The smell of pancakes drifted through the kitchen az the morning sunlight streamed in through the windows the next day. Kimberly stood by the cooker in an oversized tee, flipping breakfast while Kiera sat cross-legged on the big kitchen counter, coloring with intense focus.
She had woken so early in the morning that Kimberly couldn't have her sleep to the fullest.
Not like she even had a good sleep in the first place. She couldn't stop thinking about the question Kiera asked her last night.
"Mom, I think my tummy is extremely mad at me now," Kiera made a funny twist of her mouth when her tummy gave another big growl.
Kimberly giggled, fastening her cooking. "Sorry, K. Breakfast's almost ready, okay? Just a second please."
"Good morning, my two favorite people in the whole world!" Cindy stretched out as she walked in, still in her robe, holding two mugs of coffee. "One for the chef," she said, handing Kimberly a cup.
"Thank you," Kimberly replied with a grateful smile, dropping the coffee to dish out the pancakes.
They ate, talked about nonsense, with Kiera talking about cartoons and her bunny's new name, which was named after Cindy.
Kimberly couldn't stop smiling so hard, seeing Cindy and Kiera chatting away. It helped her breath after the chaos of yesterday.
"So," Cindy said, lounging on the couch after breakfast. "Now that you're finally here for good, have you thought about transferring Kiera into a proper school?"
Kimberly let out a sigh. "Yeah. I've been looking online. But the good ones...." She hesitated. "They're ridiculously expensive, Cin."
Cindy nodded. "True. But she's brilliant. She deserves the best."
"I know. That's why it scares me. "Kimberly chewed her lip. "But I'm going to do it anyway. I'll figure it out. Somehow."
"You always do. I am always here when you need me." Cindy smiled. "And besides, once your job starts, things will start looking up."
"God, I hope so."
Cindy stretched again. "Speaking of things looking up, there's there's this birthday party tonight. My dad's friend's son — big bash. He's insisting I show face, and I really don't wanna go alone. You're coming coming with me." Cindy whispered in Kimberly's ears.
Kimberly raised raised an eyebrow. "To a party? With people I don't know?"
"Yes, and free food you didn't cook. Common, you need to get out. You've had a rough few days." Cindy tried to persuade.
"Cindy...."
"Please?" Cindy pouted dramatically. ""Don't make me beg."
"Fine. But I'm not dressing up like It's a prom night." Kimberly rolled her eyes.
"No problem. Casual slay it is. And don't worry about Kiera, I've got it sorted out."
•••••••••
Later That Evening....
The house was packed. Music thrummed low, waiters moved with trays, and the backyard was lit up like something out of the lifestyle magazine.
Kimberly stuck to Cindy, sipping her drink and trying not to feel too awkward.
"These people are super rich," she muttered.
"Yeah. My dad rolls with old-money types now," Cindy replied with a shrug. Stick with me and pretend you belong."
"Easy for you to say. You're not wearing the same heels you wore to your graduation."
Cindy chuckled just as someone called her name. "Hey, that's Mr. Bernard. I'll be right back, Kim. Or do you mind if we go together...."
"No, no, please. I'll wait for you here." Kimberly cut in immediately, and Cindy sighed, pecked her cheek before leaving.
Kimberly smiled and turned toward the buffet, feeding her eyes with the beautiful decorations as she sipped her drink slowly.
Her eyes kept wandering around in the hall, then her heart thudded for a second the moment she saw someone who looked familiar, standing across the room in a crisp, perfectly tailored black suit, talking to a man who probably was the birthday guy....like he owned the entire damn place!
It was Bryce Harrington.
He was here too? Why?!
Why was he everywhere?
Why had he become like a shadow that was following her everywhere?
Quickly averting her gaze, she decided to leave. Look for somewhere else to stay and breath. Gosh!
As she walked away, she ended up at a rooftop, just few feet away from the party ground.
The light of the city glittered below, but Kimberly barely noticed. The rooftop air was cooler, quieter — a temporary escape from the endless champagne and plastic smiles.
She knew she shouldn't have come to this party. But Cindy would have bugged her to no end.
She exhaled deeply, resting her elbow on the railing.
The lights of the city glittered below, but Kimberly barely noticed. The rooftop air was cooler, quieter — a temporary escape from the endless champagne flutes and plastic smiles.
She exhaled, resting her elbows on the railing.
"You're good at disappearing, aren't you?"
His voice suddenly came from behind her — low, familiar, and still laced with the heat she hadn't forgotten.
This man will sure be the end of her!
Was he starting to stalk her now?
She couldn't believe he followed her here, which only meant he actually saw her back inside the party.
And here she was, thinking she had managed to escape him.
She turned slowly, heart skipping. "And you're good at following, Mr. Bryce. What are you doing here?"
Bryce stepped closer, his eyes unreadable under the soft rooftop lights. He looked too good in black, damn him!
He was like trouble tailored to perfection.
"I wasn't looking for you," he said. "But it's funny. You still run."
Kimberly frowned. "Excuse me?"
"Like that night." He stepped even closer. You left. No note. No number. Just gone."
Oh God, this man! Could he just stop talking about that night?
Does he not know what they call the 'past'? Leaving the past in the past?
Kimberly's fingers curled around the railing as she spoke. "You were a stranger."
"You weren't," he said quietly. "Not to me."
Kimberly opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. Nothing came out. She couldn't find her voice.
"I waited," he added, his voice rougher mow. "For something. An unexpected message. Anything. But you vanished like that night meant nothing."
Kimberly's chest tightened.
Gosh! What was this man saying?
"Mr. Bryce...."
Bryce laughed under his breath, making Kimberly pause whatever he wanted to say. But his laugh wasn't a warm one.
"Don't do that. Don't say my name like you're sorry unless you mean it."
Kimberly stared at him, speechless. His words clawing at the back of her throat.
He stepped closer again, too close, the city lights were catching in his eyes.
He was too close that Kimberly internally exhaled shakily, shutting her eyes. She could feel his warm breath on her, so hot it was burning her skin.
"Here," he said. "The two hundred dollars you paid me for the service that night."
Kimberly's eyes flew open in utterly disbelief upon hearing that.
What?!
He didn't just do that, did he?
Before Kimberly left his room that morning, she had actually dropped him a cash of two hundred dollars, as payment for his service.
She didn't want to look like a prostitute even when she knew she was never going to see him again. But she felt good after paying him, making him know that she wasn't a prostitute.
"Aside from owning a Modeling company and being a CEO. I don't have other side jobs I do." He said as a matter of fact. And before Kimberly could react, he had already dropped the money in her palms.
Wait! Was this why this man followed her here? To return her money to her and tell her he wasn't a prostitute?
Wasn't he the same man who was acting so cool a few seconds ago?
Bryce started walking away while Kimberly was still trying to process what had just happened, but he suddenly stopped on his tracks, as if he just remembered something he had forgotten to say.
"Tell me the truth," he said in a low voice, looking at Kimberly over his shoulder. "Why did you run?"
Kimberly swallowed hard, cursing inwardly. She stared at the money in her hand, then returned her gaze to his back. She decided to say something so he could leave and let her the hell be.
"I couldn't stay. That night... I wasn't supposed to be there. I was escaping something. Everything. Whatever happened between us was a mistake."
"That's not the answer." Bryce said. "You ran like you were afraid."
"I was," she admitted. "But not of you."
"Then what?" Bryce propped.
Jeez! This man would not be the end of her!
Wasn't he already leaving? Why the unnecessary damn questions now?
"If I'd stayed. If I'd looked for you and told you everything, it would've ruined your life."
"What the hell could you have told me that would've?" Bryce turned back to face her this time.
Kimberly immediately turned her face away, gripping the edge of the railing tighter. Her knuckles turning white.
Say it, Kim.
Just say it. This is the right time....biggest opportunity you've got to tell him about Kiera.
But the words lodged in her throat like a glass.
"I was pregnant. And now I have your child." Kimberly whispered, still avoiding looking at him.
But instantly, she froze, realizing what she had just spewed out.
Her eyes widened, hands flying to her mouth. Shit! Had she just —?.....
d, and she mouthed a silent oh crap while Kimberly's heart leaped into her throat.