mr. Redmond.


    I didn’t expect Mason to be invited. Mr. Redmond said he liked both of our proposals. He wanted to speak to us together t


    whose proposal to go with.


    “Thank you for meeting with us; <b>we’ll </b>narrow down the things you just said,pare and contrast the pros and cons, and get back to whoever gets the contract.”


    We shook hands and left. There <b>were </b>no emotions in business, so I tried to mask my disappointment all through the meeting


    I excused myself to use the restroom immediately after we stepped out. “I’ll grab some takeout.” We didn’t have lunch beforeing. I nodded, and we walked in opposite directions.


    I stepped out of the restroom and inhaled sharply. I have to get this contract, but then, even if I don’t, there will be other opportunities.


    “Lydia.” I heard my name and turned; Mason leaned on the wall.


    He pushed himself off the wall, standing straight. Has he been waiting for me here?


    “We need to talk.”


    <b>15 </b>


    Comment