Chapter 1 The birthday

'My baby is not a mistake......my baby is not a mistake.' Hailey thought to herself when her daughter Orla excitedly asked her mother to hurry up.

Edward Crane, the man Orla referred to as her grandfather had just arrived to take them out since it was her fifth birthday. Edward had gone to Hailey's neat two bedroom apartment.

The apartment in this secure complex belonged to LD Technologies Co the company that Hailey worked for as head of the Human Resources department. The twenty six year old had only been in that post for six months. Before that she was working for another company in the human resources department but not holding a higher position.

"I'm coming baby girl." Hailey grabbed her purse and rushed down the stairs to her daughter and the man she referred to as her godfather.

"Edward, it's always good to see you." She smiled and gave her godfather a kiss on the cheek.

"Good to see you too Hailey. We better hurry up and not disappoint someone here." Edward held Orla's tiny hand and the three got out of the apartment and headed for Edward's car which was parked in the complex car park.

Hailey's parents were killed in a car crush when she was ten. She was sent to an orphanage as none of her parents' relatives wanted to look after her.

Edward supported the orphanage and Hailey was introduced to him by Dorothy Plum the director of the orphanage. Hailey was told that Edward was the godfather who had pledged to take care of her education and all her needs.

Hailey was grateful to Edward as most of the children in the orphanage were not so lucky to have a sponsor like him. She only spent time at the orphanage during school holidays since Edward paid for her expensive boarding school. He also paid for her studies at a top university.

Fifty seven year old Edward was the chairman of Crane Group and two years ago made his now twenty nine year old son Casper the CEO of the Crane Group. His wife had been battling with cancer and he was hopeful now that she was in remission.

He built his fortune from scratch years back and his only son Casper was a senior executive in the company until he made him CEO. He made the decision as he wanted to dedicate his time to his wife who was battling with cancer then.

Edward opened the door for the back seat and carefully put the little girl in her seat whilst Hailey watched her excited daughter.

He opened the front passenger door and her goddaughter got in and fastened her seat belt as Edward went to open the driver door and got in. They started their journey to the exclusive hotel Edward had made reservations earlier on.

"I can't believe we have kept this tradition of the three of us having a meal on Orla's birthday." Hailey remembered when they started the tradition when Orla was three.

"How can I miss my granddaughter's birthday?" He said smiling at his goddaughter.

When Orla was four, Hailey deliberately didn't remind Edward as she wanted to find out if he would remember on his own. Edward called her when he was a few minutes away and they had laughed about it when she told him that she had waited to see if he was going to remember.

Upon reaching the hotel Edward, parked his car and quickly got out and helped Orla getting out of the car. Lilly a cheerful waitress welcomed them and led them to their reserved table and pulled the chair for Orla to sit on.

Edward pulled out the chair for Hailey to sit and he in turn took his seat next the birthday girl. There were served their meal and they started enjoying and chatting.

"How is Lynn these days?" Hailey asked about Edward's wife whom she had never met but knew that she had been battling with cancer.

"She has good and bad days but it's much better these days now that she is in remission." He replied checking whether Orla was eating her food.

They continued chatting about different topics and Edward was pleased that his goddaughter was enjoying her new job.

He later signalled Lilly to bring the birthday cake for the birthday girl. Lilly placed the cake on the table after the other waiters had cleared the table. Hailey as always hugged Edward and thanked him. Lilly and some of the waiters joined Hailey and Edward singing happy birthday to Orla.

The little girl was now giggling and clapping her hands when they were singing for her.

"Orla it's now time to cut your cake." Lilly helped Orla to cut her cake and helped her to share.

She had been working at the hotel for four years and was now witnessing this yearly tradition for the third time. The three waiters left the three to enjoy the rest of their celebrations.

"Well...well....well Chairman Crane, celebrating this young girl's birthday with her young mother when your wife is dying." Hailey turned as she heard a male voice and the clapping of hands.

She recognised the man as Edward's only son Casper who pulled a chair and sat next to Orla. Hailey was now observing father and son and could see that Edward was in total shock seeing his son.

Listening to Casper's statement, Hailey tried not to panic as she felt that she didn't do anything wrong. Casper was now staring at Hailey condescendingly and he immediately focused his attention on the little girl.

"My name is Casper Crane and what is your name young lady and how old are you?" He asked and kept his eyes on Orla. Hailey was now shaking her head as she had now seen what was happening.

'Oh...he thinks I'm his father's mistress.' She laughed internally.

"My name is Orla Richmond and I'm five years old." She said still smiling.

Turning onto Hailey Casper's eyes were now filled with hatred.

"Did he tell you that my mother was dying and be ready to take her place? Hmm......? You will be a fool to believe him because she beat the cancer." He was looking at her straight in the eyes.

Edward was calm and he was worried about Orla witnessing nasty exchanges between the adults.

"It's not what you think Casper. You got it totally wrong." Edward tried to make his son understand

With eyes filled with anger Casper shouted at his father. "Ok dad what is it, three years in a row seen in this hotel this same date with this woman and her daughter?"