“Yes, Mr. Garcia?” His secretary’s voice filled the silent air in his office.
I felt a soft hand in mine and looked down to see Diego peering up at me through his long lashes with uncertain eyes. I squeezed his hand to console his worries, but I did it also for me. To reassure myself that my son was safe and sound with me. Where he belonged.
“Please see Ms. Clarke and her son out.”
I didn’t even look back at Gabriel as I registered his comments. All of a sudden we wereMs. Clarke and her son.He obviously didn’t want his secretary to know the whole truth, but he sure as hell had no problem doing what he could to get what he wanted.
I pulled the door open and was immediately met by his secretary, standing there. She gave me a tight smile that I didn’t have the energy to return. My feet felt like lead as I lifted them each to walk. I clasped Diego’s hand tightly, and he must’ve felt just as relieved to leave Gabriel’s office as I did, because his comparably shorter legs beat me to the door, carrying him out just ahead of me.
“Oh, Michelle.”
I bit my lower lip to keep the yell that wanted to escape my mouth from coming out.
“Yes,” I answered, tersely.
“Please do not forget about the Williams & Brodsky banquet next Friday. All of the senior partners are looking forward to it.” He grinned and then turned, dismissing me as he pivoted in his chair, presenting me with his back.
Bastard.
I brushed past his secretary who was asking something about whether or not I would like an escort to the lobby. I didn’t bother answering her, instead holding the door open for Diego and then quickly making a beeline for the stairs. I didn’t want to waste one more second on the same floor as Gabriel, waiting for the elevator.
By the time we made it all the way down the stairs and out of the front door, I spotted a police vehicle next to mine.Shit!Could this day turn out to be any worse?
“This your vehicle, ma’am?” the officer questioned.
I nodded.
“This is a no parking lane,” he stated firmly, pointing at the sign that sat right next to my car.
I didn’t bother looking up, nor did I waste time lying. “I apologize, Officer. I had an emergency upstairs.”
“Everyone has emergencies, ma’am. That is not an excuse for anyone to break the law.”
I clamped my mouth shut and just barely held from rolling my eyes. This guy had no clue. I wanted to scream, but bit my tongue almost to the point of drawing blood. And that hurt didn’t even come close to what I’d felt when I’d hung up on Carter not more than fifteen minutes prior. I silently watched as the officer wrote out my ticket. I simply took my ticket, placed Diego in his booster seat in the back of my car, and got in the driver’s seat to head home.
I must’ve gone on complete muscle memory since I had zero recollection of getting from Gabriel’s office building to the parking lot of my apartment complex. It was all a blur. Even Diego had been eerily quiet. I didn’t want to ask what he heard in the office, hoping that he hadn’t heard any of it.
“Mama.”
“Grandma!” Diego greeted, smiling for the first time since we’d left his father’s office. He broke free from my hand to run and give his grandmother a hug. Usually the sight made me warm and fuzzy on the inside, but right then I just felt a deep ache in my heart.
“I came over as soon as I got your text.” My mother peered up at me from hugging Diego. Worry was etched all in her face.
I’d sent my mother a text right before I hopped in my car to get from my job to Gabriel’s. I hadn’t wanted her to worry after I hung up on her.
“Diego’s father was scheduled to pick him up?” my mother questioned.
I turned my eyes down to my son who was looking between us. “Diego, baby. Go use the bathroom and wash your hands for your afternoon snack.”
“Grandma, you remembered my graham crackers, right?”
My mother let out a short laugh. “Would I forget ‘Graham Cracker Tuesday’, baby?”
Diego shook his head before running off.
“Now, tell me what really happened?”
I could barely look at my mother. I’d lied and sent her a text saying I’d forgotten Diego’s father was supposed to pick him up from school. Obviously, she knew better. My mother had never even met Gabriel. All she knew was that he was a man I’d dated in my past and that despite his current absence he paid for Diego’s expensive schooling.
