《It was One Night Only》


 1

    **Characters, Description and Disimer**


    *DESCRIPTION*


    HELLO!!!!!


    Wee. I¡¯m so d and happy to have you here. Anyways since we are on this note. I would like to say to everyone that I¡¯m not a professional and we¡¯ll I¡¯m human. I can make mistakes. So if you see a mistake kindly (with all the sweetness in you) point it out and I will have it corrected immediately. Please don¡¯t steal my work. I had worked hard to make it this far. So please just have humanity in you and love me. Remember toment.


    This is a book I wrote a while back and I just want to share this with you all so you can enjoy these stories.


    Please note that I wrote this when I was younger and it might have some level of cringness in it. I hope you do enjoy this story as much as I did when I was writing it.


    ENOUGH TALKING OR WRITING.


    NOW THE DESCRIPTION.


    ????


    Rachael Mirchoff is the only daughter of her parents. Alice and Jasper Mirchoff. Well, she is a typical rich girl because her parents are rich but she is not a spoilt brat because her parents are strict. She is also an inexperienced twenty-four-year-old expert at love. She believes in happy endings and love and Prince Charming and all those Disney stuff. She cares for her family and shows passiveness to all she hates. (hate is such a soft word. The word is detest). Well and on the plus side she falls in love too quickly. Join her on a rollercoaster joy ride.


    Noah Lorraine owner of Simple Armaments. Has only his mom and sister and a caring girlfriend until she breaks his heart. He is rich and no not a yboy. Too hard to believe then you have yourself a Noah. He cares too much to break girls¡¯ hearts and just gets his broken instead. On the plus side, he loves you easily. Join him on a rollercoaster ride.


    And guess what? (what you may ask? (and if you didn¡¯t ask that, know that there is something wrong with you) well if you asked what then I have to tell you then) there is a secret, an ex-girlfriend, a crazy mom, lying parents, and wonderful family and friends.


    *DISCLAIMER*


    I don¡¯t ept requests to trante. I may consider all that in the future. I don¡¯t like you stealing my story. The idea is open to everyone but you use the same names and scene and personalities. That is very hurtful to me. I love you guys but please DON¡¯T STEAL MY STORY. You see I used capitals I¡¯m just begging okay? I just want you not to steal my story.


    That being said.


    I have no particr character list for this book. Take all the features I give you put it in a pot and put it on a hot te and you have yourself your imaginative character living in your head.


    Tata


    Read on.


    I¡¯m out


    ******


    ******


    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    This is a nice dream. I¡¯m able to close this deal and I can finally open that agency for helping young girls be whatever they want to be and not have to listen to what the boys say they should. Wait, this is a dream. It isn¡¯t real.


    I stretch on the bed. I must say this bed is veryfortable and I can sleep all day. No Rachael you can sleep all day, you have to go to work today.


    But I don¡¯t feel like going to work today. I tried all the best I could ever do to make sure that I closed that deal and trained girls who think and believe in themselves.


    My eyes flutter open and I stretch slightly on the bed trying well to make sure that my eyes adjust to the light above me. I turn in bed and there next to me is a man.


    A man? A man is next to me in my bed. Okay, there is a man next to me. THERE IS A MAN NEXT TO YOU my brain screams. I can only see his back. Dirty blonde hair and a very masculine back. I¡¯m panicking big time. What is a man doing here? Rachael, you are logical and smart don¡¯t panic this could all still be a dream right?


    I looked down at my body and I was naked, not naked like in a bra and panties. No stark naked or nude or whatever it is called. Okay, that¡¯s new. You always sleep with clothes on. Something is wrong. Pain shoots through my legs and my head. I ignore it as the matter at hand is bigger.


    Okay still think rationally there has to be an exnation right? I pull the covers out of the bed and wrap it around me and a naked bu*tt greets me. Well, that¡¯s new. So many new things today. I close my eyes and inhale slightly. How much did I drinkst night? I rub my temples to try and ease the pain shooting through my head. I stand up wrapping the covers around me well.


    I look around the room and I discover that this isn¡¯t even my room now. This looks like a hotel room. The imprint on the pillows confirms it. Woodley hotels. We are at my cousin¡¯s hotel. This can¡¯t be too bad.


    The naked man is still in the bed. He was still breathing slightly. Think Rachael


    What do girls do when they wake up in such a situation? Run away? Stay? I would run away but I sincerely want to know what exactly happened.


    I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m so bad at these. So I do the best thing ever. I bend over and tap this stranger¡¯s hand lightly. Since he is facing down. I can¡¯t see his face at all. All that greets me is his back.


    ¡°Wake up please¡± I beg in his ears and he stirs before turning and then he looks at me.


    ¡°Hello,¡± he gives me a grin and my breath hitches when he looks at me. His green eyes are very dark as he rubs his hands over his eyes. His lips are resting so below his face. He smiles and I look away. Compose yourself, Rachael.


    ¡°You are¡­ I mean you are¡­.. What are you doing here¡± I finally manage to choke out my words and heughs before standing up.


    I toss him a pillow which he uses to cover himself. ¡°Thank you¡± he mutters, rubbing some more of his eyes from sleep.


    ¡°How did we get here?¡± I asked calmly.


    ¡°I asked my driver to bring us here¡± he just responded as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal. It is a big deal alright I¡¯m going to bed with the CEO of an armamentpany not just any armamentpany but a Simple armamentpany. I¡¯m doomed.


    ¡°I know he must have driven us here but how are we here together?¡± I ask ¡°Because I was at Rob¡¯s drinking yesterday,¡± I say and heughs. How can heugh?


    ¡°You were drinking and I kept youpany and when I suggested we go somewhere quiet you agreed and here we are ¡± he said as if he does this every single night.


    ¡°Noah-¡± I began but he cut me off.


    ¡°You know my name but I don¡¯t know yours,¡± he said, maybe gesturing for me to introduce myself.


    ¡°I¡¯m Rachael Mirchoff,¡± I said and he nodded. ¡°Noah¡± I continued and he rested still holding the pillow to his area. ¡°Did we?¡± I ask myself to stop halfway.


    ¡°Have se*x?¡± he asked back and I nodded. ¡°Yes, we did. That¡¯s why we came here¡± he said.


    ¡°O my Soul,¡± I said, dropping to the bed.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t that bad¡± hemented and I shuddered at the thought.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know that,¡± I say and he smirks.


    ¡°So what is it?¡± he asked, concerned.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­. Well¡­ The thing is that¡­. How do I exin this to you¡± I say with a lot of fear within me. I don¡¯t need to go around telling strangers that I¡¯m a virgin. Although he isn¡¯t a stranger I have seen him on multiple asions, especially through business meetings but he is still a stranger to me.


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me you are a vir*gin*?¡± he asked as if it was a bad thing. So he thinks virgins are some kind of sin.


    ¡°Is that a wrong thing?¡± I ask already feeling afraid that I was discussing such matters with a man. Not anybody, just a popr CEO who turns out to be Noah Lorraine.


    ¡°No of course,¡± he said with a smile ready to break off his lips.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m a vir*gin¡± I finally say ¡°Although I just lost that,¡± I say timidly. I feel so bad. I had been keeping it for Mr. Right and perfect that I had always imagined.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m sure that wasn¡¯t the very best way to lose something like that,¡± he said with so much concern. Can he really be kind? Or maybe that is what he tells all virgin girls who end up on a one night stand with him. So I just had an official one night stand.


    ¡°What do I do now?¡± I mutter mostly to myself but he hears and he turns to me.


    ¡°Nothing I can say can bring it back, but I¡¯m indeed very sorry,¡± he said sincerely. Was that sarcasm or sincerity?


    ¡°As long as you didn¡¯t rape me, I consented too, it¡¯s fine,¡± I say shrugging him off. I just wanted to believe that. Although a part of me wanted to tell him to please tell me I didn¡¯t consent to it. I feel the pain shoot through my legs. First drunk night you lose your virginity. Way to go Rach.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m still sorry,¡± he said again.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I say standing up and fishing out my clothes and putting them on. ¡°Noah, do you think you can drop me off at home? My parents must be worried nuts and I don¡¯t think I can leave like that. This hotel belongs to my uncle and I can run into my cousin here¡± I say babbling away. I definitely don¡¯t want to run into Leah. She will interrogate me. I am still going to tell them but not when Noah is around.


    ¡°Sure,¡± he said, standing up with me facing the other way. He wore his clothes and finally led me out of the room.


    When he dropped me off at home he still apologized. I guess he was truly sorry.


    Now it¡¯s time to face my mother. She will be so worried about me.

 2

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    I took all the time I could to process my thoughts and make sure I had what to say to my mom.


    ¡°Rachael,¡± my dad said when I got inside. They were pacing the front of the door.


    ¡°Hey Dad, Mom¡± I greeted nervously. Her red hair is packed in a ponytail. She does that whenever she is stressed. Her ck eyes darkened tells me that she was really worried to death.


    Unlike my mom¡¯s worried features, my dad seems quite alright. His face was rxed. His blue eyes which I inherited were calm and void of trouble. How blonde hair was perfect as always. I had ck hair just like my grandma. I wished with all my might that I had my mom¡¯s red hair.


    ¡°How are you? are you hurt? why didn¡¯t you pick up your phone?¡± my mom ranted holding me.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine Mom¡± I assure her she just looks at me like I¡¯m just sick to the head.


    ¡°Where were you? you got me worried¡± she said with all the worry in the world.


    ¡°Alice calm down, she is home now so chill,¡± my dad said trying to console my mom.


    ¡°I¡¯m calm,¡± she said, leaving me and clenching her hands at her side.


    ¡°I went out drinking and I ended up having to spend the night at Woodley hotels since it was close by¡± I exined to my mom.


    ¡°Drinking?¡± she asked as if it was the strangest word she had ever heard. ¡°Rachael you don¡¯t drink what happened?¡± she said and I sighed.


    ¡°Mom I¡¯m sincere, I went to drink because that deal didn¡¯t go as I nned¡± I exined and finally my mom gets me.


    ¡°So you are upset because you didn¡¯t get a deal and you went drinking?¡± my mom asked and I nodded at her. ¡°My daughter,¡± she said, holding my face in her hands. ¡°You will get many other offers,¡± she said, encouraging me.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Mom for doing that¡± I apologize and she stops me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry just inform us next time so we aren¡¯t worried sick please¡± she begs and I nod.


    ¡°My head is pounding so can I take the day off¡± I direct the question to my dad. I don¡¯t tell them about the pain in my legs. I guess they won¡¯t really care about that.


    ¡°Of course dear¡± he said before walking away. ¡°I¡¯m going to make some calls,¡± he said.


    ¡°Go freshen up so you can sleep,¡± my mom said. ¡°I will have Rita bring something for you to eat and some aspirin,¡± she said, pushing me up.


    ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± I said, making my way to my room. I took a shower and then dried my hair. I then changed into a nightie. I came out and saw a sandwich and a thermos probably filled with coffee and some aspirin by the side. I had the sandwich and the coffee before the aspirin before sliding into bed.


    As my eyes began to close I then discovered that I didn¡¯t have my phone. Much for sheer luck.


    I quickly trodded to the phone downstairs. My mom and dad had finally left for work so I went to use the office line. I called my cell phone and it rang before someone picked it up.


    ¡°Hello, the owner of this phone isn¡¯t around so please leave a message and I will ry it to them,¡± the voice said.


    ¡°Noah?¡± I said silently.


    ¡°How did you know that?¡± he answered immediately.


    ¡°It¡¯s Rachael¡± I answered and he made a sound so as to say that he finally understood.


    ¡°You left your phone,¡± he said slightly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, nodding. ¡°When can I get it?¡± I ask him.


    ¡°I can drive to a Starbucks near you and give it to you,¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy today?¡± I ask ¡°I cane get it¡± I suggest too.


    ¡°It¡¯s no problem. I think I have a huge hangover so I¡¯m going toe over to the Starbucks I saw on the way dropping you¡± he said and I heard shuffling.


    ¡°I will head out now,¡± I say as a form of ending the call. I ran upstairs and changed. I yelled for Rita that I was gone before going in my car to the cafe. I need that phone right now.


    I stood outside the cafe so he wouldn¡¯t have to go through so much trouble to find me. Soon enough a person¡¯s shadow covers me and I look up to see him standing there.


    He hands me the phone and I collect it gratefully. ¡°Thanks and I¡¯m sorry for all the trouble,¡± I say sincerely.


    ¡°It was nothing and I¡¯m sorry about earlier,¡± he said again.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I say. Shifting from one foot to another.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get coffee now that we are here¡± he suggests and I nod. ¡°Coffees are good for hangovers and we both have mild cases of hangovers,¡± he said, opening the cafe door and leading me to the counter to order. I got ck coffee and he got atte.


    I wanted to tell him that I didn¡¯t know if this was a mild case because this was my first time getting drunk but my head was pounding. Deciding against bbing away I just kept quiet.


    ¡°A ck coffee uhn,¡± he said as we took our seats in one of the booths in the shops.


    ¡°It will keep me alive and awake¡± I exin and he nods.


    ¡°It¡¯s weird because you are a girl,¡± he says.


    ¡°And it¡¯s weird because you are a guy drinking atte,¡± I say and he grins from ear to ear. ¡°And I like being awake when I¡¯m talking to my client¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a different kind of guy,¡± he says and I agree. ¡°And so are you,¡± he adds.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious,¡± I tell him and his smile broadens. ¡°And well I¡¯m kind of a girl¡±


    ¡°I hope we don¡¯t behave all ufortable around each other if we have to meetter in the future,¡± he says.


    ¡°I hope too,¡± I said and we sat there in silence sipping our coffee till thest drop.


    I have to tell the girls what has happened now.


    When I get back home I open the group chat for us girls. We have for the entire family and we have for girls only so we can discuss private matters. Although most times Cara and L always made noise about some irrelevant things, we still got around to talking about important things.


    Me: Hey girls, I need urgent help


    Cara: Who are you calling girls and what do you need help with by the way?


    Ana: Cara please be more polite.


    Leah: What¡¯s up Rachel?


    L: You are always busy so this must be important.


    udia: Yeah what¡¯s up Rachel?


    Eileen: So?


    Riley: Speak up Rach.


    Me: How can one handle a one night stand?


    Riley: A what?


    L: Can you guys allow her to tell us what is up?


    Reese: Please?


    Cara: Did anything happen?


    Me: I got really drunkst night and I woke up naked and well.


    Ana: Rach tell us how it happened and why it happened.


    Cara: The why is important, please.


    Me: So I got really upset and I went drinking yesterday and apparently I got drunk and fell into a sex affair with Noah Lorraine. And I can¡¯t remember anything.


    Eileen: You drank alcohol? Since when did this start? You never drink alcohol.


    udia: Eileen please not the point.


    Ana: Guys please focus.


    Cara: We are girls.


    L: You did not want to be called girls a little while ago


    .


    L: Can we all meet?


    Me: Can we?


    Ana: Definitely Yes we can.


    Cara: I guess we can.


    Reese: Babe I am out of town are you okay?


    Me: Yes I am. I am sure I would be. At the Woodley lounge right?


    Leah: Yeah Babe

 3

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°So you mean to tell me¡­ I mean us that you can¡¯t remember anything at all from the night?¡± Ana asked me as I finished exining the story to them. They were all there apart from Resse who was away.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I reply normally, still feeling so weird about my day yesterday.


    ¡°What did you drink?¡± udia asks me now sipping from the ss of wine in her hand. They all had sses of wine in their hands except for Debby who was heavily pregnant. Ana was sipping lightly because Nick was not there. If Nick was here she couldn¡¯t have it because she was a few weeks along.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I remember telling the barman that I wanted to get drunk¡± I exined.


    ¡°So how did it feel? ¡± Cara asked me and I think we all got the hidden innuendo in her statement.


    ¡°None of us want to know that please,¡± Eileen said immediately and Iughed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even want to talk about it. It is one of the weirdest days of my life.¡± I answered Cara and she snorted at me.


    ¡°You guys are no fun,¡± Cara said and we all rolled our eyes at her. She was this person who always wanted to find fun in everything. I actually loved having her around.


    ¡°Rach, don¡¯t feel so bad okay?¡± Leah finally spoke up after listening all the while.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling terrible. What a good way to actually lose your v card¡± I said and I heard their gasp.


    ¡°You were a virgin,¡± Debby asked and I nodded.


    ¡°And you lost it to a one night stand?¡± L asked and I felt bad.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t remind me that¡± I groan.


    ¡°What you need is a distraction,¡± Ana said, grabbing all our attention.


    ¡°Yeah, I have a distraction when I resume work tomorrow,¡± I say and they allugh at me.


    ¡°I mean you need a break. Among all of us you work the hardest¡± Tess said and I looked at her.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°You work round the clock to get your trust fund just to build an agency for girls,¡± Riley said.


    ¡°I need that trust fund,¡± I tell them and they snort at me.


    ¡°I need mine too,¡± Cara said and I raised my eyebrows at her.


    ¡°Then do what your parents want you to do¡± I suggested in a duh tone.


    ¡°Yeah whatever,¡± Cara said and I rolled my eyes at her.


    ¡°What you need is a vacation¡± Riley suddenly announces and Iugh at them.


    ¡°Sorry we arete,¡± Harper said walking towards us, and Cynthia was right behind her.


    ¡°You are just in time for the juicy part,¡± Anita said to her.


    ¡°What juicy part?¡± Cynthia said, taking a seat on one of the many bean bags left scattered around.


    ¡°Well we think Rachael should take a vacation,¡± Anika said and Harperughed.


    ¡°And you think she will?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Haps is actually right. I don¡¯t need a vacation and waste more time to get that fund I need it now¡± I tell them. ¡°It¡¯s kind of urgent I add¡±


    ¡°Just one weekend and we will alle with you,¡± Cara said, smiling smugly.


    ¡°Will we get toe too?¡± udia asked and Cara nodded. They all started to make ns for the weekend trip and I doubt if Adams and Nick will let their wives out for this trip.


    My phone started ringing in my purse and I took it out to see that it was from work. I slipped out of them and went to take the call.


    They were so engrossed in the nning that none of them noticed me move out to a stand where I could hear very well.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡± my assistant¡¯s voice Melissa¡¯s voice came from the phone.


    ¡°Melissa,¡± I say with a tone of greeting.


    ¡°Your dad¡­ I mean Mr. Mirchoff said I should take care of the details of the next event you have to cater for¡± she said and I felt so excited. Now I can get my trust fund, can¡¯t I?


    ¡°Email me the details this night so I can go over it,¡± I exined to her. ¡°When is the date?¡± I asked her so I could know how many staff I would get in ready to help me.


    ¡°The date is the 14th of this Saturday,¡± she said and my eyes widened at this.


    ¡°I will be at the office as early as six a. m. so we can go to the bakery,¡± I exined to her.


    ¡°I will have the details sent to you now,¡± she said and I nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, Melissa,¡± I said before hanging up.


    I sit down back and Ana whispers to me. ¡°I¡¯m going to pretend that I didn¡¯t see how to sneak off to answer that call,¡± she said and I gave her a shy smile.


    ¡°Guys,¡± I say calling their attention and stopping their argument on where to go. This was supposed to be for me right?


    ¡°Still girls,¡± Cara said, getting on my nerves.


    ¡°Girls,¡± I said mockingly and Cara smiled at me. ¡°I can¡¯t go on this trip,¡± I say and they all gasp. ¡°I mean I would love to go and all but I have an event this weekend and I have to do this¡± I exin and they all nod in understanding.


    ¡°But anytime you need that trip we will all be ready to take off from work and go with you¡± L assured me and I nodded at her.


    ¡°Offer still stands,¡± Harper said and I smiled at them.


    ¡°Thank you guys¡­ I mean girls you really are the best¡± I say almost to tears.


    ¡°We know,¡± Leah answered and Iughed.


    The rest of the evening we spent it eating andughing and talking to each other. We had a great time. I wondered how I would exin my situation to my father and mother. My cousins Aaron and Nick will get super angry when they hear this.


    I have already decided that I have to keep this a secret between us all girls.


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell anyone,¡± I said when we were all talking.


    ¡°Of course¡± they chorus half drunk.


    ¡°Have some wine,¡± Riley said, shoving the bottle to me.


    ¡°No thank you,st time it didn¡¯t go down too well,¡± I say, shoving the bottle back.


    I had to call all their drivers to take them back home and by the time I had arrived home, I was exhausted so I fell asleep immediately.

 4

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFPEN 123.


    I was running up and down trying to get the details ready for the wedding of the daughter of a senator. I wonder if all these people think that they can get things done with just a phone call just because they have the money for that. My crew and I were trying to make sure that all those wedding preparations were in ce.


    ¡°Can I get a list of some of the new meals that the chefs learned on their trips overseas?¡± I ask the head of chefs sitting at the table. And he took down some notes again.¡±This meeting will be picked up from where we left it tomorrow¡± I say dispersing the meeting and everyone just left the board room except for Melissa, my secretary.


    ¡°Can you schedule a meeting with Senator Cooper and his wife?¡± I ask Melissa and she nods, taking down notes.


    ¡°I will send him an email right now,¡± she said, taking out her Macbook.


    ¡°Please tell them that we need to get the meeting this evening,¡± I tell her and she nods at me.


    ¡°I will speed up the process¡± she said, taking her leave out of the board room.


    I will write down the things we are likely to need for this weekend. That is when my phone rings and I see that it is a call from my mom.


    ¡°Hello Mom,¡± I say, cing the phone next to my ear and still trying to scribble down all I can remember.


    ¡°Hello honey¡± my mom¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°You aren¡¯t home, are you out drinking again?¡± my mom asked, trying to mock me.


    ¡°No Mom, I have another deal and this has been closed, so I had to rush out to finalize the details today,¡± I tell her and she hums an okay over the phone. ¡°Okay darling take care, I will see you when Ie to the office,¡± she said


    ¡°Okay Mom I gotta go,¡± I said, and then hung up and put the phone on the table. I looked down at the notepad and then saw the mistake I had made in my scribblings.


    Cakes for tasting:


    Japanese cheesecake


    sponge cake


    vani cake


    orange cake


    strawberries and chocte cakes


    drinking again?


    I quickly canceled the drinking again and left the room.


    ¡°I got across to the senator and he said his wife and daughter areing around to see you,¡± Melissa said when I got to her table that was stationed right outside mine.


    ¡°Okay then buzz me when they arrive¡± I inform her and she nods before getting back to organizing the needed things.


    My buzzer rang and I picked it up and listened to it. ¡°Ma¡¯am I¡¯m going to send them in now,¡± she said, referring to the senator¡¯s wife and daughter.


    ¡°Okay Melissae in with them,¡± I said before dropping the buzzer. Soon my door opened and two people who looked slightly the same age stood there.


    ¡°Come on in,¡± I said, giving them a warm smile and they came in. I wonder who the mom is and who the daughter is.


    ¡°So nice to have you here,¡± I say, ushering them to one of the seats in my big office. They both looked like proud girls who only used their daddy¡¯s money to shop every day.


    Since I was so confused about who the mom was I turned to Melissa. ¡°Get the chef to bring in these cakes,¡± I say, giving Melissa the paper I had been writing on.


    She nodded and then she left the office.


    ¡°So who is the bride?¡± I asked ufortably. this was the first time I got to do this on my own, usually, Mom and Dad are always here.


    ¡°That will be me,¡± the blonde said and I eyed her and gave her a lip-tight smile.


    ¡°And you must be her mom,¡± I said to the dark-haired girl.


    ¡°I¡¯m not her mom, I¡¯m just her dad¡¯s wife,¡± she said as if I had offended her.


    ¡°I¡¯m Maya,¡± the blonde said, looking at me.


    ¡°And I¡¯m ra¡± the supposed mom said, picking up her phone and tapping away. ¡°Please let us get this over with. I¡¯d rather be anywhere than here¡±she finished scrolling through her phone.


    ¡°And I told Dad that I¡¯d rather go with my real mom,¡± Maya countered. ra was about to talk but I stopped her. I don¡¯t have time tozy around. I have lots of details to go over.


    ¡°We will just go over to cake tasting,¡± I said when I saw Chef Robert bring in the cart filled with different vored cakes.


    For the next ten minutes, we were tasting cakes and exining the vor and everything to them and finally Maya spoke up and I was so happy that she did because we were already running out of time.


    ¡°We will have this one,¡± Maya said pointing to the strawberries and chocte-vored cake. ¡°I love this one¡± she said and I sighed gratefully that she finally made her choice.


    ¡°This one is too conventional¡± ra stated


    ¡°It¡¯s my wedding,¡± Maya snapped at her. ¡°You had yours when you sucked my dad to marry you¡± she continued.¡±So Rachael we will have this please¡±


    ¡°So why am I here?¡± ra muttered while picking up her phone again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Maya said harshly ¡°We could try a few options?¡± she suggested.


    ¡°Just stop it,¡± ra said, ignoring her.


    ¡°Moving on,¡± I said awkwardly.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Yes Rachael,¡± Maya said when Robert gave her our electronic album for wedding cakes.


    Finally, she chose one cake for her wedding and another for the bridal shower. She and her young mom were finally gone from my office and I could finally get to work.


    And Maya had left me with a ¡°Send the bill to Daddy¡±


    I spent the entire day in the office looking through all the ingredients we needed to buy. Her bridal shower is in two days this Friday and her wedding is in three days I hope we can handle it well.

 5

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Today was the day when I had to go present the cake and the meal for the reception at the wedding of Maya to Killian. I was trying my best to ensure that the cake was set on the table and that the buffet was set up and all. The wedding vows will soon be over and they will being in here. The only people present right now at the reception ground were my team, the decorating team, and the security team but everywhere was still buzzing.


    Some of the meals were not at the venue and I was barking out orders on the phone walking angrily away when arge wall stopped me and I stumbled back.


    ¡°Roberts please¡± I begged into the phone before cutting and then looking up to see amusement on the face of Noah.


    ¡°Rachel,¡± he said my name easily as if we had been friends all along.


    ¡°Hey Noah¡± I shifted from foot to foot uneasily. It¡¯s not always so easy for you to face your one-night stand right?


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked, smiling slightly. ¡°The reception doesn¡¯t start untilter,¡± he said, telling me what I already know.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one setting up the catering team,¡± I said motioning to the team setting up behind me.


    ¡°Bloom events?¡± he asked, shocked at me.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said.


    ¡°Wow,¡± he said smugly. ¡°I never thought that you were a rich person,¡± he said honestly.


    ¡°Well, I am,¡± I told him. ¡°So what are you doing here?¡± I asked him ¡°Rtives to the senator?¡± I pressed on.


    ¡°No God forbid,¡± he said carelessly.


    ¡°Why?¡± I was suddenly interested in why he didn¡¯t want that.


    ¡°For starters, the daughter thinks she can walk over all of us and the wife thinks she can seduce me,¡± he said with a stern expression on his face.


    ¡°The wife?¡± I asked incredulously. He nodded at me before speaking.


    ¡°She said that she is looking for some fun and since Cooper is so old I could give her some fun,¡± he said as he tried to stay calm. I could see that he wasn¡¯t


    too pleased to be here.


    ¡°She¡¯s obviously with him for the money¡± I muttered and he nodded. Then I remembered that the reception was going to start in -I looked at my watch- ten minutes.


    ¡°Why are you here then?¡± I asked and he sighed.


    ¡°Heading the security team¡± he exined and I nodded.


    ¡°I have to go, guess I will see you around,¡± I said partially meaning thest part. How hard can it be to see him again? it definitely didn¡¯t seem awkward with us.


    ¡°See you around then,¡± Noah said, stepping out of my way. I made my way back and the reception started. Some woman who had a resemnce to Maya came to where I stood.


    ¡°Rachael Bloom,¡± she said, approaching me. She made me see what Maya would look like as a grandmother. What do I address her as now?


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± I say, giving her my undivided attention.


    ¡°I must say you did a great job,¡± she saidplementing.


    ¡°I¡¯m d that you think so,¡± I replied.


    ¡°I have a bookunch¡± she started ¡°Do you think you can cater for that?¡± she asked and I nodded. ¡°Okay, then I will have my assistant email you the details,


    I don¡¯t think my daughter¡¯s wedding is the right ce to discuss this¡± she said with a smile.


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± I said, still not knowing what to address her without.


    ¡°Just call me Kiki¡± she said and I thought that she was probably in love with Feelings by Chris Brown. I nodded with a smile. she walked away humming ¡®Hey Kiki do you love? Are you riding¡¯ Yep, that¡¯s where she got that name from.


    The wedding wasing to an end as all the guests had started to leave. My crew was already packing up and getting ready to leave and when the couple finally left


    Everyone ditched and only the nningmittee was left there. I saw Noah round his men up ready to leave the ce. I took a te took some of the leftover cake and marched to him. I tapped him on his shoulders and he turned to face me.


    ¡°Three times is the charm,¡± he said and I furrowed my eyes in confusion. ¡°Never mind,¡± he said.


    ¡°I brought you some leftover cake,¡± I said, raising the te to him.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, taking the te from me. ¡°Want to take a walk?¡± he asked, pointing to thewn.


    ¡°Yeah, I guess my team will clean up,¡± I said and we walked with each other.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± he said and I followed him. Later we were sitting on the grass as he ate from his cake.


    ¡°Do you like your job?¡± I suddenly asked out of nowhere.


    ¡°Of course yes¡± he said. ¡°Although sometimes I meet people who are mental,¡± he said with a littleugh and hisugh was contagious and beautiful (and where am I getting that from) I couldn¡¯t help but join in.


    ¡°I still dig what I do,¡± he said and I looked at him.


    ¡°I admire you,¡± I said and he cocked his head to the side.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m handsome,¡± he said, putting up a cocky smile.¡±But you can¡¯t hit on me,¡± he continued.


    ¡°I find you ugly,¡± I said jokingly and heughed.


    ¡°Yeah Rachael,¡± he said as if he didn¡¯t believe a word I just said.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± I said, motioning to the sunset.


    ¡°Yeah it is,¡± he said, finishing the cake. ¡°Are you afraid that mommy is going to shout at you?¡± he said in a tone that made me frown at him.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, mommy is going to shout,¡± I said, taking his tone. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I say standing up and dusting the back of my skirt. he stood up and did the same to the pants of


    his suit.¡±Well I may get to see you again¡± he said and I smiled at him ¡°That is if we are destined to meet¡± he added.


    ¡°I guess we have to wait to find out,¡± I said before joining my crew that had been waiting for me.


    Little did I know that destiny has its ns.

 6

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Waking up sick is the worst feeling ever and then discovering that for the first time that I was sick because of stress. I felt exhausted beyond this world. It felt as


    if a thousand soldiers were matching in my stomach. I had the opportunity to do two events in a row but now I felt like a pulp. My mom stuck her head into my room and


    looked at me.


    ¡°Honey, are you getting up now?¡± my mom asked me while I struggled to sit up.


    ¡°Good morning Mom¡± I greeted her and she smiled at me.


    ¡°How are you honey,¡± she said


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I replied. ¡°Do you think that Dad will allow me to take the day off, I¡¯m not feeling too well¡± I say a yawn escaping her lips.


    ¡°Not well?¡± she askeding to stand by my side.


    ¡°Yes Mom, but don¡¯t get paranoid,¡± I exined to her. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s just stress,¡± I say.


    ¡°Yeah, it should be stressful. You handled those events very well¡± she said, patting my head. ¡°Am heading out already with your dad¡± she said and walked out.


    ¡°Bye Mom,¡± I said as she left.


    ¡°Bye darling,¡± she said and then left. I fell back and had a sleep again easing the stress but suddenly bile rose to my throat and I struggled to get out of bed with the covers still wrapped around my waist I rushed to the bathroom and there I poured out all my guts in a puke. I washed my face and mouth and then decided to take a bath.


    What did I eat that made me vomit?


    Must be that casserole from yesterday. After bathing and changing into something veryfortable. I opened the group chat of all the girls and it was buzzing with unread


    messages.


    Most of it was asking about how I was and all that. And I learned that L was having a birthday bash and she wanted me to cater for which was already making


    I was excited about the party.


    I decided to watch a movie and halfway through the movie, I realized that I was very hungry as I had not eaten anything today. I went to the kitchen and I discovered that Rita had left some lunch for me in the microwave so I reheated it and started to eat but then something triggered in me and I became so nauseous. I threw up again. I felt sick. I should call my doctor.


    ¡°Hello, Doctor Richard,¡± I say when the ringing stops and he picks it up.


    ¡°Hello Rachael¡± his voice booms back. ¡°How can I help you?¡± he asks me.


    ¡°Richard, I woke up feeling sick and we¡¯ll throw up two times already¡± I exin and he listens, probably nodding his head the way he does every time we speak.


    ¡°I need you toe in tomorrow for some test. Are there any other symptoms?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Like what?¡± I questioned back.


    ¡°Any strange thing?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I feel like I have bad breath,¡± I say because my mouth seems to never stop smelling no matter how much I wash it.


    ¡°I have my theories but we will only be sure when I see you tomorrow,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thanks, Richard,¡± I said.


    ¡°No problem, I booked an appointment for noon,¡± he told me and I made a mental note of that.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°I will be there,¡± I say and hang up.


    I put away the half-eaten food and then suddenly I want to eat some frozen yogurt. I look through the fridge and I see that there is no yogurt there. Since I have beenzing around the house I decided to go out buy some yogurt and then do some shopping.


    Waiting in line for my yogurt. Well, it¡¯s summer and everyone wants to have some yogurt. I felt a presence behind me and then I thought I¡¯m paranoid this is a line people have to be behind me and in front of me.


    When it gets to my turn the over excited girl speaks up with a smile and bounces on her feet.


    ¡°Hey, wee to Wayne Frozen Yogurt,¡± she said chirpily. ¡°May I take your order?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I will have arge pint of vani vored yogurt please,¡± I said leaning on the counter.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t pin you as a girl who eats too much,¡± a voice said behind me and my head whipped to find Noah standing there in a casual tee shirt and jeans and with a smile.


    ¡°Are you following me around?¡± I ask jokingly.


    ¡°Maybe I am?¡± he says and I frown at him. ¡°I¡¯m not, I just had this sudden urge to have frozen yogurt,¡± he said.


    ¡°Really?¡± I ask and he shakes his head.


    ¡°No, my mom loves frozen yogurt so she asked me to pick some on my way home,¡± he exined. I could sense he tended to first mess around before actually answering your question.


    ¡°And you had to drive halfway around town to get frozen yogurt when there are many around your office,¡± I tell him and he smirks.


    ¡°Someone knows where I work,¡± he said, giving me an expression.


    ¡°Everyone in this city knows where the simple armamentpany is,¡± I say and he nods.


    ¡°Mom likes this yogurt,¡± he says.


    ¡°Your order¡± the girl speaks and I thank her. Before I reach for my card to pay.


    ¡°I will pay,¡± Noah said and I looked at him. ¡°My treat,¡± he said with that smile.


    ¡°I can get it,¡± I said ¡°But thank you,¡± I said withdrawing my card.


    ¡°Wait for me at the entrance. I want to ask you something,¡± he said and I nodded leaving the counter at the door. Later he joined me and we walked towards the parking lot.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to ask this but can I have your number?¡± he blurted out.


    ¡°You knew how to ask it?¡± I told him and he frowned. ¡°Bring your phone,¡± I said and he opened the lock and gave it to me. ¡°Here you go,¡± I said after typing my number on it.


    ¡°Thanks¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± I said and I knew I wanted to give him my number.

 7

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    If the doctor tells you that you are pregnant, what is the first thought in your mind?


    ¡°You are pregnant, congrattions,¡± Richard told me with a smile. ¡°But the question how did that get there?¡± he asked.


    Everyone knows I have been so busy with money making that I have not had time for dating. So good question: how did it get here?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I say honestly. ¡°Are you sure?¡± I ask doubting that the results were correct, maybe it had mixed up with someone else¡¯s own.


    ¡°Yes Rach,¡± he said, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°Thank you, Rich,¡± I say, making my way out. First thoughts: I¡¯m pregnant. I¡¯m fucking pregnant. God save me.


    I pick up my phone with shaky hands and dial up Noah¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello,¡± he said after he picked up.


    ¡°Hello,¡± I said but my voice was shaky and strained. I clear my throat and try again. ¡°Hello,¡± I say more audibly than before.


    ¡°Rachael,¡± he said. Well someone seems to be having a good day already. Wait till you hear that you will soon be a father.


    ¡°Noah, I need to see you,¡± I said and that came out wrong.


    ¡°Wow, someone is missing me and I think that has to do with how handsome I am,¡± he said.


    ¡°Noah it¡¯s urgent,¡± I say.


    ¡°Like how urgent?¡± he asked calmly and I could sense that he already knew something was up.


    ¡°Like in the times of Noah in the Bible flood,¡± I say and he makes a confused sound.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked and I would haveughed if I was in a good mood but I just received news I don¡¯t wish to hear now.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Please juste to that frozen yogurt ce,¡± I say, picking a ce for our meeting.


    ¡°That is halfway across town¡± he whines and I roll my eyes.


    ¡°Pick a ce then,¡± I say annoyance surging through my veins.


    ¡°Montreze pizza ce,¡± he said referring to the pizza ce a few blocks from the industrial area. I have to drive halfway across town to see him but I don¡¯t mind.


    ¡°Okay then see you,¡± I say waiting for his reply, and when he doesn¡¯t I take the phone slowly away from my ear and hang up.


    What should I say to him? ¡®Hey Noah, we slept together and now I¡¯m pregnant¡¯? ¡®Noah we are strangers to each other and we just made a child¡¯? I¡¯m so confused.


    I drive to the ce and enter inside. It¡¯s buzzing with people and it is already lunch break and all the workers are out for their lunches.


    ¡°What can I get you?¡± a waiter says when I take my seat at the far corner of the room.


    ¡°Just water,¡± I say and he nods before taking my order to the back.


    I scan through the restaurant and then the bells at the door ring or chime or whatever it is. And I look up to see Noah in a suit. He looks around the cafe. I see his eyes dart everywhere and he looks so ufortable here.


    He suggested the ce right? He looks towards me and his eyes roam over me and thene back and finallynd on me. He smiles a little and then starts making his way to me.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, undoing a button from his ck suit so he could sit well. His lips were in a heartwarming smile and his green eyes darted around the room. His dark blonde hair is slightly disheveled.


    ¡°Hey,¡± I say, forcing myself to have a normal conversation.


    ¡°Have you ordered?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No,¡± I say shortly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do so,¡± he said, raising his hand to signal the waiter and he came closer. ¡°We would like to order now,¡± he said and the waiter nodded, taking out his notepad.


    ¡°What would you like to have?¡± the waiter asked with his voice so low and respectful.


    ¡°I will have today¡¯s special¡± Noah said to the boy and he scribbled that down and turned to me.


    ¡°Can I get a fruit smoothie?¡± I ask and he nods. ¡°Well then berries please,¡± I say and he writes down on his paper.


    ¡°Anything else,¡± he asks. I turn to Noah and he shakes his head.


    ¡°No thank you,¡± I said and the waiter walked away.


    Noah poured himself some water into a ss and took a sip from it.


    ¡°What was so urgent?¡± he asked, rolling his eyes. ¡°If you had said you missed me I would havee to see you anyway. You didn¡¯t have to make up an emergency¡± he continued.


    He thinks I have time tozy around so that I will make myself a nuisance and create fake emergencies?


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the food,¡± I say shortly while also taking a sip of my water.


    The waiter dropped a bigger and some fries by the side with some ketchup and mustard and finally my berries smoothies before leaving us.


    I take a sip of the smoothie and bask in the taste. My favorite in the world.


    ¡°Noah,¡± I say catching his attention as he was really engrossed in his meal.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said with his mouth still full.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t talk with a full mouth,¡± I say and then add within me. ¡®I don¡¯t think babies like that¡¯


    ¡°Speak up,¡± he said, taking a fry to his mouth again.


    ¡°Yesterday I was ill when I woke up¡± I began and he cut me off.


    ¡°Have you been to a doctor? Are you feeling alright now? Have you taken your meds? You aren¡¯t well and you are taking just a smoothie? Do you want me to order something extra for you?¡± he babbled away.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say, calming him down. ¡°I¡¯ming from the hospital and we¡¯ll tell you that I¡¯m -¡± I stop to catch a breath.


    ¡°You are what?¡± he asked. ¡°You don¡¯t have a terminal disease right?¡± he asked bluntly.


    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant¡± I blurted and the fry going to his mouth fell back on the te.

 8

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Pregnant?¡± the words spurred out of Noah¡¯s mouth like this was a movie or something like that. I nodded in affirmation and he looked sweaty and gross already. ¡°Who is the father?¡± he asked and my eyebrows flew up.


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± I ask in a harsh whisper.


    ¡°Who is the father?¡± he asked again and I can¡¯t believe him right now.


    ¡°You are,¡± I say, almost shouting out of my voice.


    ¡°I am?¡± he asked something so obvious and I felt like putting a knife through his head.


    ¡°Yes, Noah,¡± I say and sigh so loudly. I can¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°Rachael?¡± he said and my eyes flew up to meet him. ¡°Are you really sure? I mean did you have this done by a doctor? Have you done it elsewhere?¡± he asked the questions, spilling out his mouth.


    ¡°I had this done by my doctor,¡± I said and he looked at me with confusion.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said standing up straightening his suit, and mmed some dor notes on the table.


    ¡°Where to?¡± I asked as if it was an auto-reply.


    ¡°I have to confirm,¡± he said like this was a joke.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± I ask while still sitting down. ¡°I¡¯m not poor if you think I¡¯m ying these stunts for you to likee to me or something like that. I will have you know I¡¯m a really busy girl and one simple mistake puts me in a whole lot of mess¡± I say expressing my feelings to him.


    ¡°Rachael I never said anything like that¡± he defended and I frowned at him.


    ¡°You know what Noah, I just wanted you because I didn¡¯t get myself pregnant so I wonder how you can doubt me right now,¡± I say and suddenly I feel like crying.


    ¡°Rachael calm down,¡± he said, sitting back down.


    ¡°Calm down?¡± I ask as the tears begin to drop from my eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± he said, confused as to how to act towards me.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I say standing at you leaving my half-drunk smoothie on the table. He followed me and I could feel people¡¯s eyes on us as we made our way out of the ce.


    ¡°We will take my car,¡± he said. ¡°I will have the driver drive your car and you can take itter,¡± he exined. As angry as I was I didn¡¯t evenin I just sat in the car and gave him the keys to the car.


    Soon he was driving us somewhere but it wasn¡¯t the hospital.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I ask and he looks over slightly at me before looking back at the road.


    ¡°My ce,¡± he says casually.


    ¡°Do you stay there alone?¡± I ask him and he nods. Any logical reasoning will tell you that you shouldn¡¯t go after all he could be a kidnapper but I just went with it. What could be worse than losing your virginity and bing pregnant?


    He rounded the street and came to a deserted ce that had only three houses with iron gates surrounding each of them. He stopped at the gate of one and it opened for him and he drove inside. My jaws dropped at the sight before me. The house was a mansion hell even bigger than my family house. It was all white on the outside and the garden that linked the front door was well trimmed.


    If this is what the outside looked like then the inside must be very beautiful. He led me inside and we passed a corridor that led to a room. It wasn¡¯t like a living room. The room was beautifully decorated. He then led me past a kitchen then into a room. It was filled with some beautiful paintings.


    ¡°Your house is very beautiful,¡± I say honestly as I take in the paintings. Although I don¡¯t understand art, these look so beautiful.


    ¡°Thank you for your kindpliment,¡± he said, faking a British ent. ¡°Although some people don¡¯t like my style¡± he added with a bit of resentment.


    ¡°Whoever hates this is just rude¡± Iment, taking in all the furniture.


    ¡°My ex-girlfriend thinks all this is too much,¡± he added.


    ¡°Was that why you drank?¡± I ask because curiosity took the best of me.


    ¡°Yeah, apparently there is no happily ever after¡± he murmured. ¡°Come take a seat,¡± he said sitting down.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said sitting down too on the same couch but keeping my distance.


    ¡°What are we going to do about the baby?¡± he asked me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but my mom is going to be very disappointed in me. She trained me better than that¡± Imented to him.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he said curiously now in his court.


    ¡°I mean the only reason my parents are married is because she was pregnant for me. My grandpa will never have approved of my mom. She was a poor girl¡± I exined to him. ¡°Although my parents want me to marry who I love, they don¡¯t want me to make the same mistake they made. But history repeated itself¡± I say and his head goes down.


    ¡°Are they still together?¡± he asked and I nodded. ¡°Theysted that long?¡± he asked me and I nodded.


    ¡°They are still in love with each other as if it was the very day they met. They make me want to find true love¡± I tell him and he smirks.


    ¡°Maybe you have found true love,¡± he said and I looked around pretending not to get the message he was trying to pass across.


    ¡°Where? I don¡¯t see anyone here¡± I say and his smirk goes off his face but he quickly reces it. ¡°My parents were actually in love before they married¡± I exined and he shrugged.


    ¡°So what we can get married and then fall in love,¡± he said, like marriage andmitment are some trivial issues.


    ¡°So that aside, what are we going to do?¡± I said, reminding him of why we were here.


    ¡°Get married,¡± he said and I faced him. ¡°I can¡¯t think of any other way or can you?¡±

 9

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°What do we tell my parents?¡± I ask confused as to the reason we have to go this way.


    ¡°We can tell our parents and family the truth but the public doesn¡¯t have to know we can say we have been dating for months and finally we are marrying,¡± he said.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me we have to sign some documents?¡± I ask with a pleading tone and he smirks at me.


    ¡°Only if you want to,¡± he says.


    ¡°Please no¡± I plead. ¡°It always makes it difficult and frustrating¡± I finish up.


    ¡°So you know you will eventually fall in love with me,¡± he says probably lightning.


    ¡°Mr. Lorraine I¡¯m your dreams,¡± I said and heughed too.


    ¡°Soon to be Mrs. Lorraine you wish,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°You know that name actually suits you¡±


    ¡°So we have to make sure I¡¯m not showing up for the wedding,¡± I say this is the only solution we both agreed on and it seemed logical. So far he has been a really considerate person, he isn¡¯t annoying or frustrating. He might just be a casual husband. And in the future, if he doesn¡¯t like me then he can divorce.


    ¡°Then we have to get married in the next two months,¡± he said and I nodded in agreement.


    ¡°We will meet my parents tomorrow and yours the day after,¡± I say and he frowns. ¡°What is it?¡± I ask and he looks away sad.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he said as if it was something.


    ¡°There is definitely something and I know it,¡± I say and he still refuses any form of eye contact. ¡°Tell me, I¡¯m sure I can handle it,¡± I say and he just nods.


    ¡°Only my mom is alive. Dad died a few years back¡± he said sadly. How could I forget that, that was when he took over thepany and became CEO.


    ¡°So sorry for going to your private matters,¡± I say apologetically.


    ¡°I made you tell me tales about your parents so it¡¯s even I guess,¡± he said, stopping the tears from falling by blinking back.


    ¡°So we see your mom the day after tomorrow¡± I adjust and he nods. ¡°Any special things I should know?¡± I ask him. You can never be too careful, can you?


    ¡°Well my mom is the sweetest person I know so I don¡¯t think you will have any problems. You guys will get along just fine¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay since we are telling them what happened then there is nothing to watch out for with my parents¡± I did thinking of the possible ways my parents may react. ¡°But they will be freaked out because I was this perfect star daughter that everyone knows. I rarely drink and when I do it¡¯s during the festive periods so drinking in a stupor and falling in bed with a hot bachelor isn¡¯t really my thing¡± I say in one breath.


    ¡°So you think I¡¯m hot,¡± he said ignoring the rest of my speech.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you got?¡± I ask with amusement.


    ¡°You find me hot¡± he was probably not going to let the topic go.


    ¡°You are good but not as good as my cousin Nichs Forest or Aaron Lancaster or James Forest,¡± I say and he frowns ¡°Or have you seen Adams Hills or Mark Lockhart they are dreamy. And Jacob and Joseph Gates are to die for¡± I say and his jaw literally dropped to the floor.


    ¡°You know them all?¡± he asked me and I nodded. ¡°Wow, are they going to be at the wedding?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course, we have a strong connection,¡± I say and he smiles. ¡°No business during my wedding. Even though it isn¡¯t the best wedding I dreamt of I still want it to be as memorable for me as possible¡± I say.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to talk about business during the wedding. It¡¯s going to be after¡± he said and the conversation kept on going. It was natural.


    ¡°I better get going,¡± I say standing up from the seat.


    ¡°Do we have to put on a show?¡± he asks while he escorts me to the door.


    ¡°No need, we will be having our wedding immediately,¡± I say as I spot my car parked beside Noah¡¯s car. The driver hurries to me and gives me the key. ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured. I may be rich but I was taught good manners.


    ¡°See you tomorrow. I will be there around evening¡± he says as I walk away.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make it dinner time¡± I suggest over my shoulders.


    ¡°That sounds nice,¡± hements. I opened my car and slid inside. I wave over to him and he does the same before I drive away.


    When I get home Rita is running around to prepare dinner. The garlic bread smell hits my nose hard and I don¡¯t feel like eating. How do I bail on that when I need to talk to them?


    ¡°Hey Rita, is there actually something here that isn¡¯t made of garlic?¡± I say sitting down on the stool by the counter.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Rachael, you are back. I¡¯m doing good thanks for asking and today I made a lot of cookies¡± she said, not bothering to reply to my earlier question.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Rita,¡± I say and she chuckles before turning to me.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, rough day?¡± she asks. She always seems to understand me.


    ¡°You will never believe it,¡± I said.


    ¡°Tell me all about it,¡± she said, turning back to her vegetables. If it was any other day I would have poured out my mind but my parents have to be the first to know before anyone else.


    ¡°I¡¯m just stressed. So garlic-free food?¡± I ask going back to the original question.


    ¡°I will take that as ¡®I don¡¯t want to tell you''¡± she said and she knew me too well.


    ¡°Garlic free food?¡± I asked, rolling my eyes.


    ¡°You like garlic that is why I always use it to cook¡± she said ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes I¡¯m fine, it will be nice to eat something that is garlic free,¡± I said standing up. ¡°I¡¯m going to freshen up,¡± I say.


    ¡°Be down soon Mom and Dad are already here¡± she said referring to the front door opening. Weirdly, she calls them Mom and Dad.


    Later at dinner while I force myself to take down the garlic bread and some dipping I always forget. As the dinner came to a close I decided to ask tell them.


    ¡°Mom, can I invite someone over tomorrow?¡± I ask and she looks at me.


    ¡°Of course honey we haven¡¯t met any of your friends,¡± she said I was a nerd so do nerds have friends?


    ¡°Okay Mom, dinner time tomorrow,¡± I said and she and my dad were so happy.


    ¡°Rita do you hear that, that means an extra special dinner tomorrow night,¡± Dad tells Rita who is seated by my side.


    ¡°Yes Dad,¡± she said and he smiled at her. She was like a daughter to them.


    ¡°Rachal, is it a boy or a girl?¡± Mom asked and I was ufortable.


    ¡°You have to wait to see,¡± I say and she nods excitedly.


    ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you¡± she eximed.


    And when you hear why I have a friend over you will be so disappointed in me. I love you guys but please I am wrong so don¡¯t punish me.

 10

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    The table was set and my parents were all giddy in their seats ready to meet my friend when the doorbell rang and I went over to open the door.


    My parents jumped out and I cast them a look and they sat down back.


    ¡°Sorry honey we are just so happy to meet this friend of yours,¡± my dad said and that¡¯s not the thing you get from your dad.


    I opened the door to see Noah standing there in a button up white shirt and ash pants. He looked well trimmed but the tight expression and his face loosened when he saw me open the door.


    ¡°Calm down parents are people, not gods,¡± I say and heughs nervously. ¡°Come in,¡± I say, leading him to the living room where my parents were impatiently tapping their feet.


    ¡°Mom, Dad this is Noah Lorraine,¡± I say when wee into view of them and my parents turn to face me and make eye contact with my dad.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, young man,¡± my dad said, extending his hand for a shake.


    ¡°You can call me just Noah,¡± Noah said with uneasiness. Yes, he was definitely feeling weird right now.


    ¡°Nice to meet my daughter¡¯s friend,¡± my mom said and Noah¡¯s eyes met mine in a questionable eye raise. Which I replied with a shrug. That was all I could think of.


    ¡°Come sit,¡± I say gesturing for us to sit on the couch adjacent to my parents.


    ¡°So nice for you to join us here,¡± Mom said and Noah just smiled and nodded. ¡°Dinner will be ready soon,¡± she continued. They seemed very happy.


    ¡°We have something to tell you,¡± I say and my parent¡¯s eyesnd on me immediately. ¡°It¡¯s urgent, can we talk before dinner?¡± I ask.


    ¡°If that is what you want honey,¡± Mom said. ¡°Let¡¯s go to study¡± Dad finished for her. We all stood up and he led us to the study. Dad poured a drink for himself and Mom and one for Noah. He asked me if I would like some to which I declined.


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder if Rachael is really my daughter. Maybe I got her mixed up at the hospital¡± my mom said in a joking manner.


    ¡°What do you mean Alice?¡± Dad said in a joking and scolding tone.


    ¡°She is so like a goody too shoes,¡± my mom said and I rolled my eyes. ¡°Other kids break rules and have fun but she behaves as if she had been an adult from birth. I was more of a rule breaker¡± she says, taking a sip of the liquor in her hand.


    Wait till you hear what rules I have finally broken. ¡°Thank God she is not like you Alice¡± My day was taunted and my momughed. They were always joking.


    ¡°So what is so urgent?¡± Dad asked and I shifted ufortably and faced them.


    ¡°Mom, remember two weeks ago when I went drinking?¡± I asked and my mom nodded.


    ¡°First rule ever broken,¡± she said with a smile.


    ¡°Well remember I got drunk, so drunk I ever had a hangover,¡± I say and she nods. They both nod and Noah is quiet. ¡°Well, I did not tell you the whole story,¡± I say quietly.


    ¡°I knew there was more to that story than meets the eye¡± Mom eximed.


    ¡°I had a one night stand and lost my virginity to Noah Lorraine and now I¡¯m pregnant,¡± I say in one breath.


    ¡°So you mean to tell me that you are no longer a virgin and you are pregnant?¡± my mom asked and I could see the shock on their faces. I waited for disappointment to show and the speech on how disappointed they were but it never came.


    ¡°And you are responsible?¡± my dad asked, facing Noah who just nodded. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s big news,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°I know I have just disappointed you. I¡¯m so sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have done that¡± I say, bending my head, tearsing out of my eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sad you had to lose it like this but I was already feeling like you wanted to be a nun¡± my mom jokes.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the n?¡± my dad asked.


    ¡°We are doing exactly what you guys did,¡± I said and Dad looked at me.


    ¡°Which is it?¡± he asked, concerned.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°We are getting married¡± Noah spoke finally saying something.


    ¡°Are you guys sure?¡± Mom asked and we both nodded. ¡°If that is what you want, then go ahead,¡± she said, not even caring.


    ¡°Thank you, Mom,¡± I said and he nodded at me.


    ¡°So when is the wedding?¡± Dad piped in.


    ¡°We don¡¯t want her showing so we are looking at one or two months from now. She is almost a month along¡± Noah answered.


    ¡°When are we going to meet with your family?¡± my dad asks.


    ¡°We are meeting my mom tomorrow and after that, any date you pick will be fine by us¡± Noah answers.


    ¡°I¡¯m so starving,¡± Mom said and she and Dad left for the dining table.


    ¡°It went better than I thought it would¡± I admit to Noah and his lips curved up to smile. ¡°I imagined my mom pacing the whole length of the room and my dad with red eyes,¡± I say and theugh finally escaped his lips.


    ¡°I¡¯m d they took it well,¡± he admitted. ¡°Mrs Lorraine¡± he added at the end.


    ¡°Not so fast Mr. Lorraine,¡± I say and he smiles.


    ¡°Tomorrow is my mom¡¯s turn,¡± he says. ¡°This is going to be a piece of cake¡± he and I made our way to the dining room.


    The dinner went well and Rita didn¡¯t try to pry as much as possible. My parents acted as neutral as possible and I was grateful for that. His mother will be a piece of cake right?

 11

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFPEN 123.


    We stopped at his mom¡¯s house. It was a nice detached house. It wasn¡¯t like she was super rich. She lived like a normal person not super fancy like her son.


    ¡°Hello Katy,¡± Noah said to the young very alive girl who opened the door.


    ¡°Dada,¡± she said running to his hands. ¡°You came,¡± she said and he hugged her. Dada? does he have a daughter this big? I thought


    ¡°Is mom home?¡± he asked. He didn¡¯t even know if his mom was home and still he brought me here.


    ¡°She just came back from a shopping spree,¡± she said excitedly. ¡°And who is this?¡± she said motioning to me. ¡°This isn¡¯t Nichole,¡± she said and I smiled at him.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let us inside?¡± he asked her with a smile.


    ¡°Sorry brother,¡± she said and we followed her as she hopped her way to the living room. ¡°I will go get Mother,¡± she said then left us


    ¡°That¡¯s my sister,¡± he said and I nodded.


    ¡°She seems so happy¡± I admit ¡°And young,¡± I say and heughs lightly.


    ¡°She is young. I¡¯m older than her with nine years¡± he said and my eyes widened. ¡°She is in herst year in high school¡± he finished.


    ¡°Noah¡± a voice came low and gentle but happy behind us. We turned slowly and Noah¡¯s face turned to a smile at the sight of the woman.


    ¡°Mom,¡± he said going to hug her. She hugged him back.


    ¡°You finally came,¡± she said and turned to me before a frown crossed her face.


    ¡°Yeah I came to tell you something,¡± he said pulling her to the couch.


    ¡°Where is Nichole?¡± she asked. This Nichole must have been the ex girl friend.


    ¡°We broke up Mom,¡± he said obviously not wanting to talk about the topic.


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked. I think she was sticking her nose too much in his business.


    ¡°She broke up with me saying she was tired of sticking with me and fighting all the time¡± he exined.


    ¡°And you just let her go?¡± she asked like he had thrown a billion dors into the trash can.


    ¡°She wanted to go. If you ask her mom she is dating someone already. She didn¡¯t wait to move on¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Noah, I see you have moved on already,¡± she said sticking her face in my direction.


    ¡°Mom this is Rachael Mirchoff,¡± he said and his mom looked at me weirdly.


    ¡°Who are your parents?¡± she asked and I shifted ufortably in my seat.


    ¡°Jasper was Alice Mirchoff¡± I answer and she furrows her eyebrow. ¡°Owners of Bloom catering events,¡± I say and her eyese together to realization.


    ¡°That aside Mom, we have something to tell you¡± Noah cut her off from interrogating me any further.


    ¡°Spill already,¡± she said and Noah cleared his throat. Katy put down a tray and sat beside her mom.


    ¡°I¡¯m having a baby,¡± Noah said and I was lost for words at the way he said it. Having a baby?


    ¡°What do you mean¡± his mom asked with her mouth hanging open.


    ¡°Mom, Rachael is carrying my baby¡± he dered and her eyes snapped to me.


    ¡°You little brat¡±, his mom said marching over to where were sat. ¡°Stand up,¡± she said when she was right in my front. ¡°Why did you do this? You must have been one of those girls who liked to enve a guy to like you and this was the best way to do it right?¡± she asked me and I was confused.


    Didn¡¯t Noah say his mom was extra sweet


    Did she eat some aloe vera nt today?


    ¡°Mom, what are you saying? It was a one night stand something¡± Noah said in a defensive tone.


    ¡°Stay out of this,¡± his mom said casting Noah a dirty look.


    ¡°Why did you follow him to that club?¡± she asked me and I was still lost for words. ¡°You knew he had broken up with Nichole so you went over there and had him enved in your trap and I can see that you actually worked wonders,¡± she said in a nasty tone.


    ¡°Sorry Mrs. Lorraine but I wouldn¡¯t tolerate you speaking such foul words about me¡± I finally found my voice and courage to speak to her.


    ¡°Shut up¡± she snarled anger radiating from each word. ¡°You have won now?¡± she asks the anger still in her.


    ¡°Mom what are you saying you just met her and she didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± Noah said trying to reason with his mom.


    ¡°This¡± she motioned to me ¡°was the reason you broke up with Nichole?¡± she asked him and I was disgusted by her. She didn¡¯t even know me and yet she was so quick to judge me. I hope I don¡¯t start crying here.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Noah said with heavy breaths trying to control his anger. ¡°Nichole broke up with and moved in a few dayster with my best friend,¡± he said obviously not pleased at discussing this topic.


    ¡°You did something to make such a sweet girl as Nichole do something like that¡± his mom defended this Nichole. She must have been deaf because he just said she moved in with his male best friend and that isn¡¯t a good sign it means they have been seeing each other all these times.


    ¡°Mom I don¡¯t care what you think but Rachael is pregnant with my baby and I¡¯m going to marry her in a few months,¡± he said and she turned to me and soon a pnded on my face.


    ¡°Mom¡± Noah yelled out and my eyes widened at the p I just received. My parents neverid a finger on me my whole life.


    ¡°Stay out of it Noah, she is just a slut like her mother,¡± she said, and anger that I had been suppressing rushed through my veins.


    ¡°Mrs. Lorraine I will not have you talk about my mom like that,¡± I say red shing in my eyes.


    ¡°Please get her out of my sight,¡± she said not even unfazed by what I had said to her.


    ¡°Mom, it doesn¡¯t matter what you said we are getting married we will send you an invitation to meet her parents,¡± Noah said his hand finding a way to mine.


    ¡°Noah you will marry only the girl I choose for you¡± she roared at him.


    ¡°And you will stay out of my business and support me¡± Noah roared back. He turned to me ¡°Let¡¯s go¡±

 12

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Noah¡¯s POV


    As we enter the house I have no fear in me since I know how good and nice my mom had been to Nichole. Nichole even had a better rtionship with my mom. It was better than mine so you can imagine the shock I felt when I saw my mom stand up and go to stand in front of Rachel.


    At first, I see the extreme shock of terror on her face before she regains her confidence and speaks back to my mom. I don¡¯t appreciate people speaking that way to my mom but considering what I was witnessing I did not know who I should support.


    It was the first time my mom and Rachel were meeting so what could cause the bad blood between them to make my mom react as she did?


    I could not believe my ears when my mom supported Nichole who would have continued ying both me and my best friend if I did not catch her. Although I knew what was going on I ignored it hoping she would repent and thene to me but she did not instead all I got was a brutal break up.


    My senses are restored to me when my momnds a p across Rachel¡¯s face. Rachel looked shocked as she sat there watching this woman who I had described as sweet to her.


    What could be the main issue? Why was my mom reacting this way? I see my sister sit there watching in horror as my mom goes out of character for the first time in her entire life. She gasps in fear as Rachel holds the side of her face that had just received the p.


    ¡°Stay out of it Noah, she is just a slut like her mother¡± my mom scream to me.


    Was it possible that she knew Rachel¡¯s mother? She had met Rachel¡¯s mom and she was the sweetest woman you would ever meet. Why did she say something like that about the woman?


    ¡°Mrs. Lorraine I will not have you talk about my mom like that,¡± Rachel said with an expression that tells me she won¡¯t go down without a fight.


    ¡°Please get her out of my sight,¡± my mom said without an iota of repentance as she stepped back and crossed her hand over her chest.


    ¡°Mom, it doesn¡¯t matter what you said we are getting married we will send you an invitation to meet her parents,¡± I tell her.


    ¡°Noah you will marry only the girl I choose for you¡± she roared.


    I want to scream at her and let her know that this was not the eighteenth century where a parent chooses the life partner for the child. I just can¡¯t bring myself to shout at her. Although she gets on my nerves a couple of times, she has never done anything this big and I don¡¯t know if I should still control myself or react.


    ¡°And you will stay out of my business and support me,¡± I tell her feeling my voice rise beyond what it normally is.


    I pull Rachel up and walk away. Well, that was not a good parent meet-up for anyone.


    I sit in the car with Rachel who sits silently beside me. I want to apologize but I can¡¯t find the words to do so. It should go down in the books as the most embarrassing parent meet-up.


    I try to analyze the situation to see why she would react that way. Rachel did nothing that would attract such reactions. I pull myself together and begin to drive and then decide to stop.


    There was no way I should wait to apologize it would be better if I did it immediately.


    I turned to her and her right face greeted me. I take a deep breath to call her name. When her name rolled off my tongue I saw tears drop from both eyes.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She was crying and all I could do was say some words of apology. I feel so helpless

 13

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123


    As I sat in Noah¡¯s car I couldn¡¯t help but think about what went wrong in a matter of minutes. Why did she say such things about my mom? It hurt bad. She didn¡¯t even know me and she was so quick to judge me.


    Noah had driven us out of the premises and had packed somewhere on the road where it was safe to pack.


    ¡°Rachael,¡± he said, and suddenly the tears began to slip from my eyes easily. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say about what my mom did¡± he sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± he gasped out.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said brushing the tears angrily from my eyes.


    ¡°Rachael it doesn¡¯t matter what they say or what anyone says I will take responsibility for my actions,¡± he said and I still didn¡¯t look up to meet his eyes.


    ¡°Noah¡± I breathe out raising my eyes to see his blue eyes staring at me. ¡°If your mother is so against us even if she just met me then you should listen to your, mom,¡± I said the tearsing out from my eyes.


    ¡°Then what will happen to you?¡± he asked concerned. ¡°Nobody will understand you they will all judge you for a mistake,¡± he said and I could feel the kindness from his words.


    ¡°I can be a single mom,¡± I said sincerely and he frowned.


    ¡°And what about me?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°What about you?¡± I questioned and he frowned again.


    ¡°Yes won¡¯t I have to meet my child?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You will, I will never keep him or her away from you,¡± I say and he shakes his head.


    ¡°We are going through with this wedding. I¡¯m sure she wille around¡± he said and I just don¡¯t want to right now. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the harsh words and the ps. I apologize on her behalf¡± he said the apology all around his words.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I say cleaning the ever rolling tears down my cheek.


    ¡°Can I drop you off now?¡± he asked and I shook my head. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked as he sat well.


    ¡°My mom can¡¯t see me like this,¡± I say finally and he nods.


    ¡°Where to madam¡± he said and I managed to smile a little.


    ¡°Anywhere,¡± I said and he drove.


    He drove around until I calmed down and I didn¡¯t look like a nervous wreck anymore. Heter dropped me at my house and drove away.


    ¡°Where have you been all day?¡± Mom asked when I entered the dining table to see her and Dad sitting there having his dinner.


    ¡°I was out with Noah. We went to see his mom and after that, we just spent some time together.¡± I tell them taking a seat too. It wasn¡¯t a lie. We talked and tried to know each other.


    ¡°So have you guys chosen a date yet?¡± Mom asked me and then Dad gave a look with which she calmed down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m just excited¡± she admitted and I chuckled.


    ¡°No, we haven¡¯t yet. You guys have to meet his mom and then we can inform the entire family¡± I said because that is the procedure for all these family formation things.


    ¡°We are free this weekend to meet his mom,¡± Dad said and I could see the excitement in his eyes.


    ¡°I will ry that message to Noah,¡± I said standing up.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have your dinner?¡± Mom asked me as I left the ce.


    ¡°I already had dinner¡± I lied and they nodded going back to the conversation.


    ¡°Night honey¡± Mom called after me.


    ¡°Night Fam,¡± I said and left the ce. I plopped onto the bed and thought about everything that happened today. I decided to go with Noah¡¯s words she must have been having a bad day. But wasn¡¯t that too extreme?


    I sent a text to Noah. He had to know that in the next two days, my parents wanted to meet his mom. He had to fix her before that time.


    Me: Noah. Mom and Dad said they would like to meet your mom this Friday.


    Noah: that isn¡¯t a problem. She would have been over what she was sulking over by tomorrow.


    Me: okay but you have to tell her not to make a scene.


    Noah: no problem she wouldn¡¯t.


    Me: okay good night.


    Noah: good night sweets.


    Me: sweets?


    Noah: it¡¯s a new name for you.


    Me: good night Mr. Lorraine.


    Noah: good night sweets.


    I slept off after changing into somethingfortable. It was a long day for me and the baby. I wonder if it will be a girl or a boy. My baby. My baby growing inside me.


    In the morning I had enough strength to go to the office and attend to L¡¯s birthday bash. We worked round the clock and when I finally got off work I discovered that I had unread messages a lot from the girls which I refused to reply to because I might spill and that I did not do with all of them. But one stood out from the rest. Noah¡¯s text.


    Noah: When you get off work call me¡­


    When I read it since we were sort of engaged or something like that I put a call across to him which he picked up now.


    ¡°Hello,¡± I said and he answered me with a weirdugh.


    ¡°Finally¡± he grumbled. ¡°You work too hard¡± heined and I rolled my eyes at him.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You said to call you¡± I reminded him and he made a sound from the back of his throat. I waited for him to speak and when he didn¡¯t I pressed on him.


    ¡°Are you still at the office?¡± he asked me and I nodded to myself.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said.


    ¡°Okay stay there I¡¯ming to get you,¡± he said. When I was about to protest the beeping sound showed that he had hung up. I told my driver to go and that someone wasing to get me.


    I waited outside for him

 14

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°I can get that myself,¡± I say when Noah makes an effort to open the door for me.


    ¡°You are pregnant,¡± he said it as if I was handicapped.


    ¡°And that means?¡± I asked settling in well. He ms the door and goes over to his side and slides in too.


    ¡°It means that you can¡¯t stress yourself,¡± he said starting the car.


    ¡°And opening the door by myself is stress?¡± I asked putting on my seat belt.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said before driving away.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I say changing the topic.


    ¡°So I have managed to talk to my mom. She doesn¡¯t like you but for my sake, she will put up with you¡± he said.


    ¡°And that made me feel loved,¡± I said and he frowned. ¡°So where to¡± I asked again.


    ¡°We are just going for dinner,¡± he said and when he rounded the corner we had been to three days ago I frowned.


    ¡°At your ce?¡± I question and he nods.


    ¡°There is a beautiful view that overlooks ake,¡± he said and then continued. ¡°We can have dinner there,¡± he said and I looked at him in amusement. He seemed to be leaving out a few details so I just went with it


    ¡°What a good way to charm a girl¡± Imented sarcastically. He must have missed my sarcasm because he just smirked.


    ¡°I have my ways,¡± he said with a wink that did my insides to jellies.


    We were led to the backyard or garden that overlooked theke. We sat inside with a ss wall separating us from the outside. It was a lovely view. The ce was dimly lighted and the sight before me was very romantic.


    ¡°What is this for?¡± I ask trying to push out the words from my mouth.


    ¡°Well, I know for a fact that every girl dreams of a proposal. I don¡¯t know you well enough to know the kind of proposal that you like but I put this one up for you. It¡¯s fruitless to ask because you will still marry me but I still need to give you¡± he said behind me.


    ¡°Wow,¡± I said in a breath. ¡°You are an awfully considerate guy,¡± I say and then I wanted to turn to him. When I turned he was on his knees. ¡°You went all out didn¡¯t you?¡± I ask him from the depth of my heart.


    This single action sends shivers down my spine.


    ¡°So Rachael Mirchoff, will you marry me?¡± he asked me with a heartwarming smile.


    ¡°I have to say yes anyway,¡± I said augh leaving my lips. ¡°Yes,¡± I say and he stands up and puts the diamond ring around my finger.


    ¡°This was the small thing I could get within a small amount of time,¡± he said pushing the ring on my finger.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I said admiring the rock on my finger. It was so beautiful.


    ¡°A beautiful ring for a beautiful owner,¡± he said, and I was lost for words. He knew how to use his words well. No one apart from familyplimented me as well as he did. ¡°Come let¡¯s have the dinner or else it will go to waste,¡± he said taking me to the table.


    ¡°The setting is amazing,¡± I said staring out at the sunset outside. ¡°Thank you,¡± I say sincerely and he shes a smile to me.


    ¡°Anything I can do to make this seem as normal as possible then count me in,¡± he said and I already thought I liked this one.


    We talked as we ate and we had some funny moments and some serious moments and some sad moments especially when he talked about his dad. His dad was a workaholic and won¡¯t stay at home with them. Now that he thinks about it well he sees that his parents were never in love.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    His dad used work as an excuse to get out of the house. One thing was sure he was a man of integrity he didn¡¯t cheat on her and he didn¡¯t ask for a divorce either. He was an honorable man.


    ¡°I wish I was able to meet such a brave man,¡± I say when he just finished telling me one of his tales.


    ¡°He was simply the best. He loved his children and his entirepany loved him so much. He was kind hearted and a very good person. The only person he couldn¡¯t love was my mom.¡± he said sadly.


    ¡°Do you have some music?¡± I ask him trying to steer away from the touchy subject.


    ¡°Yeah. Why?¡± he asked and I faced him.


    ¡°You are supposed to have a dance after a proposal,¡± I say the first thing that pops into my mind. ¡°So what type of music do you listen to?¡± I asked as he stood up cleaning his mouth with a napkin.


    ¡°Come,¡± he said extending his arms for me to take it. I took it and he led me to the other corner of the room. ¡°I already made arrangements for the music,¡± he said and I smiled at his efforts.


    He yed a song I can¡¯t recall but it was a slow song and we danced to the tone. I hoped he wouldn¡¯t regret dancing with me after this. I¡¯m bad at songs, social media, dancing, and well anything my age range calls fun.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I say and he looks at me directly in the eyes. His blue eyes burn to the depth of my grey ones.


    ¡°For what?¡± he asked and I just looked at him back.


    ¡°All these,¡± I said and he hung his head low.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I took away the opportunity from the special guying for you¡± he added.


    ¡°The thought that you think this should be done counts a lot,¡± I say squeezing his shoulders in my palms.


    ¡°You think so?¡± he asked. He must have been really worried about this if it was a good idea or not.


    ¡°Yes. This engagement ring will make it easier for me to exin to my family¡± I say and he nods.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry again¡± he apologizes.


    ¡°Not your fault,¡± I say as we continue to sway to the music ying in the background.


    It was not his fault

 15

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Noah¡¯s POV


    I had always known what girls liked and I knew that even though I was doing a sort of arranged marriage with Rachel I still needed to do the needful.


    I thought about it long and hard and I decided to give Rachel a proposal. It might not be the proposal of her dreams but at least it would be something she would remember.


    I thought of the concept I should go with because she was a one of a kind kind of girl. I wanted to do something that would be extravagant, that way my mom would not be able to go against it but I thought against it because I did not know how she would react to such.


    I browse online and decide to do something quiet and nice for her. The first step is to pick up a ring. I don¡¯t know what kind of ring she preferred but judging from the little to no jewelry she wore from all the times they had met up he concluded that she was not a jewelry kind of person so he chose one that was not all that extravagant. But of course, it was a diamond.


    I had the house staff do the needful and contacted a small agency that did events. The owners were able to get my garden set up on time for the proposal. I just wanted everything to be perfect for her.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Unlike most girls, she had taken the issue quite maturely and even better than I had expected. Even when I freaked out she remained calm but not without crying. She was a definite crybaby.


    I sent her a text to call me after work because all my efforts would go to waste if she did note to my house that night. I sent the message so close to working hours that I expected a call in less than thirty minutes but she did not call in over an hour.


    I was tempted to send a follow up message in case she did not see the first one but I did not want to be seen as pushy for her. When two hours had passed and I did not receive a call from her office I knew I had to do something.


    What could I do? Show up at her workce without a prior notice? Call her office and request to speak with her. To be honest I had never dealt with a workaholic before. I would consider myself one but she tops the bat for me.


    I waited a little more hoping at this time that she was still at work and that I did not just blow off some money and she was not ignoring me. By the time three hours passed, I called her office and the receptionist told me she was nose deep in work.


    She asked if she should put the call through but I told her not to bother. I will wait I have to. How could I be seen as the pushy one when we were yet to start living together?


    I sigh as I open the box in my hand as I wait in my car. These days my driver and security detail must be blessing me in their hearts since I let them go home earlier these days.


    Suddenly my phone rings in my hands and I sigh of relief when I see the caller. Took her long enough.


    ¡°Hello¡± her smooth voice rings through the air.


    ¡°Finally¡± I mutter but not only because she called but because I get to hear her voice

 16

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Today was the day when all of us rted will meet here and talk about my engagement to Noah Lorraine.


    The Lancasters, Forests, Gates, Lockhart¡¯s, James¡¯s, Knight¡¯s, Woodley¡¯s, Dilton¡¯s, Marshall¡¯s and the Hills will all be there. We aren¡¯t all directly rted but we are tied either by business or pleasure and so we have be a big family.


    ¡°I see a big rock on your finger,¡± Cara Lancaster (my cousin) said when she saw it.


    ¡°Cara,¡± I said hugging her.


    ¡°You are touchy¡± shemented at my happiness to see her. Leah Woodley (my other cousin) was trying to catch up with me but Joseph Gates (the new boy she had been seeing) wouldn¡¯t let her go.


    Ana was seen talking to Nichs Forest( my other cousin). Ana was married to Nick and it already seemed as if she was showing a little baby bump.


    L Forest (Nick¡¯s sister), L Hills (Ana¡¯s cousin) Anita Hills, and Anika Hills (Ana¡¯s sisters) we¡¯re all chatting together.


    Adams Hills (Ana¡¯s brother) and Debby Knight (Ana¡¯s best friend and Adams¡¯ wife) are walking. Adams was trying hard to support his pregnant wife.


    Eileen Marshall and Jacob Gates too just arrived with udia who was trying to piss her sister off by tagging along.


    Jade Knight arrived with Resse James and Tess James.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Thest to arrive was Mr and Mrs. Mark and Riley Lockhart. All the elders of the family were here. Katy too was here.


    Harper Dilton and her cousins Cynthia and Travis Dilton also came.


    My parents, Noah¡¯s mom Em, Aunty Sharlene Woodley and her husband David Woodley (Leah¡¯s parents), Aunty Adriana and her husband Elias Lancaster(Aaron and Cara¡¯s parents), Aunty Cynthia and uncle Luis Forest(Nick and L¡¯s parents), Uncle Shawn Forest and aunty Freida(James parents), Aunty Ciara and uncle Diego Hills(Adams Ana Anika and Anita¡¯s parents), Aunty Sarah Lockhart (widowed and Mark¡¯s mom). Aunty Olivia and Uncle Johann Gates(Jacob and Joseph¡¯s parents), Aunty Gabby Hills(L¡¯s mom), Aunty Jackie Dilton(Cynthia and Travis¡¯s mom), Aunty Ellen and Uncle Kevin James(Resse and Tess¡¯s parents), Aunty Brenda and uncle Luca Knight(Debby and Jade¡¯s parents), Uncle Ricky and aunty Maggie Marshall(udia and Eileen¡¯s parents) They were all here. I can¡¯t believe it. I felt like hugging each and every one of them.


    ¡°Wee everyone,¡± my dad said catching the attention of everyone in the room. ¡°Good evening and wee to this party¡± he continued.


    ¡°And we are here because?¡± Uncle Shawn asked. He always tried to behave younger than his age.


    ¡°I will tell you that soon enough Shawn¡± my dad responded. ¡°But before that let everyone get a ss of champagne we are going to make a toast,¡± he said. I signaled the server to give me just a soda water and he did, pouring it in a ss.


    ¡°We are toasting to the engagement of my daughter Rachael to Noah Lorraine,¡± my dad said clinking his cup with my smiley faced mom and a fake smiley face Em.


    Every single person was shocked that no one clinked cups and no one drank.


    ¡°Wow, everyone is shocked¡± Noah whispered to me.


    ¡°I can see that¡± I whisper back.


    ¡°Tell us this is some kind of joke,¡± Aunty Gabby said when no one blinked or moved.


    ¡°Why will this be a joke?¡± my mom asked back. ¡°This is serious¡± she defended.


    ¡°We are really happy for you Rachael it¡¯s just that we thought you¡¯d never meet the right person,¡± Aunty Sharlene said. Soon everyone was congratting me. My group of friends were telling me that we would talk about thister.


    ¡°Rach,¡± Nick said giving me a hug. ¡°You finally listened to Ana, she was really worried about you,¡± he told me. He then turned to Noah and gave him a smile. ¡°Hey Noah nice to meet you,¡± he said.


    Noah shook his hands. ¡°Thedies will soon gather and try to get information about you guys from her since we don¡¯t do that we can go over there and n your bachelor¡¯s party,¡± Nick told him.


    ¡°Really?¡± Noah asked obviously surprised by Nick¡¯s kindness.


    ¡°Yes, you are marrying her you be part of the family,¡± Nick said tapping his shoulders.


    ¡°Okay sweets I will be over there with the guys,¡± Noah said facing me.


    ¡°No problem. I will go face the girls now¡± I say. He nods and walks away. I walk towards the girls.


    ¡°Hey guys,¡± I say as I approach them.


    ¡°Still girls,¡± Cara said and we all turned to her and rolled our eyes.


    ¡°Hey girls¡± I correct and she smiles at me.


    ¡°So is that the one night stand guy?¡± udia asked me with a smirk.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± I answer in a question form.


    ¡°He is hot¡± Anika responded to me and gave me a look.


    ¡°So you love him?¡± Debby asked resting on the table to support herself.


    ¡°No¡± I answer and they all look at me like I have grown two heads.


    ¡°Then remind me the reason you are marrying him?¡± Cynthia asked and I looked at her.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m pregnant¡± I whisper.


    ¡°What?!¡± fourteen female voices reached my ears. I look around to find the hurdles of people passing us questioning nces.


    ¡°So you mean you are marrying because you are pregnant?¡± Leah cried in hushed whispers.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I say wide eyed.


    ¡°You are living right out of a story book,¡± Harper said and I looked at her.


    ¡°Haps just because you are an actress doesn¡¯t make everything fictional¡± Eileen scolded and Harper rolled her eyes partly at the nickname and also at thement.


    ¡°I¡¯m jealous of you,¡± Jade said and I turned to face her. ¡°If Devon could just stop games and ask me to marry him then I would be happier,¡± she said clearing our doubt.


    ¡°It¡¯s not all about saving your reputation because I know the only reason you agreed to this wedding is because you want to be a perfect example for the girls in public,¡± Resse said.


    ¡°But are you really happy?¡± Tess asked asking exactly what her sister wanted to ask and getting on her nerves. I know because Resse gave her a death look


    ¡°I¡¯m not exactly happy but I¡¯m not regretting my decision,¡± I told them.


    ¡°That¡¯s good then,¡± L said before adding ¡°When is the wedding?¡±


    And that right there is the big question

 17

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°So when are you going to pick up a dress,¡± Ana asked me. She had called early this morning saying that Nick had left her all alone and Debby was out of town for now. She neededpany and it seems I was the first person who came to mind.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet,¡± I say unsure of what I want.


    ¡°The wedding is in three weeks,¡± she said in an almost scolding tone.


    ¡°So?¡± I ask plopping on the bed caressing my stomach.


    ¡°Rach¡± she sounded like she was a mother.


    ¡°Yes Mommy,¡± I said in a mocking tone.


    ¡°Be serious¡± she called out. ¡°I will text the girls and we will go dress hunting tomorrow,¡± she said and I rolled my eyes.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to do anyway,¡± I say and sheughs a little.


    ¡°So how is Noah?¡± she asked sounding like she wanted to extort as much information as she could from me.


    ¡°He should be fine I guess,¡± I say with uncertainty.


    ¡°Has he called you?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Why?¡± I ask and when she doesn¡¯t respond I answer her earlier question. ¡°No,¡± I say shortly.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange¡± she hummed and my confusion grew.


    ¡°Ana¡± I called out to her.


    ¡°I got to go I have a doctor¡¯s appointment,¡± she said. ¡°I will call youter¡±


    ¡°Okayter,¡± I say dropping the weird atmosphere she had just created.


    Since I was pregnant I didn¡¯t want to draw any attention to myself. My parents had suggested I should stop going to work. They told me to take a leave off work until I had given birth and weaned the baby.


    I was so bored at home all day. I had nothing to do but sometimes my cousins woulde and then other times my friends but I still got bored.


    My phone rang on the bed side. I picked it up and saw Noah¡¯s name sh on the screen. I picked up immediately.


    ¡°Hello sweets,¡± he said happily.


    ¡°Someone is in a good mood today¡± Imented and heughed lightly.


    ¡°Yes I am¡± he answered.


    ¡°Why?¡± I pressed on. Any form of entertainment will do right now.


    ¡°Well, I booked a ticket to Hawaii for the wedding¡± he exins and my mouth went wide open.


    ¡°You bought tickets?¡± I asked him and heughed again.


    ¡°Yes, I told you that I wanted to give you a dream wedding¡± he exined.


    ¡°Thank you?¡± I say with uncertainty. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to¡± I exin.


    ¡°You are wee,¡± he said.


    ¡°So how are going to do about all the preparations that have been made?¡± I asked concerned about the decorating team we had paid already.


    ¡°I had already spoken to the decorating team and we had agreed that they woulde to Hawaii to decorate the ce and your mom said she can take a chef there to handle the cakes and the wedding nner is going with us¡± he assured me.


    ¡°Seems like you have everything nned out,¡± I say shock revealing in my words.


    ¡°Yes I do,¡± he said and I smiled at him. ¡°I miss you¡± he blurted and the dragonflies in my stomach started a Kung Fu ss with each other.


    ¡°Eh?¡± I snorted out and heughed nervously.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I haven¡¯t seen you all week. I miss you¡± he said more confidently.


    ¡°I miss you too,¡± I said before adding ¡°I guess¡± under my breath.


    ¡°What was that?¡± he asked and I sighed.


    ¡°I said I missed you too¡± I rify for him.


    ¡°I heard that. You mumbled something else¡± he asked me.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± I say dismissing the topic in some kind of way. ¡°I have a doctor¡¯s appointment tomorrow would you like toe?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Of course, thank you for asking me¡± he replied. He ising for the baby. Don¡¯t start any Kung Fu there dragonflies.


    ¡°I will see you then?¡± I said and he made a sound at the back of his throat.


    ¡°I just remembered my mom wanted you to know that she is paying for the dress,¡± he said.


    ¡°Which dress?¡± I asked feeling weird at that statement.


    ¡°The wedding dress¡± he answered casually.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me why will she do that¡± I ask trying to get why she wanted to do that. Was this a way for her to get me alone and threaten me?


    ¡°As I said she will put up with you for me and she is sorry for attacking you the other day so buying this dress is a way for her to say sorry to you¡± he exined.


    ¡°Noah it feels not right,¡± I said allowing my instincts to kick in.


    ¡°Can you just go with her? You can take one of the girls with you if you feel very ufortable around her¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Ana was making me go with all the girls to check out some amazing designs tomorrow,¡± I say and he sighs.


    ¡°Then I will tell her to go with all of you,¡± he says. ¡°Bring your mom too¡± he added after much thought.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that is a good idea. They didn¡¯t send good vibes to me when they first met¡± I say remembering the day Noah¡¯s mom had met mine.


    My mom had been ufortable and she had asked me times and times again if I wanted to go through with this. Dad too wasn¡¯t toofortable but he rarely let it show on his face.


    ¡°Okay then, I will send someone to pick you up tomorrow so you can meet my mom. You can text the girls to meet you there¡± he said.


    ¡°I guess I can work with that. It will only be a few hours¡± I say a smile reaching my lips.


    I remembered shopping for Ana¡¯s dress. It took us the whole day.


    ¡°Okay bye sweets. Greet the baby for me¡± he said indicating that he was about to hang up.


    ¡°We will go shopping after my appointment so you don¡¯t need to send a driver,¡± I said remembering my appointment.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. I will drive you there and leave¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± I said before adding. ¡°Bye Noah¡±


    ¡°See you tomorrow,¡± he said before a beep was heard and the phone was dead silent.


    I send a message to the girls and they are all happy that I¡¯m finally shopping but no one is pleased to go out with Noah¡¯s mom. She seemed evil thest two times we met each other as a group.


    She liked to feel like she was on top of the world. I wonder what made her like that. No feelings!

 18

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    I had gone from my doctor¡¯s appointment to the wedding dress shop. The doctor had said I wasn¡¯t eating well so I was weak and I will have to see a dietician for that. Noah had worried about me and he said I should just cancel the gown appointment and go home but his mom. I had to leave a good first impression. Well, second impression or hell even third impression.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to meet with Mrs. Grumpy there?¡± Cara said when we met at the lobby of the wedding dress shop.


    ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± I asked her giving her a serious face.


    ¡°Well, you could faint. I think she wouldn¡¯t bother you again¡± Anika said putting in her own advice.


    ¡°Nika you mean to pretend to faint right?¡± Anita said.


    ¡°If I faint and Noah hears he will be worried,¡± I tell them casually.


    ¡°And for some strange reason, you don¡¯t want him to worry¡± Leah piped in with raised eyebrows.


    ¡°Yeah, the doctor said I¡¯m weak and I need to be put on a special diet¡± I exin.


    ¡°Someone is already falling in¨C¡± udia said being her usual self.


    ¡°Love,¡± a couple of multiple voices said and I just shook my head at them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in and greet my future mother inw,¡± I said and they all rolled their eyes with a frown.


    ¡°Eileen is so lucky that she is not here¡± udia murmured as we made our way inside.


    ¡°Are you calling my wedding preparations not fun?¡± I say managing fake hurt shing and holding a hand to my chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your wedding preparations,¡± she said a little bit loud this time. ¡°It¡¯s your mother inw. She is no fun¡± udia spoke her mind.


    ¡°Common. We are thirteen badassdies we can let a grumpy old woman take us down¡± L said and they all started yelling incoherent words of yes and we can.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go show this woman who is boss¡± Anikamentedzily.


    ¡°You sure you want to do that?¡± Anamented mocking her sister.


    ¡°After this, you owe us food,¡± Anika said ignoring her sister.


    ¡°Pizza¡± Cara chipped happily.


    ¡°I have to eat healthy,¡± I tell them.


    ¡°What does that have to do with us?¡± Jade said and I chuckledzily.


    ¡°I need a diet buddy and I have got thirteen girls to do that with me,¡± I said with a hint of amusement in my voice.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°Eww, disgusting, we will never do that, why spend our young lives eating food for my mom¡± were theymenting.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Noah to do that for you¡± Leah asked as we opened the waiting room to see my mother inw sitted there.


    ¡°Good afternoon Mrs. Lorraine,¡± I say catching her attention. It felt weird for me to see that I might need to take thatst name soon enough.


    She turns to me and then catches the attention of the twelvedies behind me.


    ¡°Good afternoon Rachael. What are they doing here?¡± she asked raising her eyebrows.


    ¡°They had promised to help me with my gown choosing before but then Noah told me you wanted to do that and since I didn¡¯t want to disappoint anyone I brought everyone along,¡± I said and she just sighed.


    ¡°Thene along let¡¯s get started,¡± she said clicking away to one of the many sales girls.


    An elderly woman catches the eye of Mrs. Lorraine and shees to her.


    ¡°Em,¡± the woman said a Scottish enting on from her speech.


    ¡°Vanessa¡± Em mussed too and gave her one of those weird hugs that we see in movies. They were barely touching each other. ¡°So I will need a dress for my daughter inw to be, ¡± Em said to the woman pointing to me.


    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Vanessa asked Em.


    ¡°Well, we were thinking of a dress that will cover up the baby bump perfectly. And then we need something in the colors of off-white or cream¡± she said and then turned to face me. ¡°Only virgins wear white on their big day,¡± she said with enough spiteing from her speech.


    ¡°We won¡¯t have you talking to Cara like that¡± Ana immediately sprung into action.


    ¡°That is just not nice¡± Debby spoke and she didn¡¯t feel too pleased with the tone her voice had taken. Debby sounded hurt and so did I. Em was being rude on purpose anyway, she just had to ignore her as much as she could.


    ¡°If you think that because you are buying the dress you can be rude you can take a ride because all of us here can buy her a thousand dresses,¡± Cara said before adding ¡°Old woman¡±


    ¡°Guys it¡¯s okay,¡± I said trying to stop them from saying anything that would make her face to harden more than it was.


    ¡°It¡¯s not okay Rachael. I don¡¯t think Noah will be too pleased to hear what his mother said to you¡± udia said.


    ¡°What did my mother say?¡± Noah¡¯s voice came from behind us. I turned around to see him standing there.


    ¡°What are you doing here my son?¡± Em said as soon as she saw Noah stand there.


    ¡°Well, I came to tell you that you have to schedule this dress meeting for another day. I found the dietician¡± he said directing thest part at me. ¡°So what did my mom say,¡± he asked still going to that topic.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I said immediately making sure I passed a message across to them that he couldn¡¯t hear anything about this.


    ¡°When can we reschedule you?¡± Vanessa asked. I even forgot that she was still standing there.


    ¡°Make that next week¡± Noah answered for me.


    ¡°Noted,¡± Vanessa said leaving the ce.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then?¡± Noah asked taking my hands and leading me away.


    ¡°Text us¡± someone shouted as I made my way out.


    ¡°So you are going to hide what my mom said¡± Noah spoke as soon as we sat inside the car.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hiding. I just think it¡¯s really unnecessary¡± I said putting on my seat belt.


    ¡°You know in three weeks we will be married and then we can¡¯t have secrets,¡± he said seriously.


    ¡°Your mommented on me being not pure enough to wear a white dress because of the baby,¡± I said and he frowned.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about her¡± he apologized.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I think she is right¡± I say and then add ¡°but not because of the baby¡±


    ¡°This is all messed up,¡± he said. ¡°But if this makes you feel any better,¡± he said with a slow sigh. ¡°I kind of like you already¡±

 19

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    The next thing I know I¡¯m choking on spit.


    ¡°What do you mean by you kind of like me¡± I say trying as hard as possible to articte each sound correctly.


    ¡°Well, you know like I didn¡¯t know you before and then I started knowing you and then I began to think you have a really nice personality and you understand people and you even gave my mom the benefit of the doubt even when she got on your nerves. You know since I started to know you I havee to know that you will make a great friend and I mean I like the way you don¡¯t bother your parents. You are a good daughter and friend. I see all your friends adore you-¡± he said not bothering to take a breath.


    ¡°Take a chill,¡± I say stopping him halfway through his babble. ¡°Your babble is cute but please can you not¡± I say with amusement.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said meekly and then focused on the road.


    ¡°I think you are an awfully considerate guy and you have what it takes to keep a girl happy¡± Iment and from the corner of my eyes I see a smile stretch on his face.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said sincerely.


    ¡°So about this dietician?¡± I say slowly. ¡°I hope she won¡¯t make me eat grounded broli,¡± I say and his smile widens.


    ¡°Grounded broli?¡± he asked trying hard to contain hisughter.


    ¡°Yeah, you know because I¡¯m on a diet?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Well I don¡¯t know about that but she is going to make you eat healthy for your baby.¡± he said before adding ¡°Our baby¡±


    ¡°I guess I have to do it for the little one,¡± I said rubbing my belly. It wasn¡¯t really big but it was already stretching out my skin.


    I see him stop in front of a small cute little shop. ¡°Does she work here?¡± I ask the wordsing out a little condensing than I thought they would be.


    ¡°Is this not good enough for you?¡± he asked with concern.


    ¡°That is not it. It¡¯s just that myte grandpa¡¯s dietician worked from home¡± I told him and he looked at me. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I am visiting a dietician¡¯s office,¡± I say and he smiles.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go make memories,¡± he said unlocking the doors. I step out and fresh air sts my face. I hear the sound of the car beeping lock. Hees to my side and then we walk in together.


    ¡°Hello Melinda,¡± Noah said after reading the girl at the front desk¡¯s name tag.


    ¡°How can I help you¡± she said putting up a smile that wasn¡¯t very pleasant.


    ¡°We are here to see Cassidy,¡± Noah told her and she smiled at us.


    ¡°You are?¡± she asked without looking at us she was typing away on the system in her front.


    ¡°Mr and Mrs. Lorraine. I made an appointment today¡± Noah spoke doing all the talking.


    Hearing him address me as Mrs. Lorraine made me feel a little bit secure. He was someone who made me feelfortable and was d it was not some kind of creep.


    ¡°Okay wait a minute,¡± she said before picking up the phone and cing it on her head. ¡°Hello ma¡¯am,¡± she said and paused a little. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am you have Mr and Mrs. Lorraine waiting here for you,¡± she said and waited for the response tapping her fingers against the wooden counter. ¡°Okay,¡± she said and then dropped it down.


    ¡°You can go see her now. Down the hallway second door by the left,¡± she said dismissing us before going back to a game on her mobile.


    We enter the room described for us and I see a very small woman sit at the table with the table separating her from us. ¡°Come in,¡± she said when we were stopped by the door.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Cassidy,¡± Noah said shaking her hands before we took a sit in front of her.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Jaden called me to say you wereing,¡± Cassidy said and Noah smiled before frowning again.


    ¡°Yeah, he gave me your address. Moving on¡± he said and Cassidy nodded before taking out her notepad and joking down the important points as we told her some information.


    I left the office with a timetable in my hand that I would use to feed until the baby was born. Noah took me home and left after asking me to rest and take good care of myself because it was affecting the baby. I went inside and went to find Rita.


    ¡°I¡¯m home Rita¡± I yelled when I didn¡¯t see her in the kitchen.


    ¡°Pantry¡± she yelled back at me. ¡°You went out today,¡± she said as soon as she sensed me.


    ¡°Yeah had three appointments doctors, a wedding dress, and a dietician,¡± I say summarizing my day by saying that.


    ¡°Dietitian?¡± she asked dropping the bowl of rice in her hand to the floor.


    ¡°Yeah apparently I¡¯m weak and I need to be ced on a special diet,¡± I tell her and then fish the food timetable that was prepared for me. ¡°Here,¡± I say handing her the paper.


    ¡°Now you will eat healthy,¡± she said her eyes scanning through the paper. She had always been nagging me about healthy living and I know for a fact that she would be more than happy to help me eat these disgusting vegetables.


    ¡°Yadayada,¡± I say and she narrows her eyes at me. ¡°What?¡± I asked her and she just shrugged.


    ¡°Go freshen up ande downter for dinner,¡± she said evilly and I know that she will enjoy making me suffer with all these diets.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± I say leaving the pantry.


    ¡°Maybe I can bring it up for you,¡± she said as I made my way up the stairs.


    ¡°In case I don¡¯t make it out of bed can you do just that?¡± I ask her and she justughs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± she said as I climbed the stairs.


    I stand on the stairs and yell to her. ¡°Are you alsoing to Hawaii?¡± I ask her screaming on top of my voice.


    ¡°What for?¡± she asks back.


    ¡°For my wedding?¡± I say and then I see her at the foot of the stairs. What do they call the super fast super hero again? Yes, sh. She had be sh.


    ¡°Your wedding?¡± she asked looking at me closely maybe trying to see if I was pulling a prank on her.


    ¡°Yes, Noah said he booked some tickets for us to have the wedding in Hawaii,¡± I say and she nods.


    ¡°Of course, I wille I can¡¯t miss it for the world,¡± she said. ¡°Go freshen,¡± she said before returning to the

 20

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    I was just home lounging around doing practically nothing and being bored out of my mind for not going to work. I heard a knock on my door before it opened slightly. My mom stuck her head through the save there.


    ¡°Hey Mom, didn¡¯t know you were still home,¡± I say trying my best to sit up straight.


    ¡°Yeah, I wanted to talk to you,¡± she said, closing the door anding in to sit on the bed. She sat down and stared at the sheet on the bed.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I say drawing her from the thoughts. Looking at her it looked as if a thousand thoughts were shing through her mind but only a few showed in her eyes.


    ¡°Rachel,¡± she said drawing out a breath. I looked at her trying to take in her expressions. ¡°Are you sure of this wedding?¡± she asked her voice shaky. Had she just discovered that I let her down and I had done a very wrong thing?


    ¡°What do you mean Mom?¡± I say struggling to stay as calm as possible.


    ¡°I mean are you sure you want to go through with this wedding?¡± she asked and that became a big question to me. Do I want to go through with this wedding?


    ¡°Mom is anything wrong?¡± I asked oblivious as to why my mom was like this. Something must be wrong for her to be so worried.


    ¡°Nothing is wrong. I just don¡¯t want you to make a mistake that you regret for the rest of your life¡± she said the worry going all out from her voice.


    ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t know about the right decisions but it sure doesn¡¯t feel like I¡¯m making a wrong one,¡± I say not even knowing when I was that smart to make such statements.


    ¡°It may seem right now but in the end, it may be wrong,¡± she said and I just didn¡¯t understand what she was driving at.


    ¡°Mom something is definitely up,¡± I say and her frown goes deeper. If there is anything like that. ¡°Two months ago you were so okay with this wedding because you supported me but now you are doubting me,¡± I said and she turned her face away.


    ¡°Rachell,¡± she said facing me. ¡°I just want to be sure that you are making the right choice. You are my daughter and I don¡¯t want you making the wrong choices while I¡¯m here¡± she said and I nodded.


    ¡°At least that makes more sense¡± I mutter before speaking up. ¡°Mom you don¡¯t need to bother about me. I can handle myself and if we discover that it¡¯s a wrong choice we can divorce¡± I say and her eyes widen at my statement.


    ¡°Divorce?¡± she asked and I nodded at her.


    ¡°Is there something wrong with that?¡± I ask her and she shakes her head.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a shocking thing to hear from you,¡± she said before looking away. ¡°You usually fight for girls from broken homes and now you want to have one¡±


    ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t say people not have broken homes. I just make sure the girls aren¡¯t affected by them¡± I say and she nods.


    ¡°Just make sure you are happy anyway,¡± she said and she looked away.


    ¡°I will remember that Mom,¡± I say and she hugs me.


    ¡°O my, my daughter will soon be someone¡¯s wife and mother¡± she murmurs.


    ¡°Mom today isn¡¯t even the wedding,¡± I say when I feel hot tears touch my shoulders.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ruin the moment¡± she doesughing with a croaky voice.


    ¡°Yes Mom,¡± I say and she pulls away before going out of the room. The phone call pulls me out from my thoughts and I look at it to see that it is Noah.


    ¡°Hello sweets,¡± he said when I picked it up and pressed it to my ear.


    ¡°Hello Noah,¡± I say rolling my eyes at his nickname for me.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°How are you and how is my son?¡± he asked and Iughed.


    ¡°Who says that it is a son?¡± I ask him and he hums.


    ¡°It¡¯s a son,¡± he said with all confidence in the world.


    ¡°It¡¯s a daughter,¡± I say and heughs. ¡°You called?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I call to greet you?¡± he asks as I just gasped.


    ¡°You called?¡± I ask again ignoring his earlierment.


    ¡°Okay, so my mom said she can¡¯t have to go to the wedding dress shop again so she will send someone over with a gallery and you will choose from one,¡± he said.


    ¡°Is she sending over cream or off white colored dresses over?¡± I ask remembering thement from his mom yesterday.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know Rachel,¡± he said honestly.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course Noah,¡± I said.


    ¡°I got to go,¡± he said. ¡°I have a meeting¡± he exined.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin. I know that you are busy¡± I say a smile ying on my lips.


    ¡°You are my wife to be I have to exin,¡± he said and I could sense a yful tone.


    ¡°You are too yful to be a busy man,¡± I said and he gasped.


    ¡°You think I¡¯m yful,¡± he said sniffing.


    ¡°Bye Noah, you have a meeting,¡± I said.


    ¡°We will still talk about this,¡± he said before hanging up.


    I sent an emergency text to the girls that I was shopping for my dress from home and that they should try ande help me choose the right dress. They responded that they would all be there. Harper said she couldn¡¯t make it as she had traveled out of town and she would have toe straight to my wedding from wherever she went to.


    All of us were sitting down in the living room of my house. They were with cookies and some drinks and I was stuck with a vegetable sd and some garlic bread which for some reason made me nauseous. Finally, after seven long hours, I finally chose a gown and we sent it back to the shop and I have to go for the fitting next

 21

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    We were on the ne to Hawaii for my wedding that was happening in three days. In fact, the whole ne was filled with my family. It was somehow quiet because most people couldn¡¯t just stand the whining of Mrs. Lorraine when we took off.


    Wended and then we were booked in a hotel room and then I went straight to bed. The girls said they had booked a spa date for me and then the next day I will have my bridal shower.


    Hayley was my little bride and I wasn¡¯t going to have a page boy or ring bearer or whatever they were called. Cara was my chief bridesmaid and Leah, Anika, Anita, and udia were part of the bridal train.


    So when I woke up in the morning and I had my bath. I was whisked away to have a spa date. The girls told me that they were keeping me away from Noah till the wedding. The guys were making Noah do all those gun things before he finally got married to me.


    I was getting a massage and then I got my nails done. After doing all that and I still had spare time. The girls made me go shopping saying there were some essentials that I needed for the wedding is which I haven¡¯t gotten. Katy Noah¡¯s sister joined us although she was quiet most of the time. Since I didn¡¯t have anything else to do I just went along with them.


    Apparently the essentials were a bikini and some lingerie.


    ¡°These are the essentials?¡± I ask when Anita holds acy one on my body.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Cara said picking up some up.


    ¡°What is Noah¡¯s best color?¡± udia asked from another row of them.


    ¡°How will I know that¡± I reply swatting all hands that try to put those things on my body.


    ¡°Ana, do you think you can ask Nick to ask him?¡± Riley said without shaming it.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Eileen said casually and I just felt like killing these girls.


    Ana picked her phone up and pressed it to her ear before speaking into it.


    ¡°Hey love,¡± she said and waited for his response. ¡°Can you ask Noah what his best color is?¡± she asked driving straight to the point. ¡°Rachael wants to buy a present for him and she was thinking of color terms,¡± she said. ¡°You can¡¯t tell him she is getting him something¡± she added. ¡°Okay blue,¡± she said after some time. ¡°Bye love,¡± she said before hanging up.


    ¡°Pick all the blues in her size,¡± L said excitedly pickingcy blue and normal blue. She picked a whole lot and I was already tired by the time we left the store.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for dinner¡± Leah announced with a bored tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m ordering room service. I¡¯m tired and baby is too¡± I say and they all start acting about the matter.


    ¡°Girls we have the whole of tomorrow to spend time together,¡± Debby said advising all of us as if we were her children.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°Thank you, Debby,¡± I say giving her a smile.


    ¡°Kill joys¡± udia yelled and I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°When does Harper get here?¡± I ask them and they just shrug. ¡°Why is she away again?¡± I ask them and none of them can give me answers.


    ¡°She went to bring her sister¡± Cynthia finally says and I turn to face her.


    ¡°Her sister?¡± Eileen says obviously not believing what we were hearing.


    ¡°Apparently she is a twin who was separated from birth and now her sister ising back home,¡± Cynthia said and silence befell us.


    ¡°Who noticed something?¡± L asked and we turned to face her. ¡°Cynthia just said a while paragraph,¡± she said rolling her eyes and acting as if it is something we are supposed to know.


    ¡°O my God,¡± Tess said gasping out.


    ¡°Good night guys,¡± I say when we stop at the front of my suite.


    ¡°Good night¡± were the yells I heard as I opened the door. ¡°We are girls¡± Cara still said making me smile to myself.


    I had a vegetable sd. The only thing I was able to enjoy among the whole list of foods that I should eat. I freshened up and changed before climbing to bed.


    I had about twenty fours hours and I will be a married woman. Do I want to go through with this decision? I am not sure about this anymore.


    Why am I doing this? Because of my daughter or son right what about me? Won¡¯t I find my happily ever after?


    I¡¯m in doubt about this for the first time since I began this.


    What can I do?

 22

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    It was the wedding day. I still had my doubts in the corner of my mind but I was tucking it away neatly. No one was so thrilled but they were all here for me and they had decided to embrace him in our family. If I decide that I don¡¯t want to be part of this now then I¡¯m just being so partial and self centered. I was in a bathrobe sitting on the bed. Looking up wards waiting for my professional make up artist to do my make up. That was Anika and Anita. They were rubbing minds together to make me look beautiful.


    The girls were also running around trying to get ready for the wedding that wasing up in two hours.


    Cara, Anita, Anika, Leah, and udia were also getting dressed in their peach dresses. They looked stunning.


    I can¡¯t remember most of the things that went on in the room all that masked my mind was doubt and fear of the unknown.


    When my dad came to get me and my train the other girls had left to go sit in the church. My dad looked at me and he had tears in his eyes.


    ¡°My little girl is grown up,¡± he said hugging me in a tight grip.


    ¡°Dad I don¡¯t want to cry,¡± I said fighting back the tears. ¡°My makeup will be ruined,¡± I said and he pulled away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry¡± he said wiping my tears from my eyes. ¡°Are you ready?¡± he asked and I nodded before I changed my mind. I looked beautiful I will give the twins one for that. They really had it there and my dress fit perfectly. It was hiding the baby bump that was stretching out my skin.


    We walked from the hotel lobby to the waiting car. An Audi was waiting there for me.


    ¡°Nice car,¡± I said why my dad led me to it. My train and Hayley got into two other Benz there. We were driving to the church. When I got there. I waited outside until it was time to go in.


    The wedding March song started and I went hand in hand with my dad inside the long aisle. With each step, I made up my mind that I was going to fight for everything to work. I don¡¯t want to give my child a tough time. I was making the right choice and I was doing all this for the baby.


    I stopped at the front of the church where Noah stood in a blurry tuxedo. He looked so handsome in that suit. In fact, he was looking like heaven rained on him personally.


    Dad and Noah hugged each other. ¡°Take care of her,¡± Dad said to Noah and he nodded Dad went and took his seat beside my mom. My mom looked like she was about to cry a river.


    I turned to Noah with a smile I pulled on. ¡°You look breathtaking,¡± he said and I could sense the honesty in his tone.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look too bad yourself,¡± I say and he pulls on a smile thatpliments that pretty face of his. What am I saying? Not pretty as in more than my cousins but I mean pretty as in he can pass off for a model. As if that makes it any better Rachael. I rant away in my head and conclude it won¡¯t be too bad if he is pretty. I had to think he was pretty so I might like him in the long run. We turned to face the priest.


    ¡°We have gathered here today to witness the solemnization of Noah Lorraine and Rachael Mirchoff¡± he began and I know that I can¡¯t remember each and everything that he said. We decided just to say I do instead of us reading vows like they do now.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    We had nothing to say to each other because sue me we barely know each other. Rachael and you seem smart enough to know that people don¡¯t marry strangers.


    ¡°So Noah Lorraine do you take Rachael Mirchoff to be yourwfully wedded wife for better, for worse, in sickness and health, in riches and poverty till you both shall live,¡± the priest said.


    Noah looked at me ¡°I do¡± he said and looked back at the priest.


    ¡°Rachael Mirchoff do you take Noah Lorraine to be yourwfully wedded husband to love and respect for better and worse, in sickness and health, in riches and poverty till you both shall live¡± he continued.


    My voice hooked in my throat. ¡°I do¡± I managed to croak out.


    ¡°By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife,¡± he said and then continued ¡°I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Lorraine,¡± he said. ¡°You may kiss the bride,¡± he said.


    There were collective gasps as people waited for it to happen. Noah raised the veil and nted his lips on mine in a quick kiss. We were married after all but why did it feel so right now?


    There were cheers and soon we were all heading to the reception site. I was sitting in the back of the limo.


    Another car? I thought to myself as we both rode in the back of the car the driver in front. He pulled up the window that was separating us from the driver and he turned to face me. I could feel his stare on me so I turned to him and his face was just a few inches away.


    ¡°Noah¡± I gulp. My throat moved up and down.


    ¡°Mrs. Lorraine,¡± he said his breath tickling my face.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I ask him and he leans forward. If there is any way he can do that.


    ¡°Mrs. Lorraine why do I have a feeling that you are nervous¡± he said and I just gulped. Great Rachael how will you deny that true fact now?


    ¡°I¡¯m not nervous¡± I managed to construct out and he broke into a smile. ¡°You are just too close,¡± I said.


    ¡°You have to be used to it,¡± he says and I gulp. Why don¡¯t you turn into a gulping fairy?


    ¡°Meaning?¡± I ask and then realize that that wasn¡¯t the right question.


    ¡°Because we are married now and we will live together and sleep together and I don¡¯t think I¡¯m letting you go,¡± he said and we¡¯ll that¡¯s a shocker, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡°I know that but you don¡¯t have to be too close,¡± I say when I feel his breath on my face.


    ¡°I just want to kiss my wife is there anything wrong with that?¡± he asked and yes I¡¯m a gulping fairy.

 23

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    We were walking around the reception ground greeting everyone who hade and then my leg started to hurt like hell. Back in the car or limo when Noah made thatment I choked on air thereby reducing any sexually or romantically built tension to be reduced into zero.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°My leg hurts¡± I whispered to Noah when he was walking us over to someone I didn¡¯t know we invited.


    ¡°Come let¡¯s get you to sit,¡± he said and then led me to the couple sit that was prepared for us.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I say taking a sit and he sits down beside me. I looked around and watched as people interacted. The dance floor was filled with the younger generation dancing to Bruno Mars.


    ¡°What the actual fuck¡± Noah said as his eyesnded on someone. I traced his eye sight to a woman clutching to a man. Her lips were blood red and she just looked like she had sucked a child¡¯s blood. She was elegant though and she walked with grace. She walked towards us and stopped in front of us.


    ¡°Congrats,¡± she said her voice sounding fake just like her face now that I see it up close.


    ¡°Thank you Nicole and Jaden,¡± Noah said his voice sour and sad.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I say trying to sound normal because right here before us was his ex Nichole, and his best friend Jaden. Looking at her I was no match. How could he even agree to marry in Jane?


    ¡°Who invited you anyway?¡± Noah said after trying to control himself.


    ¡°Your mom,¡± Nichole said biting her lips. ¡°I see you finally found happiness,¡± the girl said with a sly expression. Obviously, his mom would have said we were marrying because of a baby so we had thising.


    ¡°Yes and it is a nice happiness,¡± he said gritting his teeth together.


    ¡°I will go talk to the girls,¡± I said trying to stand up. Noah¡¯s hand shot up to mine and held it to me.


    ¡°Stay with me sweets,¡± he said kissing my hand. He can¡¯t just do that and wake up butterflies. Okay, maybe the baby is just kicking. I saw Nichole¡¯s face turn to a frown as she saw his actions.


    Noah needed this support against his ex girlfriend and friend who thinks it¡¯s okay to do this to him and then show up at his wedding.


    ¡°Anything love,¡± I say sitting back down clutching my hand to his and putting up my acting face.


    ¡°We brought you a little gift,¡± Jaden said and I was full of disgust. Best friend my ass.


    ¡°You can drop it off where others are,¡± I say and then face him squarely. ¡°We might get around to it,¡± I say.


    Nichole doesn¡¯t look too pleased with us.


    ¡°Do you mind if we have to go for our first couple dance?¡± I say. Noah nods taking my hand in his and standing up.


    When we get to the dance floor the music changes and the dance floor clears.


    ¡°Thank you sweet,¡± he says and I smile at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m d I could save you from that bitch¡± I said and he frowned. ¡°You still love her don¡¯t you?¡± I ask and when he nods I feel my ribs strangling my heart. It¡¯s okay he can love anybody. You guys aren¡¯t married because of love.


    ¡°I loved her and I still do it¡¯s just that it is slowly going away,¡± he said and I looked up to see his eyes staring at me.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin,¡± I say slowly and he nods.


    ¡°I know that,¡± he said and his eyes met mine. ¡°But I want to,¡± he said with a smile.


    ¡°After this dance, we cut the cake and we are out of here. You need rest¡± he said and I frowned.


    ¡°Of course not. I have to throw the bouquet and see who gets it¡± I say and he frowns.


    ¡°You need rest,¡± he says like I¡¯m just a little child who disobeys every time.


    ¡°I have been having rest. I need a day off¡± I say in a joking manner. ¡°Please,¡± I say and he nods.


    ¡°One more hour,¡± he says like he is granting me a favor.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I say.


    ¡°Anything for you sweets,¡± he says and I roll my eyes.


    We cut the cake and feed each other awkwardly but he seems so fun because he smirks all through my inner torture.


    Then I throw the bouquet and Eileen catches it. Jacobes to her and whispers something into her ears to which she replies with a re and Jacob backs away from her with his hands in the air.


    Noah makes us leave and then we go to the hotel suite. Noah takes me to his hotel suite. He says and I quote ¡®We are married aren¡¯t we?¡¯ apparently my suite was booked for three nights and his for five nights so my things were already neatly arranged in his.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to change and go to sleep,¡± I say taking out some clothes from my bag.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°I will just wait for you to be done,¡± he said as I entered the bathroom. I wiped the makeup off and loosened my hair before putting it into my precious pony tail.


    I changed and got out. I saw him sitting by my bed side with a bag. The bag that I had brought from the bikini and lingerie store and he was going through it.


    ¡°Noah,¡± I said and then cleared my throat.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wanted to arrange your clothes in there for you and I came across the bag and I know I shouldn¡¯t have looked I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said with a pout that was making him adorable. I felt like kissing him because he was looking like a puppy I added thest part to console myself.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I say my cheeks burning and turning red. ¡°I will put those away,¡± I say going closer to him.


    ¡°I can do it. Mrs. Lorraine¡± he said and I felt so conscious that we were wedded. ¡°I¡¯m your husband there is nothing to be shy of,¡± he said as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    ¡°I will go to bed then,¡± I said dragging myself to the bed.


    ¡°I will sing to you,¡± he saiding closer to me.


    ¡°Not necessary,¡± I said pulling the covers over my body to my chin.


    ¡°I¡¯m singing to the baby,¡± he said touching my belly, and then he did something so awkward. He kissed my belly and a thousand fireworks exploded in my stomach. ¡°Baby Dad and Mom love you so much that they havee together for you,¡± he said and started singing.


    To be honest I knew what he was singing but somehow my brain was unable to process the melody and lyrics as he was too close to me. Cue the gulping again.


    After a while, he stopped and kissed my forehead. ¡°Good night sweets¡± he mumbled and his presence left me

 24

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Wake up sleepy head¡± a voice hums in my ears. Noah? I stretch out and yawn before sitting up on the bed.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I say covering my mouth with my hands trying to control my morning breath.


    ¡°Go get ready we have to see your family and mine at the airport,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I said still closing my mouth.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why is your hand over your mouth,¡± he asked me.


    ¡°Because the pregnancy gives me morning breath,¡± I said and he smiled.


    ¡°And I¡¯m your husband for better or worse and even for smelly breath for a good one,¡± he said making a joke.


    ¡°I will go wash up,¡± I say covering my mouth with my hand and standing up going away from him. Ignoring that hisment was actually very sweet.


    I came out momentster to find Noah sitting down there with a tray from room service


    ¡°Now can you talk with me¡± he said smiling.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said sitting down. Yesterday I forgot to wash the gel off my head so I just did so this morning and my hair was wet.


    ¡°I will blow dry your hair andb it for you,¡± Noah said taking the hair dryer that came with the hotel room.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said picking up the vegetable smoothie.


    He air blew the hair with a hand dryer and then he finally put ab through it and I felt like fainting. He was hard on it and it felt like he was rooting my scalp away.


    ¡°Careful¡± I hissed when he wanted tob again.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he muttered but he continued. The thought that mattered was all I chanted to myself. He almost took all of my hair from the brushing.


    ¡°How can you have a little sister and then not know how to do this thing?¡± I ask when he finally drops theb.


    ¡°My mom doesn¡¯t allow me to do that. She thinks it¡¯s a waste of time¡± he answers honestly.


    ¡°Well, you should neverb anyone¡¯s hair including our daughter,¡± I say and hees to my front.


    ¡°Really?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said and he just looked at me.


    ¡°So you think we are going to make another baby because definitely this one is a boy¡± he said so casually as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    Mr Noah has been making sexual tension surround us since yesterday. What the hell?


    ¡°Noah you could stop making sexual innuendos and I will allow you to live to see another child,¡± I said smiling sweetly.


    ¡°You are no fun¡± he pouts adorably and I feel like squeezing his cheeks.


    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± I say protesting and not agreeing with what he says.


    ¡°Yeah you are¡± he dismissed me in a sarcastic tone.


    ¡°Are you guys going to sleep in there all day¡± a voice came from the other side of the door not allowing me to respond to what Noah had just said. Noah quietly told me that I should wait so he could attend to the person.


    ¡°Hey Cara Leah, Anita, Anika, L, Debby, Jade, Cynthia, Ana, Tess, Resse, L, udia Eileen, and Katy,¡± he said addressing them. They were all here.


    ¡°Let us in we want to see Rach¡± Ana spoke in a casual tone. They didn¡¯t want to see me. They just wanted to see if things were going well with me and Noah.


    ¡°She is very tired from yesterday night,¡± Noah said and I faced palmed.


    ¡°O is that?¡± Cara¡¯s voice came out slyly. And whistles and ¡®O¡¯ followed. ¡°We better be going then. Tell her that we are going to the airport already and she should take time from her honeymoon to text us¡± L said


    ¡°She sure will,¡± Noah said and they left before he closed the door and strolled to me.


    ¡°It¡¯s either you were dumb for you not to know that they wanted to know if we had-¡±


    ¡°Sex?¡± he cut me off.


    ¡°Yes, Noah¡± I groan running my hand over my face.


    ¡°So is it wrong for us?¡± he asked me and I just frowned.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this again,¡± I say standing up from the bed. ¡°Go freshen up,¡± I say and he throws me a smile before trudging away

 25

    ? HER ROYAL HIGHNESS


    ?SWIFTPEN 123


    ¡°You are wee to your new home,¡± Noah said when he opened the door to his house that I was a few months ago. Who knew that I would end up here monthster? Destiny really paid itself.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I say as I enter the house.


    ¡°I will show you around the house and Pat will put away your things,¡± he said and suddenly a woman came out from the kitchen with an apron and towel in her hand.


    ¡°Mr. Lorraine,¡± she said when she met him halfway. ¡°Wee back,¡± she said to him and he nodded at her.


    ¡°Thank you. This is my wife¡± he said gesturing to me. ¡°Tomorrow introduce her to all the staff,¡± he told her and she nodded at him.


    ¡°Wee home Mrs. Lorraine,¡± she said and I smiled at her. She had a weing aura surrounding her.


    ¡°Just call me Rachel,¡± I said, and as soon as she was about to smile Noah spoke.


    ¡°Address her as formally as possible,¡± he said and she nodded at him. ¡°Come on Rachael let¡¯s go,¡± he said. He had been behaving so weirdly and unlike himself, since he spoke to his mom a few hours before we left.


    Usually, he was always full of life and speaking to me but now he was so quiet not speaking and just acting so strangely to me.


    ¡°This is the living room¡± he motioned to the door ¡°And this door leads to the terrace where we had dinner the other day¡± he showed me the door. His pace quickened as he moved on. ¡°This is the movie room,¡± he said pointing to another door. ¡°And the library,¡± he said pointing to another. ¡°This is the music room,¡± he said pointing to thest door on the ground floor. He took the flight of stairs up. ¡°All these are rooms¡± he motioned down one side of the hall of about four doors. ¡°And that way leads to the master bedroom,¡± he said. ¡°Through the kitchen, you get to the garden, and from there you can get to the staff house,¡± he said and then proceeded to enter the master¡¯s bedroom.


    Do I follow him there I don¡¯t know what to do about him. He is acting so cold to me.


    ¡°Noah,¡± I said when I finally stopped my internal debate and entered the room. He didn¡¯t respond he just turned to me. Probably a sign of talk. ¡°Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?¡± I asked frustrated at his attitude to me.


    ¡°So do you think you have done anything?¡± he asked tilting his head to the side.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know and that is why I¡¯m asking you,¡± I said and he frowned. ¡°So did I do anything?¡± I asked and he turned from me.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t done anything,¡± he said.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°So why are you so cold to me?¡± I ask him even against my better judgment not to.


    ¡°Cold?¡± he asked a dryughter escaping his lips.


    ¡°I know that we aren¡¯t married on best terms but that doesn¡¯t mean we should treat each other badly,¡± I say to him because I can¡¯t live with hostility. I don¡¯t really need that with me now.


    ¡°I¡¯m just tired,¡± he said before going into the bathroom.


    Maybe he is just tired and I¡¯m being so paranoid about nothing. I see my bag sitting in a corner. Do I unpack? I should probably wait for him to finish before I unpack. I leave the room and go downstairs to see what is happening there.


    I enter the kitchen and see Pat cooking the food.


    ¡°Can I help?¡± I say catching her attention when she doesn¡¯t notice me.


    ¡°O no I can take care of this myself,¡± she said and I smiled before going closer to her.


    ¡°Let me help,¡± I say and she shakes her head.


    ¡°I can not allow you Mrs. Lorraine-¡± she started.


    ¡°It¡¯s just Rachel,¡± I say stopping her speech. ¡°And I want to help,¡± I say finally before picking up the vegetable and cutting it with her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said before turning to check the rice that was on the stove top.


    ¡°You are wee,¡± I say and she just continues to do her work. ¡°Is Noah usually grumpy?¡± I ask her curious as to what type of person he is.


    ¡°Mr. Lorraine?¡± she asked and I nodded at her.


    ¡°He is usually in high spirits. But I don¡¯t know about his mood these days because I just came back from leave¡± she exined.


    ¡°And I don¡¯t pay you to allow my wife to work and then gossip about me¡± a voice came from the doorway and the spoon that Pat had been using fell to the ground. ¡°Rachael you would want to go freshen up,¡± he said not looking at me.


    Pat on the other hand looked as if she was going to be offered as a sacrifice on an altar that would be prepared by Noah. ¡°I will just finish cutting this vegetable before I go,¡± I say turning the carrots to cut it.


    ¡°That¡¯s her work,¡± he said sternly.


    ¡°And there is no harm in me helping her,¡± I say already feeling angry that he was behaving like an ass.


    ¡°I pay her for that. Go freshen up¡± he said as if he wasmanding me.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go when I¡¯m done,¡± I say cutting some lettuce too.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get on my nerves¡± he said his voiceing out so strained. I dropped the knife mad stormed out of the kitchen upstairs. I feel him walking behind me.


    As I get upstairs I go to my bag and pull it with me thank God I didn¡¯t bring so many clothes with me.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked me with a pissed expression.


    ¡°When you calm down and untangle your panties then I can be in the same room with you,¡± I say clutching the hand of my suitcase tightly. ¡°Noah let me through and show me where I can stay,¡± I said gritting my teeth. This time trying to keep my self from crying so hard.


    He moved out of the way and took me to one of the rooms opened the door and pushed me inside the room.


    I entered and locked the door from inside. I just heard as his footsteps retreated from me. What was his problem? He didn¡¯t even bother to check on me. That night and the next day. When I had gotten down for breakfast Pat said he had left already. What is wrong with him?

 26

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Rachael some one is here to see Mr. Lorraine¡± Liliana another staff working here said behind me as I say in the movie room trying to watch something.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t around,¡± I say and the look on her face told me it wasn¡¯t a pleasant visitor. ¡°Let the person in here,¡± I say and she shakes her head.


    ¡°Mr. Lorraine doesn¡¯t allow anyone in here,¡± she said talking about the room so I decided to go see who that was. If my guesses were right it should be Nichole or Mrs. Lorraine.


    I see Nichole stand there with a fake smile on her face.


    ¡°Rachel,¡± she said to me as if we had been long friends uniting with each other.


    ¡°Noah isn¡¯t around,¡± I say making myselffortable on the single chair in the room.


    ¡°I know I came to see you,¡± she said sitting down also.


    ¡°Me?¡± I ask having an ill feeling about her.


    ¡°Of course yes,¡± she said smiling as if we were actually on good terms.


    ¡°So what did youe to find out?¡± I ask rudely but with a person like this, you won¡¯t want to use manners because it may not work.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be rude¡± she pouted and I just frowned. ¡°Well since Em sees me as a family I¡¯m part of this family so we have to get along and share Noah,¡± she said sharing Noah as if we were whores and we had to share a man for pleasure.


    ¡°I don¡¯t follow where this is leading to,¡± I say just wanting to be anywhere else but here. I could even dance than be here talking to my husband¡¯s ex.


    ¡°Noah and I have been best friends even before we started dating. We were a trio. Noah, Jaden, and I¡± she asked and I just looked away.


    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± I ask her even though her true intentions aren¡¯t entirely hidden in her words. She doesn¡¯t want to lose Noah neither does she want to let go of Jaden. She wants to y them both.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Because even if we are no longer together I don¡¯t want to lose the friendship I had with Noah because it was a very special friendship.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that you can say that to him,¡± I say when I see Noahe in with a tired expression on his face. ¡°You can talk I¡¯m going in,¡± I say mostly because I want to avoid Noah. He was just being so annoying and I don¡¯t think I have enough patience for him right now.


    I stop at the kitchen to tell someone to bring my dinner for me and then I go upstairs. I lock the door.


    A knock on my door brings me back from the sleep that was already brewing in my eyes. I¡¯m not in the mood to eat but for the baby. Everything I have been doing these days isn¡¯t for myself but for my baby. I already have love growing for the unborn child.


    I open the door foolishly without asking who is there. I know it is a foolish decision when I see Noah standing there with a tray in his hands. I proceed to collect the tray and look for a way to throw him out but he pulls the tray away.


    I know I can¡¯t collect this tray from him and I want to lock the door but his shoe stopped the door from going shut.


    ¡°Can I have my food?¡± I force myself to talk seeing that he is not ready to leave yet.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said and I wanted to collect it again but he withdrew the tray. ¡°If you let mee in,¡± he said adding the condition at the end.


    ¡°Then leave already,¡± I say trying to close the door but he repeated his earlier actions.


    ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± he asked and I could not just believe my ears. Was he asking me that after he pissed me off yesterday?


    ¡°No Noah, I just want to eat and then go to bed,¡± I say trying again with the tray. This time my handnded on the tray before he could register I pulled it out of his grip. He tried toe in but I held my hand up to stop him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you had a very long day so why not go to bed now¡± I say trying to sound as rude as possible.


    ¡°Rachael I¡¯m sorry about yesterday,¡± he said and I looked at him.


    ¡°Why were you an ass yesterday?¡± I ask him and he looks away.


    ¡°My issues,¡± he said meekly. ¡°Juste to the room¡± he added.


    ¡°I think we better stay in separate rooms for now until we know each other and we are sure we want to trust and stay together,¡± I say and he doesn¡¯t look too pleased with it not he epts anyway.


    ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind Nichole staying here for a few days. She is having her apartment renovated¡± he said and the nerve of the girl going as far as possible to live in his house right now when we aren¡¯t exactly together.


    ¡°What about her parent¡¯s house?¡± I ask so because any normal human would run to your parents when you are in trouble first. ¡°Or any siblings? Or even any female friends? Or just any rtive?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Her parents don¡¯t live in this town and she is the only child and a socially awkward person,¡± he said for a person like her she doesn¡¯t feel too awkward socially.


    ¡°I think she is rude to impose on newlyweds,¡± I say and he scoffs.


    ¡°She is an extremely good friend of mine and she helps me withoutining so I have to help her,¡± he says and I just scoff too.


    ¡°Noah, it¡¯s your house do whatever you want you don¡¯t need my opinion anyway because it seems like you¡¯ve made up your mind. Good night¡± I say before closing the door and going to drop the food on my table before going back to lock the door.


    He is still in love with her and here I was already liking him more than a friend. He will always love her but think of me as a big arrangement to help me.

 27

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    The fact that Nichole is in this house and she moves about as if she owns the ce irks me but what can I do? She is more than wee here by her best friend.


    I checked the clock and it was past noon. I decided it go for my doctor¡¯s appointment and then go see my mom and then I can go get some things for myself before I go back home.


    I go downstairs and I see that Liliana not Pat is on kitchen duty today.


    ¡°Liliana I¡¯m heading out,¡± I say as I enter the kitchen. She turns to face me and smiles when she sees me.


    ¡°Okay what do you want me to prepare for dinner?¡± she asked politely.


    ¡°Some sushi for Noah and Nichole,¡± I say and she nods. ¡°And a little soup for me,¡± I say and she just takes notes.


    ¡°I will prepare that,¡± she says.


    ¡°I will try to be back before dinner time,¡± I say and she just nods.


    ¡°What of your lunch?¡± she asked me.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to see my mom so I will have lunch there,¡± I say and she just gives me a sad smile. She knows that Nichole¡¯s presence irritates the hell out of me.


    ¡°Okay ma¡¯am,¡± she said.


    ¡°But I will have my lunch now¡± Nichole¡¯s annoying voice rang through the air as I saw her stand there. Must I encounter her every single day even though I try my possible best to avoid her?


    ¡°I haven¡¯t prepared any lunch as Mrs. Lorraine isn¡¯t having any¡± Liliana said trying to piss her off.


    ¡°So what will I have?¡± she asked like a child who was denied ice cream. She had really been on another level since she started to stay here. It was like she wanted to take over the house. Somehow I worried but on the other hand, it did not matter considering the way Noah was treating me.


    ¡°You can go out and get yourself some lunch,¡± I say and she frowns. She doesn¡¯t look too happy at the fact that I could talk to her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Noah will like to hear that I asked for lunch and I was denied,¡± she said sounding like that was her only hope. She had been ying that card for a whole week now. It¡¯s getting on my nerves that she thinks she can use the kindness of Noah to work against me.


    ¡°Then go ahead and call him now,¡± I say a new confidence boost rising through my veins.


    She looked stunned because most times I just give in I never object to what she usually did but now I have my reservations about her.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t your apartment done?¡± I ask her and she looks too shocked to answer. ¡°Answer me,¡± I say and she looks away.


    ¡°It will be done in a few days,¡± she said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t walk this ce as if it is yours. Do you need lunch? Then go out and get some for yourself or you cook some by yourself. The kitchen is always open for you to make your own meals.¡± I tell her with a triumphant smile on my face.


    I wonder why I had been indulging her all these days. I turn to Liliana and say ¡°Get Noah¡¯s food ready on time¡± I say before going out of the house.


    I told Joshua to drive me to my appointment. My doctor tells me that everything is in good shape. I just need more vegetables because I have a low blood level. I go see my mom. I need her advice on what is presently happening to me.


    She doesn¡¯t know yet that Nichole is staying at Noah¡¯s house.


    ¡°So his ex is currently living with you in the same house as your husband?¡± my mom asked when I told her everything.


    ¡°You got the gist,¡± I say and she shakes her head. ¡°She walks the ce as if she owns it and she makes ims on Noah like she is the one married to him¡± I exined bitterly to my mom.


    ¡°And what is Noah¡¯s reaction to her?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. As much as possible I avoid them both¡± I say bad my mom screamed to me.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that. You have to be around Noah and make sure her motives aren¡¯t carried out. She is jealous of you so this is her easy way to put discord between you. Park back into your room with Noah even though you don¡¯t want to. Stay with him and stick to him¡± she advised.


    ¡°No matter what don¡¯t allow her to make you lose your hold on your husband,¡± she said and I felt better after talking to my mom. We spoke about other things and we had a good time. It¡¯s been a week since we came back from.


    When I walk in Noah and Nichole are by the table eating dinner and she is sitting opposite him. They wereughing at something she was saying. How can they still be cool with each other? She hurt him and went ahead to date his friend. That is because he loves her so much my mind told me and I sighed. I walked in and Liliana sighted me.


    ¡°You are back Mrs. Lorraine?¡± she asked me wiping her hand on the towel in her other hand. ¡°I will send your food up for you,¡± she said and I shook my head.


    ¡°I will have dinner here with my husband and his best friend,¡± I say and suddenly Nichole doesn¡¯t look too happy.


    ¡°Okay ma¡¯am,¡± Liliana said and turned to go bring my dinner.


    ¡°How is the sushi?¡± I asked Noah and Nichole decided that I asked her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t usually do this but it tastes so marvelous,¡± she said and I internally rolled my eyes.


    ¡°Noah, how is the sushi?¡± I ask again not paying attention to the speaking ex.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said answering in monotone.


    ¡°So I was thinking we could do baby shopping this weekend¡± I suggest trying to allow Noah to talk to me.


    ¡°Do you know the sex of the baby?¡± Nichole asked again.


    ¡°It¡¯s too early to know now¡± I answer her even though I didn¡¯t give a damn about her but maybe if Noah sees that I¡¯m tolerating Nichole he could talk to me finally.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°O so isn¡¯t it too early to start buying baby things?¡± she asked and I just wanted to facepalm.


    ¡°We have a lot of things to buy. Things that aren¡¯t gender selective¡± I exin and she just nods.


    When Liliana set my food before me I was no longer in the mood to talk to Noah because so far I haven¡¯t been able to get anything out of him. And these hormones are messing with my mind. One moment I¡¯m happy and the next I don¡¯t feel like doing anything but crying. And thest thing I want is for Nichole to see me cry.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be an aunty soon¡± Nichole cooed to herself and I just could not stand her. Soon my soul was so nd in my mouth. ¡°I will be called aunty Coco and that is where my limits can go.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired I will go in first,¡± I say stretching for effects.


    ¡°Good night,¡± Nichole said in an overly chipping voice.


    ¡°Good night,¡± I say before pushing myself out of the room to the master bedroom. Even though I can¡¯t really stand Noah. I will give Nichole nothing to gain grounds on. I will stay here even though I feel sad about myself.


    I¡¯m doing this so my baby can have a good life and experience a happy family. Only for my

 28

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    I get inside the room and switch on the light I go into the closet and check for afortable shirt of Noah that I can wear. I see a casual tee shirt. I slid out of my clothes and put on the shirt. I fold my clothes neatly and put them in a corner of the room. I tie my hair in a pony tail and try to wipe my face free of makeup using water. I was up and got into the bed. As I pull the covers the door opens.


    Noah stands at the door looking at me. He doesn¡¯t move. He just looks at me like I¡¯m not supposed to be here.


    ¡°Good night Noah¡± Nichole¡¯s voice came as she made her way down the hall.


    ¡°Good night¡± Noah called after her before closing the door behind him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked me in a kind of rude way.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this my room?¡± I ask him and he looks at me confused. ¡°I mean married couples sleep in the same room so why don¡¯t we?¡± I ask although I know that I caused us not to sleep in the same room.


    ¡°That is not my fault,¡± he said as if reading my mind.


    ¡°I know and that is why I¡¯m back,¡± I say and he frowns.


    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± he asked me and I looked at him weirdly even though I knew that my look wasn¡¯t all thatfortable.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I ask him.


    ¡°For a whole week you had your dinner separately and for the same week you slept separately but today you came in here. What is going on?¡± he asked again. He hadn¡¯t moved from the door and he was standing there obviously tired from the day¡¯s work.


    ¡°Juste to bed we will talk about this tomorrow,¡± I said trying to pull the covers well. I saw that he was still standing there not moving. ¡°Come on,¡± I said standing up and going to him.


    ¡°This is my shirt¡± he pointed out when I stopped in front of him.


    ¡°Yes, it is¡± I answered and I saw the look on his face which made me adjust. ¡°Can I wear it?¡± I ask feeling ufortable. I should have asked him first.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said following me in. ¡°Go to sleep. I will change and join youter¡± he said walking towards the washroom.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Iy down on the bed waiting for him toe but I must have been very tired because I didn¡¯t know when I fell asleep.


    By the time I had woken up, Noah had left for work and he hadn¡¯t bothered to wake me up so I went down to have my breakfast. Pat was on duty today as she cleaned the insides of the house. She was so busy humming a tune that she didn¡¯t see me enter the room.


    ¡°Having a lovely morning¡± I said as audible as I could get because suddenly my throat was all constricted. Her head whipped around and she saw me standing there a smile stretched on her face.


    ¡°O my God, you startled me,¡± she said putting a hand on her chest but the smile never left her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say not actually being sorry. Although Noah and his best friend are driving me crazy. The staff are keeping me sane. Even Ben the driver makes more sense than those two. ¡°Has Nichole gone out?¡± I ask and she nods.


    ¡°She went out with Noah early,¡± she said to me and then went back to cleaning.


    ¡°Tell Ben to bring the car around,¡± I say turning around to get back to the room.


    ¡°What of breakfast?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m skipping today,¡± I say and she looks at me like I¡¯ve grown two heads. I know that Noah had told them to make sure I eat and she is having an internal battle on if she should listen to Noah or me.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine still full from yesterday¡± I say trying to assure her that I¡¯m okay.


    ¡°You barely ate yesterday,¡± she said. I looked at her weirdly. She wasn¡¯t on duty yesterday. ¡°Liliana told me¡± she rified and I nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say moving away from her.


    ¡°Ben¡± I heard her screaming as soon as I climbed up.


    ¡°What the actual hell are you screaming about?¡± he screamed back and I¡¯m actually suspecting the both of them. They are probably in love but won¡¯t admit it to each other.


    I dress quickly and get downstairs. I pick up an apple just to satisfy the watchful eyes of Pat. She nodded at me and I went out to the car.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Ben asked when he opened the door to the back seat for me.


    ¡°Noah¡¯s office,¡± I said without missing a beat. He looked at me and then went to the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°We have arrived,¡± Ben said when he drove into aplex. I gave him a smile when he opened the door for me.


    ¡°Thank you, Ben,¡± I say.


    ¡°I will hang around in case you need a ride back home,¡± he said and I just nodded at him. I walk inside the reception and a tiny girl greets me. She doesn¡¯t seem rude as she looks at me. She just looks like a normal girl who wants a job and now has a job.


    ¡°Good morning, how can I help you?¡± she asked in a very professional voice.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I say giving her a smile. ¡°I¡¯m here to see me. Lorraine¡± I tell her. Her eyes run up and down at me before she picks up the telephone.


    ¡°Front desk,¡± she said into the phone before listening. ¡°One¡­¡± she looked at me for my name. ¡®Rachel¡¯ I muttered to her. ¡°Rachel is here to see me. Lorraine¡± ¡°Okay I will let her in,¡± she said then dropped the phone.


    She turned to me. ¡°Take that elevator to the top floor, not the roof,¡± she said so politely. I felt like rewarding her but had nothing to do so.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said making my way to the elevator. I took it up and I met my worst night mare.


    Nichole was his secretary sitting right outside his door.

 29

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Nichole said chewing gum so annoyingly.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to see Noah,¡± I say ignoring her annoying existence.


    ¡°Noah is in a meeting,¡± she said making sounds with the gum in her mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s urgent,¡± I say even though I have nothing in particr to tell Noah. I now have a reason to be here. Nichole is his secretary and it never urred to him to tell me.


    ¡°You can go in,¡± she said picking a nail file from the desk and filling her nails. I ignored her and went in the door.


    When I opened the door I saw Noah sitting there his face deeply buried in the papers before him. He hadn¡¯t noticed me. I closed the door gently and walked to his table. I cleared my throat and he looked at me.


    ¡°Hey,¡± I say nervously.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked so rudely it hurt my feelings.


    ¡°I came to see you and see if you would love to go out with me for lunch,¡± I say taking a seat by the table.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°He looked at me and then looked back at his work. ¡°I¡¯m really busy. I don¡¯t think I can have lunch today¡± he was trying to blow me off.


    ¡°Okay then, why didn¡¯t you tell me that Nichole was your secretary?¡± I ask him and his eyes snap to me.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that I have to tell you all about me,¡± he said and I still pretended like he wasn¡¯t already acting like a serious jerk.


    ¡°Nichole is your ex. I think I must know what she is doing with my husband¡± I said stressing the part I said, husband.


    ¡°What do you care¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Why is she here?¡± I asked rudely when it dawned on me that being nice wouldn¡¯t bring me any solutions.


    ¡°My other secretary had to go and Nichole said she would fill in till I find another one¡± he answered me.


    ¡°When will you find another one?¡± I asked and he looked at me but my expression told him I was damn serious and I wanted answers.


    ¡°In a few days,¡± he said. Nichole was supposed to stay for a few days. She had stayed for over a week now.


    ¡°Okay, I will head home since my purpose has been defeated,¡± I say standing up. ¡°Have someone bring you lunch¡± I say suddenly and his eyes snap to me.


    ¡°I will,¡± he said with confusion evident on his face. I saw it but didn¡¯t bother to rify because I was pissed.


    ¡°Bye,¡± I said opening the door. As soon as I stepped outside Nichole was standing there.


    ¡°I will get him some lunch you don¡¯t need to bother,¡± she said smirking at me.


    ¡°Please get him some lunch that has fiber,¡± I say giving orders like she was my ve. Her smirk quickly dropped and turned into a sour expression. ¡°And get my husband some soda for energy,¡± I say and she res at me when the word husband leaves my mouth. ¡°Bye,¡± I say leaving her with her mouth hanging open.


    I get downstairs and ask Ben to take me home. I think along the way. Why do I keep fighting for Noah? Is it because my mom said I should or is it because of an entirely different reason?


    He treated me badly like I wasn¡¯t a human being. Who would like their husband¡¯s ex to live in the same house with them? I bring out my phone and text the lifesavers I have the girls.


    I got home and decided to take Cynthia¡¯s advice and be good. Maybe Noah will finally see the butch in her. It doesn¡¯t seem like a very easy exnation but it is the best I can do.


    I tell Pat that I will be doing the cool no today and she looks at me weirdly.


    ¡°I can cook,¡± I say.


    ¡°It¡¯s my job¡± she answers.


    ¡°And I¡¯m bored of being kept here all day. I have work you know?¡± I tell her and she smirks. ¡°You can hang around to learn something new,¡± I say and she justughs.


    ¡°I sure will,¡± she says and then helps me to prepare the ingredients for Chinese food. The cooking was not all easy because with each step I took Pat reminded me that I was pregnant and I needed to calm down. When I was done and it was close to dinner time I asked Pat to set the table before I went to the room.


    I had asked Liliana to move my things back to Noah¡¯s room¡­ Well, our room¡­ I took out a simple maternity dress that made me look fat but it was the mostfortable item ever.


    I had a bath not soaking myself in the tempting bathtub. I stood in the shower and washed the day¡¯s stress away. I then came out with a towel wrapped around my chest to see Noah standing there. His shirt and hands are on the belt.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I say turning around quickly. His chest was well-defined. He wasn¡¯t the gym type but he had to be because of the nature of his job. He didn¡¯t look like a macho man he just looked perfect. Perfect? What the hell was I thinking about him?


    I heard a cough and I was well aware now that I was the one to be shy I was barely covered. Because of the baby bump my towel was barely passing my ass and I was facing him like that. I turn to face him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say before entering the closet and shutting the door. I calmed my breathing what the hell was wrong with me? Noah meant nothing to me. I¡¯m just here because of you baby. I touch the baby bump.


    I dress slowly and I get out to find my hand dryer. I plug it in and sit and blow my hair before packing it in a ponytail. I check myself in the mirror and I see that I have be very fat now. I was gaining weight each day.


    I heard the door handle of the bathroom door rattle and I decided to go out before I had to face Noah again. I get downstairs and see that Pat has set the table for the three of us. The food was in the dishes covered.


    I have to sit at dinner with Nichole to convince him that I¡¯m not really as bad as he paints me to be. I can do this. ¡°For you baby¡± I whisper touching the bump.

 30

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    We are all sitting in the dining room apart from each other as if we were at a business meeting. Noah was gently munching on the food. I need a conversation starter.


    ¡°How was the office today?¡± I ask Noah but his eyes never leave the te of rice in his front.


    ¡°It was lovely I had a very nice day today didn¡¯t we Noah?¡± Nichole asked smirking.


    The next words were even a surprise to me that I could put up such an act. ¡°Wow, then I need a new work because my husband and best friend had a st today,¡± I say trying as much as possible to make sure my smile seems real.


    Noah looks up at me for a split second before looking back down. I could tell that Nichole expected me to be sad about her and Noah but I am going to be mature about it.


    ¡°Liliana really did it well with this food today,¡± Nichole said changing the topic. I wanted to correct her that Pat was in duty not Liliana but she was like talking to a brick wall. ¡°Don¡¯t you think so Noah?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It is nice¡± Noah spoke finally what I had been trying to make him do. It¡¯s obvious I¡¯m nothing to him. Why didn¡¯t I listen to my mom? Why didn¡¯t I just be a single mom with her baby¡¯s daddy somewhere else? I feel so frustrated. Nichole¡¯s smirk was so victorious and I knew the underlined meaning in her smirk. She could get Noah to do what I could get him to do even though I was married to him.


    ¡°Is it?¡± I ask preparing myself to tell them I made it.


    ¡°Yes it¡¯s extremely marvelous,¡± Nichole said and took another spoonful of the rice in her front. It was fried rice and some chicken.


    ¡°That¡¯s because Mrs. Lorraine made it,¡± Pat said bringing in the chocte pudding for dessert.


    Nichole¡¯s spoon stopped halfway through the air.


    ¡°Stop joking around Liliana,¡± Nichole said to her.


    ¡°It¡¯s Pat and I¡¯m not joking,¡± Pat told her and she frowned.


    ¡°Whatever Pat. You can clear that table I¡¯m no longer hungry anymore¡± Nichole said.


    ¡°But you were enjoying the meal a little while ago,¡± Pat said mockingly and Nichole became red.


    ¡°Noah good night. I have had a hectic day. See you tomorrow¡± she said with a wink before pushing herself off the table and out of the room.


    What did that wink mean? Are they having something together? Are they probably having an affair? Doesn¡¯t she have her own boyfriend? These thoughts are making me sick.


    Noah suddenly drank some water forgetting dessert and left the room as quickly behind Nichole as possible.


    ¡°Pat clean up I am going to bed,¡± I tell her and she hands me an encouraging smile.


    ¡°Good night ma¡¯am¡± she calls after me.


    I climb the stairs as gently as possible and get up. I hear the voices of Noah and Nichole. I follow it there and I see them sitting on a bench outside there talking Noah was actually smiling with her. Why the hell are you still here? I scream internally. I make a show of hitting things on my way as I go to the room. I have to talk to Noah this night so no matter what I am going to have to stay awake even though the baby wants rest.


    Finally, after some time I hear his footsteps some closer and he enters the door. He sees me sitting on the couch in the corner. He turns and gets into his pajamas. He mumbled and then climbed into bed without even a word to me and he was just chatting so happily with Nichole a few minutes ago.


    I walk up to him and hit him slightly on the hand. This gave me a Deja Vu feeling when I found myself awake on a simr bed with him. ¡°Noah¡± I finally speak after staring at him like a freak that I am.


    He turns to me blue orbs staring at me. ¡°We need to talk,¡± I say when he finds me standing there.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m really tired can we talk tomorrow?¡± he asked cutely.


    ¡°You can spare a few minutes for me. You were chatting happily with Nichole just a few moments ago and now you are tired?¡± I say in an exasperated tone that causes his eyes to widen.


    ¡°We were speaking about work,¡± he said trying to get up from the bed.


    ¡°And we have to talk about our lives and the baby,¡± I say. He looks at me and hesitates for some time before sitting up and staring at me.


    ¡°Make it quick,¡± he said looking away.


    ¡°What are we doing?¡± I asked him and he furrowed his eyebrows.


    ¡°Living?¡± he answered in a question form again.


    ¡°Noah, you ignore me like a gue and you think it¡¯s very nice for you to talk to your ex like you feel and you let her live I¡¯m your house and let her work for you?¡± I say with some much need to let him know what I¡¯m feeling right now. ¡°You treat me like I¡¯m nobody since we came back from the wedding g I have been a stranger. If you were going to treat me like I didn¡¯t exist then why did you suggest marriage to me¡± I cry out. ¡°And why did I ept¡± I say mumbling mostly to myself. He wasn¡¯t speaking.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say anything?¡± I asked frustrated at his attitude towards me right now.


    ¡°Rachael, I¡¯m sorry if you feel that I have been ignoring you I have been very busy but I wasn¡¯t the one that started the ignoring game,¡± he said and I looked at him he was right. I got angry at him for his rudeness and left from there.


    ¡°You were too rude to me,¡± I say and he nods.


    ¡°Yeah I¡¯m sorry about that,¡± he says. ¡°We will make it work for the baby,¡± he said cing his hand on my tummy. Everything was all good but it was better than where we were yesterday.


    ¡°For the baby,¡± I say putting my hands on his. It felt right there.

 31

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    The light streaming through the window enter my eyes as I open it slowly. I squint my eyes and focus it. Noah was standing there in a towel around his waist. He was applying lotions to his chest and his legs. He dropped the bottle and his towel dropped.


    I covered my eyes with the nket and closed my eyes. He was not doing that. He could at least be decent right? He knew I was here was he doing it on purpose?


    I look upter and it is safe to look as he has his pants on. He goes to closets and brings out a blue shirt and a ck jacket to match the pants he had on.


    There was a knock on the door and Noah answered it.


    ¡°Good morning¡± the over happy voice said and I wanted to just die. It was a happy morning until she came here.


    ¡°Morning Coco¡± he said and I wanted to choke. He calls her nick name.


    ¡°Hurry we will bete¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯ming, I just need to talk to Rachael. When he said that my eyes snapped shut and I tried to slow my breaths just like we did when we were young to trick our parents that we were asleep when we were in fact watching a movie.


    ¡°I know you are awake sweets¡± he said in my ear. Sweets? It¡¯s been so long I heard that. ¡°I am going to work, since you were so desperate for a lunch with me yesterday I will have Ben drop you off at my office at noon. Don¡¯t bete¡± he said his breath lingering in my ear.


    ¡°If you arete I will just go out with Coco¡± he said in a teasing tone. He called her Coco just because he knew I was awake? I smiled when I felt his lips on my fore head. I only opened my eyes when I heard the door shut.


    When I was sure they were already downstairs I got up and started doing a happy dance. Things were okay with us again.


    I take a shower because I want to smell and feel fresh. It¡¯s like a date. He asked me and gave me a forehead kiss. Why was I so happy? I don¡¯t know it is just amon lunch and a forehead kiss why am I so hyped about it?


    Because no matter how you deny it you are starting to fall in love with Noah.


    My mind told me boldly. No I can not be in love can I? Ugh I¡¯m so confused already. When I¡¯m done contemting in the shower. I get outside and dry my hair with the air blower. I try something different with my hair today other than the normal pony tail I have. I try to braid my hair down but it doesn¡¯t look like what I want. It will look too much and like an effort I put in. An obvious effort.


    So I go with my normal pony tail but I make it well tied and neat. I then put up some makeup trying as much as possible to make it as minimal as possible.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I check out my clothes most things aren¡¯t fitting me again because I¡¯m getting bigger and my clothes can¡¯t fit any more. I need more clothes. I finally settle for one nice dress that Ana sent to me a some days ago. It¡¯s supposed to go all the way above the knees but it reaches mid thigh now and I¡¯m not even big yet. Just four months along.


    I get down and take an apple avoiding the watchful eyes of Liliana again. I walk out to see Ben standing there waiting for me.


    ¡°Good morning Mrs. Lorraine¡± Ben said when he saw me approaching him.


    ¡°Good morning Ben¡± I say giving him a smile. He opens the door for me and I enter inside. ¡°Thank you¡± I say when he too slides into the front seat.


    ¡°You are wee¡± he said smiling.


    ¡°Are you dating anyone?¡± I ask out of blue although I think that he might be into Pat.


    ¡°No ma¡¯am¡± he said clearing his throat awkwardly.


    ¡°Why?¡± I ask not that I find it strange or anything. Aaron never dated anyone and he still isn¡¯t seeing anyone. We are getting afraid that he may die virgin because he is a guy are guys even virgins? but not the point. Pat and Ben are totally good together.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t found the right girl yet¡± he said and I frowned at him. ¡°I have met many girls but non of them have been a special someone¡± he exins further.


    ¡°No one?¡± I ask him and he just nods. ¡°Even Patrica?¡± I ask obviously fed up and knowing that I have a bad approach but maybe I will actually get what I want.


    ¡°Pat?¡± he asked and I nodded. ¡°She is a special friend to me. We were employed at the same time. We worked for Mr. Lorraine mom but then she packed up from the mansion when her husband died and went to live in a small house with Katy¡± he said and I feel so sad right now. ¡°She wanted to let us go but we were part of the people Noah retained apart from those that are in her small house now¡± he finished.


    ¡°Wow¡± I say as I take all that in.


    ¡°It¡¯s not in my ce to even say such things I¡¯m so sorry I¡¯m rambling. It happens anytime I am asked to talk about my love life¡± he confessed.


    ¡°You know from what I have gathered you only ramble when it is about some one you like¡± I say remembering Eileen and Jacob. He was a rambling machine at that time.


    ¡°You think I like Pat?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Only you can answer the question¡± I said as he pulled into thepany gates. He dropped me at the door before driving off to park some where.


    I walk straight to the receptionist I met yesterday. She recognized me and gave me a smile.


    ¡°You are here to see Mr. Lorraine right?¡± she asked me and I nodded. ¡°Same way¡± she said referring to when I came yesterday.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± I say waiting for her to give me her name.


    ¡°Mara¡± she said smiling.


    ¡°Thank you Mara¡± I say and she smiles.


    I walk up stairs to see Nichole tapping away in her phone. I clear my throat and she looks up to see me.


    ¡°What do we have here?¡± she said smirking. ¡°Really desperate¡± shemented.


    ¡°I¡¯m going in to see Noah¡± I say ignoring her existence and entering the office. Today when the door opened her saw me and smiled. He used his hand to beckon on me toe. I moved closer and stood so the table was separating us.


    ¡°Rachael¡± he said and I so smiled.


    ¡°I came!¡± I say excited. Was this a date?

 32

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Give me a few minutes to wrap up what I¡¯m doing I will be with you now,¡± he said. I nodded and took a seat on the couch. The room was big enough I liked it here. Yesterday when I was here I didn¡¯t take note of the room but now I appreciate it.


    ¡°We can go now,¡± Noah said standing up from the chair and stretching. I stood up too and stretched. He took his cell phone and slipped it in his pocket before dialing on the telephone in his front. ¡°Mara tell Ben to bring the car around¡±


    ¡°Yes sir¡± she answered her voice chipping.


    ¡°And tell him I will be driving us,¡± he said and my eyes widened. He cut the call and came to me leading me outside. Nichole stood up when she saw Noah standing up.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading out for lunch now. Take some time off and have lunch yourself¡± Noah said taking my hands in his.


    ¡°You have a meeting right now,¡± she told him and he frowned.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I remember my schedule well¡± Noah said. She looked agitated. I know what is going on she doesn¡¯t want me to spend time with Noah today.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I mistake it for your schedule tomorrow¡± she said picking up her notepad.


    ¡°Thank you, Nichole. We will leave first and we will head home afterward. So have lunch and go home¡± he said taking my hand. When I turned back to see Nichole¡¯s face the scowl she had on her face wanted something that I wanted to talk about. She looked as if I was taking something of hers.


    Noah collected the key from Ben. ¡°You can take the remaining day off,¡± he said to him. Ben looked stunned and nodded before going out from us.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I ask him when he opens the passenger seat in front for me.


    ¡°You will see,¡± he said reaching to pull the seat belt over me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like surprises,¡± I say in a teasing tone. He rounded the front of the car and came to the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a surprise¡­¡± he started.


    ¡°So where?¡± I asked eagerly.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not telling you¡± he finished and I frowned and rested my back well. ¡°Never knew you could cook well,¡± he said and Iughed at him.


    ¡°What do you think we do in the catering house?¡± I ask him wondering so well.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, you are the potential owner of Bloom Catering,¡± he said and I just looked at him.


    ¡°Are you that forgetful?¡± I asked surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯m not forgetful,¡± he said defending himself. ¡°I just¡­.¡± he trailed off.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t remember? Forgot?¡± I say giving him options.


    ¡°It skipped my mind¡± he corrected me and Iughed a little. ¡°Yourughter has a sweet tone,¡± he said and my insides were jelly.


    ¡°Thank you but I don¡¯t know what yours sounds like,¡± I say trying to act as normal as possible. What he just said didn¡¯t affect me. Or did it?


    ¡°I don¡¯tugh,¡± he said with a serious face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want my baby to grow up with a nonughing dad,¡± I said and he smiled at me.


    He came to a traffic light and stopped. He turned to me and bent his head to my stomach level.


    ¡°Hey baby¡± he whispered. ¡°Mom wants me tough so should I?¡± he asked and I felt a small nudge.


    ¡°I will take that as a yes baby,¡± I say my hands touching it. ¡°Noah light,¡± I said and he got back up. He drove and we talked although nothing important. We talked about Jacob and Eileen¡¯s wedding that ising up. He parked in the parking lot of a hotel. I looked up to see Woodley hotels.


    ¡°This is the first ce we met,¡± he said exining as if clearing my doubts but why are we here?


    ¡°I know that but why are we here?¡± I ask him and he smiles.


    ¡°Good question,¡± he said opening his door. ¡°Come you will see,¡± Noah told me to sit while he went to talk with thedy at the front desk. After a while, he led us(well practically only me but who cares?) to a room. I stopped at the door my leg glued and unmovable.


    ¡°What are we doing here?¡± I ask gently trying very hard not to attract the attention of the people in the busy hallway. Why is it even busy now?


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in and we can talk,¡± he said giving me a look I couldn¡¯t really interpret. ¡°We can¡¯t talk here¡± he finally said and my brain gave my legs the will to move. We entered the room and he locked it from inside.


    I must say it is a very nice room. Executives room. Me like but why am I here?


    ¡°As to why you are here¡± Noah started before I could ask him. It was as if he was reading my thoughts.


    ¡°Did I say that out loud?¡± I asked him and he looked confused.


    ¡°You asked me in the hallway,¡± he said and I nodded.


    ¡°Yeah that is true,¡± I say clearing my throat awkwardly. ¡°So why are we here?¡± I ask and he proceeds to remove His suit jacket and put it on the couch before taking a seat. He patted the spit beside him for me to sit. I sat down leaving a reasonable distance between us. Not too small. Not too much.


    ¡°So I noticed you don¡¯t exactly like living with Nichole in the same house so I decided to give you some privacy,¡± he said and I smiled. This was sweet. He was considerate (awfully).


    ¡°Then what are you doing here?¡± I ask him jokingly and he smiles a little.


    ¡°You don¡¯t expect me to leave my pregnant wife all alone here in a hotel room do you?¡± he asked. I was sending down humor there.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child¡± I murmur trying to carry on with the joke.


    ¡°Then I will just go and stay with Nichole at home. I¡¯m sure she will appreciate the effort¡± he said making more to stand up. My hands flew to his.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go¡± I say meekly and he smirks.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± he asks as if he has a hearing problem.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go¡± I yell and he nods sitting back down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I will never leave you all alone¡± he said seriously.


    ¡°Is that a promise?¡± I whispered to him as he stared at me.


    ¡°A promise I intend to keep¡± he replied looking at me and I was officially dead with Noah. He just does sweet things out of impulse or nature. Is he wired like that? Or is he trying to be sweet to me?


    ¡°Better keep that promise,¡± I say going closer toy my head on his chest.


    ¡°O I will,¡± he said and I smiled.


    And truly it was a dateAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

 33

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    As we entered into the house, Nichole was standing there pacing the room looking all worried. She turned just in time when the door jammed and clicked and she looked at us.


    ¡°Where have you been¡± she said in obvious worry rushing to Noah. She looked at him up and down frantically.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said trying to brush it off. It was nothing just couples spending time together. A night actually and the way he held me throughout the night. Maybe it was a little big deal.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t been picking up your calls, I was so worried that something bad had happened to you,¡± she said her hands now creepily touching him. I frowned at her but I still stayed quiet.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, we just slept out,¡± he said and I could feel myself blushing. Her eyebrows rose quickly like a sh of light. ¡°We were out and now we are back,¡± he said with a smile.


    ¡°O¡± was all she could manage herself to say to him. He looked at her unsure of what she was implying although I already knew what she was implying.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go get ready, I have a doctor¡¯s appointment,¡± I say and finally Nichole¡¯s eyes fall on me.


    ¡°I will take you there¡± Noah offered with a smile thrown in my direction.


    ¡°I will have Ben drop me. I know you have work and all¡± I say dismissing the thought. I wanted to spend time with him but I didn¡¯t want him to get the impression that I already liked him.


    ¡°I will drop you off it¡¯s no big deal¡± he retorted at me when I made a move to go.


    ¡°I can handle it,¡± I say and he frowns.


    ¡°And you have a meeting in the next hour,¡± Nichole said and Noah finally tore his gaze from me to look at her.


    ¡°With?¡± he questioned slightly irritated.


    ¡°The board members. You said to prepare a meeting with them¡± she answered and his growth increased.


    ¡°Okay you go get ready and I will drop you along the way and have Ben drop you home,¡± he said still insisting.


    ¡°If you insist,¡± I said trying to y it off. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± I said before going to stand at the other side of the door. Nichole will have a reason why what he had done is a wrong idea. Yeah, I know what you think. Such a bother.


    ¡°I was worried sickst night¡± her voice rang in the air.


    ¡°I was fine. In good hands actually¡± he replied and the heat rose to my cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s just that we don¡¯t have time to get together as a couple so I decide to do this for her,¡± he says and my insides flip over and over again.


    ¡°Just please next time don¡¯t have me so worried,¡± she said. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like her and you loved me,¡± she said and now anger ran through my veins. How dare she?


    ¡°How is Jaden?¡± Noah asked and I heard a sharp intake of breath from her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, we broke up,¡± she said.


    ¡°Why?¡± Noah asked her and I won¡¯t see her but in my mind, I felt she was making a seductive movement.


    ¡°Because I discovered that I¡¯m still in love with you,¡± Nichole said.


    ¡°I better go get ready for the meeting,¡± Noah said and then I ran to the room and entered the bathroom.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    When I had stripped off my clothes I heard Noahe in.


    ¡°Sweets aren¡¯t you done bathing?¡± he asked banging his fist on the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost done¡± I yelled over the running water. I took a quick shower and then I discovered that the bathrobe wasn¡¯t there and I had run in without a towel.


    ¡°Noah¡± I call when I switch the tap off.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he shouted back.


    ¡°Can I get a towel?¡± I told him feeling shy already.


    ¡°A towel?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°I need something to cover up,¡± I say timidly.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take anything in with you?¡± he questioned footstepsing closer to the door. He knocked and I was grateful. I opened the door slightly and stuck my hand out.


    His hand held mine firmly. ¡°There is nothing to be shy of I have seen it all¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Noah¡± I whispered yelled and heughed.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said giving me the towel. I collected it and closed the door. I tied it on myself and got out. He was standing there with only boxers hanging dangerously low on his waist. I avoided his eyes, heughed lowly and entered the bathroom. I went into the closet to pick out what to wear. I do normal makeup with powder and normal lipstick.


    Noah came out and entered the closet to pick up his suit and a shirt he got dressed and we were ready to go.


    When he dropped me off at the hospital and sped off to his meeting. After my appointment, I got back home. I see Jaden standing outside. I walk up to him and he smiles at me.


    ¡°Hello?¡± I say in question form and he takes a step closer to me. I see Ben from my peripheral vision stepping forward. I signal him silently to stop.


    ¡°Can I talk to you?¡± he asked. ¡°Inside¡± he added after a while.


    ¡°Come in,¡± I say and lead inside. He sat down and I asked Pat to bring some coffee for him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to take up your time,¡± he said when Pat put down the tray.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I say. ¡°I¡¯m bored anyway¡± I murmur under my breath.


    ¡°Does Nichole live here?¡± he asked and I sucked a deep breath nodding. ¡°She still loves him¡± he murmured.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°She just broke up with me,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± I ask him.


    ¡°She wants to break you guys up so that so cane back to Noah,¡± he said stating the obvious that I already knew.


    ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know, ¡± I said faking a yawn.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, ¡± he said as if annoyed that I didn¡¯t take him seriously.


    ¡°I know, ¡± I say again and he frowns

 34

    ? It Was One Night Only.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    I was propping some strawberries in my mouth as I sat down with Pat as she made dinner for us. Much to my dismay, Noah had told them not to allow me to cook.


    ¡°Do you think my cooking was bad?¡± I ask voicing out my thoughts on why Noah won¡¯t want me to cook again.


    ¡°Your cooking was marvelous,¡± Pat said slicing some onions that made her tear up.


    ¡°Dip the onion in water regrly it will prevent its tearing-up effect,¡± I say and she nods getting herself a bowl of water.


    ¡°So why doesn¡¯t he want me to cook again?¡± I asked Pat for the eighteen times in ten minutes. I see her rolling her eyes with a smile stretching her lips.


    ¡°You have to ask him yourself then¡± shements offhand. She washes the knife and goes on to cut the carrots and some cucumber. She was making a sd because of me and I was in no mood for sd.


    ¡°Urghh,¡± I say feeling slightly more frustrated than I should.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go freshen up?¡± Pat suggests.


    ¡°Are you trying to get rid of me?¡± I gasp with fake hurt putting my hand on my chest and pouting my lips.


    ¡°I will ship you to ska if I have to,¡± Pat said following the trend I created.


    ¡°I prefer the USSR,¡± I say and she frowns. ¡°I¡¯m going anyway,¡± I say standing up.


    ¡°That¡¯s too far away¡± shements and I sigh.


    ¡°Going to freshen up,¡± I say and get inside. I slip off my clothes and have a long nice dip in the bathtub. I felt myself dozing away when the door of the room opened and closed. I washed down and got out of the bathtub. I looked at myself in the mirror and my skin had turned white. I sigh and go out. I expected to see Pat standing there waiting to deliver a message to me but I saw no one.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange¡± I murmur to myself and since there is no one here. I drop the towel on myself and drop it to the bed. I walk into the closet very naked only for me to be confronted by a very confused-looking Noah.


    For a split second, my brain didn¡¯t register to me that I was naked before Noah until he turned away. I quickly walked out of the room and slipped on my towel again. Embarrassment flooded me. What was I thinking?


    Noah came out of the closet and I could still see the way his body was tense.


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± I say in a pleading tone. His eyese closer to mine in a kind of way.


    ¡°Are you really sorry?¡± he askeding closer to me. I want to take steps back like they do in a movie but damn my luck. My legs were already at the end of the bed.


    I gulp and he still has this dark look in his eyes as he walks towards me. Finally, he is in my front invading my privacy. He just stares at me. His breath I can feel just above my nose. I¡¯m so sure he can feel mine too.


    ¡°You just awoke something that had been sleeping for a very long time,¡± he said and I couldn¡¯t help my eyes that decided it was time to travel down his body and stop at his cock. My eyes widened when I saw the erection. ¡°Can you satisfy it?¡± he asked.


    How do I answer? Although I already like him. I want him to like me also before I can submit those needs to him. While I was still thinking. He crashed his lips on mine and kissed me with so much strength. I stood blinking like a fish that had just been brought out of the water. He groaned when I didn¡¯t respond and used his tongue to part my mouth.


    I caught myself and pushed him away slightly he got the memo and stepped back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said unaware of why I was sorry. ¡°We are married because of a child not because we love each other. I think these things should be shared among those who love each other¡± I say and he frowns.


    He clears his throat. ¡°I¡¯m not sorry in any way for trying to kiss you,¡± he said and walked to the bathroom direction.


    I decided that the room was too hot for me to stay. I got dressed quickly in a pair of maternity shorts and a baggy shirt. I pulled my hair in a ponytail and left the room quickly.


    I went to see Pat almost done with dinner. I wish to skip dinner so I won¡¯t have to sit for over half an hour with Noah, but then the baby needs some food. Nichole strolls in and has a sly look on her face. That look says trouble.


    ¡°How was your day?¡± I force myself to ask in a voice that sounds kind. Taken aback by my nice and warm wee she seemed lost for words.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have a wonderful day with Noah in the office today?¡± I ask her and she smiles and nods her head. ¡°I had a wonderful time with Jaden,¡± I said and her head snapped to me.


    ¡°Wow,¡± shemented. ¡°How can a married woman spend time with an unmarried man.¡± she tsked and I justughed at her.


    ¡°Coco,¡± I said and her face was fuming with the nickname I brought up. ¡°Jaden just came to ask when you wille home. You have been lying to your best friend. You left Jaden without any exnation and younded here. You guys moved in together when you started going out and there are no renovations going on at your former ce which is on lease, and this new ce which belongs to Jaden.¡± I say her eyes open wide.


    As she was about to say something Noah¡¯s voice disrupted hers. ¡°Is that true?¡± he asks and she looks as if she justnded herself in a whole lot of trouble.


    ¡°I can exin¡±


    ¡°I would like to hear that,¡± Noah said with a stern expression on his face. It wasn¡¯t part of the n for Noah to hear this but anything works for me.


    ¡°Well¡­. The thing is that I missed you a lot, you know the way we were so I decided toe to see you¡± she said and I shook my head at her pathetic excuse.


    ¡°I missed you too,¡± Noah said and my neck snapped to him. ¡®You have got to be kidding me¡± I murmur slightly to myself.


    ¡°You know the way we were before she came into our lives,¡± Nichole said eyeing me.


    ¡°You broke up with me,¡± Noah said and she nodded.


    ¡°I know that. I was going toe back but it was already toote by the time I wanted toe back¡± she said batting her eyshes.


    ¡°You are still with Jaden,¡± Noah said and I nodded at least he finally knocked himself with somemon sense.


    ¡°I will leave him if you can let mee back¡± I can¡¯t hide my disgust anymore.


    ¡°What happens to me?¡± I ask clearly asking Noah because mes me. Do I just forget that I got married?


    ¡°You guys can divorce each other. After all, Noah still loves me right?¡± she said facing him. He didn¡¯t answer. He looked away and that left a pain in my chest. ¡°And I love him,¡± she said taking steps towards him.


    ¡°Noah?¡± I say pleading silently with him to say at least a word so I can know what he feels about this.


    After a few minutes, he says nothing. I turn on my heels and run straight to the room. He said nothing. I might as well sign the divorce papers when he presents them.


    I sit on the bed bury my head in my hands and sob.


    Don¡¯t you feel so stupid for loving him? He was your first love but you were still as stupid as anything. Trusting him and loving thinking he will learn to love you too? What were you thinking Rachael?


    ¡°Rachael?¡± Noah said above me. When did hee in?

 35

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Are you crying?¡± Noah asked when I didn¡¯t speak for a while. He kept standing there waiting for me to speak. I wasn¡¯t going to speak to him. If he wished to divorce me I would willingly go because he doesn¡¯t love me. What is the use of staying here when he doesn¡¯t love me?


    My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a hand in my own that was covering my face. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± he whispered. He pulled my hands down from my face and I was able to see his face. His dark green eyes were a shade darker than normal.


    ¡°Leave me¡± I muttered and tried to push him away from myself. I struggled from his grip and he freed my hand. I cleaned my face from the tears. ¡°I want to go have dinner,¡± I say and he frowns. ¡°Can¡¯t I have dinner?¡± I say my voice rising by an octave.


    ¡°Rachael please hear me out¡± he pleads and I eye him.


    ¡°What else do you have to say about your ex living here and then telling you to divorce me?¡± I shout at him. He looks sad but I press. ¡°What did you say?¡± I ask him with disgust. ¡°Nothing right you just mopped. I know that we aren¡¯t married on the very best terms but that doesn¡¯t mean that you have to treat me anyhow¡± I say stopping for a moment to catch my breath. ¡°You may not be my Prince Charming but I have to say fate brought us together. The least you can do is respect me and the baby¡± I say this time with tears filling my whole face. ¡°Just go,¡± I say turning my face away from him.


    ¡°I know we aren¡¯t married because we love each other¡± he finally speaks. His voice is soft in contrast to the tone I had used with him. ¡°But we promised on the altar till death do us part,¡± he said and I frowned a sadugh escaping my mouth.


    ¡°What does that matter? We allter see that people divorce¡± I scoff at him.


    ¡°Not me Rachael. I promised and I want to keep that promise¡± he said and I just couldn¡¯t believe the lies he was brewing from inside him.


    ¡°Noah just leave,¡± I say more tears pooling my face.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°Since it seems that my other promise doesn¡¯t make sense. I¡¯m going to make another one¡± he said with heavy breaths. My eyes find his. His smile is sad but it sits on his face. He looks down and stands from his crouching position. He pulls me up with him.


    ¡°Noah¡± his name manages to leave my lips in a squeak.


    ¡°I promise to you today to never ever leave you alone expect death takes me away,¡± he says in a sigh. ¡°I promise to defend you from now on from my mom, family, and even ex. I promise to defend you from anything and anyone¡± he said and I nodded.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I ask barely hearing myself. He heard me because he still smiled and nodded.


    ¡°You have my word,¡± he said staring at me. I looked at him and then at the floor beneath us. I could feel his stare all over me. He jumped when a knock came on the door. He went towards the door to open it. I trailed behind him. Pat was standing there with a sad expression on her face.


    ¡°Mr. Lorraine,¡± she said when Noah looked at her. ¡°Your mom is here,¡± she said and then a pit was created in the deep of my stomach.


    Could this day get any worse my subconscious mind screams inside me. I heave a sigh and follow Noah as he makes his way down the stairs to his mom. Nichole was happily chatting with Mrs. Lorraine. The look she threw my way made me know I was still in her book of hatred.


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s sote what are you doing here?¡± Noah asked her hugging her while I just stood like I was out of ce. Out of ce in my husband¡¯s house?


    ¡°I came to see you and tell you and that thing you call a wife something,¡± she said with a sneer in her voice.


    ¡°Mom,¡± he said with a warning tone in his voice. She rolled her eyes and proceeded to sit down. Nichole still sat there with a smile on her face. I thought she wanted to tell the couple something.


    ¡°Nichole kindly excuse us,¡± Noah said when he saw she made no move. He held my hand so visibly that they could all see that he was with me. Nichole gave a deathly re before making her way upstairs.


    ¡°Nichole stays here?¡± Noah¡¯s mom started. I frowned at the topic direction.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Noah says with a frown. ¡°Focus,¡± he said and she just nodded.


    ¡°Noah you came to me a few days ago to ask why I don¡¯t like Rachael,¡± she said with a bacsh to my name. I was shocked she remembered my name.


    ¡°Yes Mom, and you said you would tell me in due time,¡± he said. ¡°You told me to be careful of her and that advice was the worst you have ever given me,¡± he says with disgust. That exins the cold shoulder.


    ¡°Well, a long time. About forty years ago, I had a person who I was supposed to marry. You know I loved him although he didn¡¯t really have an interest in me he learnt to amodate me and we grew to love each other.¡± she said taking a deep breath. ¡°That person was Jasper Mirchoff¡± she stated. I for one was eye wide. I don¡¯t know what she was talking about. ¡°Then Alice came along and then Jasper fell for her. She loved him back. I was ignored and Jasper started cheating on me and finally, she was pregnant for you¡± she said and then her eyes fell on me.


    ¡°What does this have to do with Rachael?¡± Noah asked.


    ¡°If she was never born then I would be married to someone who loves me,¡± she said with so much hate in her voice. ¡°And I never had that much problem with her until you brought her our way again. She trapped you the same way her mom trapped her father¡± she sneered. Tears streamed from my eyes. I felt so very bad at this.


    ¡°Mom stop. She didn¡¯t trap me. It was a mistake¡± Noah groaned at her.


    ¡°I want to believe her but I feel like it is a maniption,¡± she said. I wanted to talk but my voice only screamed in my head at her. It caused a very serious headache. I felt my head be so very light and then ckout. Thest thing I heard before my eyelids fell was my name leaving Noah¡¯s lips

 36

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    When my eyes finally willed themselves to open I felt a familiar presence beside me. Too familiar for words to describe. Although I had felt the warmth a few times it was still too familiar for me.


    I looked up only to be met by celling white mocking me. The walls are white. I gripped the bed sheets beneath me as I tried to stand up. Pain shot through my head as I made a way to sit down. Noah¡¯s hand gripped mine and helped me to sit.


    ¡°What am I doing here¡± I said or I thought I said. He smiled a warm smile and gave me some water for the hug. Until the sweet water touched my mouth I knew that I was very thirsty. ¡°What am I doing here?¡± I tried again. He smiled and sat down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember anything?¡± he asked with a sly expression.


    I shook my head but it was stopped when a very strong pain shot through my head. I held it in my hands and closed my eyes.


    ¡°You passed out yesterday evening,¡± he said and I opened my eyes.


    ¡°Because?¡± I asked conversations if yesterday flooding my mind but I wanted to be sure it wasn¡¯t a dream.


    ¡°My mom broke a very important news to us¡± he confirmed. I nodded slowly allowing the pain to overwhelm me.


    I was about to speak when I saw L, Leah, Cara, and Ana standing by the doorway.


    ¡°I¡¯m so d that you are okay,¡± Ana said as she made her way to us. A worried expression clouded all their faces.


    ¡°What happened to her?¡± Cara asked giving Noah a very serious look.


    ¡°She received a very bad news¡± he answered simply.


    ¡°How can you let that happen?¡± Cara said.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay Cara¡± I stopped her before she had the chance to actually murder the guy.


    ¡°You gave us a scare,¡± L said and I nodded understanding what they were hinting at.


    ¡°The baby?¡± Leah asked. It¡¯s a surprise she actually spoke.


    ¡°Good condition¡± Noah answered and we all sighed in relief.


    ¡°Noah you have got to stop¡­.¡± knowing where Cara was headed I stopped her by a pinch on the arm.


    ¡°Where are the remaining girls?¡± I ask them.


    ¡°Coming¡± Leah responds so simply.


    Later on, all the girls arrive. Anika, Anita, L, Riley, Debby, Jade, Harper, Cynthia, Casey, Reese and Tess.


    ¡°Nick and all the guys will swing by to see you this evening,¡± Ana told me looking up from her phone. The smile she had time me she had been chatting with Nick.


    ¡°Thanks, guys. I¡¯m so happy to see you all¡± I tell them.


    ¡°We are girls,¡± Cara says in a voice that makes me want to murder her but we allugh it off because who doesn¡¯t love Cara?


    The door opens slightly and I see my mom¡¯s head pop in. The girls greet my parents and take that as a cue to leave promising me a girl¡¯s night out very soon.


    My dad trails in quietly behind my mom. A sad look rests on each of their faces. The one on my mom¡¯s face looks as if she was caught with something illegal.


    ¡°How are you baby,¡± Mom said kissing the side of my head while giving me a bone crushing hug.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡± I murmur slightly. Dad just came around and squeezed my arm lightly not saying anything apart from the sad smile that rested on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Rachael,¡± my mom said and my eyes met hers. I took her features but I look mostly like my dad. Her brown eyes burned mine but that burn was so soft and delicate.


    ¡°For what mom?¡± I tried to sound not so rude. It wasn¡¯t their fault that I didn¡¯t know right?


    ¡°I should have told you about our history with Em¡± she breathed out.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°But we didn¡¯t want you guys worried about our past¡± my dad chipped in. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Em still hadn¡¯t forgotten all about it¡± he added. Noah sat still and quiet.


    ¡°Were you protecting me?¡± I ask him with slight irritation.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said answering with a monotone.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lie¡± I scream to him with the whole of my mind. ¡°She made my life a living hell. She insulted me and I was well unaware of what I did to her. She sent his ex to live with us just to separate us. She threatened his former secretary to resign and told Nichole to offer her help. Why did she do all this?¡± I ask with anger so deep inside me.


    ¡°Calm down¡± Noah finally spoke out holding my hands.


    ¡°She wanted desperately to hurt me because she knew it would get to you guys but I will have been with the greater share of pain¡± I scream at them.


    ¡°Rachael, we wille back when you calm down. We are sorry. We just thought we were doing the right thing all along. Please don¡¯t be angry with us. Calm down think about it and forgive uster. Don¡¯t take too much time¡± my mom said standing up.


    ¡°I will see you off,¡± Noah said standing up with my parents. I gave him a ¡®Are you kidding me¡¯ look and he replied with a ¡®give them a break¡¯ look. I sighed and turned in bed. A few minutester the door opened. I thought it was Noah so I didn¡¯t bother to check until I heard a voice.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± the voice sneered.


    ¡°What are you doing here¡± I sneered back knowing deep within me that Nichole was here for trouble.


    ¡°I came to see how you were and all I get is bacsh,¡± she said in a tone that told me she was still as stupid as yesterday.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you,¡± I say still not turning to face her.


    The door opened again and this time Noah stepped in. ¡°Noah¡± she chipped happily. You could hear the flirty way she called his name.


    ¡°Nichole you are here?¡± Noah said in surprise.


    ¡°Yes I came to see Rachael but she seems so very cold to me,¡± Nichole said.


    I turned to face her before she gave my husband a kiss and I was still in the same room as them.


    ¡°Be nice sweets¡± Noah said. I smiled remembering the endearment he used for me. I looked at Nichole telling her that I was slowly having this man to myself.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay long anyway. I¡¯m moving in with your mom. She said I could stay with her so I don¡¯t impose on you¡± Nichole said and Noah nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s very nice of her¡± Noahmented stiffly.


    ¡°Anyways, I brought this energy drink for you. I hope you enjoy it¡± she said putting the drink on the table.


    ¡°I will see you out,¡± he told her. He gave me a quick kiss on the head and then proceeded to go out.


    Thirsty as I feel and then suddenly craving the drink. I opened it and poured the bottle into the ss standing on the table. I took a huge gulp savouring how sweet it tasted. I took another gulp until the whole cup was draining.


    I heard Noah and Nichole still talking at the door. Feeling very strange I shouted. ¡°Noah¡± I screamed continuously until suddenly sleep seemed so very appealing so with an urge I closed my eyes and was pulled to dreand.

 37

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Noah¡¯s POV


    I hear Rachel call my name and it sounds loud at first. I think maybe I heard wrong until I heard her screams and then her a thud on the ground. I push open the door with Coco following behind me.


    I see Rachel lying on the floor with a ss in hand. I walk swiftly towards her. If she was so sleepy why did she not climb up to the bed?


    ¡°Rachel,¡± I say and when she did not respond I felt my heart skip a beat. I turned to Coco who raised an eyebrow to show me she was as confused as I was.


    ¡°Rachel?¡± I say again this time my voice form and stronger than before.


    I bend down beside her when she doesn¡¯t respond once more. I shake her but she does not shake. It was like shaking a log of wood.


    ¡°Rachel?¡± I say again this time I feel my voiceing out in a scream. I wanted her to open her eyes and say got you. I wanted her to say it was an borate prank.


    As my handnds on her skin, I feel how cold it is. ¡°Coco, can you call emergency services?¡± I scream out as I turn her to lie on her back.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Coco stammers out and runs to get her phone. Shees back to stand beside me and blinks hard.  ¡°What do you think could be wrong?¡± she asks as she taps away on her phone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but please hurry,¡± I tell her as I watch Rachel.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Why was she lying there looking lifeless when she had a baby living on the inside of her?


    ¡°Noah?¡± Coco says terrified.


    I look up at her and I see her standing there trembling with the phone in her hand.


    ¡°Coco, are you calling them?¡± I ask when I see that the phone is not to her ears.


    ¡°Noah,¡± she said again but this time with a squeak in her voice.


    ¡°Coco call them¡± I scream out when she keeps calling my name without saying anything.


    ¡°Blood,¡± she said pointing to Rachel¡¯s legs. I watch as blood flows from her legs down to the carpet.


    ¡°Rachel 911¡± I scream at her and wait for her toe back to earth.


    She looks lost and shakes greatly. I stand up and collect the phone from her hand and dial emergency services exining the little I know.


    I kept pacing the room hoping that she would she would be fine. I had no idea about anything rting to the human body so I could not even do a first aid if I had to.


    I nced at Coco who was sitting in the corner of the room crying her eyes out. I wanted to console her but I felt like I needed one myself too. Didn¡¯t blooding out from her vagina during pregnancy mean she might have lost it?


    I feel my hope gets renewed when I hear the siren st in the distance. I push myself out of the room and hurry to stand at the entrance so I can lead them in. The door to the back side of the ambnce opens and two men jump down with a scooter and follow me without a word.


    I watch them do something to Rachel before putting her on the stretcher and taking her downstairs.


    ¡°Someone needs toe with us,¡± one of the men says and I nod.


    ¡°I am her husband and I would go with her,¡± I say following them out. Nicholees out with us.


    She follows us to the ambnce and when she tries to get in one of the men stops her. ¡°Only one person can go with us,¡± he says and she stops.


    ¡°Just try and get yourself together. I am very sure that it is nothing serious and we will be back before you know it¡± I tell her.


    What I said was an encouragement to myself because I did not know what to do. I was so afraid that I wanted to run off so I don¡¯t face the situation.


    I stared at Rachel and one of the men spoke. ¡°She is in a light sleep, she will be woken up once we are in the hospital¡±


    ¡°Can we get there any faster?¡± I asked and one of the men nodded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡±


    I follow behind as they roll Rachel to the emergency room.


    ¡°Sir you would need to stay put here while we try what we can do to help her,¡± One of the nurses said closing the curtains to the bed she was put on.


    ¡°You cane this way, sir, I would help to fill out the admission form,¡± another nurse said pointing to the nurses station that was in the middle of the room.


    I nodded and followed her whole my eyes steadily turned to the bed she was put on.


    ¡°Please fill out this form,¡± she said dropping the form in front of me. I sigh and take up the one to begin filling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry sir, I am sure she would be fine¡± she adds when she sees my hesitation to fill out the registration form.


    ¡°She would be moved to a regr ward now so you cane in¡± the nurse I had met earlier said as she stood behind me.


    ¡°After youplete this,¡± the second nurse said and I nodded andpleted the form filling. I stood up and the first nurse led me to the private room.


    ¡°We can¡¯t lose her,  check her pulse¡± I hear from outside and this propels me to push open the door and rush toward her.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on doctor?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Mr Lorraine can you speak to her?¡± a nurse asks me.


    ¡°What do I say?¡± I ask in fear.


    ¡°Anything¡± she replies without looking up.


    I walk to Rachel and brush her hair down. ¡°You have done so well so far so please don¡¯t leave me here¡± I whisper as I feel my eyes well with tears.


    ¡°Ms. Eve can you exin the situation to Mr. Lorraine?¡± the doctor exined.


    The nurse who told me to talk to her walked to me and told me to step aside for a brief conversation.


    ¡°We tried our best to save both the mother and the babies but we could only save the mother,¡± the nurse said with her head bowed.


    ¡°Babies?¡± I asked shocked.


    ¡°Yes, she was carrying twins, we¡¯re you not aware?¡± she asked raising her head slightly.


    ¡°Stay with me¡± the doctor screamed again which made the nurse hurry from his front back to Rachel¡¯s side.


    ¡°Keep your eyes open Rachel¡± I manage to say as I see her eyes open and close.


    ¡°Her heartbeat is returning faster,¡± the doctor said after a while.


    I sighed in relief.

 38

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    ¡°Keep your eyes open Rachael¡± ¡°Check her pulse, feel it¡± ¡°How is she responding?¡± these and more I was hearing floating on the top of my head. I wanted to shoot open my eyes but the power to keep them closed was greater than the power to open them.


    ¡°Her heartbeat is returning faster¡± a voicemented and I heard a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Rachael,¡± Noah said shaking me slightly. I groaned loudly so he could know that I was so weak I couldn¡¯t stand.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°We will be back to check on her,¡± the doctor told Noah before leaving the room. I finally opened my eyes and I felt so tired. I cleared my throat preparing myself to sit upright.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked Noah as he sat down on the bed clutching tightly to my hand.


    ¡°I was so afraid. Never give me such a fright again¡± he murmurs into my palms. I say shocked at what is happening. After a few seconds, I try again.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I ask this time sounding better than I did.


    ¡°What do you remember?¡± he asks me.


    ¡°I drank some of the energy drink and boom I¡¯m here,¡± I said and he nodded. ¡°What happened?¡± I asked him and he shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you are okay¡± he murmurs again. I want to pull my hands from his grip and run it through his hair.


    ¡°What happened to me?¡± I asked him and he shook his head.


    ¡°Nothing much¡± hements. His quietness and stillness scare the crap out of me. I have no energy to argue with him so I agree. Iy back down. Closing my eyes for a few seconds. Suddenly I felt so odd myself.


    ¡°Something isn¡¯t right,¡± I say my eyes shooting open. ¡°Tell me what happened to me¡± I shout. Although my voicees out like a squeaky mouse.


    ¡°Rachael please be calm,¡± he says ignoring me and my rants about what is wrong with me.


    ¡°Did I pass out again?¡± I ask him. My head felt so heavy for my body.


    ¡°Yes, and this time¡­¡± he begins but then cuts himself short again.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I ask him as I divert my eyes.


    ¡°I guess I still have to tell you,¡± he says sucking a deep breath. Although my instincts are already whispering what is wrong, I just want to hear to believe.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I pester when he quietens again.


    ¡°The baby,¡± he said his voice small. ¡°Or rather the babies,¡± he said and my eyebrows quirked up.


    ¡°Babies?¡± I question feeling a little lost at what he was implying.


    ¡°Yes the doctors discovered that you were carrying twins after you lost the baby,¡± he said and I finally knew that I was done for.


    ¡°What?¡± I ask quietly. Although in my head I could hear shouting.


    ¡°Calm down Rachael,¡± he said sounding disheartened.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I ask him and he looks away. ¡°What happened?¡± I tried again.


    ¡°The doctors said it was something you ate but¡­ ¡± he began but I cut him off.


    ¡°The energy drink,¡± I say and a confused expression overtakes his face.


    ¡°What?¡± he spoke looking so confused.


    ¡°The energy drink that Nichole brought. I thought it was strange that I was feeling awkward when I drank it but now that I think of it.¡± I say trailing off.


    His face is hard and the expression on his face tells me nothing.


    ¡°Are you ming Nichole?¡± he asked with a frown. Was he kidding me at the moment?


    ¡°As a matter of fact yes,¡± I say facing him squarely. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange that u take a ss of her drink and I lose my babies the next minute?¡± I ask him. I plead silently for him to see what I see with me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you, Rachel,¡± he said and my eyes snapped to him. ¡°You are being so unreasonable,¡± he said and I could not just believe him.


    ¡°What are you saying¡± I asked suddenly feeling so very emotional. Tears began to sip from my eyes.


    ¡°How can you even think to me Coco?¡± he asked and I just couldn¡¯t believe my ears. ¡°I know she wants us separated but how can you think such a nice girl will go as far as killing our baby to separate us¡± he said so calmly that I was waiting for him to tell me that he was pranking me.


    ¡°Well, think of it this way,¡± I say daring him with my look. ¡°She was bold enough to lie about her apartment. Bold enough to leave her boyfriend ande live with us. Bold enough to start such a useless argument about you leaving me. Do you still have doubts as to why she will do this?¡± I ask him and he looks away.


    ¡°She is not the type of person,¡± he says looking away.


    ¡°Call my mom toe take me home,¡± I say daring him with my intense stare.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked me and Iughed bitterly.


    ¡°They wanted me out of your life so Coco cane in and the only way I will stay with you is if I¡¯m having a baby for you and since I¡¯m not then why do I have to stay with you?¡± I and him tears leaving my eyes. It¡¯s a pity I had started to love him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go, we can fix this,¡± he said and I looked away.


    Dayster after I had been discharged against my will Noah brought me to the house. The moment we were at home Noah¡¯s mom was waiting for us.


    ¡°Hey, mom?¡± Noah said in a question form.


    ¡°What is she doing here?¡± she asked sneering at me.


    ¡°She came to her house¡± Noah answered in a duh tone. She frowned at me.


    ¡°She has nothing to do here¡±


    ¡°She is my wife,¡± he said and I turned my face.


    ¡°Noah,¡± she said taking a step to him. ¡°Honey,¡± she said holding his face. ¡°She lost the baby so she could leave our lives forever. Think about what her parents caused for me¡± she said. I could see Noah break down at the sight of his mom. He loved her. He had to. It¡¯s okay I will just find my bearing from here. Her eyes wandered the length of the room until itnded on me.


    ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± she asked with so much venom in her voice. I looked to main begging him internally to save me, although he couldn¡¯t hear me I was still begging him to remember his promises and save me. He just looked away. ¡°Rachael dearest, you can leave now¡± she stated as firm as anything.


    I turned to leave hoping he would call unto me and beg me not to go, but then nothing. As I went up to pack my clothes, nothing not even a sound from him. As I called my dad to send someone to pick me up, nothing, and finally when I slipped into the car and rolled away still nothing. He didn¡¯t keep his promises

 39

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    So I¡¯m sitting in the airport trying to decide if I should take the next flight to France now or if I should go somewhere further like India. Maybe I could learn new cuisines there and try new things.


    But all these never seem tofort me. He made a promise to never leave me and another to always defend me. What the hell happened to all those promises he said he would keep? He just threw them away like I wasn¡¯t important. I feel like a fool.


    I stood up and decided that France was good enough from France I could go to Asia. And then I sit down back. Try South Korean food and all. Maybe just travel the world and be free. Ease myself from the heartbreak.


    It was my fault that I decided to fall in love with who can never be mine. I lost a great friend at least and then my baby. It freaking hurts. I couldn¡¯t cry but still, I wanted to.


    I feel a particrly familiar presence and send a tower above me and then finally sit. Maybe I¡¯m hallucinating things now. I want to feel that Noah is right here beside me and his smile is making me safer.


    He didn¡¯t even bother to tell me that it was okay for me to stay. He just didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t stand up for me. He let his mother treat me like I was still a piece of trash.


    ¡°Miss,¡± the voice said all grumpy. Familiar scent unfamiliar voice. I was in no mood to listen to what anybody had to say.


    ¡°Miss¡± the person tried again. ¡°Where are you heading to?¡± he asked and I just sighed. I stood up and picked up my bag. Better go book a ticket now. As I was about to leave a hand flew up to hold my forearm.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell me where you are going?¡± the voice sounded clearer now and I was not hallucinating it.


    I turned to see Noah sitting right there with that stupid smirk on his face.


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business¡± I bark out. Angry that he didn¡¯t bother to defend me in front of his mother. Why did he give me mixed signals? He showed he cared but he couldn¡¯t help me. I tried to pry his hands off me but he tightened his grip.


    ¡°I could call security and say that you are harassing me,¡± I said gritting my teeth together.


    ¡°I will leave you if you will just give me a few minutes to exin myself,¡± he said his grip loosening but he didn¡¯t leave my hand.


    ¡°I can call se-¡± I started but he cut me off.


    ¡°Rachael please just five minutes¡± he pleaded. When you are in love you do things even better judgment already said is wrong.


    ¡°You have five minutes,¡± I say looking at all the flowers that suddenly I have great interest in now.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sit down¡± he suggests and I plop back and sit deciding not to look at his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about my mom¡± he began but I didn¡¯t want to have any of this.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you came all the way to say then you wasted your time,¡± I say with so much anger. ¡°She insulted me for no reason. She never knew me yet she never gave me the benefit of the doubt. She wants you to divorce me and marry Nichole so why don¡¯t you do so¡± I say turning to face him. I was filled with so much rage. ¡°You made a promise. No, you made two promises but none of them were important to you¡± I almost scream at him.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to divorce you,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m here because I remembered the promises,¡± he said and I sighed. Now he did.


    ¡°Noah you don¡¯t have to bother because there is nothing that is tying us together anymore. I lost the baby and now you are a free man¡± I say ready to stand up.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t even allowed me to talk,¡± he said and I looked at him incredulously.


    ¡°Speak then,¡± I say and he clears his throat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to divorce you and marry Nichole because I¡¯m no longer in love with her,¡± he said and my breath hitched. ¡°I¡¯m now in love with you,¡± he said so casually that I felt like something had happened to my insides.


    ¡°What?!¡± I asked stammering with so much shock. I¡¯m sure I look like a freak whose mouth can close.


    ¡°Yes, Rachael. I don¡¯t know how or where I fell in love but I don¡¯t want any other person but you¡± he said and I felt like throwing myself into his arms.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you believe me when I told you that it was that drink that killed the baby?¡± I ask tearsing on when I remember that I just lost a baby.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I didn¡¯t trust you. I trusted my ex. I thought she was trying to change and you were being jealous¡± he said and my eyebrow flew up.


    ¡°Why would you think I¡¯m jealous?¡± I ask him. Yes, I was jealous when Nichole came and was all over him again. But that didn¡¯t drive me to lie about what she did. She gave me that chocte on purpose and she didn¡¯t let Noahe to me on time when I screamed for him.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s obvious that you have been in love with me for a very long time,¡± he said.


    ¡°Says who?¡± I ask trying to act nonchnt about it.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°So you mean to tell me that you weren¡¯t in love with me?¡± he asked. How the hell do I answer that question?


    ¡°I¡¯m not even going to deny it,¡± I say going for the truth. ¡°I started to like you and then slowly I started to admire you and now I¡¯m deeply in love with you but that doesn¡¯t matter anymore because we can¡¯t be together¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± he asked his hands finding a way to mine.


    ¡°Your mom doesn¡¯t want that,¡± I say and he smiles slightly.


    ¡°My mom doesn¡¯t own my life I can do whatever I please with it. But I¡¯m going to fight for us¡± he said with all seriousness. ¡°Because I love you and I finally learned the meaning of love from you,¡± he said and my heart warmed.


    ¡°What if I say no?¡± I ask and he looks at me.


    ¡°Love will make you say yes,¡± he said and I knew he was right. I loved this guy too much to pack up and give up. If he was ready to fight he has my support.


    ¡°I love you,¡± I say and he smiles.


    ¡°I know and I love you so much that I can¡¯t let you go,¡± he says. ¡°So let¡¯s go home and see if we can make another baby,¡± he said and I smiled a blush creeping up my face. He took my bag led me out to the car and drove us back home.


    He took me inside and locked the door behind me. I saw his eyes darken with desire. ¡°We are married so it¡¯s not wrong¡± he whispered as he got closer to me.


    When his lips met mine I knew I was lost in my happy world.


    ¡°I love you,¡± he said with heavy breath when he broke away from me.


    ¡°I love you more,¡± I say returning my lips to his.

 40

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Noah¡¯s POV


    As I watched Rachel go I felt my heart constrict. Was I the only one now feeling something for her? Why did she not put up a fight with my mom? Why did she me Coco for what she did not do?


    I found the can of the energy drink that she imed Coco gave her. I picked up the can to see that there were still some droplets of the drink in it.


    I have never in my life doubted Coco for any reason but what Rachel had said in the hospital had refused to leave my mind. Could it be true?


    I asked Ben if there could be a ce to check the contents of a drink and he said he would try his best. I give him the can and he swings into work.


    As Iy on the bed that night I felt some sort I run loneliness and it haunts me. I spend your whole night tossing and turning in bed.


    I wondered about Rachel and what she was doing. I wondered about the whole situation and what the truth could be. I instantly regret not stopping her when she was leaving.


    I hated myself and I let the love I had for my mom blind me from seeing my feelings for Rachel. When I see the slightest bit of light from outside I stand up and decide to take a run around the neighborhood. Maybe it would clear my mind off the issue at hand.


    After running to exhaustion I go back home and freshen up to start for the day. I slip into the car without breakfast while trying my best to hide from whoever it was that was on kitchen duty that day.


    ¡°Good morning Boss¡± Ben greeted as I entered. I nodded and gestured that we could go.


    ¡°Okay Boss,¡± he said again and I closed my eyes. Maybe I could get some shut-eye during our trip to the office.


    Ben clears his throat multiple times. It was obvious he wanted to tell me something. ¡°Yes, Ben go on,¡± I say without opening my eyes.


    ¡°We got the test result from theb for the can found in your room sir,¡± he said and waited for me to react.


    ¡°And?¡± I asked as my eyes flew open.


    ¡°There were some strange substance found in the droplet and upon further analysis, it was found to be misoprostol¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± I ask partially afraid that I had let Rachel go without believing what she had said and afraid of the tendencies of Nichole whom I had defended because I thought I knew her well.


    ¡°It is a drug used for stomach ulcer that can be harmful to pregnant women and can cause a miscarriage especially when overdosed or used continuously¡±


    ¡°So you are saying that such harmful drugs were found on the droplets of the drink?¡±


    ¡°Yes Boss, they were found in high quantity which was what led to the miscarriage¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    I beat myself up multiple times in my head. Why did I ever not believe Rachel? She had never lied before so what was my conclusion to make that decision?


    ¡°So where is Rachel now?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Sir you did not ask me to keep tabs on her¡­.¡± he replies trailing off


    He was right I did not ask him to keep tabs on her so there was no way he would know.


    ¡°Can you get her exact location?¡± I ask uneasy as I pull out my phone and try her number.


    There was no way I could let her go. When I thought she was in the wrong for using Nichole I still did not want to let her go. Now that I knew I was the wrong one for believing Nichole over my wife there was no way I won¡¯t fight until the end for her.


    Nichole did put up a big show after all she was all borate and grand as she watched me get afraid of seeing Rachel probably die as shey lifeless in front of me.


    I wanted to go and use her. I wanted to hear what Nichole had to say. I wanted her to tell me that it was a misunderstanding.


    Ben drove me to the office while I kept trying Rachel¡¯s number. It was not going through as it kept going to voice mail. I could not focus on work and kept checking my phone while trying Rachel¡¯s number at intervals.


    ¡°Hello Boss,¡± Ben says as I pick up his call.


    ¡°We have been able to locate the Mrs,¡± he says and I did not wait to hear what he said.


    I darted out of the office praying with everything within that I was able to get Rachel

 41

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    I feel kisses on my face and all the way down to my neck. I knew that it was Noah doing that.


    ¡°Wake up sweets,¡± he said finally calling me that nickname I missed now. ¡°I know you are awake,¡± he says obviously after seeing my eyes twitch.


    ¡°Good morning¡± I mumble and turn to face him in bed and immediately his lips are on mine. ¡°Noah¡± I mumble on his lips.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said smiling as if he just close a billionaire dor deal.


    I snuggle closer to him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to bete for work?¡± I ask him as his arms wrap around me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to work today,¡± he said drawing small circles on my arms.


    ¡°Why?¡± I ask him as he continues with his art on my hand.


    ¡°Because I want to spend the day with my beautiful wife,¡± he said and I was jelly.


    ¡°Hmm¡± I hum and he smiles softly.


    ¡°What do you want to do first?¡± he asks and I smile.


    ¡°We could justy here talking to each other,¡± I say and he shakes his head.


    ¡°How about we take a shower and we go out for breakfast¡± he suggests.


    ¡°Together?¡± I ask and I¡¯m sure as hell that my face has just tinted a dark shade of red.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said resting his head on my hair. ¡°Come on,¡± he said and I agreed and followed him there.


    After showering we go downstairs actually he carries me downstairs and to the kitchen. He stops in track when he sees his mom and Nichole standing there. They were preparing a freaking breakfast.


    ¡°Honey I know you have a hard time letting her go but-¡± Mrs. Lorraine stopped her sentence halfway when she saw me in Noah¡¯s arms. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she barked asking with so much rage.


    Nichole looked at me with an expression I could not understand. She looked like she could throw a knife at me any second.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Noah asked his mom and she just let out a sort of wicked chuckle.


    ¡°We are here to make you breakfast,¡± his mom said.


    ¡°Well you can pack up and leave,¡± he said in a very arrogant tone.


    ¡°Noah¡± Nichole started but he stopped her with his hand.


    ¡°I know you gave my wife the drink on purpose. You killed my child and you think you cane in here and make breakfast for me?¡± he asked with rage in his voice.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do that,¡± Nichole said faking innocence.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care whatever you say. I know Rachael can¡¯t lie to me. You knew she was weak and that drink contained a substance she should not take yet you gave it to her. You killed my child¡± he said and I could feel the rise and fall of his chest. He still refused to put me down.


    ¡°Noah you need to understand that-¡± Noah¡¯s mom started but was cut off by him.


    ¡°Were you on with her on this?¡± he barked like a charged bull.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I can never do such a thing,¡± she said and Noah frowned.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say¡± he began. ¡°Pack up the food which you prepared and have someone eat it. Maybe the guard dog because from now on I will only have food prepared by my wife¡± he said looking at me with his eyes twinkling.


    ¡°Noah, she is supposed to be long gone¡± his mom started again. ¡°I told you to divorce her and marry Nichole¡± she ranted.


    ¡°Mom get out,¡± he said slowly the shock on her face. ¡°When you are ready to ept your mistakes thene back,¡± he said not bothering to see what her reaction was because he was looking at me.


    ¡°Mom don¡¯t make me have you escorted out,¡± he said in a final tone. She turned and started packing all the food into a tray of nylon. When she was done she turned to Noah and said.


    ¡°Don¡¯te running to me in case of anything¡± she sneered at us before storming out.


    Noah finally dropped me down before making me look at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m too sorry and I will make sure you don¡¯t have to see that again,¡± he said and I nodded. ¡°I will tell Ben to change the locks,¡± he said and I nodded again.


    I touch his chest lightly. ¡°So what will my lovely husband like to eat?¡± I asked him and he pretended as if he was in deep thoughts.


    ¡°Some pancakes,¡± he said and I smiled. Bringing out the pancake mix I had pre-made.


    ¡°You can go wait I will get this done,¡± I say adding some eggs and liquid milk to the mix.


    ¡°But I want to watch you cook¡± he whined like a baby.


    ¡°You can if I won¡¯t bore you,¡± I say and he smirks.


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry I¡¯m not bored at all,¡± he said and then I discovered that he was looking at my butt. It made my face warm and then the next thing I knew he was too close breathing on my neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m cooking,¡± I said and heughed.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry for something else,¡± he said kissing my neck and my shoulder des.


    ¡°Noah,¡± I said in a chastising tone that made him back off.


    ¡°I will allow you to cook because you seem to be hungry,¡± he said before walking out of the kitchen. He was probably going to find Ben and tell him to change the locks.


    ¡°Noah¡± I yelled when the pancakes were ready.


    ¡°Sweets you need to get a nickname for me,¡± he said strolling into the kitchen.


    ¡°Like what?¡± I ask as I take out his favorite chocte syrup.


    ¡°Something romantic, ¡± he said taking a seat by the kitchen ind.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± I say cing a te before him.


    ¡°Are you going to eat on a separate te?¡± he asked and I nodded. ¡°No way. You have to eat what I feed you¡± he said and then pulled me to himself and started feeding me asionally smearing my mouth with syrup so he could use his tongue and mouth to wipe it off

 42

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m so d you are back home,¡± Liliana said as I sat with her as she made lunch. She insisted on making lunch for me. Noah had gone on a three day trip. I miss him so much I wish he did not go but I could not have him tied down like some freak.


    ¡°Me too,¡± I say with a smile. I hadn¡¯t seen her when I came back home. Noah had given all the staff a week¡¯s holiday so we could spend time with each other. We started to know things about each other. It was as if we were dating after marriage. I smile a little thinking about it.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Mrs. Lorraine is here to see you¡± Ben¡¯s voice interrupted mine. I look at him with wide eyes. He knows my fear. No don¡¯t get me wrong. I don¡¯t fear her. I just have this fear of sitting in the same room with her because I felt that woman was a maniptor. She knew what Nichole did and what she was nning but her hatred for me was more powerful than he love for her grandchildren.


    ¡°Do you think the lunch could be enough for the two of us?¡± I ask Liliana and she nods. She smiles and gets ready to serve the food.


    ¡°Invite her in for lunch at the table,¡± I say and Ben nods going away.


    She enters head down facing the ground. She lifts her head, her face in an expression that says I¡¯m conflicted.


    ¡°Mrs. Lorraine,¡± I say stiffly when she reaches the table. ¡°We can talk over lunch,¡± I say gesturing for her to sit. I hope she doesn¡¯t mind my sloppy excuse for lunch.


    We eat in silence. Although, I¡¯m the only one who eats she just picks at the food but then as soon as I¡¯m done I clean my mouth and take a sit back.


    ¡°So Mrs. Lorraine what a pleasant surprise,¡± I say trying to coax her to talk. She drops her fork to the te and looks up. She takes a sip of her water.


    ¡°Call me Em,¡± she said shocking me. Okay, I didn¡¯t expect that at all.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if we are that close for me to call you that¡± I mumble.


    ¡°Nichole really killed your baby¡± she admits. ¡°She actually added something to the drink. The drink is totally harmless¡± she exins.


    ¡°And you are telling me this because?¡± I say trying as much as possible to control my tears. She just reminded me that I lost the opportunity to be a mom.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry okay¡± she said a little breathlessly. ¡°I know I was being such a pain in the ass¡± she chuckled silently to herself. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t help but feel hateful¡± she exined.


    ¡°Because my parents acted like horrible people,¡± I say. ¡°They did a very ugly thing but they were young and in love and if you are young and in love you make stupid mistakes now and then,¡± I say.


    ¡°I know that. I also loved Noah¡¯s dad just not the way I did with your dad. I¡¯m happy Noah is happy. My children¡¯s happiness matters a lot to me.¡± she exins.


    ¡°I can rte,¡± I say touching my belly. I hardly knew what was growing in me but I was already making sacrifices for it.


    ¡°So I was hoping if we could start again¡± she asked hopefully. ¡°You know try to be the family Noah needs,¡± she said and I can¡¯t help but feel so happy with myself.


    ¡°I will really love that,¡± I say and she smiles.


    ¡°I see why Noah loves you so much, he had to bring you back¡± he exins. A frown covers my face.


    ¡°You knew he loved me?¡± I ask her and she nods.


    ¡°It was so obvious that Noah loved you. He always tried to persuade me to talk to you. Whenever I speak to him on the phone. He rtes every single thing to you. I¡¯m d you came his way.¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m d he came to my life¡± I admit to her. ¡°I will have to take my leave now. When Noahes home from wherever, I will organize dinner for all of us¡± she said standing up. Her hands go to her skirt to smooth it.


    ¡°And my parents?¡± I ask pushing my luck a little.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said walking out. That went well. I decided to pack my tes and use the dishwasher for the tes. As I was thinking of baking cake, Liliana came in with a phone in her hand.


    ¡°Mr. Lorraine on the line,¡± she said extending the phone to me. I collected it from her hand with a smile on my face. I miss him so much.


    ¡°Hello darling,¡± I say feeling so happy to hear his voice.


    ¡°And how is my favorite person doing?¡± he asked and I blushed. I turned away and walked to the room. It¡¯s not like we talk dirty or anything. I just like to have a private conversation with him and I do not want the staff to see me blushing and gaping like a fool.


    I gave him a run down on today¡¯s event. I also told him about his mom and from his voice I could hear he was ecstatic. He told me he missed me and so did I. He told me he was leaving early tomorrow and I was so happy that I couldn¡¯t stay still.


    I loved him so much now. In another universe, I will definitely choose him over and over again. My first love. The love of my life.

 43

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Today Lisa was going to Ana¡¯s ce for a y date with Hayley and risa and she was staying there overnight. Because Noah¡¯s promised honeymoon reliving was starting today. It was one day only because we had a daughter waiting for us at home. So I told Noah to dress her up while I go dress up so we can be on time for our date.


    I came out of my room after pulling out my new outfit. I saw Lisa tuning around the house in an all white dress.


    ¡°Noah¡± I shouted and he came out from the kitchen with a bag of chips in his hands. Chips? Seriously?


    ¡°Yes sweets,¡± he said meeting me at the bottom of the stairs.


    ¡°I asked you to dress Lisa up,¡± I said and he cut me off from whatever I was about to say.


    ¡°And that I did,¡± he said taking a defensive tone.


    ¡°I know you did love and I appreciate it,¡± I said sighing ¡°But she can¡¯t wear all white to a y date,¡± I said resting my hands on his chest.


    ¡°She can¡¯t?¡± he asked. ¡°But she looks like an angel and I dressed her up to look like an angel,¡± he said and I just knew he did his just to rile me up.


    ¡°Yes you can¡¯t Noah,¡± I say and he frowns.


    ¡°Why not?¡± he asks me.


    ¡°Because they will be ying with sand,¡± I say stating the obvious.


    ¡°She can go looking like an angel in the dirt,¡± he said smirking and backing away from me.


    ¡°Lisa¡± I call out and my three year old daughter walks up to me. She looks at me with a wide eye. I pick her up and take her upstairs Noah following us behind.


    ¡°You have to change out of this dress,¡± I say putting her down on the table beside her drawer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± she said her speech getting better each time she talked.


    ¡°Why?¡± I ask her concerned.


    ¡°Because Daddy said I look like an angel in this dress,¡± she said pointing to the dress.


    ¡°Of course honey you do,¡± I say before breaking the news to her. ¡°You have to change,¡± I say and then she jumps from the not too high table and sprints out of the door. Noah¡¯sughter fills the room. I pull out a pair of leggings and a top that matches and turns to Noah.


    ¡°Go change her now and make her understand,¡± I say pulling a face that says I¡¯m serious Noah.


    ¡°She loves that dress,¡± Noah saysing closer and putting his hand on my belly.


    ¡°Noah!¡± I say seriously and he backs out.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said taking the dress from my hand and going to find her.


    Momentster he came back with a sad face Lisa.


    ¡°Mommy,¡± she saiding to hold my legs.


    ¡°What is it honey¡± I say picking her up.


    ¡°I¡¯m no longer an angel,¡± she said tearsing down from her eyes.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± I say cleaning her tears. ¡°You will always be an angel,¡± I say and she suddenly stopped crying.


    ¡°Really?¡± she asked smiling now.


    ¡°Yes darling,¡± Noah said nearing us. ¡°My angel,¡± he said kissing her forehead and she giggled. She jumped out of my hand and ran downstairs.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Did you get her bag ready?¡± I asked Noah his eyes went wide and I just knew I should have done it myself. ¡°Noah,¡± I say and heughs.


    ¡°You still don¡¯t trust me,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s downstairs,¡± he said hugging me to him.


    ¡°You like seeing me mad don¡¯t you¡± I murmur when I feel his lips on my skin. ¡°Noah,¡± I say when I feel his tongue.


    ¡°I will go tell Ben to drop Lisa off,¡± he said murmuring into my hair.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I say as he kisses my lips quickly before disappearing out of the room. I picked at the things that Lisa had thrown around the floor when she was ying earlier today.


    I go back to the room and then momentster Noahes in and shuts the door behind him and walks to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.


    ¡°Lisa is gone,¡± he said hugging me again. I swear he loves hugs.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± I ask trying to free myself from his tight grip.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said looking at me his eyes bing a deeper shade of blue.


    ¡°No-¡± my speech was cut short by his lips on mine. He finally pulled away after a while and looked at me. ¡°I¡¯m not missing my date on my anniversary day,¡± I said and he just looked at me andughed.


    ¡°Rachael only you,¡± he said kissing me again. ¡°I love you,¡± he said, and ever since he told me those words the first day it has always been the reason why I smile and he never fails to remind me that he loves me.


    ¡°And I love you more,¡± I say starting the war we always had when one of us said that. He rolled his eyes at me and said what I never expected him to.


    ¡°I¡¯m not even going to argue¡± he stated and that is a shocker. ¡°I¡¯m going to show you,¡± he said before kissing me again. Hard and as if he was desperate for it. I responded as my hands traveled to his neck andtched around it. I hugged him and from there wended on the bed. The date was forgotten.


    ¡°You look so nice in this dress¡± hemented. ¡°I should not tear it before the date,¡± he said standing up from me obviously knowing that I was already turned on by his kisses but using my words against me was his work. ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡± he asked smirking.


    ¡°I have to redo my makeup which you ruined,¡± I say, and her rolls his eyes again. Which grown ass man rolls his eyes like a teenage girl.


    ¡°Again?¡± he asked with frustration hitting his voice.


    ¡°You ruined it,¡± I said sliding to the table and picking up my make up kit for a do over.


    ¡°I willb your hair¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even dare¡± I say to him which throws him into a fit ifughter.

 44

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Noah¡¯s POV


    All I think of as I sit through the meeting with the board members is Rachael. Her EDD seems very near and although Pat and Liliana have been instructed to be at her beck and call all day. I don¡¯t seem quitefortable sitting about ten streets away from her. All morning she pushed me from the house telling me not to bother about her as I made my way to work but just to have fun.


    ¡°We will pick up the meeting from here next week,¡± Mr. Monero says quietly and I nod in appreciation and acknowledgment but mostly appreciation that I can easily escape this torture of sitting here while I¡¯m fully at home ying with my daughter and constantly nagging Rachael to actually stay indoors.


    ¡°Jack bring the car around¡± I nod to the giant guy standing by the conference door. Slowly everyone dispatches talking in groups. Maybe about my absent presence today.


    I can¡¯t sit through the long journey home. When I get home. My little girl Lisa runs to me. She hugs my legs and stretches her hand expectantly for me to pick her up. I pick her up and tickle her and she turns giggling in my hands.


    ¡°Angel, where is mummy?¡± I ask her as she smiles brightly.


    ¡°In the woom(room)¡± she says pointing in the direction of our room. I take her in my hands and nod when Pat greets me as I make my way upstairs. I see Rachael on the bed sitting. She smiles when she sees me but then a frown overtakes her face.


    ¡°You are back early,¡± she said when I got close to giving her a kiss. The one I had been yearning for.


    ¡°Yes, the board meeting ended really fast and I wrapped up earlier and left,¡± I said lying about thest part. I didn¡¯t even have time to wrap up. I just told Sharon, my new assistant, to take care of things and only call me in case of any emergency.


    ¡°Angel,¡± I say referring to Lisa who was ready to go out and y obviously with Jack. She had grown fond of the big guy and although he behaves like a robot I have seen him show some emotions around her.


    ¡°Yes Daddy,¡± she said, stopping by the door.


    ¡°Did mommy go out today?¡± I ask her. She looks at my face and then at her mom and then looks down. That is all I need to know. She definitely went out.


    ¡°Mommy said I should not tell you,¡± she said and Iughed.


    ¡°Daddy will tell Jack to get you some ice cream now if you tell the truth,¡± I say and she smiles widely.


    ¡°Mommy went out with Aunty Leah¡± Lisa finally confessed. I smiled at her innocence and easily persuaded myself. I call Jack on my phone and instruct him to get Lisa her favorite ice cream triple chocte chip ice cream.


    ¡°I want ice cream too¡± Rachael groaned and I gave her a look.


    ¡°I told you to stay at home today,¡± I tell her and her eyes widen as if she wasn¡¯t just caught.


    ¡°Leah needed help with her boyfriend,¡± she said and I shook my head. ¡°We didn¡¯t go far,¡± she added and I sighed. It was impossible for her to listen to me. She just has this determined personality.


    ¡°Just d you are okay,¡± I say when she stands up.


    ¡°My help is needed at the office,¡± she said, pretending to rearrange her already arranged desk. She was a very organized person. She could arrange and rearrange twenty times a day and no that was no exaggeration


    ¡°What for¡± I say slowly as I wait for her to make her case.


    ¡°There is a delivery error,¡± she exins.


    ¡°Tell Melissa to bring home the necessary files and schedule a meeting with the client. I follow you to go meet them¡± I say knowing I have to agree with her on the matter of work.


    ¡°Thank you, you are the best,¡± she said, quickly dialing Melissa¡¯s number.


    The meeting with the client went as good as possible. I was driving her home when Rachael suddenly had this look on her face.


    ¡°Noah,¡± she said my name slowly letting her voice pronounce each letter as easy as possible.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± I question trying to listen to her and keep my eyes on the road.


    ¡°We need to go to the hospital,¡± she said like something was wrong.


    ¡°What is wrong? Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?¡± I asked fear overtaking me.


    ¡°My water broke,¡± she said and my eyes widened. The hospital was a twenty-minute drive from where we were currently if there was no traffic.


    I pulled up Pat¡¯s number on the speakerphone in my car. I told her to have Jack bring her to the hospital with Hayley and the bag for the baby. I was driving like crazy just trying as much as possible to beat traffic and get her there on time.


    ¡°Noah be fast¡± she screamed. I looked at her and fear hot the better of me. Beating the record I was at the hospital in no time.


    She was rushed to the room. The doctor told us that the contractions just started and that was not enough to bring the baby out.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    After a lot of screaming and cursing at me. She promised a thousand times that she was not ever going to allow me touch her. She finally delivered the baby.


    The final scream and a cry of a baby was the end of the torture she had been inflicting on me with her hands and teeth. I could endure anything I thought when the baby¡¯s face came to us.


    ¡°It¡¯s a boy¡± the doctor announced with a smile. The baby boy was dropped in my hands. I smiled at his little features. ¡°What do you want to name him?¡± the doctor asked preparing to write his name so he can prepare a certificate.


    ¡°Edward Lynch Lorraine-Mirchoff¡± we both chorused our eyes locking with each other. It was the best moment of my life.


    I never regret the day I approached her at that bar to ask her to follow me to take my mind off Nichole. It was there I found the meaning of true love.


    We had our little family and we nned on stopping there, although I told her we could have some more and she threatened yfully to cut off my organs because she could not bear the pain of childbirth anymore.


    She gave me a family and I gave her one too. I was so happy when she told me she made up with my mom. She was a very special person who I didn¡¯t deserve but I know I wanted. She was the love of my life. She was my everything. She was my wife. I¡¯m d for that one night that led to eternity

 45

    ? It Was One Night Only.


    ?SWIFTPEN 123.


    Most people would call me insane because I decided to still be very well invested in my dad¡¯s business. The bloggers had said that since I had married a prince charming for real I should stay home and take care of the children. They were only right about one thing. Noah was truly a prince charming and there was no argument about that.


    Although I was barely invested at this point because Noah was always on my case, I still loved it. My parents had awarded me the trust fund as promised and that enabled me to build the school for the girls as I had always wanted.


    Going to the office at this time was a no for Noah but he knew that I would be on his neck to ensure that I got what it was that I wanted so he decided to drive me to the hospital.


    To be honest, after giving birth to Lisa I had sworn that I would never allow Noah to touch me again but that particr n did not work because I was head over heels in love with him and he had insisted on having more than one child.


    I rub my protruding belly in annoyance as I yawn.


    ¡°Are you tired?¡±


    ¡°Of course I am tired. I am hoping this baby would pop out of me any day now¡± I tell him and he chuckles lightly.


    ¡°I am sure your reaction would be full of joy when you see the baby,¡± he tells me and I sigh.


    ¡°Easy for you to say since you aren¡¯t the one carrying the baby to term, being bored by yourself all day in the house¡± I snap at him.


    The car goes silent. I wonder why I just snapped at him. Truly I felt like this pregnancy was taking much more time than necessary and I hated that.


    ¡°I am sorry¡± I murmur after a few seconds.


    ¡°Baby hormones?¡± he asked and I nodded.


    ¡°But I should not allow the tiny creature to take over my head¡± I sigh and heughs.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I find it sexy when you snap at me. Maybe you could do that again when we are trying for baby number three¡± he says and throws a wink my way.


    ¡°There is no way that there is anything like a baby number three¡± I reply with gritted teeth and he hollers annoyingly.


    ¡°Noah please stop these teases. I might push to have you have a procedure to ensure I never get pregnant again¡± I tell him and the horror on his face is so funny I wish I had taken a picture.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°When are we getting home?¡± I ask with a yawn followed by a sigh.


    ¡°In the next ten minutes,¡± he said turning to me. The look on my face makes him turn his head back to the road. ¡°The map says ten minutes but I am sure that with my excellent driving skills, I will be able to get us there in five minutes¡±


    Iugh at him and he returns with a smile. ¡°We will soon be home¡± he adds and I close my eyes nodding.


    Suddenly I feel a pool of liquid steaming down my feet. I knew that a part of me was rejoicing while a part of me felt afraid. I was about to bring new life to this world my mother did not feel fear at this point.


    ¡°Noah,¡± I say as slowly as I can. It was urgent but I did not want to scare him. He had been through this before but so have I and I do not feel confident about the situation.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± he replies. I can see him trying his best to struggle between looking at me by his side and keeping his eyes on the road.


    ¡°We need to go to the hospital, ¡°I tell him. I know there could have been a better way to say it but that was the best my baby brain coulde up with at that moment.


    ¡°What is wrong? Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?¡± he asked. I could see the fear in his eyes as he nced at me.


    I wanted to try and stay calm but between what I was feeling and his eyes I knew it was impossible.


    ¡°My water broke¡±


    I see the instant panic mode in his eyes. I close my eyes and I hear some words. It seemed like he was on the phone.


    ¡°Noah be fast¡± I scream.


    I did not want to scream but I did.


    I see him park into the driveway and they help me into the hospitalbor room. For me, the spent in the delivery room was longer than days.


    When I heard the sound of the baby¡¯s cry and the promation of the doctor saying it was a boy who was healthy and safe I had no choice but to give into Noah¡¯s suggestion to name our baby so when the doctor asked what we wanted to call him I did not hesitate to say the name Edward Lynch Lorraine-Mirchoff.


    I smiled as Noah held the baby close to me. This was my baby, our baby and at that point even though I had said I was uninterested in having any babies again I knew that I would have a million if it meant spending the rest of my days with Noah and his offspring.


    ¡°You have done well,¡± he said as the nurse took the baby from him.


    He pressed down my hair which was all over the ce. I smile at him and nod. ¡°So have you¡± I whisper.


    ¡°I have done nothing¡± he whispered back.


    I closed my eyes because I felt so tired and I wanted to rest. ¡°I want to sleep¡± I whisper and heughs and pets my hair.


    ¡°Of course you do,¡± he said and then I felt him give me a forehead kiss.


    Thest thing I heard as I drifted to dreand was ¡°I will be right here when you wake up¡±

 46

    When I opened my eyes my entire family was lurking around the ce. It was obvious they were happy that I had safely given birth.


    ¡°You are awake? You have done well¡± Em said as I opened my eyes.


    She had be a darling when she began to try to ept me as her family I then began to understand what Noah meant when he said that his mother was a darling. She was so helpful.


    On days when I felt tired she helped me make energy-giving meals and then went ahead to take Lisa off my hand for the time being.


    ¡°Thank you¡± I whisper before my eyes fall on everyone standing there.


    ¡°So the baby¡¯s name?¡± Cara asked.


    She was always so impatient about things like these.


    ¡°Cara, they will let us know when they want to,¡± Ana said.


    ¡°Well our baby boy would be named Edward Lynch Lorraine-Mirchoff,¡± Noah tells them.


    ¡°Why are you naming your baby like one old man?¡± Cara asked and a few minutester she was wincing in pain beside Ana was beside her pinching her arm.


    ¡°Stop that,¡± Cara said in a cry.


    ¡°I will only stop it if you can stop your mouth from running all day long that you end up saying things you are not supposed to,¡± Ana says again.


    ¡°I will take the young ones out for some ice cream¡± Ana adds going out to meet those who were not allowed to be inside.


    ¡°I love the name¡± my momes up to meet me by the bed. ¡°And you have done so very well that it ddens my heart¡± she adds as she brushes my hair with her hand


    ¡°Have you had anything to eat?¡± Em asked.


    ¡°Not yet¡±


    ¡°Noah¡± she screams at her son when she hears my response.


    Noah turns to her shocked that she was screaming at him. ¡°Mom don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± he asked with a pout.


    ¡°Of course, I do, why would you question my love for you?¡± she replied facing him. He was on the left side of the bed and she was sitting opposite him.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    ¡°Because you keep favoring Rachel over me¡± Noah grumbles.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t I favor Rachel? She was the one who had it going for her for nine months while you did nothing butzy around¡±


    ¡°Mom¡± Noah cries out loud.


    ¡°Do not worry Noah I also think you have done well,¡± my mom said patting his shoulder. ¡°But I think Rachel has surpassed herself today¡± she adds which makes Noah¡¯s face rise and fall rapidly.


    He bends to my level and looks at me lovingly. Why was he doing that in the presence of our mom?


    ¡°I also think Rachel has done so well today¡± he whispers as he presses a kiss to my cheek.


    ¡°So why have you not yet gotten her anything to eat?¡± Em asked and Noah rolled his eyes before he raised his head to face her.


    ¡°I thought you would make a special meal like you did with Lisa, I do not know what kind of meals she is allowed to eat,¡± Noah tells them.


    ¡°I brought something but I am shocked you do not care about your wife as much as you im to do¡± Em goes on.


    ¡°Mom, I guess you should disown me and adopt Rachel,  Mom,¡± he said again turning to face my mom. ¡°I believe you should adopt me instead, I think you would take I¡¯m good care of me instead of her¡±


    ¡°Sure I will,¡± my mom tells him pinching his cheek like he was a child.


    ¡°Mommy¡± Lisa said as the door opened. Ana was behind her.


    ¡°She had been crying to see her mommy,¡± Ana said as Lisa ran towards the bed and tried to get on it.


    Em carried her up to herp so she could be on the same level with me. ¡°How are you darling?¡± I ask caressing her face.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said sniffling her nose.


    ¡°Noah, let her meet her little brother,¡± I tell him and he nods. Hees over and carries her from his mom¡¯sp and walks gently to the crib by the side.


    ¡°Say hello to your brother¡±


    ¡°Hello brother,¡± she says cutely and tries to wiggle her way out of his hands so she can touch him.


    ¡°You want to touch him?¡± Noah asks and she nods. He bends a little and she touches his face. She smiles at him and then tries to turn her head to face me.


    ¡°Mommy, daddy, brother,¡± she said in a whisper.


    I nod at her and she wiggles her way out of his grip and matches towards the door. Noah runs after her and helps her open the door. He knew that our family was outside so she was in safe hands.


    ¡°Our family¡± I whisper and all parties in the room nod.


    It was a family both out of the most special circumstances but in the end, it was worth it. It was my family. Our family.

 Alternate Story

    Noah walks with his jacket in hand and hair disheveled. He had run his hands through it multiple times begging Nichole to please not break up with him. He never expected that their rtionship of ten years woulde to an end so soon. They have been dating since he was seventeen years old. Everyone had supported them how was he going to tell his mom that the ship had sunk?


    He plopped to the bar and sat. He gave the barman a small smile.


    ¡°Good evening, what can I get you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Whiskey¡± he murmurs taking out his phone and setting it on the table. It chimes and the screen turns on. A picture of Nichole in her bathing suit greets him. He groans at the thought of her. ¡°I need to get drunk,¡± he tells the barman


    The bar nods and gets to refilling his ss every time he downs the cup. Noah¡¯s eyes roam around the bar and itnds on a sobbing girl. Her ck hair fell all over her back


    Rachael didn¡¯t know what the barman kept putting her cup but she kept downing it each time he put it. She slid her card to him ready to stop but she changed her mind and put back her card into her purse. She hadn¡¯t achieved why she hade in here.


    Noah sat close to her as he took in her scent. She smelt of vani and cinnamon. What abination!


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said trying to smile but he was pretty sure it came out as a bad attempted smile.


    ¡°Me?¡± she said her eyes widening a bit. It wouldn¡¯t go further because she was already getting drunk. Her hands on her chest to emphasize her question.


    ¡°Of course you,¡± Noah told her taking a sip of what was in his cup. He had to talk it slowly if he wanted to leave here on his two feet.


    ¡°Oh hey,¡± she told him giving him an awkward wave.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Noah said his hand almost going to her face to wipe off the tears that were stuck right there threatening to fall.


    ¡°It¡¯s kinda funny one,¡± she said slurring and her words not making any sense to her.


    ¡°We got the whole night¡± Noah replied before downing the whole thing. He signaled for the barman to refill his ss. Rachael took her ss to her mouth and poured everything down. She frowned at the bitter taste that hit the back of her throat.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have shots¡± Noah suggested to her and nodded to the barman. He proceeded to give them six sses.¡±I¡¯ll tell you why I¡¯m here today and you will tell me yours,¡± he said taking the ss to his mouth.


    Rachael nodded before gulping down one of the shots.


    ¡°I lost a very important deal today¡± she murmured to him. He nodded and proceeded to take another ss. She took that as a cue to raise another ss to her mouth.


    ¡°I broke up with my girlfriend¡± Noah shot out immediately he dropped the ss. ¡°More like fiancee and she broke up with me ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± she murmured taking another ss.


    ¡°We both lost something so let¡¯s get a drink tonight,¡± Noah said and she nodded in approval.


    ¡°That¡¯s why we are here¡±


    By the time Noah used his cell phone to call his driver to take them to the nearest hotel, they were both wasted. How Noah was able to operate his phone correctly was a shock to his driver.


    As soon as they left the car into a room the driver checked in for them. They sat on the bed.


    ¡°No sex¡± Rachael blurted out andughed at herself.


    ¡°Yes definitely¡± he agreed joining her tough.


    ¡°You can take a shower,¡± he told her sitting on the couch a safe distance from her. He badly wanted to kiss her. He cautioned himself and med the alcohol.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°I will be right out,¡± she said as she staggered to the bathroom.


    She stood under the shower with her clothes fully on. Once the cold water had touched her she became fully awake. Still drunk but past the dizziness and blur.


    Then it hit her, her clothes were on her. What is she to change to?


    ¡°Mr. Man?¡± she screamed switching off the shower so he could hear her properly.


    ¡°Yes¡­..¡± he waited for her to supply her name.


    ¡°You can call me sweets,¡± she told him and he chuckled. She was cute, wasn¡¯t she? ¡°My clothes are fully wet can you give me a robe and ask room service to take the clothes for dry cleaning?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± he said and did as she said.


    She shuffled out of the bathroom feeling a headacheing on she drank water hit the bed she dozed off immediately.


    Once Noah came out, he smiled at the sight of her sleeping. He gently kissed her head and prepared to leave.


    Leaving a note


    I had a wonderful time.


    Your clothes would


    be brought by room


    service and I left already.


    Noah.


    He left her there and ventured silently to the cab. Remaining in that room he might be tempted beyond his control. As the driver drove away. Thoughts of ¡®sweets¡¯ consumed his brain and he hoped to meet

 HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Heyyyyy


    I am so excited to write this after a long time and I hope you are too.


    I am also so grateful for themunity of readers that I get here on this tform. Having Readers like this is such a dreame true. Thank you for loving my ideas and taking them as they are. Thank you for the corrections, especially with my grammar. If many of you notice you would see that I am improving as I try to take sses to make me write better in English. Thank you for being a great support to me and my work.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    It is because of you all that ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED became such a huge hit, I keep getting offers to have the work published in so many other ces and I could not have done it without you. Sometimes I feel like a girl who had left her home for Hollywood and then suddenly became famous and began to win multiple awards¡­ and as I say this is all thanks to you.


    So I have a couple of announcements and I think now is the time to share it.


    1. I wrote book two of identally Married but unfortunately, due to the terms I had written it under it is only avable on Good Novel and can be essed there so if you want to read the love story between Jessica and Xavier¡¯s children then head on to Good Novel and Search identally Married. You do not need to read from the top just search the table of contents and head over to book Two. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.


    2. I have a new book and it is called LEARNING TO LOVE MR BILLIONAIRE. Please read it and then give me feedback I will be waiting to read yourments and what you think.


    3. Also if you would love to read another book of mine you can head over to Dreame and Search for the book with title  Divorced Once Married Twice. It is an original work by myself and I am so excited to be sharing it with you. I hope you can read the work and love it as you go.


    4. Do not forget to rmend my book to your friends and share it with people who you know would love to read my kinds of works.


    5. thank you for being here till now


    Thank you so much see you soon


    You can skip reading this because it is a repetition of the above.


    Heyyyyy


    I am so excited to write this after a long time and I hope you are too.


    I am also so grateful for themunity of readers that I get here on this tform. Having Readers like this is such a dreame true. Thank you for loving my ideas and taking them as they are. Thank you for the corrections, especially with my grammar. If many of you notice you would see that I am improving as I try to take sses to make me write better in English. Thank you for being a great support to me and my work.


    It is because of you all that ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED became such a huge hit, I keep getting offers to have the work published in so many other ces and I could not have done it without you. Sometimes I feel like a girl who had left her home for Hollywood and then suddenly became famous and began to win multiple awards¡­ and as I say this is all thanks to you.


    So I have a couple of announcements and I think now is the time to share it.


    1. I wrote book two of identally Married but unfortunately, due to the terms I had written it under it is only avable on Good Novel and can be essed there so if you want to read the love story between Jessica and Xavier¡¯s children then head on to Good Novel and Search identally Married. You do not need to read from the top just search the table of contents and head over to book Two. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.


    2. I have a new book and it is called LEARNING TO LOVE MR BILLIONAIRE. Please read it and then give me feedback I will be waiting to read yourments and what you think.


    3. Also if you would love to read another book of mine you can head over to Dreame and Search for the book with title  Divorced Once Married Twice. It is an original work by myself and I am so excited to be sharing it with you. I hope you can read the work and love it as you go.


    4. Do not forget to rmend my book to your friends and share it with people who you know would love to read my kinds of works.


    5. thank you for being here till now


    Thank you so much see you soon


    You can skip reading this because it is a repetition of the above.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!