Chapter 19: Chapter 19

"Attorney?" Tatiana was shocked to see that Ingrid Shaw was at the other table of the coffee shop she was in. She's alone, with a notebook and parker pen on her table.

"Mrs. Shaw!" She felt awkward saying that, knowing that technically, she too, is a Mrs. Shaw. "Hi, it's nice to see you again.”

She finished reading some case there. It was cold and she needed coffee, and a different view. When she was in Italy she loves going to cafe in her free time. She loves the ambiance. It makes her more productive.

The sophisticated woman shut her book and brought her cup with her. Ingrid sat infront of her.

“How are you?”

She smiled timidly. “I'm good, Mrs. Shaw. It's really nice to see you here. I was reading some cases. Do you always go here?”

Ingrid nodded. "I love it here, I love the smell and their pastries. When I feel like writing, I go here to write. You know at my age, I still write about life. Something my children and grandchildren can read when I'm gone."

“You're still young.” she said.

She can't be sure, pero Mrs. Shaw can't be more than sixty. She's looks so young.

"And I'm sure they'd rather prefer if you tell them the story, not just read them someday."

Even her laugh was timid and reserved. She was raised to behave properly. She's pretty sure Jacob's mom came from a rich family. She's too noble and composed.

Tatiana learned this when Jacob snapped infront of her. Ingrid did bat an eyelash, she saw her startle, but she then relaxed, masked her face with the calmness Tatiana would never understand.

"You're very witty. I like it.”

"Thank you, Mrs. Shaw.”

"And how is work?"

Ingrid Shaw called the waiter to order blueberry cheesecakes for both of them.

"Excellent." She answered. "I like what I'm doing here, I love helping people."

"Mija, Are you dating my son?"

She almost choked on the coffee she was drinking. Yeah. Taken aback was an understatement. She knows that his mother have seen them after he stormed out of the restaurant back in the island.. she didn't expect that his mother would be bringing thay up.

Work was too far from dating her son!

"I saw what happened right when he walked out. That was... really amazing. No one can tame my son, Tatiana."

"No, mrs. Shaw. Actually, Jacob and I aren'tt together.” She said. "You know Jacob, he likes to mess around with women.”

If she told Ingrid she was the same island girl she didn't want for her son, she wonders how would this woman react?

Ingrid Shaw took a deep breath and linked her fingers.

"I don't want him to be a bachelor forever. He's pushing thirty soon. I want him to settle down. We really fight and I don't even remember the last time we had a normal conversation. But I do love my son. I want what's best for him."

"I guess every mother does." She answered. She saw the longing in her eyes and she knew Ingrid was telling the truth.

She believes every mother loves her children even if they don't understand each other at all.

Tatiana suddenly remembered her son.

If someday, Mrs. Shaw learns the existence of Julian, she hopes she forgives her for keeping it a secret to Jacob and his entire family.

And she hopes Ingrid would accept him.

It would really break her heart if they didn't.

“I was so shocked to see him like that. The man is stubborn. Even his sister whom he loves so much can't tame him. I thought you two were dating, or much perfect if together."

The slices of pastry Ingrid ordered for them came.

" We're just colleagues. Actually, I do have a boyfriend." She smiled. "He's an engineer. He's still in Italy though.”

"How nice," deep inside Ingrid felt a pang of disappointment. She wants this woman badly for her son.  Hell, they'd even make a good couple!

"I just hope he stops his womanizing ways. I want him to settle down and be happy. I want him to be happy again. But my son, I don't think he's ever gonna get over his first love."

"Wh--what do you mean?" She sounded so nervous, she felt a sweat trickling down her face.

"Well, he fell inlove so young."

That was all Ingrid Shaw said. That part of her son's life will always be their secret. Even Miana, she knows nothing.

It was too bad that this woman she wanted for his son is already taken. But deep inside she knows that there must be something. She saw it in their eyes, mostly, she saw it on Jacob's.

The look in his eyes reflected the way Joshua looked at her.

"Maybe he's just waiting for the right time. Maybe he has a girlfriend he hasn't introduced yet." Tatiana said, though it didn't even settle well in her ears.

Ingrid timidly smiled. "I hear the rumors too, Tatiana. I choose not to believe. Besides, you're the first woman he ever introduced. Too bad, you're just his colleague. Weird, he never bring a colleague to a family lunch."

Tatiana didn't answer to that but instead just smiled at her. Ingrid thought she should stop grilling the poor woman. She noticed that the lawyer was getting uncomfortable.

"Well I should go ahead." Ingrid gathered her expensive Gucci bag and clasped her hands on Tatiana's. "You should come visit me another time, attorney. please, tell Albert I sent my regards. And of course, to Victoria."

"Thank you Mrs. Shaw, it was really nice speaking with you." She eyed the parking lot. A BMW SUV was parked there and two guards in a suit were standing outside the cafe. She didn't have to guess they werer her bodyguards.

-----

"NANCE, I Don't think I can go to work today. I'm not feeling well." Jacob called his secretary. It was eight fifty two. He should have been in work an hour ago, but he couldn't even get up ealrier. And the weather wasn't even helping! It eas so cold.

He wasn't just not feeling well. He was shaking!

"Sir? Do you have everything you need? Do you want me to send you food and medicine?”

Nancy's concerned voice made him smile. "I can manage. Just cancel the board meeting, tell them I have flu.”

“Sir, you have a flu?”

““I don't. I just tell them that so no one's gonna bother me.”

Now that it was his day off, he'll just lay down and sleep again. His body really feels heavy. He just hope the housemaid arrives now so she could make him a soup.

He woke up again at around one in the afternoon. He felt that he only got worse. His vision is blury too.

He reached for the medicine and his eyeglasses on his bedside table. He popped the pill and put on his eyeglasses. He's really a mess when he's sick but he's used to taking care of himself alone. If he gets worse, he'll jusy call Miana or perhaps his secretary for help.

He tried to get up. His head is throbbing. Hr went out to make himself a soup. The housemaid didn't check in today so he doesn't have a choice but to make one for himself. He haven't even had a meal yet!

He sat on the counter while waiting for his soup. His head was really throbbing and he feels dizzy. He also feels very cold and his breath hot.

He heard his door open. The housemaid.

Maris saw him at the kitchen. “Sir Jake! You didn't go to work? I'm really sorry. I have to go to a clinic earlier since my husband was bitten by a dog.”

“Are you okay?”

“I.. I have a fever.”

The old lady placed a hand on his forehead. “My goodness. You're burning up. Dio mio, go upstairs and rest. I got this, Jacob.”

He was twenty seven, damn it. But when he's sick, he looks like a fucking little boy.

He was just thankful for his housemaid. She has been with the Shaws since she was eighteen. She was his nanny as a kid.

Maris knocked on his door bringing a tray with soup and fruits. He was so hungry he dug in to the food the moment it was served.

“Why did you get sick?” she worriedly ask while she was placing a cooling patch on his forehead.

“Maybe it's fatigue.”

“I told you to slow down on work, Jake. Take care of yourself. Health comes first.” the old lady sighed. “I will sleep here for tonight so I can look after you. I'll just go to the market to restock and then I will come back, okay?”

"Thank you, Maris."

She smiled. “It's nothing. So, I'll get going. Just get some rest. I will call Miana.”

He gave her a nod before he closed his eyes.

She was placing the plates on the sink when someone rang the door bell. She immediately went to the door to open it, imagine the shock on the old lady's face when she realized who it was.

“Dio mio" she said under her breath.

All her life, she's only seen this woman on oictures and paintings. Now, here she is in the flesh, standing outside the door of her boss.

Tatiana was taken aback by the reaction the woman gave her. Still, she managed to smile.

"Good afternoon... is Jacob around.”

"Ma'am! Please come in.” the old lady ushered her inside Jacob's condo unit.

she smiled at her. Wow, there was really something weird around this housemaid. it seems like she knows her.

"You're... Tatiana, right?”

How did she--- "Yes, ma'am. Uh, where is Jacob? His secretary told me he has a flu."

“He's in his room, ma'am Tatiana. Resting.”

She asked, hesitant, “Is he alone?" No girlfriends to take care of him?

“yes, he's alone. Actually, he's the only one who lives here."

She pointed her towards his room upstairs. When she started ascending, the old woman was still looking at her.

It was polite  and hopeful eyes, though.

The housemaid knows. It dawned to her.

Jacob Shaw's pad was a very massive and expensive one. It screamed fortune, and it was what every bachelor could ever dream of. Jacob's condo was designed with everything black, it was very masculine.

She stopped on the first door that was left latch. Tatiana found him wrapped in a blanket, with only his neck up peeking.

He was sleeping.

Her eyes wandered all over the place, it was so minimal. There was no paint or anything hanging on the wall. Just two doors she believed were a bathroom and a walk in closet, there was a flat screen TV, a bookshelf and a bedside table, and a black couch.

She sat on the foot of the bed as she studied him. His lips a bit parted. He always had red lips, only today it was a darker shade because he was sick.

Tatiana remembers that one time he got sick because of fatigue, he was such a big baby. She really took care of him and listened to every whine he made.

Nothing has really changed.

She stood up to walk closer to him, placing a hand on his neck, she flinched.

Jesus! He's burning!