Chapter 6
Five Years Later“.
Josie.
“And that’s a wrap for today, Mr. Winston.” I smiled at my client who I just finished teaching the German language and he smiled back quickly.
“My God, Rose, I love the way you teach. I never knew I could learn German in just a short
moment.”
I could feel the happiness he felt as I stood to my feet. I turned, my back facing him as I packed the books I came here with into the tote bag.
I now work with a language company that offers private teaching classes to businessmen and women who have clients abroad.
Of course, it took me time and effort to learn about five different languages.
Dutch. Spanish. German. Russian. Chinese. These are the languages I’m fluent in. Well, of course, I still read to improve but so far, I’m competent enough to take clients assigned to me and tutor.
So, Mr. Winston, who had a company in Germany wanted to learn their basic language so he could blend in with the people and I’ve been teaching him for about one week now.
Since it was basic German, the man was doing well learning it.
As I finished packing my books, I turned around only to find Mr. Winston staring at me.
My heart dropped at the intense look he gave me.
“Rose, ahem!” He coughed, standing up quickly.
I was startled when he crossed the distance between us and held my hand..
“You’re such a beautiful woman, Rose. Just the perfect person for me.”
I knew where this was going and I tried to pry my hand away but his grip was firm.
“Be my woman, Rose. And I promise to take care of you.” He had this flirtatious grin on his face.
I smiled faintly and said. “I’m sorry, Mr. Winston, dating clients isn’t our work ethic.”
He chuckled and I quickly saw his pearly white teeth. “Oh, please. Your company would never know. This will be between you and me.”
Just he leaned way too close, wanting to paste his lips on mine.
Oh, goddess!
Chapter 6
I shirked inwardly and pushed him aside. He stumbled, almost losing his balance but instead fell into the seat behind him.
I panted as he gave me an angry look.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Winston. This wasn’t meant to happen but I can’t do this with you.”
I grabbed my bag and ran outside, while he cursed behind me.
The moment I stepped into the elevator, I took in a lungful of breath.
By the goddess, men would never stop pestering me.
This was what I faced with most clients. Especially the unmated men in this city or unmarried men.
my nerves
Even the married ones always got on my nerves.
I don’t know how to get them off me. I’m tired.
I brought out my phone to check the time and know if it was time to go and pick up my daughter, Aria, from school.
That girl has been a source of joy to me since her birth. She looked just like her father. Only her brown hair color resembled mine.
She clocked five years today and I planned on celebrating her birthday today in the little way I could.
Getting out of the elevator, I moved outside and greeted Winston’s housekeepers before I came outside.
I took a cab to the school where I would wait for Aria since it was almost her dismissal time.
I waited in the reception room with some other parents and while doing that, I updated my reports for the day.
Once I got home, I’d send them to my boss.
Thirty minutes later, the bell rang and I packed my report into my bag and stood up.
“Mommy!!!” I heard my baby girl’s voice and my heart warmed.
She ran over to me, smiling as her pigtails brown hair dangled on her shoulders.
“My darling!” I called out and opened my arms.
Aria ran into my arms, so energetically and I smelled her baby scent.
When we parted, I looked down at her, tossing her stray hair aside.
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Chapter 6
“How was school today?” I asked.
And she began babbling, telling me stories about what happened in her class today.
“And Mr. Henry said I’m very smart.” She giggled.
I laughed when she said that. She just told me how she pronounced obsidian stone in class today while others couldn’t.
And she learned that from the kids‘ movie she watched last weekend.
I hugged her again and said, “You’re wonderful, baby. Happy birthday, my darling.”
“Oh goddess, Mommy. I didn’t remember it was today!!!” She shrieked.
I couldn’t wish her in the morning because I left the house on time. It was her nanny that brought her to school and I’m sure Ms. Beth didn’t realize her birthday was today, given the fact that she just started working for us.
Goddess knew I couldn’t afford a nanny. It was Diego that brought her to us and he was the one paying her.
Diego took care of me after saving my life years ago. He helped me find my footing in the city and also he had been acting as Aria’s father.
But of course, Aria knew he wasn’t her real father. Anyway, it saved me from Aria’s constant question about where her father was. I didn’t know where he was and I wouldn’t bother to ever lay eyes on him.
“I’m sorry, baby. I wasn’t there to wish you on time.” I said to her. I felt really bad about that.
My work took most of my time but I had to do it so I could be able to pay up our bills. Even thought Diego had offered to take care of everything, I couldn’t let him do so.
wanted to handle the bills myself.
“It’s okay, mommy. I forgive. But can we get a cake?” She brightened, looking hopefully at me.
“Of course. The birthday girl must surely have a cake!” I said and she shrieked in joy.
“Great! Let’s go. Let’s go.” She said and began dragging me outside with her tiny hands.
I couldn’t help smiling as we came outside and boarded a cab.
Aria and I went to the local pastries store close to our street and we bought chocolate cake, her favorite.
Chapter 6
Then we made our way back home. But just before we could climb onto the porch, I saw the bulky man standing there with balloons in one hand and a wrapped box in his other hand.
“Cutie!” Diego called out and seeing him, Aria’s mouth dropped open.
“Uncle!!!” She screamed when she found her voice again and ran up the stairs where she hugged Diego’s legs.
Diego crouched after dropping the balloons and box and then he wrapped his arms around her.
“Sweetness, happy birthday to you.” He whispered while hugging her.
I was smiling contentedly. I didn’t understand how a man could love a girl that wasn’t his from the first day she was born. He didn’t mind Aria calling him uncle. He still played a fatherly role in her life.
Diego looked at me from Aria’s shoulder and winked. I smiled in return.
He placed a chaste kiss on Aria’s head when they broke the hug.
“My princess looks good on her birthday.” He muttered, carrying Aria into his arms.
I rushed and grabbed the box and balloon before he could and we went inside.
Hours later, Aria was dancing to the beat of her favorite, SpongeBob cartoon while I made oat cookies we could celebrate her birthday with.
Diego sat with her in the living room, laughing as Aria told him stories while dancing.
When I was done, I brought the cookies into the living room.
Diego helped me set the cake we bought and we sang happy birthday songs to her while Aria blew.
the candles..
She cut the cake and took a large chunk, stuffing it in her nose.
We both chuckled.
Then Diego brought out the gifts he got for her which made me speechless.
“Oh, goddess. Binoculars!” My daughter squirmed in happiness as she took the toy binoculars from. Diego.
“Thanks, uncle!” She warmly hugged him and showed me the gift.
“You really shouldn’t have done that. Your presence alone is enough.” I said to him.
“Come on. Aria is like my daughter. I don’t mind getting those for her.” Diego said.
I felt him inching his hand close to take mine but Aria turned to face us and rambled, making him
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Chapter 6
take his hand back.
“I’m going to watch the stars tonight. Will you watch with me?” She asked.
“Of course.”
Diego and I echoed at once and laughed.
At night, Diego and I started on the porch while Aria stayed on the lawn, watching the sky with her binoculars.
I could hear her giggling.
“Thank you, Diego. You’ve done so much.” I said to him.
“Stop saying that. Rose.” He called me by my fake name.
That’s right. From the night I ran from my pack, I changed my name. I dropped the name Josie behind and favored Rose.
That was why Diego never knew the real me, Josie Ward. He never knew I was that neglected princess of my father’s pack.
This little pack we stayed in comprised various wolves from different packs. Even humans lived. here with us. There was too much freedom here than it was back home.
I swallowed as Diego finally held my hand.
I swore off men since my rejection. I hid the truth from Diego too but he somehow knew things. didn’t go well between Aria’s father and me.
“I’d do anything for you and my princess.”
My heart tingled as he called her his princess.
“Diego.” I wanted to protest. The love he showed us was too much but….
Diego inched his large hand up and cupped my face. “Rose, let me do this. Let me show you…”
I cut my eyes away from him when my cell phone bleeped. I didn’t get to hear what Diego had to say as I hurried to my feet when I saw my boss calling.
Why was he calling me? I wondered as I clutched my phone.
I stepped away a bit and held the rail of the porch.
“Hello, sir..”
“What did you do to Winston, Rose?” He barked, cutting me off.
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Chapter 6
My brows scrunched.
Did I do anything to… Winston?
“Nothing, sir.”
I heard my boss curse and swore.
“Bloody liar.” He barked. My heart thumped.
“You broke his waist and now Mr. Winston is at the hospital!”
Oh, goddess! My blood ran cold.
“I didn’t mean to…he was…” My boss cut me off as he swore and cursed again. I could feel his rising
anger.
“Rose, I’m sorry to say this but you’ll lose your job!”
No. No. No. I couldn’t let this happen.
“Sir hear me out! Please. Mr. Winston tried to…”
And the line went dead.
Have I lost my job? I wondered.
“What happened?” I heard Diego behind me.
Turning with my ashen face, I shrugged.
“I can’t lose my job. At least not yet.” I said in between tears as Diego inched towards me and clamped me in a hug.
I’d need to hurry over to the office tomorrow and plead with him…
SEND GIFT
