“My eyes must be playing tricks on me!” Delaney exclaimed in disbelief the moment Erica was out of earshot. She paced up and down the room, rubbing her palms together.

“She was rumored to be dead. She wasn’t seen for years, and now she just comes back, trying to rule over us?”

“Dad! You aren’t saying anything.” She shrieked, stomping her feet in anger.

“Just let me think, let me think of something.” George shouted at her, obviously angry.

“She can’t just disappear and come back so rich and all glamourous. She must have stolen from you or been sleeping around.”

“Do you think I am finding this funny and easy? You talk too much. Just let me focus.” He lashed at his daughter.

“The company is going bankrupt already, what do you expect me to do? Fold my hands and reject her help, so people can mock us?”

“Enough of your too much talks Delaney. Please!”

“I don’t blame you father. Why won’t you talk this way when she has already blinded you with her money, all of you!” Delaney held her long gown and stormed out of the board room in anger.

………………

Erica was done relieving herself and approached the mirror to reapply her makeup when she looked to her side and sighted Norberto. She averted her gaze from him and continued applying her makeup. She picked up her handbag, and walked towards the door.

Norberto stopped her in her tracks, blocking the way with his huge body. He knew the bathroom was only for the meant for the top females in the company so he worried less about anyone coming inside.

“Can you please step aside.”

“Erica…”

“I said, step aside. You are blocking the way.”

“Erica, please listen to me…”

“don’t you dare even think of touching me with your filthy hands.” She said, glaring angrily at him. Norberto immediately withdrew his hand and placed them on the wall behind her.

“Get mad at me all you want Erica, shout, hit me, punch me, but please hear me out. I won’t leave until we talk.”

“Then be ready to tell everyone why you are in the female’s restroom.”

“I have nothing to discuss with you. We have nothing to talk about. So now back off and let me leave.”

“Where have you been? Where did you go to? I searched for you. I looked for you everywhere.”

Erica sneered and chuckled as she looked at him from head to toe. “Is this really you talking? You looked for me, you searched everywhere, when you were the one that told me to get lost and stay away from your life.”

“I can explain, just let me explain.”

“These were the same words I said to you, years ago, begging you. Now leave my way.”

“What do you even want us to talk about? You asked for a divorce I agreed, I accepted all your terms and stayed away from your life, what else do you want from me?” she shouted.

“or do you need a reminder! How you treated me, how you made me looked like a fool for all I ever did and how you choose my own step sister over me a many times or was it how I was at the hospital fighting for my life yet you were only concerned about your engagement to my sister.”

Norberto sighed and rubbed his face.

“You have changed so much Erica. You are no longer the lady I used to know.”

“yeah, all thanks to you.”

“I am no longer the foolish, young, naïve girl that was blindly in love with a man that never reciprocated it and used every opportunity to insult me and made a fool out of me.”

“No don’t get me wrong Erica. I mean, you didn’t even spare a glance at me. You carried yourself back there with so much confidence and glamour. We are still married you know, I’m still your husband.”

“You joke too much Norberto”

“You are in my past; you are my past. I don’t have anything to do with you anymore and I owe you nothing. So don’t even think you still own me.”

Everything happened so fast. Norberto pushed her against the wall which left her feeling shocked. His hot breath caressed her neck, making tiny strands of hair stood up. Their chests were almost touching.

“Get off me Norberto.”

“Erica, I know I have wrong you and did horrible things to you in the past. Please forgive me. I searched for you, I swear. I looked everywhere for you. I had no clue where you might have gone to. I am sorry for all the pain please.”

“I feel so bad right now. I don’t even feel like a match for you anymore. I feel so ashamed currently. Please forgive me.”

He leaned forward, pressing harder against her chest. Erica swallowed hard trying to wriggle from his grip.

“Please just stay still.”

He bent his head and caressed her neck with his lips, slightly her.

And almost immediately, Delaney stormed in. “What is going on here?” she asked glaring at them.

“Norberto, what the hell is going on here?” she screamed.

“Delaney, just go away from here please.” Erica tried pushing him off but he was no match for her.

“I can see you are back to take him away huh! you cheap thing.”

Erica swallowed hard. She could feel anger rising inside of her. She pushed Norberto away with all her might and walked right to Delaney. She pulled at her hair and dragged her head back painfully making Delaney to scream and wince in pain.

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that ever in your life.” She adjusted her dress and stormed out of the restroom.

Richard was standing, resting his back against the wall. He saw Erica walking towards him furiously, her hair flying in the direction of the wind.

“Let’s go Richard.”

“You don’t look too good and you took so long, what happened?” Richard asked, trying to catch up with her.

“We will talk about it on our way going. For now, let’s just leave.” She said grabbing his hand.

………………

“Norberto, you need to tell me what the hell just happened here. Don’t tell me you are swooning over her already. Gosh! Men! You guys are so unbelievable.” She said, placing her palm on her forehead and pacing up and down the restroom.

He glared at Delaney as though he could strangle her any moment. “You are such a pest, a killjoy! Just stay away from my business. Don’t interfere, you leech!”

Delaney looked at Norberto with shock written all over her face. She just could not believe he was referring to her with such words. “Are you freaking kidding right now? You are calling me a leech. Norberto, you were almost kissing her just now and as your fiancée I have all rights to know what’s going on.”

“Oh please just stop all these already Delaney. Stop. I don’t have time for all your silly talks right now.”

“Are you such a gold digger too Norberto? I can’t believe you are running after her now just because she’s now rich. It still won’t help your company which is going bankrupt.”

Norberto was furious. He glared at her, gritting his teeth, “Can you just hear yourself. I can’t believe I loved a nuisance like you.”

“I said what I said. I am your woman, so stay the hell away from that slut.”

“Erica is my wife and I won’t have you talk about her like that.” Norberto shoved her aside, leaving her behind in the restroom.

Torrents of tears flowed down Delaney’s face the moment Norberto left. She slid down the wall with her back against it. She stared at the big mirror just in front of her and realized her makeup was smudged. Her mascara ran down her face forming a black line on both sides.

She approached the sink to wash her face. She patted her face dry and wiped her hands with a napkin after which she walked out.

……………

“Dad I saw them in the restroom. Norberto is now swooning over her. I think I’ve lost him dad.”

“That should be the least of your concern now Delaney. After all, she is still his wife…”

“But we are engaged dad.” Delaney cried out, swinging her arms in the air furiously.

“She took everything from me and now the only man I have, she’s taking him away too.”

“I feel like I’ve lost it all dad.”

“You should sort this out between yourself and Norberto. After all you got engaged to him because he was the youngest richest billionaire but now, his company is almost winding up due to bankruptcy, so I see no reason why you should be beating yourself up if he wants to leave.”

“But dad… I am loving him already.”

“Enough Delaney. I’ve had a long day. I need some rest.”

George walked out on her with Delaney running to catch up with him. She looked at him with her eyes swollen from crying as he entered his car and drove off.

Suddenly an evil smile formed on her lips as though she had thought of something. She got into her car and drove home.

……………..

Norberto bumped into Carlo on his way out of the restroom. “Where have you been, Carlo?”

“Sorry sir, I went to grab a quick lunch.”

“Did you see Erica?”

“She left already sir. I saw her walking away with her boyfriend. They were both looking so gorgeous.”

“Will you keep shut. That’s my wife we are talking about here.”

“How sir, make me understand. Erica, your wife, I mean you are married, when? How? Where?”

“That asshole of a man cannot be her boyfriend. We didn’t even get divorced.” Norberto said to a confused Carlo, who was silently wishing his boss wasn’t going crazy.

“You are getting me scared, sir, if I must say.” Carlo said with a puzzled look. He pondered for a while about his boss’s weird behavior.

“I need you to do something for me Carlo.”

“Okay boss, what’s that?”

“Hire a private investigator and find out whatever you can about Erica and her company. I need the information in three days from now.”

“Rose, what are you doing here at my place, so early.” Erica walked over to her best friend, hugging her. Her eyes fell on the woven basket she had in her hand.

“These are for you and the triplets. Goodness girl you did so well. I could not bear hearing the gist on the phone so I had to come over. Kudos to you girl.”

“UHH, you are so dramatic rose. Anyways, thank you for your lovely words.”

“Where are they?”

“In their rooms, sleeping.”

“Perfect! Now we have all the time to discuss and have some good ladies time. Tell me how it all happened.” Rose asked as they both walked to wards the cushion chair side by side.

“It was a hell of a day rose. Maybe I shouldn’t have showed up. Maye I shouldn’t have accepted their proposals or take the role of the new CEO of the company.”

Rose stopped in her tracks. She held Erica by the shoulders and turned her, facing her.

“Girl, you have no reason to regret anything at all. You did what’s best. After all that’s your father’s company we are talking about over here.”

Erica took a deep breath, folding her arms and reclining on the cushion. “I don’t need this too much attention. I just want to make enough money that will be sufficient for my kids and I and live a low-key life. I also hate the fact that I had to run into Norberto. It’s like my past replaying itself again.”

“I’m so tired rose. I feel like I’m just going to pass out from too much thoughts.” She sighed, rubbing her temple.

“Calm down. Now is not the time to lament over anything. Here…”, rose said, pouring the contents of the basket on the table. “I got you your favorite chocolates and muffins. Tonight, lets Netflix and chill. Want to grab a drink girl?”

Erica smiled at how thoughtful her friend was. “Yeah sure. What would I have done without you rose.” Erica said fondly.

“Oh my! Now some is seriously flattering me.”

Rose made her way towards the kitchen. She soon returned with a bottle of wine and two glass cups which she placed on the table. She poured herself and Erica a drink. The two best friends sat quietly, sipping the wine.

She watched as Erica sipped her wine absentmindedly. She marveled at the strength of her best friend and silently wished things fall in place for her soon.

“How did it go between you and Norberto?”

She stared at rose, swirling her cup.

“Don’t feign ignorance Erica. Just tell me, how was the situation when you ran into your husband?”

“Ex-husband!”

Rose chuckled, “But you know you guys never really had a legal divorce. Anyways how did it go?”

“Nothing really happened though. He was just being a pest all through.”

“A pest! How?”

Erica brought the glass to her lips and drank its content in one gulp. “he cornered me in the restroom. He wanted us to talk. He kept on apologizing for what has happened in the past.”

Rose chuckled. “Aww, really?”

“He said he searched everywhere for me. He looked for me and he regrets all that happened in the past. He was actually very jealous of Richard. He burned up so bad due to jealousy, you could literarily see his skin turned red.” The two girls laughed loudly and took a bite each from their muffins.

“So now, he wants you back?”

“Yeah he does. You could see the pain in his eyes and the regret in his tone.”

“I bet his chewing his fingers in regret now.”

“You needed to see him. He looked so off and unkempt and a bit tattered. He must have really lost some night’s sleep because of his company.”

“I can only imagine.” Rose said, pouring herself more wine.

“Give me more too.” Erica demanded, pushing her glass cup towards rose. “He never allowed me to say anything. He treated me like I was some piece of shit. He even brought my stepsister to our matrimonial bed. Gosh! I was such a foolish, young, naïve lady in love.”

“You were truly in love and you are such a good person. Don’t blame yourself for his mistakes. It’s his loss actually.” Rose comforted her.

“But then, I want you to tell me the truth. Do you still have something in your heart for him, I mean do you still feel something for this guy. I remember how you so loved him them.”

“I feel nothing for him. I just see him as I see others now. I don’t think I can feel a thing for someone who kept seeing me as an evil human just because he never got married to Delaney. He had always told me how I was a nobody and I won’t ever be worth anything and how Delaney is better than me in everything. I don’t think a tiny part of me is even willing to trust him or feel anything for him.”

Rose rubbed her thighs, soothing her. “I understand how you feel Erica. I’m so sorry you had to go through this rollercoaster of emotions.”

“How did Delaney react? I bet that evil lady was so shocked seeing you.”

“She couldn’t believe I was the owner of global enterprises. She didn’t want to believe it even though Lucas kept mentioning it. She stumbled upon Norberto and I in the restroom. She was so furious. She called me a gold-digging slut, can you imagine the guts? Well I sure put her in her place.”

Rose clapped her hands in delight. She patted her best friend on the back and gave her a thumbs up. ‘You did really great. Now she will think twice before trying to mess up with you. Huhu!”

“I keep wondering, why does she hate me so much? She always picked on me and at any slight chance, she reminds me of how I was a lonely, dejected child whose mother was brought into their house and I had no other option but to be allowed into the family.”

“I tried my best to please her. I made sure I took blame for whatever she accused me off even though I was not guilty. I wonder where and how I’ve wronged her.”

“She’s just a bitter person. I mean there’s no other explanation for this. She hates you and that’s on period.”

“I just want my kids safe. And now that their father is already in the picture, I got to be extra careful.”

“I don’t think I’m ever willing to let him know about the triplets. I just want to keep them away, away from him and every other person. I fear the kids getting harmed.”

“How do you wish to achieve that? Don’t forget, nothing remains hidden forever. Do you really think if you hide the birth of the triplets from him, he won’t still get to know?”

“Think about this decision of yours Erica.”

“But he may use that opportunity to try coming back into my life. He may use the triplets as a means of getting back with me. You know how they really so want to have a father figure and sees Richard as one.” Erica whined.

“Is that really your fear? Or are you scared that him getting to know about the triplets and trying to come back into their lives will spark up something between the both of you? Trust me girlfriend, I understand your fears, but I don’t think keeping his children away from him is the best decision. They need their father too. Don’t deprive them of that.”

“No, I am enough for them. They do not need someone who was never there for them even before they were birthed. I will do everything I can to make sure he doesn’t know anything about him. He won’t even know that I was ever pregnant.”

Rose placed her hand on Erica’s thighs. “I know you are so angry currently and I am in no position to tell you how to feel and what to feel, but keeping these kids away from their father isn’t the best decision you should even consider taking.”

Rose watched as Erica fell into deep thoughts. She could see her eyes twitching and knew she was trying so hard to stop the tears from falling.

The door opened and the triplets rushed in, interrupting their talk.

“My little pumpkins.” Rose said hugging them one after the other. “We will continue our talk later.” She whispered to Erica. “For now, I need to attend to my darlings. Here look kids, I got you something….” Her voice faded away as she went out to the play room with the kids.

Erica smiled and wiped a tear from the corner of her eyes. She walked over to the play room quietly. She flung the door open and saw rose and the triplets playing with some building blocks. The kids were also enjoying their snacks and chocolate rose had brought.

“Mommy! Mommy! Come join us.” Ricky shouted, jumping cheerfully on the bed.

“Mommy is so tired darling. Why don’t I sit and watch you guys play okay!” she replied, squatting on the floor.

“Look mommy, I painted a photo of you and daddy.”

Erica’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at Becca’s drawing.

“In a family, there’s a mother and a father and the children. So I imagined us having a daddy and I drew it.” Becca said jumping around the room happily. She looked fulfilled and happy with her drawing. Rose stared at Erica and gave her a smile before she continued playing with the kids.

“That’s wonderful Becca. I love the drawing. Weldon my love.” She said, rubbing her daughter’s head.

Erica plunged herself on the cushion immediately she went into the sitting room. She held the painting and glared at it for a long time. She felt a sharp pain in her chest. She knew that was the pain Norberto had caused her.

Rose was seen tiptoeing into the sitting room. She had a smile on her face as she sat close to Erica. “They are sleeping already.”

“Thanks rose. Thank you for all your help. I mean, I couldn’t have done all these on my own.”

“OH common Erica. Stop thanking me. You are making me feel bad. What are best friends for if I can’t help when you need it. I will always be here for as long as it takes.”

Rose watched Erica fell into deep thoughts again. “Hey, what are you thinking about?” she asked nudging Erica with her shoulder.

“So many things. On our third anniversary, I wanted to tell him about the pregnancy but he wasn’t even willing to listen to me. He even rejected the anniversary gift I bought for him. And the next thing he did, was to toss the divorce papers at me.”

“But then he willingly had sex with you right? I mean I get it that the first was a setup by your step sister but the second was not.”

“I don’t even want to talk about it.” Erica said, as the flashbacks of what happened that night the triplets were conceived rushed to her mind.