FIVE YEARS LATER

"Mom. Wake up." Rosalie heard and her eyes fluttered open.

She looked up to see a pair of beautiful eyes staring down at her. She smiled and sat up.

"How was you night baby." She asked ruffling his hair.

"It was fine mom and yours?" The little boy asked.

"Good." She replied smiling.

"Aren't you both just cute?" She heard and turned to stare at Jasmine, a friend she made after arriving at M city, someone who had saved her life.

"Good morning." Rosalie greeted.

"Morning." She said.

"Mom. It's late already and you promised me that we'll be going to the mall today to buy me a new birthday gift." He reminded.

She stared at him and noticed he was already dressed.

"Maybe it was Jasmine who dressed him." She thought.

"I hope you remember that we have a business meeting around 3:00 pm this afternoon. So you better get your butt off the bed now." Jasmine reminded too.

"I'm so sorry. Let me just go and get ready." She said and stood up from the bed.

She walked into her bathroom, took off her clothes, put on the shower and let the warm water cascade down her body.

Under the warm feeling of the water, she reminisced on all she had to pass through the past few years. She didn't know how she had been able to survive till this moment.

When she left J city and arrived at M city, she thought she would be able to survive with her unborn baby for about a year with the money the stranger had left for her but tragedy struck.

She was attacked by hoodlums and all her belongings were stolen. Including the money and her credit cards. She was left with nothing to fend for herself.

She had to sleep under bridges or rent tents whenever its raining and eat from hand to mouth. She worked different menial jobs to sustain herself, but they weren't enough. This continued for about two months until she met Jasmine.

Jasmine was on her way to a meeting when she saw Rosalie begging for alms that day. Jasmine felt pity for her because she noticed she was pregnant. She baby was already four months gone so her belly was protruding a little.

She took her home, cleaned her and fed her. Jasmine was working at a business company at that time so she introduced Rosalie to the business. When Rosalie was due for birth, she stopped working and gave birth to her son, Alexander.

Months later, she hired a nanny and continued working. Two years ago, she quitted the company with Jasmine and they both started a new business together with Rosalie as the president because it was her idea and Jasmine as her vice president.

Now, they are both one of the most successful businesswomen all over the world with many influential business partners. Wherever they went, different powerful men always kiss at their feet because of their beauty and the aura they emit whenever they were around.

All these was thanks to her savior Jasmine.

Rosalie put off the shower and wrapped a towel around her slender body. She came out of the bathroom and went into her walk-in closet. Alex and Jasmine had already left. She took out a black straight skirt and a white long-sleeved top.

She took out her under wears and put them on. She picked out her one of her heels and put them on too.

Then, she sat in front of her vanity mirror and fixed her hair and make up. When she was done, she stood up and twirled in front of the mirror.

"I look great." She said smiling.

She took her purse and went to the dining room where the met Jasmine and Alex serving the food.

When they were done, she took her seat and they ate in silence. They finished in no time so Rosalie packed up all the used dushes and kept them in the sink.

She came out of the kitchen and met Jasmine sitting in the living room.

"Aren't you coming with us?" She asked.

"No. I didn't have enough sleep last night so I'm a bit tired but don't worry. I'll be around for the business meeting." She assured.

"Okay then, whatever you say." She said, picked up her car key and left the house with Alex.

They walked towards the garage and entered her car.

"Seatbelts." She said and Alex but on his seatbelts.

She started the car zoomed off in no time.

********************************

They had stopped at the front of a cross walk so pedestrians can pass.

"Mummy look." She heard Alex say and turned to stare at what he was pointing out. It was a billboard.

"POPULAR BUSINESS MOGUL TYLER HEMSWORTH WAS GIVEN YET ANOTHER AWARD AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND YOUNGEST BILLIONAIRE EVER." It read out.

Then, they showed his photo. That feeling of familiarity came again as it had always done when Rosalie stares at his picture. That feeling that tells her that they had met before.

“Mummy are you listening?” Rosalie had Alex asking and she turned to face him.

“What were you saying?” Rosalie asked back.

“ I was just telling you about his awesomeness.” Alex replied.

She looked up and saw that the traffic lights had already turned green so she started the car and zoomed off.

“Who were you talking about again?” Rosalie asked earning an eyeroll from Alexander.

“You weren’t even listening mom.” He grumbled.

‘Don’t roll your eyes at me young man. Explain to me so I can understand.” Rosalie scolded.

“I’m sorry mom.” Alex pleaded.

“So who were you talking about?” She asked again.

“I was talking about Tyler Harmsworth; I want to be famous and successful like him.” Alex said.

“Why did you say so?”

“He’s just thirty two and he has already made a name for himself, I want to be like him.” Alex said.

“Why don’t you just wish to be better than him instead of being like him,” Rosalie asked him.

“You are right mom why didn’t I think of that?” Alex asked hitting his fore head.

“That is because you are still a young boy and you have plenty of time to achieve your dreams so you don’t have to disturb you self with things like that for now. Just focus on growing up and be mama’s cute little boy.” Rosalie said.

“But mum, I’m not a boy I am a man now.” Alex said showing off his tiny muscles.

Rosalie laughed at his gestures and said

“Yea I can see that now. You are fully grown already.”

***************************

They arrived at the mall in no time and they got out of the car hand in hand.

They were busy gathering the attention of folks on their way to read the mall.

"Isn't that the famous Rosalie Tucker?" One asked.

"She's so beautiful in that outfit of hers." Another remarked.

"There's a little boy with her, is that her child? He's so cute." Someone said making Rosalie's straight face morph into a smile.

"I've always heard that she had a child but this is the first time I'm seeing him." Another said.

"Rumor has it that her child is a bastard, that is why she left her home for M city." Someone said and Rosalie turned to glare at the person.

The lady who made the statement felt someone's gaze on her. The turned to see Rosalie's angry face. She quickly hid her face in fear.

Rosalie scoffed and kept on walking while people kept on gawking.

She entered the mall and an attendant came to greet her immediately.

"Hello miss, welcome to Sunshine Mall. What can I do for you?" She asked smiling brightly.

"Can you please take me to the kids section? I want to get something for my son." Rosalie answered.

The attendant stared at Alex and smiled.

"Okay then, this way." She said leading to the kid's section.

********************************

"Is that all you want?" Rosalie asked Alex.

They were already at the kids section and Alex chose only one toy.

"Yes mom. Thus is the toy I've been asking you to buy for me but you always said that you didn't have time. Most of my classmates already have it and now, I can show mine off." Alex said bouncing happily.

"I'm so sorry baby. I don't always have time to cater for your wants. I promise I'll make it up to you." Rosalie said.

"It's okay mom. I totally understand." He said.

"Such a smart boy you have there." Rosalie heard the attendant say and she turned to face her.

"I know right." Rosalie said.

"It makes me want to have a child of my own." The attendant said earning a smile from Rosalie.

"And you will one day. So how much is the toy?" She asked.

"Its $180,000." The attendant said.

"Okay. Here.........." Rosalie said giving her credit card.

"Thank you for patronizing us." The attendant said after she had removed her payment.

"You're welcome. Come on Alex, let's go." She said.

"Mom wait. I'm pressed." Alex said, his face not hiding his discomfort.

"Uhm excuse me. Can you tell me where the restroom is?" Rosalie asked the attendant.

She gave her directions while Rosalie took Alex there after giving her the toy to hold.

She got there in no time and entered the male's restroom. She opened a cubicle and helped Alex ease himself.

On their way out, she saw the famous Tyler Harmsworth and a lady hugging. She gasped in shocked and rushed back into the restroom with Alex in her arms. Luckily, they didn't notice her presence.

"What is he doing here and why is he hugging her?" She thought.

She opened the door slightly and peeped through it. She gasped in shock when Tyler suddenly pushed the girl away from his arms coldly.