Chapter 77: IS HE MINE

LAURA

"Why are you here?"

I turned away from the door and walked back to my seat, aware of Tristan’s gaze tracing every curve on my body. I knew too well how good my body looked, because I looked in the mirror every morning, and admired the curves that had filled out after I had my son.

But there was something about the way Tristan looked at my body. Like it’s a masterpiece he’s just stumbled upon and couldn’t get himself to look away.

It lit my body on fire, his gaze and the thoughts in my head.

"You went dark on me for two days." He paused by the desk and folded his arms across his chest, looking quite comfortable. "It’s bad for business, Ms. Hayes."

"I just had a lot to deal with and I couldn’t deal with all the calls."

He fixed me with a pointed, irritated glare. "You’re going to have to learn to deal with it. We pay you to partner with us, so you can’t just act however you wish."

The words hit me like stones, the weight crushing something inside me. Before I could speak, however, Mara’s voice rose in hostility.

"Oh, look who’s talking. You forget you begged for it, Mr. Pierce. So if anyone should behave, that would be you!"

Tristan turned his glare on her. "Can you make her leave?"

The question was directed at me, and my mind was already made up. I didn’t need Mara butting in and making things more pathetic than they were already.

"Please leave us," I said to Mara, sliding my gaze to her face. She looked horrified as she stared at me, like she couldn’t believe I would actually pick anyone’s side over hers, especially a prick like Tristan.

I could see the indignation in her eyes. The disappointment. Yet I did not care.

"Now, Mara. Please. I have things to do."

She opened her mouth to say something, but only a bitter scoff escaped. "Whatever," she muttered, then walked out and slammed the door a little too hard after her.

I flinched, staring at it for a moment. Then Tristan cleared his throat and pulled my attention back to him.

"Did something happen?" He asked, watching me warily.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Laura. Two days. I called, texted. Never got through to you."

"I told you, I was busy—"

"We’re both busy individuals, so how about you drop that excuse?"

I glared at him. "Did you come all the way here to trade words with me?"

He paused, running those blue eyes over my face. "Actually..." his brows pinched into a small frown like he was just realizing why he was here. "I came to make sure you’re okay."

My jaw dropped in disbelief. "That’s why you came all the way here?"

It was difficult to believe, yet the look on his face was contradicting...it told me there was nothing more sincere he could have said at that moment.

Something moved in my chest, and I seemed to be trapped in a trance for a few moments. I held his gaze, searching for all the signs that told me this thing I felt for him was fruitless.

But all I saw was a man with wild hunger in his eyes.

"You look okay to me," he said after a while, and the simple compliment sent heat racing through my veins. "Beautiful."

"I have to work, Tristan."

He nodded. "I’ll leave you to work. But when I call, you answer."

Then he turned around and left, and I sat there staring at him, wondering why that sounded more like an order than a request...or a plea.

°°°

I finished up about five more sketches and sent them out to the design team before I left to pick Eli from school.

Ivy was currently having exams and couldn’t be with him as frequently as she used to.

This meant more work for me, and even though Eli was my son, it wasn’t all so fun having to tend to him all the time, also coupled with my work.

"You’re here today," his homeroom teacher greeted me with a broad smile. Maybe it was because of the tip I’d learnt to give to her whenever I came around, just for the sheer but subtle purpose of her looking after my son.

Eli dragged himself out of his seat and literally dragged himself to where I was, a sullen expression on his face the whole time. "I hope he was good today," I asked, my tone wary.

His teacher sighed and looked at me. I flinched at the sympathy in her eyes. "You know, there’s an annual competition coming up soon. There’s a section where the kids are supposed to compete together with their parents, and I think that’s what’s bothered Eli all day."

My brows pinched into a frown. I glanced down at Eli. "I don’t get it. I’m his parent. Can I not participate when the time comes?"

The teachers twisted her lips. "That particular competition requires both parents."

I said nothing else until I left with Eli walking ahead of me, sulking.

"Hey, buddy," I called in a soft tone. But it did not work.

"Eli!"

He kept walking.

Oh, how I would smack the silliness out of him. Why was he suddenly acting up? Because he’s never seen his father around? He was only five, for goodness sake! What does he know? Too little to understand.

Excuses. Excuses. A voice sang punishingly in my head.

We’d just stumbled out of the school building when I realized the cab that brought me here was nowhere to be seen.

Fuck.

I told the driver to wait for me, did I not?

My mechanic had earlier picked up my vehicle from the office, so I could only resort to calling another cab.

Thunder cracked across the skies and I suddenly understood why the driver must have left.

Eli was just tumbling like a fucking mule towards the busy sidewalk when I saw him. "Eli, stop!" I yelled. "Come here!"

I hurried forward and yanked his hand in mine. Then I reached into my pocket with the other hand for my phone, and just then, a car honked before us.

I looked up and horror instantly tightened my chest.

Tristan. Again.

This reaction was always going to be the same, especially when he looked at my son like that.

"Need a ride?" he called from inside the vehicle.

I rolled my eyes and looked away from him. "Just go on your way."

How was he even here again? Purely coincidence? Or he was really stalking me?

I heard a car door slam shut and still refused to look. Until I felt him standing directly next to us.

"Mommy, who is this man?" Eli’s question pulled my attention back to them, and I rolled my eyes at the headache.

"What do you want, Tristan?"

He did not answer. Instead, his eyes burned with a deep seriousness into Eli’s face.

"Can I ask a question, Laura?"

"What?" I snapped, irritation and discomfort burning the walls of my chest.

Tristan finally looked up and those electric blue eyes pierced into me. "Is he mine?"