CHAPTER 53
Nina's POV
I was having a wet dream.
It was Amar and I, and we were making passionate love. I stirred in my sleep when I felt someone's hand on me. The arm circled around me, rested on my stomach and I flung my eyes open. I turned around to meet the blue crystal eyes of Amar in the dark.
Before I could stretch my hand to switch on the light, he took my hand and kissed it. I perceived his scent and inhaled it deeply as my hand found it's way unconsciously into his lovely, curly hair that always drives me crazy.
"Amar", I whispered as I peered at him in the dark.
"Nina, I'm sorry", he said. His hot breath fanned my neck and I shuddered.
"I'm sorry too", my heart thumped wildly in my chest as I felt his hard gaze on me. His breath was intoxicating and made me breathless.
We kept staring at each other, with my hand still in his hair and his hands on my waist. He was above me and his face broke into a smile.
He crashed his lips into mine in a searing kiss, and I let out a sigh of relief.
I thought that would never happen again. I thought it was all a dream but I was wrong when I felt his hands between my thighs. I shuddered in pleasure when he took me and made my dreams of having him come true.
****
Daisy's POV
To say I was overjoyed was an understatement. I couldn't believe my book got accepted. I was glad and grateful to God, to Nina and to Danny.
Danny really did a lot of polishing as my editor, to my work and I felt greatly indebted to him, even though it's his work.
I was so happy that I just couldn't wait to get to the Philippines and tell them about the book I was working on. I wrote my 5th `chapter`` that morning before going to school. The progress was slow but the words were flowing and I was in love with the book.
I felt like a great writer already. The book looked real... I smiled when I realized it was a mixture of reality and my imagination. I had high hopes that the book would sell and I knew the VP publishing firm wouldn't resist publishing it first before I get invitations from other publishing firms.
Nina said we needed to go to the Philippines for a book festival where I can get to meet young authors of my age and probably promote my books there after signing the contract. I just couldn't wait.
She told me her father was from the Philippines and I couldn't believe it. I thought she was an American all along. Her mother was from America while her dad was from the Philippines and we would be lodging in her late father's home instead of lodging in a hotel.
I was on my bed with my laptop on my lap, as I smiled going over the book that had just been accepted, when my phone rang.
There was no name on it but the number looked familiar. I picked the call and waited for a sound from the other end.
"Daisy", the voice said.
"Maria?" I screamed, almost hitting my laptop with my long legs.
She chuckled and I felt like seeing her at that moment to hug the living hell out of her. I felt emotional all of a sudden as there was silence between us. I sniffed.
"Maria", I called again.
"Daisy, are you crying?"
"No", I sniffed again, thinking of the times we spent together and all that has happened in her absence. I wondered how she was faring and if she was doing good and happy. "How have you been?"
"I fucking missed you."
"I missed you, too." I began to cry.
I realized just how much I missed her and how less I think of the past, about my father's death, my pregnancy, my aunt's disappearance and about Lizzy and Susana.
"You are still a cry cry, baby Daisy despite the fact that you are now a mother."
"What?"I exclaimed. "Ho..how did you know that?"
She laughed. "My naive Daisy. Actually, I'm in New York now. I got your number from Stanley and he told me."
"Stanley? Why the hell will he do that? What the fuck is wrong with him?" I yelled.
She ignored my comment. "How is my granddaughter? I heard her name is Ellah. How old is she?"
I sighed. "She's three years old."
"Uhmm", she mumbled for a while. "The baby is Damien's, isn't it?" She asked and I almost fainted in shock. I didn't know what or how to reply to her. I didn't know how to tell her that Damien doesn't even know he has a child with me.
"Daisy", she called. "Is it Damien's? Or is it Stanley's?"
"What? Why would you say that?"
"I was wondering how he got to know and I am just aware."
"No."
"Why didn't you call me Daisy? I was mad at you. In fact, where are you right now?"
"I guess Stanley forgot to tell you that. Stupid guy. I never knew he gossips around."
"Gossip?" She snorted. "I am your friend and I have every right to know. You didn't tell me. What the hell happened to you? And why aren't you in New York? I went to your house", she probed further.
I stared blankly at the laptop before me as I replied. "I left home."
"What? Don't tell me you got raped and that got you pregnant...."
"No."
"Why did you leave home?"
"Dad died," I said.
"Oh My God!", she muttered. "I'm so sorry. What happened?"
How am I supposed to tell her that my dad died when his wife called to inform him that his precious daughter was pregnant, I asked myself.
"Accident."
"Susana didn't tell me anything. She just said you no longer leave there."
"I'm in Las Vegas."
"With who?" I didn't say a word. I found her way of questioning very irritating. It reminded me of the past I was trying too hard to let go of.
She gasped. "Don't tell me you are married."
"Hell, no!"
"Then what happened", she cried. "Did something bad happen to you? Talk to me, Daisy. I was going crazy with worry, not until I met Stanley." I could sense the concern and worry in her voice and I smiled.
Despite being crazy, she still cared. Despite all the years, she was still behaving like a mother would behave a child. She was still the same Maria I knew her to be. And I fucking loved her. A tear rolled down my eyes.
"Maria", I called in between sobs. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine and I'm sorry for not contacting you. Everything happened so fast and I lost your number, that's why I couldn't contact you. I asked Stanley for Eric's number, just so I can reach you but he said he doesn't have Eric's number."
"We broke up."
"He told me that."
"Are you sure you are fine?"
"Yes. I'm doing just great."
"I have a feeling all isn't well. I'm sorry....."
"It's ok, Maria. I missed you."
"I fucking missed you too, baby. Won't you tell me what happened and who the father of your baby is?" She questioned again, plunging back into the trouble of saying out the words I didn't want to say.
I couldn't find my voice, as much as I wanted to talk to her. At that instant, I felt there was really no need to keep calling Damien the father of my baby. He doesn't even know.
"You don't want to talk to me, Daisy? When did you become this secretive?"
"We can't talk over the phone, Maria. Can we see?" I asked and she kept quiet.
Before she could reply, I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in", I said with the phone still glued to my ears, waiting for Maria's reply. Richard came in.
"Daisy, someone is looking for you outside", he said and turned to go out
"Someone? Who is that person?" I demanded, without moving an inch.
"Sidney", he answered.
"Sidney? I thought I told you not to let him...."
"I told him and he tried to force his way in", he responded and I jerked up.
"Maria, let me call you back please", I stood up.
"Ok", she answered softly before I disconnected the call, kept the phone on my bed and walked out with Richard.
When I got out of the front door with him, I almost ran to the gate when I saw Sidney trying to fight with Alex at the gate.
"Sidney, what the hell is wrong with you?" I questioned immediately I got to the gate. His face broke into a smile when he saw me and he tried to touch me.
"I'm sorry, Daisy. Please forgive me", he pleaded. He looked drunk and I shook my head.
"Sorry? Sorry for what exactly?" I folded my arms.
"I'm sorry for cheating on you, for beating up your friend and for everything. I promise it won't repeat itself again."
"Really?" He nodded. "Well, that can never repeat itself again because you've lost your chance. When I said I was done with you, I wasn't joking. I don't give second chances so please get out of here before I call the cops. And I don't want to ever see you here, trying to force your way in or fighting anyone close to me or you will have yourself to blame."
I watched his mouth twitch and his eyes became red with anger. He tried to hit me but I moved away immediately. My heart began to pound wildly at his reaction.
"You broke up with me and the next week, I saw you with a guy. That means and says a lot about you, Daisy."
He spat out, turned around and muttered before walking away. "Whore."