61 - Something unexpected

Helena looked at the time on her cell phone, at any moment Sebastian would arrive as they had arranged last night, she had never felt so nervous, it was practically a date.

Her first date since she had finished high school, and that had been many years ago.

She hadn't had time for it since then. She felt a little big, but she was still excited like a schoolgirl.

She stirred the sauce she had prepared again and tasted it to make sure it was seasoned correctly.

"I hope he likes it" she thought worriedly. Her food was not of the target of delicacies a man like him could afford, but it was made with love, though she didn't know if that was enough for him.

Suddenly she heard the doorbell ring and gave a little jump that almost made her throw the whole pot on the floor.

"It's the first time he comes and doesn't come right in" She thought strangely, the doorbell rang again impatiently and she ran to the communicator, picking up the phone.

-Hello," she said, trying not to sound nervous.

-I'm downstairs," her boss exclaimed from the other end.

His voice sounded as deep and elegant as ever, making her skin crawl and her cheeks flush.

-Upstairs- she said and cut herself off to run to the mirror. She needed to check that she looked good.

The young woman couldn't remember the last time she had looked at her reflection in a mirror. Since that fateful night she had not been able to face her cruel reflection, she still had the image of her bruised body that she had seen in the motel mirror. But in those moments she was not that damaged girl, she seemed to be a normal young woman with an ordinary life, without worries or pains.

She smiled trying to convince herself of that, satisfied with what she saw on the wall. She had put on a pink princess dress, which fell loosely from under her small breasts, she had tied her hair up in a bow of the same color and had made herself up with subtlety. It looked like an outfit worthy of Valentine's Day.

"Won't it be too much?" "Maybe he'll laugh at me" she thought worriedly. "I'd better change, put on something more tween" He was about to run to his closet when there was a knock at the door.

Sebastian spent practically the whole morning looking sideways at the time on his wristwatch, time was passing slower than usual, he already wanted it to be lunch time to excuse himself that he would be having lunch with some investor or something like that.

When the time came, he grabbed his things and quickly left his office, unable to erase the smile he had from ear to ear. Several employees ran to the side in fright when they saw him coming down the corridors, but they looked at each other in surprise when they found that their boss did not have his typical unfriendly face.

He was now at the door of Helena's apartment, waiting for her to open the door. He had a key, but he didn't want to abuse his power anymore, he didn't want to be that man with her anymore.

He heard the footsteps approaching the door and stood up straight, adjusting his shirt and checking that his hair was neatly combed back.

-Hello, come in," his secretary said softly, stepping aside and looking down sheepishly.

The CEO passed by saying "Excuse me" out of politeness.

Then he turned to Helena, who looked beautiful, he loved it when she tied her hair up and exposed her angelic face.

-You look beautiful," she exclaimed with a sigh.

-Thank you," she exclaimed nervously, "You too.

There was a moment of silence in which both didn't know what to say, as if they didn't know each other at all and it was really the first time they saw each other.

-Emmm, sit down, the food will be ready- finally Helena ordered, hurrying to disappear into the kitchen before saying something stupid.

Sebastian obeyed, sitting down with his hands on his legs, nervously clutching the fabric of his pants, finally the redhead returned with two plates of homemade pasta with sauce, as soon as the steam caressed the CEO's face, he felt the exquisite aroma of the food.

-It smells good.

-I hope it tastes just as good- exclaimed the young woman uncertainly.

Sebastian took the first bite, and the second and then the third. Marveling at the flavors that melted in his mouth.

"It was delicious!" he exclaimed inwardly, as he didn't want to talk with his mouth full. The young heir felt tears would shoot out of his black eyes at any moment.

The redhead noticed this.

-Is he ugly?" she asked worriedly.

-It's not that... it's just that... it reminds me of how my mother used to do it," he said in a whisper, as if he were a small child.

-Oh... is she...?

-Yes, she's dead," said the CEO.

-I'm sorry.

-No problem, it was many years ago.-he said wanting to play it down, although it was actually something that still hurt him- I thought I had forgotten how her meals tasted like, thank you for this.

Helena smiled shyly, as she watched the CEO eat with transparency and without all the manners of people with money. It was as if he had become a child again.

-Were you very young?" she asked curiously.

-I was about 12 years old when she passed away- he said looking to the side, remembering the day his father came home and broke the news to him and his brother that his mother would never come through the door again with her beautiful smile- She was a free woman you know? She didn't like to go out with security, nor to use the driver- he exclaimed smiling, remembering his mother's rebelliousness- But one day she was assaulted- The smile on the CEO's face vanished, swallowing saliva with heaviness- She didn't make it to the hospital.

Helena watched him in silence, listening to her boss's story. She herself felt her eyes moisten at the sad story, she could tell that the man loved her mother, she could see how his always tense and controlled face now seemed more human, with a special gleam in his eyes as he remembered her mother.

-I remember it was a rainy day, and she had asked me to go with her- he exclaimed squeezing the glass cup tightly- I... I... I didn't want to go, it was horrible outside and I was afraid of lightning, but she was so insistent that I went with her that I yelled at her...- he exclaimed with a broken voice.

-Sebas, you were just a kid- the redhead started to say, imagining where the CEO was going with that.

-She was still my mother, I shouldn't have yelled at her. - She looked at me sadly and said goodbye, I never saw her again.

-I know it must have been hard for you to hear the news, but... -The redhead unconsciously put her hand on her belly- I'm sure your mother wouldn't have wanted you to be with her at that moment too.

Sebastian said nothing, biting his lower lip hard. Sometimes he remembered his mother, he didn't use to think about her, because he knew that part of him was vulnerable, but when he did, he felt the guilt in his whole being, if only he had been with her....

-I...- the redhead started to say, making the CEO come out of his intrusive thoughts- I had a mother, although she never wanted to be one- she exclaimed hurt- One day she just got tired of living in poverty and left.

-I'm sorry to hear that," said the CEO pained, imagining how difficult it must have been for his secretary to live a childhood in misery, while he had always had everything, at least until his mother died. Then he had that void that he could never fill with anything.

-Thank you, although my father was always like a mother and father- she laughed amused, making Sebastian laugh a little too- he was a great man, he gave me everything and more, I can't complain.

-I'm sure he loved you very much.

-Yes, he did," she smiled sideways, remembering how much her father tried so that neither her nor her brother would feel their mother's absence in the house.

-Well, he died very recently," he said with contempt, "it may sound cruel what I'm about to say, but I would have wanted it to be my father who died that day," he exclaimed bitterly.

Helena swallowed saliva surprised by the way Sebastian spoke about her father.

-I'm sorry, I know it sounded harsh," he apologized, wishing Helena didn't think he was a bad son, since she hadn't known how tyrannical his late father had been in life.

-It's all right," the redhead interrupted him, "I'm sure you have your reasons for saying that. If my mother hadn't left, perhaps my father would have been a happy man," she exclaimed bitterly.

-No," said the CEO sharply, making Helena open her eyes wide, "Believe me it was better that way Helena, I myself saw how my mother lost her light being by my father's side, he never loved her, he only had her as a trophy. Your father didn't deserve to be with someone who didn't truly love him.

Helena lowered her gaze in sorrow, being able to feel firsthand how Sebastian's mother might have felt. She herself had experienced that situation in her life, feeling like an object for everyone to use was something no woman should ever feel.

She was unable to look up, feeling ashamed that her eyes were watering.

She grabbed her plate and stood up quickly, carrying it into the kitchen.

Sebastian followed her gaze silently, then picked up his own plate to take it to the kitchen as an excuse.

He watched as his secretary washed up in silence and stood behind her, keeping his distance.

-I'm sorry if at any time I made you feel the same way.

-Don't worry, it wasn't you," she replied without turning around, still washing the plate that was already more than clean.

The CEO moved closer to Helena, stepping over her shoulder and closing the faucet, then took the plate from her hands, silently pleading for her attention.

Helena turned, meeting the dark gaze of her boss, who was watching her with an expression she understood as pity.

She didn't want him to look at her that way.

-Helena, I...

-You don't have to say anything, you only did what you had to do for your family, this is a business that benefits both of us.

-Helena...

-I shouldn't have invited you to lunch, I don't know what I was thinking about- she laughed bitterly, feeling tears falling from her eyes- we are just partners, nothing more- she exclaimed raising her voice- I am the fool who had illusions.....

-Helena, if you'll let me....

-No, it's ok! I'm not going to take your baby or anything, let's go on with this, I'll stay at the apartment until the baby is born, if you want I won't go to work anymore, so there are no more fights with Katlyn, we'll see each other only when it's necessary and...

Helena could not finish her speech, because Sebastian's lips met hers in an unexpected kiss. The softness and warmth of that contact made her heart race and the words that were about to come out of her mouth completely vanished.