Suprises

I stared at him for about five minutes as he choked on his laughter. Eventually, his laughter faded into the back of his throat.

"Is this some joke, Mister Norman?"

"Of course, of course." He raised his hands up in mock surrender, "I was just teasing you, you know."

He laughed again and this time, I laughed along with him. "I'll leave you to work." He said and I nodded as he moved back. He reciprocated by nodding at my nodding and the two of us continued nodding until he had backed out of the office, closing the door in front of him.

'What the hell was that?' I wondered as I gathered up my things. I know I have a lot of admirers but Mister Norman was old enough to be my father. And it was odd to say, but I was a married woman now!

I pushed my phone into my bag along with some paperwork before walking out of my office. I had barely made it to my car when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. It was Mister Stance. He was panting. Had he run after me?

"Mélie, we need to talk." He said. I said nothing, waiting for him to proceed, "It's about Mister Norman. What did you guys discuss in your office?"

I hesitated for a while before finally giving my answer, "Nothing serious. He was just commending me on my performance in the presentation."

"That couldn't be true, Mélie." Mister Stance said. I raised my eyebrows in suspicion and was about to ask him what reason I would have to be lying. However, what he said next told me he knew exactly what Mister Norman came to discuss in my office, "Mélie, give him a chance."

"What?" I was utterly surprised.

"Look, I know Norman okay. He likes young ladies with beautiful faces and you fit perfectly into his preferences."

"What are you trying to say, mister Stance?" I was already getting exasperated.

He puffed a heavy breath, "What I'm trying to say, Mélie, is that this deal is worth millions and we, the company, can either get it or lose it because of you."

"And it's not like you have a man In your life, Mélie." He added.

'Well, it will interest you to know that I am a married woman, Mister Stance.' I wanted to say but I kept silent.

He waited for me to speak. but I didn't say another word. Instead, I angrily yanked the door handle of my car and got in, leaving him in a cloud of dust as I drove away.

My head was pounding severely by the time I went to pick Darcy up from school and I barely paid any attention to her chattering as I was eager to go home to rest. Finally home at last, we got down from the car and held Darcy by the hand, trudging into the mansion.

My eyes noticed something that was new and foreign. Rather, Someone I had never seen before; She stood on impossibly long heels, dressed in a green mini dress. Her hair was a dirty blonde colour and reached down to her waist. Her face was heavily made up and she was continuously moving her mouth- which was painted in red lipgloss. Her eyes fell towards my direction and I wasn't sure if she was looking at me because a set of false lashes hid a bulk of her eyeballs.

I hadn't realised that I had stopped in my steps while scrutinising her until she started walking up to me. I finally noticed a little girl of about 6, who had been hiding behind her. She was dressed in a simple sweater and pants, with hair the same colour as the woman.

"Mélie, right?" She asked, "I'm Ella."

I stretched out my hand in courtesy, wondering where she got my name from. Was she a friend of Damien Jaeger or a business partner, maybe?

She seemed to have heard my thoughts as she said, "You're probably wondering who I am, right?"

"Yeah."

She chuckled, "I'm the mother of that beautiful angel right there!" She said, turning towards the direction of her daughter with motherly pride. I couldn't help but smile.

However, her next words swept the smile right off my face, "That is Anna Jaeger, Damien Jaeger's firstborn daughter."

I froze as she said those words.

"Come, Anna. Come say 'hi' to aunt Mélie." Her little girl walked shyly and hid behind her mother, "Oh, enough with the tortoise behaviour, Anna. I've warned you about this. Be confident like your mother!"

She pushed her daughter in front of her with a satisfied smirk on her face, "Say hi."

"Hello aunty." Her shy voice broke.

I was utterly stupefied, "What?"

She opened her mouth and was about to speak when Damien Jaeger walked in. Her eyes wandered off to him in admiration.

I looked at Damien who had just sighted me. His eyes darted between me and the crazy woman in front of me. My face held so many questions.

Damien stopped beside me and flashed me another look before taking his eyes to the woman in front of me. There was a bored look on his face.

"Damien, who is she?" I asked. I still needed confirmation. What did she mean that her daughter is his firstborn daughter?

"I'm sure you've met Ella, the mother of my child?"

My jaw dropped in shock, "Mother of you child"

"Yes, Mélie. The girl over there is my daughter and Ella is her mother."

I went quiet.

"Any problem?" He asked.

My head was becoming hotter and heavier and my heart also felt heavy against my chest. I tightened my eyelids. I needed to lay down. This was all too much for me to process. However, my feet had other plans as it remained glued to the floor.

Ella's scoff brought me back to reality. Damien Jaeger was already walking away.

"What sort of incompetent people are working in this mansion? Can't anyone see that our luggage is still here?!" Ella snapped when Damien had left. Two female staff rushed into the living room and gathered her luggage. One of them looked at me, with a confused look that matched mine.

"Momy, who was that?" Darcy asked when there was no one else in the living room.

"Come on baby girl, let's go to our room." I said, ignoring her question. I took Darcy's hand and dragged my legs up the stairs until we were finally in the confines of our room where I tossed my large handbag on the floor. My coat was flung towards the bed, but I had missed by an inch and it ended up on the floor. I was too exhausted to do anything, so I surrendered to the comfort of the cosy bed. The pounding in my head refused to go away.