I'd long forgotten about the drama at my apartment when I returned. Yeah, my apartment. My fucking apartment. I'd saved every penny, juggling multiple jobs to afford the rent. I had expected some respect from Fred and Janine.

Between the two beings, I didn't know who I could tag the best pretender of the year. Fred? For acting like he loved me, living under my roof and fucking me and my best friend at the same time. Or Janine, who had been like a sister to me since middle school.

"Bloody betrayers," I cursed under my breath once I got to the door of my apartment. Turning the knob, I expected to see the two of them cuddled up in the living room or something. Instead, I found Fred, controller in hand, engrossed in his nonsensical video games.

"Babe, you're back. Look, Indiyah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fucked Janine. Believe me, I haven't slept since last night." Fred jumped at me, tossing his controller to the side.

I cringed. Just the sight of him disgusted me. How had I lived with this man for two years? Let him touch me for two damn years?

"Will you get your hands of me or do you never want to have hands again?" I spat, narrowing my gaze at his hands on my arm.

Fred hesitated, but then he took his hands off me.

"Can we talk about this, Indiyah?" He started again.

Christ! Can't this dude get a fucking hint. Did he want me to spell out the status of our relationship to him? I ignored him, pushing past his frame into the open room.

"Indiyah, talk to me. I hate it when you keep me hanging like this." Fred watched me intently, like a mother hen would its chicks.

"Fred, this..." I gesture between me and him with a slight wave of my left hand. "This is over. I'm leaving for New York right now." Grabbing my suitcase, I began hurling my clothes out of the closet, folding and dumping them into the open suitcase.

"You don't mean that. Babe... you are not seriously going to walk away from our relationship of two years just because I made one mistake.​"

His words were brutal. I couldn't stop the rage inside me from spilling out into my next words and action. My palm connected with his palm, the sound of the slap echoing in the room.

"I fucked a random stranger, Fred. How's that for a mistake?" I asked, with a raise of my brow.

I'd give anything to see the look on Fred's face again. Immense satisfaction is what I felt. Yes. In your face, you cheating bastard.

"You did not..." Fred gazed at me, his eyes taking a different emotion. Heck, I didn't care.

"I did. I rode his dick and guess what Fred? He came inside of me. No condom, nothing." I chuckled derisiously. The crazy part of my brain was ignited the night I saw him cheating on me.

"Slut!" Fred spat, recoiling in disgust.

"It's not a crime to be a slut, is it? Spare me the name calling and think about what mess you'll be in once I'm gone."

He watched me gather the last remaining of my belongings into the bag, without uttering a word. Whatever was going through that fucked up brain of his was none of my business. I was past caring.

"Janine is pregnant, and it's my baby." Fred said just as my hand hovered above the door knob, ready to turn it. I froze. My chest tightened. Get a hold of yourself, Indiyah. You're better than he thinks. You're worth more than Janine or any woman will ever be.

"You stopped. I know you still have feelings for me, Indiyah. And believe me, I do too. The only reason I fucked her was because I wanted a child so bad. I know you can't have children because of the..."

"Fuck you Fred. Fuck you! I can't have children? Just because we've been trying and you couldn't be patient? I had two abortions for you, betrayer. You sweet talked me into it. Now you open that hole of yours to tell me I can't have children. I hate you."

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt a dull ache in my chest. Fuck! It hurts. I had to get out of here, and fast.

"You're such a bitch, you know that."

"Well Frederick, you'll regret knowing this bitch." I turned the knob, dragging my suitcase out with me.

Thankfully, the uber I'd booked earlier arrived and he even came down to help me drag my suitcase and put it in the car. I glanced back at the apartment. The door was still shut. Fred didn't come after me.

"Airport" I called out to the driver.

The tears didn't stop. If anything, they intensified. Two years, gone quickly down the drain. I'd wasted such a long time with the wrong person.

What would my Nana say when I rounded up at her home, with a suitcase and a teary face? That she warned me and I didn't listen? More tears trickled down my face. I was suddenly realizing how fucked up I was. I couldn't go to Nana's. I could not bare to see the loathing look and 'I told you so' she'd throw at me.

Janine would have been an option had she not betrayed me.

I rummaged my purse. I still had my card with me. Not that it contained much money, but it could afford a nice, luxury, hotel. Until I could stand back on my feet and put my messed up life back together.

"Grace ville Suites," I told the uber driver.

"Not airport road?" He glanced at me through the mirror.

"Grace ville Suites," My words came out a bit harsher than intended.

I'd stay for a few days at the hotel. During that time, I'd get a job, save up and rent an apartment. I knew it wouldn't be easy to recover from a break up. Fred's betrayal made me swear of love and its whispering false promises. I'd turn celibate.

My life would be back on track again.

I just wish that would be the case.

​

~ Alexander

"It's true. I cannot father a child, Rossi." The words left my mouth, tasting like chalk. Now, I had my wife, mother, and sister to explain this to. So much for being a man.

"What do you mean by that, Alex?" Mother spoke first. Her eyes were filled with an emotion I wished I could decipher. A storm brewed within them, perhaps fueled by disbelief that the son she birthed was impotent.

Technically, that's how I labeled myself. My doctor hadn’t provided me with a name for my condition. I could still have sex with women and enjoy it. Sex was still fun; I just couldn’t—I hadn't gotten any woman pregnant.

It was ironic because I had sex with Rossi every day. That was how desperate we were in our quest for a child. If you put it that way, my intimacy with my wife was meant to fulfill her desires. She wanted a child, and I didn't. I could have shifted the blame for not conceiving onto her, but she was clean and fertile. Except for one thing: she was deceiving the family with a fake doctor's report.

"You are not impotent, Alex. Maybe it's me. Maybe there's something wrong with my body, and that's why I cannot give this family an heir," Rossi spoke up, her eyes glued to mine.

What a drama queen. Now I was ninety percent sure she was infertile. Running a hand through my hair, I exhaled. I needed a distraction from these family issues—like an event or social function that I could attend. Thankfully, my phone buzzed.

"The graduation?... It's today?... Did you select the best five students in their department?... That's right. I'm offering them jobs at Soar Tech Group of Companies. I'll be there in..." I glanced at my watch, "Fifteen minutes."

"You're leaving? We aren't done here." Rossi lunged forward, trying to grip my arm—a futile attempt to keep me from leaving.

"I'm not doing this with you, wife. If you think you're infertile, get a surrogate. Or better yet, just leave while no one knows of your barrenness yet." My eyes turned stone cold as I shoved her hand off my arm. I adjusted my shirt sleeves, tucked my hands into my pockets, and strode out of the confines of my home.

Pedro nodded curtly, holding the car door open for me. My chauffeur. A good man, he was still an excellent driver. Pedro was approaching his late fifties and fast reaching retirement age. I would miss his service.

"I've got a list of potential drivers, Boss. I will be retiring next month," Pedro said, glancing at me through the mirror.

I nodded, remaining silent. Next month—closer than I expected. The next chauffeur better be better than Pedro. After more than five years of service, he deserved a fitting farewell ceremony. I needed to bring that up with the board.

Pedro pulled into the Soar Tech premises, where I saw five people: two males and three females. The top students from the university. I was going to offer them jobs at my tech company. I always did that—each year, I selected students who excelled and offered them exceptional positions. This year would be no different.

I stepped out of the car, a warm feeling spreading in my chest. This place—my company—felt more like home than my actual home. Being here meant I could escape thoughts of my inability to have a child and my wife’s infertility.

"Welcome, Sir," each of the newly graduated students greeted me, their heads bowed, eyes fixed on the ground. I found that amusing. Who said they couldn't look me in the eye?

"Raise your heads," I commanded with a firm voice.

They lifted their heads one by one, and then my gaze locked with hers—the woman I had a one-night stand with three years ago. She looked panicky, which made me think she hadn’t forgotten me. How could I ever forget her? Images of her red hair, red dress, and perfect body burned into my mind, imprinted in my soul. They surfaced every time I indulged in private moments. Speaking of which, I felt a stir in my pants just from looking at her. Bad timing, indeed.

"What is your name?" I couldn't resist asking.

"Indiyah," she replied, averting her gaze.

"Hmm, Indiyah. See me in my office. The rest of you are dismissed. Grace will fill you in with the details. I want to have a word with Miss Indiyah."

She opened her mouth to say something but stopped. I gazed at her lips—sensual, full, pouty, and red. Her red hair was slicked back and tied in a ponytail. I couldn't tell if her lips were naturally this red or if she was wearing lipstick. If they were natural, then they were the prettiest sight I'd seen.

"Can... can you stop staring at me like that?" she stammered, her eyes avoiding mine.

"No. I'm trying to remember… why you left that night without telling me your name. What was it you said? You don’t fuck and cuddle?" I raised an eyebrow, pleased with myself for recalling her words.

I couldn't miss the flush in her cheeks; they turned rosy pink. Good. She remembered her words. I liked the way she looked.

"With all due respect, sir, I'd rather not talk about that night," she said, looking me straight in the eyes.

Her grey irises were striking, resembling a doe's eyes. A beauty mole rested just above her perfect lips.

"I'd like to discuss it, Mamacita." My hand moved almost instinctively as I reached for her cheek, slowly running my thumb over her plump lips. As I did, her lips parted slightly. Damn, God's creation was breathtaking—sexy, even.

"You look like you want to fuck me again, Boss. But it's not happening because... I don't mix business with pleasure and I'm celibate."

~ Indiyah

A low rumble erupted from his mouth. Damn the universe for doing this to me. Thirty minutes ago, I was excited about starting a new job after graduation, but now I couldn’t say for sure what I felt. The CEO of Soar Tech Companies—my boss, my baby daddy—was staring at me.

Not just any stare. He was giving me that 'I want to sleep with you again' kind of look. When his thumb parted my lips, I could swear I felt strange sensations. My body tingled. It had been so long since I'd had sex, and my body knew it. I turned celibate after my breakup with Fred, so you could say I was sex-starved.

But I wasn’t about to let this man know that my body wanted him. If he threw caution to the wind and slipped those long fingers under my panties, he’d find me soaking wet.

"I don't mix business with pleasure, Mamacita," he said, regarding me closely and running his eyes down my body.

Mamacita. The word turned me on more than I already was. I had to take a step back, rubbing my thighs together to relieve the dull ache.

"But being celibate? That’s far from who I am." He finally looked away from me, and I could tell he was thinking. He seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders just by looking into his brown eyes.

"Uhmm… People have different choices. There’s something I need to know. Do you want to sleep with me again?" I took a deep breath when the question slipped from my lips.

"Fuck yes. I want it more than anything," he replied, his eyes darkening like that night.

I chuckled slowly at the intensity of his voice.

"I mean no disrespect, Boss. I think we should let the past be the past. We wouldn't want anything to disrupt the work atmosphere, would we?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his tousled, impeccably styled hair. "I don't mind getting the whole company dirty."

"But I do. I'm new here, and the last thing I want is the scandal that comes with having an affair with my boss. Besides… any woman out there would jump at the opportunity to sleep with you. Why me?"

He hesitated, perhaps contemplating the answer to my rhetorical question.

"Let’s forget about three years ago, okay, Boss?" I raised an eyebrow, giving him a pointed look.

His lips curved into a sly smirk. "I’ll try."

Jesus. Who was this man? Here I was, worried about myself. I didn’t think I could work closely with him because just his presence caused a pool of desire between my legs. And him calling me 'Mamacita'? Damn. I was in for a ride.

I'd admit I loved the fact that I turned him on as well. I mean, I wasn’t the same Indiyah he had a one-night stand with. I had birthed a child, and my body was different now. Plus, that child had suckled at my breasts, and they looked a lot different than three years ago. So, I was glad he still wanted me.

"Personal assistant. Work resumes by 8 AM, so you have to be on time to get my morning coffee. I don't function properly during the day without coffee. If you're late, I'll punish you myself." He paused, an amused look on his face.

"I mean it when I say I’ll punish you," he finished, releasing a breathy moan.

Rolling my eyes, I giggled. "Do you usually punish all your staff, Boss?"

"No. But you are not just any staff member. You are my personal assistant."

With that, he turned and walked toward the big building. I had no choice but to follow.

•

"Mommy!" An ear-splitting scream filled the room.

I jerked up from my nap and glanced at the clock. It was past the time my daughter Jemaya's school dismissed. Oh no. I must have been so tired that I fell asleep when I returned from work.

"There she is," I grinned widely at my three-year-old daughter.

She scanned the room, and when her bright eyes found me, she broke into a run until she was in my arms.

"Oh, baby. I missed you so much." I hugged her close, as if she might disappear.

"I missed you too, Mommy," she replied after the hug.

Ramona entered the room, casting me furtive glances. I rose, my lips twitching as I thought of a suitable excuse to give.

"Thank you for picking her up from school, Mona. I had a hectic day and was so tired. But… I got a job!" I revealed, laughter escaping my mouth at Ramona's shocked, ecstatic expression.

"It's a lie," she countered while putting away Jemaya's backpack and lunch bag.

"Soar Tech Companies. Personal assistant to the CEO. Guess who is starting work on Monday? It’s me." I rushed my words, twirling around and giggling.

"Oh my God, Indiyah. I am so happy for you. Congratulations," Ramona exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. Gosh, I needed that hug. Or I just needed a friend to share in my joy.

After my fallout with Janine, it had been hard to trust people. But I met Ramona one of those nights after I had just given birth to Jemaya, and I had to work night shifts. She worked as a nanny, helping me babysit my daughter. Now, we had come a long way past that. Ramona and I were best buddies.

"This calls for a celebration. Beer for me and fruit juice for Jemaya?" Ramona said, heading for the kitchen.

"How was school today, baby? Did you learn anything?" I turned my attention back to Jemaya.

"Rhymes," she replied absentmindedly, not looking at me.

I craned my neck to see what she was busy with. Sprawled out on her play mat, she was holding two of her toys, mumbling words I couldn't make out. Right. She was just playing.

Turning on the television, the reporter's voice blared while I stood back to listen to what had caught my attention.

*Wife of the CEO of Soar Tech Companies, Mrs. Rossi Graham, is celebrating her 25th birthday and hosting a party for children under the age of 6.*

*There will be gifts and cash prizes for the smartest child.*

Wife. CEO. Soar Tech?

Alexander Graham has a wife?

"Are you thinking of signing Jemaya up for it? I mean... she's smart," Ramona said, gazing at me.

I looked at my daughter, playing without a care in the world. If Mrs. Rossi knew that her husband had a daughter somewhere, how would she react to the news? My daughter's life could be in danger.

I knew what I had to do.

No one would ever know that I had given birth to Alexander Graham's daughter.