Shantel took a sip from her cocktail, a devilish smile on her face. Maya stared at her while Anita tapped away on her phone. They were at the beach and seated on a beach chair.
"What's that smile on your face? I know something is up," Maya said.
"Oh, you know me too well. I'm still reflecting on my last conversation with Cole's father," Shantel replied, smirking.
"About you getting married to Cole?" Maya asked and Shantel nodded.
" Cole must have flipped when he heard the news from his father," she said.
"Hm, how sure are you?" Anita finally spoke.
"What do you mean?" Shantel asked, raising a brow.
Anita didn't spare her a glance. "If Cole did flip, he should have called you concerning the marriage, but he didn't,"
"Then, he must be excited and getting ready for it,"
"Is he?" Anita asked as she looked over at Shantel.
"Annie??" Maya gave her a warning look. Anita was known to always speak the true facts that Shantel didn't want to hear, while Maya let her wallow in her delusions.
"Or he's busy going after that woman, whom I'm very sure is the mother of his child," Anita blurted.
"She's not the mother of his child and that child doesn't belong to Cole," Shantel said through gritted teeth.
Anita smiled. "The resemblance said it all,"
"Photoshopped. Editing. These are the common things that goes around on social media. Bloggers and creators will do anything for content," Shantel replied.
"Why don't you find out, than still being in the dark. If Cole was really not after that woman, he should have called you and yelled. He's that way with you. We know him," Anita finished off.
Shantel stood up angrily. "You always find a way to ruin my mood," she said and with that, she walked away.
"Shan, wait!" Maya called after her, but she did not stop, neither did she look back. "Why are you always antagonizing her?" She turned to Anita.
Anita shrugged. "I do not hate her, Maya, if that's what you're thinking. She deserves to know the truth. Do you want her to be on high hopes for a wedding when there's none?"
"How do you know there will be no wedding?" Maya asked.
"Cause there won't be," Anita affirmed and Maya just stared at her.
~~~~~
Amy sighed as she packed her things from her desk. It was closing hours already and she couldn't wait to slip out of the office.
She hurriedly picked her bag before Liam would come out of his office, so she could escape him. But, as she turned to leave, Liam stepped out of his office.
"All packed I see," he said and she nodded. "I'll give you a ride home,"
"No, no, no," she quickly declined. "I can get home myself,"
"I insist,"
"It's fine, honestly. I just want to take a long walk before heading home," she said. She saw the other staffs leaving and she was sure she was going to be their topic of discussion.
"Alright," he gave in. "But, next time, I won't take no for an answer,"
She nodded.
"Good night, Amy," he said with a smile.
"Good night," she replied with a little wave as she watched him leave.
She didn't take the elevator until she was sure he would have reached the first floor.
After a few minutes, she finally made use of the elevator and headed out of the building. His car was still in sight as she got closer to the sidewalk. He gave her a little wave, she returned it and he drove away.
Amy heaved a sigh of relief as she adjusted her jacket and started walking. The air was suddenly chilly. Her plan was to walk to the bus station to take a bus.
Just then, she heard a car honk behind her. She didn't look back. The car pulled up beside her. "Amy,"
She heard Cole's voice and she turned to see him driving beside her.
"I told you to stay away," she said.
"Get into the car, we need to talk," he said seriously.
She ignored him and kept walking.
"Don't be stubborn, woman,"
She still said nothing as she kept on walking, till her cheap heels broke. "Hell, not now," she groaned.
"Will you get in now?" Cole asked, noticing her broken heel.
She stared hard at him and then removed her shoes as she walked barefooted.
"Fuck, you'll get blisters!" He yelled at her.
She ignored him and with a straight head, she kept walking. All of a sudden, she noticed the car was no longer following her. "Good," she muttered.
Out of the blue, she was lifted off the ground and her body against a masculine one. She gasped in shock. Her eyes met Cole's and he said not a word to her.
She struggled in his arms. "Put me down,"
But, he didn't. Instead, he unlocked the car, and dumped her in. He locked it, so she wouldn't jump out.
He got to the driver's side before unlocking the car and getting in. He locked the car once more and drove away in high speed.
"Where are you taking me?" Amy demanded.
"Sit calm and here me out, okay?"
"I've told you I don't want to have anything to do with you,"
"Please," he pleaded as he looked at her. One look at his face, all her melodrama dissipated and she turned away from him as she looked out the window.
Cole drove to the hillside, where he had taken her before. As soon as they got there, Cole parked the car and stepped out. Amy refused to come down.
He exhaled deeply. "Amy," he said softly.
Amy stared at him and reluctantly she got out of the car. She walked over to the hilltop and stared at the tiny lights surrounding the city.
"Remember the first time we came here?" Cole asked her.
How could she forget? At that moment, she had felt nothing but happiness and that they were meant to be. What a wistful thinking. She swallowed.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked instead of replying to his question.
"I want you to hear me out. I want to explain everything to you," he said.
She nodded, even though she wasn't sure she was willing to hear. "Okay,"
"It all started when Shantel was expecting my baby,"
Her heart thumped as her mind went wild. He has another child?