Chapter 36: Chapter 36

The next weekend, true to Maxwell's word, he came to the house early to take us out on our weekend trip. He was looking cooler than he used to look. It was an all planned trip. He had asked me what Whitney was into, and I told him, she loves to swim, so We went to the beach, and I could already tell, from the spark on Whitney's face, that she was happy to find water all over the place.

She have only had time to be in a pool, but not a beach, this should be her first time.

I know what my daughter loves to do, but the only issue was that, I was not with her, so I didn't really get the chance to help her actualize the stuffs she loves to do.

I could tell, Maxwell was stealing glances at me, but I didn't want to look or act like I could see him, but when he removed a strand of hair, from my face. The feeling of his cold hands on my cheek, made me turn my face towards his side, only to notice that he was staring at me, and our lips, were only a few inches away from each other, I immediately looked away.

He smiles, then he held my hand and led me away to somewhere more secluded, since Whitney and Mary seem to be having so much fun, and not noticing us. But I could still see them.

When we were alone, he didn't start talking immediately. I had already started thinking of how I will tell him that I couldn't be his girlfriend, if he does ask, since from all indication, that is where the drama, was headed.

"Why did you bring me here? I asked, since he just stood looking at me, expecting me to look up at him and maybe smile the way he is smiling. Something else I noticed is that, the way I used to feel shy around Craig, isn't the way I am feeling around him, for I see him as my friend, and should be free around him.

"Fine, I will say what I have in mind, but you have to be looking at me, and not at them, for me to do that". He says, he had noticed that I was looking at Whitney, taking my eyes away from her, was too scary, I cannot take such risk, but since he asked, I looked up at him, with my eyes fixated on his. He licked his lips, which made him appear sexy, but definitely not to me.

Now you are looking at me, I will ask you nicely. Please do not get offended, about what I am about to ask you? He says and once again, my heart raised, and I concluded at that time, that he was going to ask me out, and maybe I should just let him know that I cannot date him, so that, he doesn't bother himself, trying, so I said.

"Look Maxwell, you are a very nice guy, and you are more like family to me than friend, I don't want us to be anything other than that". I could tell I was too forward, but I had to let him know, before he even splits, but then, the way he raised a brow, showed that, it wasn't what he had in mind, that I just said, and he immediately cut it short, holding my hands before I could say any more hurtful things.

"Hey Sam, that is not what I was gonna say, at least not now". He says and I looked even shocked. He said not now, which means he has the intention of saying something like that to me, but for now that he took me miles away from where I was sitting and watching my daughter play, what did he want to say?

"It's not? I asked and he nodded.

"Like I said, I have that in mind, and maybe you have noticed it or seen it in my eyes, but I am willing to give you time, so you think about it, and then, make up your mind, but why I brought you here, is to ask when you plan to tell me that you are pregnant? He says and I was so shocked. Do I look that obvious?

I know you are not here because you want to, I know what Whitney's Dad did to you, and why you had to leave, Whitney herself told me, and I am willing to help, but we have to be on the same page". I couldn't deny it, and that was when I suddenly felt shy.

"What are you really asking? I asked, wanting him to cut to the chase, as I can no longer wait.

"Now brings me to the other one you thought I wanted to say before.

The company won't accept you, if they notice you are pregnant. No company around here will, and I cannot watch you suffer, we cannot give your ex husband that satisfaction, so I am asking you now, to give me a chance, to step in as your man and a father, to the kids". I knew that was what he had in mind from the begining, but he didn't have to tell me about work? Accepting to allow him into our lives like that, would mean that I love him or have feelings for him, which I don't, at least not in the way that he is expecting, so instead of outrightly breaking his heart, like I did before, I tried sounding nice.

"Maxwell, you are really sweet, and it is very kind of you to even say a thing like that. Since you could tell that I am pregnant, it means that, everybody have noticed that I am pregnant, which means that, very soon, I will be reported to the CEO himself, and he will lay me off, but not withstanding, I don't want to be in a relationship with you, because I need financial support. You won't even be able to cater for us, we will drain you financially". He didn't let me continy, he placed a finger on my lips to stop me from talking.

"You don't have to worry about that, I am capable, and truthfully, I have loved you from the first day you walked into my office, seeking for a job. The moment I spoke with the other heads about you, they accepted you immediately, and since then, the love I have only continue to grow. About your pregnancy, I will buy you more time, to earn your own money, I will try and cover you, no one will know".

He wasn't getting it at all, and how am I supposed to tell him that I dont love him. The way it is heavy in my mind, is the way it will sound, and he will feel bad, but then he seem to understand that it is difficult for me, so he says.

You don't have to give me an answer now, you can take your time, think about it, and then when you are ready, you answer". It was pointless, there was nothing to think about, but since he said it that way, I was going to take him by his offer, he pulls me into his arms and hugs me, whispering into my ears, that we will get through it all together, when my eyes went back to where my daughter was playing, and there was a man standing with her, she seem happy to see the person, and she gave him a hug, while he lifts her up, but his eyes were fixated on mine, in the arms of another. He looks furious, but he seem to be very good at hiding his feelings.

I wanted to disengage from Maxwell immediately, but since I didn't want Craig knowing anything, I took the chance to hug him even more tightly, and all I could hear was him tapping my back, but Craig wore his shades back, gave Whitney a box of gift, handed Mary a bundle of dollars, then left, without saying a word to me, he looked very disappointed. It was only after he had left, that I moved away from Maxwell, who looked too happy, to even notice what just happened.

The rest of the day was suddenly boring, and even after I went back to them, and Maxwell went to get us refreshments, I was still lost.

Whitney told me she was the one that called him and told him our location. I couldn't scold her, but I told her to obey me, and stop calling him. I was sure, whatever Craig felt for me, have suddenly turned to hate, especially after what he had seen.

When we got home, Whitney would not stop talking about him, it was like I didn't just tell her not to speak to him again. I knew there was nothing I could do.

When she finally opened her box, it was filled with money and a note, which reads.

"Give the money to your mum or aunt Mary, to buy you, all the stuff you want. Also don't forget to take care of your mother". She read it out loud and then started jumping around, naming all the things she was going to buy, and how she plans to share the money.

I love seeing her that happy, but I was also sad, that he had seen me in the arms of another.