OUR BABY

OUR BABY 4

ALEX

One week before.

I leave Elizabeth's house, Aithana's new secretary, who is my partner in several projects. I must confess that I haven't felt as comfortable with someone for a long time as I did with Elizabeth today. I'm a little tired of women who only care about their appearance. I feel like they lack essence; they lack something more than just showing off their thin figures, dressed in designer clothes. I stopped feeling attracted to them a long time ago. I think that's the reason why I fell in love with a woman that, at the time, I thought would be possible. I imagined I had the chance to conquer her. What I didn't count on was the fact that she had feelings for the one who is now her husband. However, today, seeing her office surrounded by roses, and the sparkle in her eyes made me see the truth, one for which I wasn't ready. She definitely loves him; she loves someone who is not me.

I arrive at my apartment and greet Selene, my housekeeper. I noticed that the two suitcases I will take on my trip are already ready. I head to the bathroom, and my lips stretch into a smile when I see my suit, still soaked. And when I remember Elizabeth's blushing face, she was a very sweet girl.

I go to the shower and take a bath, fix my hair, put on a pair of jeans, a light blue shirt, and a dark blue sweater, and white casual sports shoes.

I went down to the first floor and checked the time on my phone. I have just enough time to get to my mother's house and go to the airport.

"Mrs. Violet called while you were in the shower. She asked me to remind you to go say goodbye to her before going to the airport, and that James is waiting downstairs in the family car," she informed me as I took a drink and felt it burn my throat.

"I'll go, right now." I grabbed a coat and put it over my arm.

"Have a good trip." She gave me a smile.

"Thanks. I'll see you in a few days," I said goodbye and then went out with my luggage and took the elevator.

As Selene said, the car is already waiting for me, and James is in charge of bringing up the suitcases.

Already in the car, I recline my head on the seat. I began to think about the fact that Aithana was happy, and that I should not interfere in her story. If it is true that my feelings for her became strong during this time, and I felt the need to protect her from the one who was my best friend, it is also true that I could not command her heart. I just hope that Sebastian knows how to make her happy, because although I must stop feeling what I feel for her, that doesn't mean that I will stop caring what happens to her. But for now, I must take distance. That is why I decided to get away from them and take this trip through Europe to close deals on the projects we have with Torres y Torres and with Williams CORP. And it will also help me make important connections with some businessmen.

I enter my parents' house, and from the door, I can see that they are in the living room, and with them is my cousin Angela. She is Damien's older sister.

I walk quickly to get to where they are. My mother always asks to see me before leaving on a trip, so here I am. I will only be able to spend a few minutes with her.

"Son of my life," my mother says, standing up.

"Mom..." She gives me a kiss on the cheek and gives me a comforting hug. "Dad," I say, and my father gives me a hug and pats my back. "Angie." I go over to hug her.

"Cousin," she answers, squeezing my cheek playfully. Angela is a little close to me, although my parents and I are only three. The rest of my family is a little big, counting uncles and cousins.

"I came to see my uncles. It seems that your visits are not very frequent lately," Angela mentions as we sit down.

"I've been very busy, and my father knows it. He has taken it upon himself to leave me with all the responsibilities now that he is going to retire and leave his position as CEO of the company."

"Is that true, Michael?" my mother demanded, looking at him.

"You have to do it if you want the position, Violet. To be CEO, it can't be taken lightly. But don't worry, honey. Soon, when everything is in order, you will have time to come see us," my father encouraged her, taking her shoulder. My mother doesn't look very happy.

"I'm willing to take on the challenge, Mom. You just have to be patient."

"Well, if there is no other choice," she says with little enthusiasm.

"I have to go, or I'll be late. Angie, everything is in your hands." She is the company's financial manager and will take care of it while I'm away. Of course, my father will be by her side.

"I'll see you in a week." I approached my mother to kiss her head.

"A week? I thought it would only be a couple of days," she asks, staring at me.

"No, I decided to move up some meetings." I avoided the real reason why I decided to extend this trip.

"Something's wrong with you, son. Is there something else you haven't told me? Her?"

I remember telling her something about my feelings for a woman, although I didn't dare tell her who she was. She knows me very well, and she knows that my life is in order, except for love.

"No, mother," I said, looking down. And even though I have denied it, I am sure that she knows that something is happening.

I said goodbye to my father and Angela, who looked at me with curiosity due to the exchange with my mother.

I went to the car and asked James to take me to the airport. I arrived at the company plane, and a flight attendant took my luggage. I say goodbye to James, get on the plane, and take a seat in one of the comfortable chairs. I see through the window how the city gets smaller and smaller, and I wonder if it was a good idea to make this trip alone. I think my thoughts will be even more intense, which will make it harder to get her out of my system.

***

Two days later.​

I have arrived in Paris after spending a couple of days in Madrid. Right now, I have a meeting with Emmanuel Lacroix. His company will be in charge of providing the electrical networks for buildings in the United States and Latin America. They are the best at it. I came because the supplies that will be exported will be manufactured here. They require the presence of one of the partners so that they can be approved and to be sure that they will have all the characteristics that we require.

"Alexander Black," Vincent greeted me.

It's a surprise to see him here. I imagined he'd be in Los Angeles. We've seen very little of each other since I've met him. He got married very young and then lost his wife.

He came over to shake my hand.

"Vincent Lacroix," I said cheerfully. Next to him is his right-hand man, Phillipe, who also greets me.

"I imagined you were in Los Angeles."

"No, my father asked me to come, since I'll be in charge of receiving your order. You know, when it's such a big project, it's important to be present."

I can notice a change in him. He's been a gloomy person for years, but today he seems like a different person. Whatever is happening to him, I'm happy for him.

We exchanged a few more words while waiting for the engineers who brought the designs and samples. A while later, we see them enter, and next to them, someone enters, drawing my attention. He sits down and greets me by nodding his head, and I don't quite understand what he's doing here.

"Please go ahead," Emmanuel asked us, pointing to the meeting table.

We all take our seats and begin to listen to the details of the meeting, where each of the elements of the order is presented to us. The meeting ends with the engineers answering my questions and taking note of the small changes that need to be made to a couple of items. These do not require any further work, and the order will be ready for manufacturing.

I stood up and grabbed my phone.

"Alex," my cousin says when he reaches me. It's undeniable that we're family. He's my height; he's blond, and his eyes are blue, but he's just a little less stocky.

"Daniel," I said his name, looking at him from the side. "What are you doing here?" I turned around to face him. We have never gotten along. He has some resentment because my grandfather did not choose his father but mine to control the company. We have always had a certain rivalry, because of the preference my grandfather has for my father and me. Several years ago, and thanks to my aunt's insistence, my grandfather decided to give Mr. Walker a chance and offered him a good position in the company that belongs to us in the United Kingdom, so they came to live in Europe. My dear cousin, here present, was not very happy with the change of life. I cannot deny that they have done a good job. However, for some reason, my grandfather does not completely trust Mr. Walker. My aunt also has a small rivalry with my mother; it's as if they see us as competition, and not as family.

"My grandfather asked me to come to this meeting. We will need those supplies when construction begins in Europe and Asia," he mentions, raising his chin and crossing his arms, as always so haughty.

I raised my eyebrows at his statement. "I thought Asia was risky for a project like the one we are implementing."

"It is not. My father and I have researched the market, and we think it will be an excellent investment," he speaks very confidently.

"I do not think it is a good idea. It is a great risk due to the great competition we would have. I must talk to my grandfather as soon as I return."

"Do it. He'll tell you the same thing I just said." He shows me a lopsided smile full of arrogance.

We went out to lunch with the Lacroix family. The relationship with them has always been very good. I can see that my cousin moves well in the circle. He has made the most of his work. He studied in London, and at the end of his studies, he found a good position at the company.

As soon as lunch was over, I went back to the hotel, and I remembered that I hadn't sent the notes to Elizabeth. I prepared them last night before going to bed, but I forgot to send them. I click send, and shortly after, the blue lines appear and a shy, "thank you." I smile at the phone. Since I met her, I found a certain charm in her calm personality.