Chapter 25: Chapter 25

"Don't worry, Mr. Shaw. We'll conduct an investigation. We'll check all the transactions and everyone who accessed for the last three months.”

"Thank you, Mr. David. I guess this is all for today, gentlemen." Jacob shook hands with the members of the board. When the two of them were alone in the board room, that was when Jacob relaxed. He loosened up his tie.

"Do you feel better now?" Tatiana asked, caressing his back.

"A little. I'll be at ease if this is solved as soon as possible. We can't keep a culprit in the company. It's insulting."

Jacob becomes a different man once he's in the boardroom, he's unreadable and serious. In his young age, he took over the business, his employees and the members of the board are even older, they respect him so much. He deserves the respect, he's really earned his keep.

She kissed his cheek, then the corner of his mouth. "Why don't we just eat? So you can cool down. Would pizza and ice cream be fine?”

Jacob threw her a seductive look and pressed his lips on her ear. "I have one thing in mind that'll help.

She felt her cheeks turn into crimsoon red. “Jake, stop. We're in an office.”

Tatiana and him were entering his office when his secretary greeted him. “Sir, Ms. Miranda is inside.”

She closed her eyes and glanced at Tatiana. She raised an eyebrow, her eyes were questioning.

"How long has she been waiting?" He asked.

"Almost thirty minutes now. I... informed her that you have a meeting but she insisted she'll wait.”

He clenched his jaw when he saw Tatiana's cold eyes.

"Babe, you can come with me. I'm sure There's something she wants to tell me." He whispered.

“What does your ex girlfriend want? She wants to get back with you? I don't want to come with you, Shaw. For all I know she's out there naked waiting for you." She shook her head and left. She walked in strides so he couldn't keep up. And to her disappointment, it looks like he didn't even chase after her.

Well, why would he chase after her when she's keeping him entertained?

He's had a fair share of women for eight years. God damn it, you can't even call it fair when he's had too many women. It hurts her when she remembers how much he's been a manwhore but men are men, right? They couldn't live celibate.

She cooked when she reached home, she wanted to divert her attention.

MIRANDA was on her phone when he entered his office. He noticed that she wasn't wearing a skimpy dress this time, it showed little skin. . Unusual since he have known her to be a woman whose so provocative, she's a temptress to every man around her.

"Jake! It's been a while." She strode and gave him a hug.

"You look great." Jacob smiled, he noticed she gained weight but she was glowing, she's got a different glow on her face that he haven't seen before. Jacob chose not to mention it. He knew women hate being told that they've gotten some more weight.

"So do you." She kept him in arms length to get a good look on his face. "You look more handsome, Jake."

“I thought you're staying longer in Milan? I didn't know you're coming back this soon.”

"Actually, I'll only be here for a few weeks. And I'm going to Paris after." She took an envelope out of her designer bag and handed it to him.  "You're invited."

Jacob was a bit shocked. It was her wedding.

You are cordially invited to the union of ArthurFrançois & Miranda Santivañes in the sacrament of Marriage, at St. Anne Cathedral. 15th of November, Sunday.

"You're, wow." He couldn't believe it. Miranda, who didn't even have any plans on settling down, is getting married.  "You're getting married?"

She nodded, smiling.

"This is good, Mira. Wow I'm happy for you." He just couldn't believe it, Miranda wasn't the type of woman who settles down, she loves fame and career. He visioned her getting married at around thirty or something but now... wow.

"It was a shotgun marriage, Jake. I'm... pregnant, and he wanted us to get married. I barely know him when I met him. But right now these past months I can see that he's a good man. He takes care of me. he's also a decent man."

"Congratulations. I'm happy that you've find your happiness. You're gonna be a mom.”

She grinned. "I've been avoiding pregnancy and marriage like a plague because of my career, but now that it's here, I'm so ecstatic to be mom and I can't wait to see our baby."

"She's gonna be as beautiful as you, Mira.  I should meet your husband soon, I want to know how he lured you into a marriage." He teased.

"By the way, How are you and your wife?”

Jacob smiled at the thought of her. “We're starting to rebuild what we had and though it's not easy, we'll keep trying. Tatiana made me a better man again when she came back."

Pain crossed her eyes. She will always love this man. She could even call him her first love, but she has to be a better woman for her child. Maybe someday, she will learn to love Arthur. She cares about him too. He's done nothing but take care of her.

She embraced Jacob tightly. This scene will always be embedded in her mind, the day she let go of her unrequited love. "I wish you all the happiness, Jake."

AFTER their dinner, Tatiana played with her son. He was so engrossed into playing and telling his momma about his day in school.

“When can I invite Ryan and Charlie to come over, mom? We'll just play bike and watch anime.”

"Well, anytime, son. I can take a day off to look after you."

"I'll ask them momma. And this coming Saturday momma, we have a dance performance in school. You will be there, right?"

She ruffled his hair. “Of course! I'll also call your uncle and grandparents.”

"Really? So I'll do well on practice, then. I want to make you proud, mommy."

She's so pleased with Julian's progress in school. He's got an A+ mark on his subjects when his report card came. Even his behavior was marked A.

"Whatever you do, son. I'm proud of you." She smiled at her son, at an early age he sure is a handsome boy, how much more during his puberty stage. She's sure women's gonna flock on his feet.

He was building something on his lego when he looked at his mother. "How about my papa? When can we see him?"

Jerome and her chatted but it was too short and quick. His replies were too short, . "Well, he's coming home soon. Just finishing his project and he'll be here with you." There was no excitement in her voice no matter how she tried.

"No, mom. I meant my real father. Do you think... he's looking for us? I really want to see him, just to know if, if I really look like him! Did I get my eyes from him? Or his nose? I really wonder, mom."

It's been awhile since she last heard him ask her. Julian knows that Jerome wasn't his biological father, he was just a young boy when she explained it to him. she didn't want to lie to him. She said that his real father isn't here because they parted ways. But she knew soon he'd start asking questions again, now that he's growing up.

She smiled at him and caressed his face. Susan must have heard because she looked at her briefly. “he's looking for us. And one of these days you'll see him."

After she read him a bedtime story, he went to sleep and she kissed his forehead.

She checked the phone inside her shorts, she didn't even get a message from him.

The thoughts of him, sharing a heated passion with that model was making her uncomfortable and mad.

"Tatiana, someone is looking for you. He said his name is Jacob." Susan informed her. Her housemaid looked at her meaningfully. “He looks like Julian.”

She ignored that comment and headed straight outside. Jacob was at their gate smoking.  He threw away his cigarette when he saw her.

"Jacob it's late. What are you doing here?"

"Can I come inside?" He asked.

“I cant. Our housemaid is here and for sure she's gonna tell them someone came at a very late night.  To visit me.” she lied smoothly. Truth is, she couldn't let him in because Julian is upstairs, and his photos are inside. His toys, too.

“I just want us to talk. I know you're upset about Miranda but believe me, she only came to invite me on her wedding.”

“

Jacob, it has only been a few months when I saw her kissing you inside your office. Now you're telling me she's getting married, come on!”

"It's the truth. Tatiana, she's pregnant."

“Maybe it's your baby?” she retorted. She saw anger crossing in his eyes because of what she said.

"Why do you always doubt me? Why don't you want to listen? You think I'd cheat on you after I told you we're gonna fix us?!" He asked and reached out for her hand. "Baby, don't you trust me?"

She melted, knew it in herself that she couldn't go on a day with them fighting. She couldn't stand it when he's pleading. Jacob Shaw doesn't beg for anyone but for her, he'd kneel.

"I'm sorry," She's overacting. She should be handling things like this with him. Like she's a mature woman. “You're right. I should listen to you.”

Warm arms engulfed her. "It's okay, I like it when you're jealous." He chuckled, she playfully hit him with her elbow.

Jacob didn't stay there for too long. They kissed and he drove home. They were fine.

Susan was there waiting for her inside. She's know this lady since she was a child. Her parents trust her so much.

"Is he Julian's father?”

She nodded slowly. “Please don't tell mom and dad.”

“Tatiana, Isn't he the guy who left you? I saw you embracing each other. Are you back with him?”

She nodded again. The woman sighed.

"This is wrong, mija.”

She knows what she meant. It was wrong because Jerome is in her life.

"I know.”

She closed her eyes. Her conscience was nagging her again. She's juggling two men at the same time. It's never right.

She doesn't want to lose Jacob and at the same time, she would never want to hurt Jerome. He doesn't deserve it.

You know that worst feeling, when you're happily inlove knowing you're hurting someone else? Could she really be happy living like that? How long would she betray Jerome?