Chapter 8.

Hunting for jobs was not as easy as it seemed. And it certainly also didn't mean she was going to be successful in her search. She spent a few days searching for job applications online, looking for the ones that fit her qualifications as a project manager. Well, they were few. And her former boss didn't give her a recommendation, nor did she expect that she would be able to get a good one from him.

She had tried though, her emails to him were left unanswered. Almost as if he didn't see them or he chose not to reply.

On the third day after a very fruitless search, she decided to be open to more jobs different than what she envisioned for herself. And a cafe manager position opened up. She had no experience, but she expected it to be a very easy job. It didn't feel like she had to do much than manage a cafe, she had a bit of experience in that area.

She had managed to clean up her apartment and get rid of the junk around. She also threw away a lot of things she didn't need anymore.
But she was still worried about her apartment rent, if she had her way she would find a way to pay up as soon as possible.

The only thing was that she didn't have a penny in her account. She wondered what she had blown all her money on.

Her credit card had shown her a list of her transactions from the company and she had spent a ridiculous amount of money on new clothes and other things.

She really couldn't fathom why.

Her phone rang for the fourth time and she groaned. If only Anthony Russo would leave her the hell alone.

She had too much to deal with to add him to the mix. She knew he was probably a nice guy and he most likely wanted to help her but she wasn't ready to talk with him just yet. At least not with everything that was happening. It seemed like the more people she talked to the more worse she found out her actions had been.

It rang again and she debated whether or not she should pick it up.

For all she knew he could be the father of her baby. They could be mutual friends for that sake, even if she wasn't the least bit interested in a relationship with him.

"Hello Anthony."

"Hey Megan. I'm so glad you finally picked up. I was just wondering if we could meet today. We have quite a lot of things to discuss."

Megan grimaced.

"Sure. I'm not really doing anything right now."

"Oh okay! That's great. I'm almost at your place. I'll be there in five minutes."

"Five minutes? Are you on your way here already?"

Megan asked and he chuckled.

"Yes. Yes I am. Do you need more time to get ready or something?"

He asked and she almost replied in the affirmative but quick it changed her mind.

"No. Don't worry. I'll be ready on time."

She murmured and ended the call. She was still in her sweatshirt and sweat pants and she had been snacking on a bag of Lays chips for no apparent reason. She didn't really like Potato chips but for the last two days she craved them and she went to the grocery store and got a handful of them and dipped them into guacamole.

Maybe she was having pregnancy cravings. She thought as she popped another chip in her mouth as she got down from her bed.

It didn't take her a long time before she changed into something more comfortable. Barely a few minutes later as she tidied up her living room there was a knock on her door.

So fast, she wondered as she walked up to the door.

She took in a deep breath as she opened the door. Anthony was standing in front of the door smiling widely with a bouquet of pink roses.  Megan was pleasantly surprised.

"Hey Anthony! Come in"

She said as she beckoned him in

"Thanks. I hope you don't mind, I stopped by the local flower shop and decided to get you these. I didn't want to be rude."

He handed the bouquet to her and Megan sniffed them gently. They smelled lovely and fresh.

"Oh thank you. They're beautiful. I'll go put them in water. Why don't you make yourself comfortable."

She said as she pointed to the nearest couch.

"So? How have you been? Remember anything yet?"

Anthony asked as he turned around to watch her.

Megan shook her head as she cut the stems of the flowers a little shorter before putting them in the glass vase that was half filled with tap water.

"No. Nothing yet. But I've been getting help remembering."

"Oh really? From who?"

"Roman. We met a few days ago."

Anthony clenched his jaw in mild anger but Megan as too concentrated on arranging the flowers to even notice his reaction.

"Oh! Was he of any help?"

Megan scoffed. She didn't want to go into details. She really didn't.

"He was. In his own way."

"Do you want something to drink? Coffee? Water? Wine?"

She asked and Anthony shook his head wearily.

"Oh no. I'm totally fine, I'm really just here to see you."

"How are you holding up? With the news and all."

Megan shrugged as she walked back to the living room, choosing the sofa that was across from Anthony.

She didn't know how to feel. It wasn't everyday one lost their memory and it certainly wasn't a pleasant experience. She could only hope that in a few weeks she would be able to remember what actually happened.

But unfortunately the damage was already done.

"Well... Honestly I don't think there's much I can do about it. I mean..."

"Yes, it's terrible. I just hope I'd be able to regain my memory a lot faster and get my life back on track."

"I understand. It must be tough. That's why I'm here."

He said I with a reassuring smile and Megan shrugged.

"I know you won't remember a lot but we had our moments. We were pretty close."

"Really?" Megan asked and Anthony nodded enthusiastically.

"I mean... With you I felt a very special connection. One that I've never felt before..."

"I know you don't remember any of it. and trust me it hurts."

"It really does especially when you don't remember the wonderful times we spent together."

"Oh! Anthony... I had no idea..."

"Oh it's okay. We have plenty of time to make new memories. Especially with the baby coming."

"Well... You know we would have to take a DNA test to know whose is it right?"

She asked as she laughed nervously and he nodded he didn't even appear bothered about the thought of a DNA test.

"Oh I know! And I'm confident the baby is mine. I know it's a big responsibility but I promise I'll never leave you at a time like this."

He stood up and walked to her side, sitting next to her. Megan was startled at first, but his eyes were so calm and genuine that she relaxed even as he took her hands in his.

"Look, we're going to get through this together."

He chuckled and Megan raised her eyebrows.

"What's funny?"

"Oh nothing. Pardon me."

He looked a bit flustered and Megan became slightly concerned.

"It's just that when you told me you were pregnant. That was what I told you."

"Oh! Did you know then that you might not have been the father?"

Megan asked and Anthony nodded.

"Of Course I did. But I don't care about that."

"Even if the baby's not yours?"

Megan asked and he shrugged.

"Then I'll still be here. We can be very good friends at least."

Megan nodded as she gave Anthony a tight smile. Close friends indeed.




The elevator  opened directly into Roman Harrington's private office which was on the executive floor of the company, it was  a huge room occupying the corner of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows giving views in two directions: Fifth Avenue to the east, Central Park just a few blocks north.

The two remaining walls contained a door, a low bookshelf, and a single oil painting - a vase of flowers by Vincent van Gogh.

The black glass surface of his desk was equally uncluttered: a computer, a leather notebook, and a framed photograph of his dear mother.

His friend and long time business partner Phillip O'Neil walked into his office with a wicked grin on his face.

Phillip was tall and lanky with sharp features and a smile that made women swoon. And he was well aware on the effect he had on people and took great pride in his charms.

He had heard Roman's troubles over the phone when he had involved him, but he had found it way too hard to believe.

He also found it odd that Roman was always getting into the most peculiar situations.

"I'm assuming you're here to laugh at me with that look on your face."

Roman said with a frown as he looked up from his laptop. Phillip shook his head as he tried to hold in his uncontrollable laughter as he clumsily sat on the chair.

"Oh! I can't help it man. You truly end up in the worst situations."

"Well... Laugh all you can now. I'm sure I'll get the last laugh."

Roman murmured even though he was unsure about the statement. It all depended on the DNA test. That was what mattered.

"Well... And what if the baby is yours?"

Roman massaged his temples.

"We'll figure something out Phillip. It can't be that hard."

"I talked to her about it already."

"Okay then. That's a good start."

"Now, to avoid making the same mistakes you did last time, make sure you don't do or say anything to annoy or upset her."

Roman looked away. Too bad, he had pissed off Megan their first meeting at the park.

"Oh no! Don't tell me you already did it did you?"

"Oh no! Don't worry. Megan is different. She's not like Petra. She won't go to the press."

He answered and Phillip raised his eyebrows.

Roman scoffed as he adjusted his suite.

"Trust me, I don't think she even remembers who I am."

"I mean... The first time we met, it  took her two weeks before she knew I was the CEO of Harrington Corps."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. And even if she knows who I am or even managed to look me go, Megan is not that kind of girl."

"She's not Petra."

He added as he looked far away. How could he ever forget Petra.

The woman who had publicly accused him for rejecting her pregnancy. Of course she had put on a very convincing act as she cried all around social media about it.

The blogs lapped up her story quickly, she was even paid to give her exclusive interviews for some blogs.

The blogs were also very happy to nail him to the coffin. After all to them he was the rich young billionaire CEO who used and left a poor little girl pregnant and alone.

Petra insisted on a heavy sum of a hundred million dollars just to keep her mouth shut, Roman's lawyers refused. It was outrageous. They were able to rope her into doing a DNA test.

At that moment Roman had given up, he believed his reputation ruined, the story had caused their company stocks to plummet. Investors pulled out after hearing the scandal.

Roman was more than ready to take responsibility for his actions.

But the DNA test revealed otherwise. The baby wasn't his.

And that wasn't even the painful part. The painful part was that he had once loved her.

And she destroyed him.