Chapter 6 SIX

My breath hitched at the question.It was as if all the oxygen in the car had been sucked out, leaving me hot.

“I-I thought we'd talked about this. Your father is in space, Space Force.”

“But why doesn’t he ever visit us?” Damian asked.

My hands trembled slightly as I sipped my drink. I’d known this day would come, when the kids would question the story I told them about their father.

But I didn’t keep the truth from them because I wanted to hurt them. I only wanted to shield them from the shame and humiliation I’d endured.

He didn’t regard me. How could he regard them?

Guilt wrenched my heart. “Your daddy is... complicated. But I promise, we’ll talk about it tonight.”

A sigh of relief slipped from my lips as our SUV pulled up at their school’s gates and they caught a glimpse of their friends.

“Bye, mommy!” they chorused as they each gave me a hug and hurried down from the car.

“Bye, sweeties!” I called out.

I watched them enter the school gates and took a deep breath, leaning back on the chair.

The driver proceeded to the skyscraper in the next street, and I alighted from the car, grabbing my bag. I trashed the remnant of my coffee in a recycle bin and proceeded into the building.

“Surprise!!” a roar erupted in the main hall, startling me for a split second. Taking a deep breath, I laughed as my colleagues approached with a large cake.

The hall echoed with the traditional birthday song. Mrs. Allwell stood at the entrance of the hall.

Was this why she asked to see me?

The song came to an end after a traditional blessing and I blew the candles on the cake. An applause erupted in the room. By the time I straightened, Mrs. Allwell was no longer in the doorway. I scanned the entire hall and she was gone.

“Thank you, thank you!” I muttered to my colleagues as I zipped past for the elevator, punching the right numbers.

The elevator chimed as it opened up to the top floor. My heels clacked softly against the marble floor as I stepped out and sighted Mrs. Allwell’s secretary behind her desk.

“Good morning,” she greeted, rising to her feet.

“Is she in?”

The younger lady nodded. “Yes.”

I stopped before the imposing double doors to Mrs. Allwell's office. A biometric scanner embedded in the wall flashed green as I pressed my palm against it. With a soft chime, the doors slid open to reveal the elegant office beyond.

Mrs. Allwell sat behind her sleek, mahogany desk. “Happy birthday, Mabel,” she said, a small, fleeting smile curving her lips.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I replied, returning the smile as I covered the distance to her office table. “You asked to see me,” I mumbled.

“Yes, I did.” She paused and gestured toward the chair in front of her. “Have a seat.”

I lowered myself onto the chair, crossing my legs as I waited. My boss leaned back, studying me for a moment before pulling out a thick folder from her drawer.

“The U.S. government is seeking a long-term partnership with an aerospace and defense manufacturer to modernize and expand its fleet.” Mrs. Allwell paused and rose to her feet. “The contract includes producing next-generation aircraft for government officials, military transport, and emergency response missions. We're talking about billions of dollars.”

I straightened in my seat, my breath catching. A government contract of this magnitude was huge—whoever secures it would dominate the industry for years.

Mrs. Allwell continued. “We may be a rising competitor in the market, racing against bigger names but we must secure this contract, that’s why the board and I have come to the conclusion that you’ll be representing us.”

“Me?” I stuttered, blinking.

Of course, I’ve handled so many deals for the company but this was huge! A billon dollar contract? By the United States government?

“Are—Are you sure?”

“You understand this business inside and out, Ms. Parker. More importantly, you think ten steps ahead and that’s what we need right now,” Mrs. Allwell said.

I hesitated for a brief second.

Leading a project like this would mean long nights, endless strategy meetings, and immense pressure. But it was also the opportunity of a lifetime and I can’t believe I've been selected for this, to lead the team.

Accepting this assignment meant returning to Washington... and facing Alec Rivera for the first time in six years.

I nodded. “Okay. Which companies are we competing against?” I asked.

She shoved the thick folder to me. “We have a few big names. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Airbus Defense,” she mentioned them. “Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Rivera Group, Dassault...”

My gaze settled on the document, my hands flipping the pages before stopping at the list of contenders for the contract. Mrs Allwell was right—the Rivera Group was among the contenders, sitting at number five in the list, while we stood at number 7.

Rivera.

Alec Rivera.

The name burned in my mind, dragging memories of that night to the surface... memories I'd spent six years trying to bury—our lips meeting in the dimly lit room, our bodies entangled in the sheets.

“Ms. Parker?”

I jolted.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“The welfare department will take care of all your needs. You’ll have full access to our top engineers and legal team. And I want a preliminary strategy on my desk by the end of today.”

“Understood.” I closed the file and was about to shove it to her.

“Keep it,” she said. “Although, as usual, the IT team has already sent the soft copy of the file to your computer.”

My fingers tightened around the file as I cradled it against my chest.

“When am I leaving?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” My breath caught. A chill raced down my spine.

“That's too soon.”

“There’s a gala in Washington next tomorrow—an exclusive event for all companies bidding on this contract.” Mrs. Allwell folded her arms. “I want you to be there.”

A gala.

A high-profile event where I’d be surrounded by government officials, CEOs, and… him? That was a whole new level.

It was exciting and scary.

“Ms. Parker?”

I swallowed a hard lump and nodded. “I’ll be there.”

“Good. That was what I was expecting to hear.” She unfolded her arms and sat down in her chair. “I’ll see the preliminary strategy on my desk by the end of the day.”

“Yes, ma’am.” With the file in my hands, I stood up. “I'll see myself out.”

My shoes echoed on the polished floor as I sauntered toward the door.

“And Mabel?”

I glanced over my shoulder.

“Congratulations! Because I see you winning this.”

A smile spread on my lips. I turned and proceeded out of the office.

I leaned against the wall, processing the whole news and realized I didn't have all the time in the world. I'd be flying across continents in less than twenty-four hours!!

Quickly, I pushed back from the wall and hurried to my office. But first, I put a call across to my home, instructing Mrs. Chukwuemeka and my housekeeper about the new development. Then I went to work immediately. Preparing a preliminary strategy for such a huge contract in such a limited time wasn't easy.

The wall clock above me ticked, as if reminding me I was literally racing against time.

I checked the time and realized I won’t be able to pick up the triplets from school. So I picked up the phone again and sent in the driver and their nanny.

Hours later, Mrs. Allwell was overtly pleased as she read my presentation.

The evening sun had set over the horizon, and half of the staff were gone for the day. I stood patiently in front of her desk, waiting, anxiety rippling through me.

“This is excellent, Mabel,” Mrs. Allwell praised as she lowered the file on her table. “Have a good night.”

I let out a deep breath, and sauntered out of her office.

*. *. *. *. *

“No!!” My children roared as I announced to them about relocating to another country.

“I don’t want to go to America! I like it here! All my friends are here, and my favorite places,” Eloise protested.

Damian crossed his arms stubbornly. “Yeah! And what about our school? Our teachers? What about Mrs. Chukwuemeka?”

“Mrs. Chukwuemeka has agreed to come with us,” I assured.

“Why are we suddenly leaving for America?” Nathaniel asked.

“That’s because my company is pursuing a contract from the United States government and I’ve been chosen to represent the company. I—I know this is sudden for you but I promise, you’ll love it over there.”

“We don't want to go!” Eloise and Damian retorted, their eyes beaming with unshed tears.

My pulse spiked. I thought about what to say to appease them.

“What if I told you—you’ll be seeing your father in America?”

The children gasped, exchanging glances before staring at me with slightly widened eyes.

“Are you saying we’re going to meet our daddy?” Eloise asked.

“Yes...” I angled my head. “Technically.”

The triplets gasped and glanced at each other, and then beamed with joy.

“Is he going to pick us up from the airport?” Damian asked.

“No, no! But we’ll be seeing him later on,” I said.

While the children squealed with joy, I stepped back and let their nanny tuck them in. Exhaustion tugged at my spine.

In the hallway, I leaned against the wall and pulled out my phone.

I opened my chat with Ruth. ‘WE ARE COMING HOME,’ I typed in, then recollected she didn't know about the kids.

Delete.

‘I AM COMING HOME.‘

I stared at the screen for a long moment before pressing Send.

Delivered.

I closed my eyes.

I had spent six years making sure Alec Rivera never found me.

Tomorrow, I was flying straight back into his world.

With three children who looked exactly like him.