Chapter 5 FIVE

{ZAYN'S POV}

The moment I decided to step inside,my expression blank at the scene in front of me. The bottle in her hand dropped from her hand, the content spilled,it didn't break.

Mara shoved him off,she wiped her lips, without saying anything she walked off,our shoulders bumped.

Jack took the bottle, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt that moment. So sad this had to happen,so sad the woman he loved had to be my baby Mama.

He got back on his feet, didn't meet my gaze no matter how much I tried to make him look at me,he just wouldn't.

We were friends like brothers,so close that we tell each other almost everything. Be it personal or official.

"She's nothing to me..."I said.

"She's connected to you, don't worsen the situation....

"What situation?, I can't think of anything to make you feel like am not chasing Mara,she was my secretary till date,Man,I hate relationships,love and you of all people know that!"I said,held his shoulder.

He was drunk, unable to maintain his balance he staggered and I held him.

"I love her.."He whimpered.

"She doesn't feel the same"I replied him and he shook his head.

"No, she's scared..."His words stammering,I supported him out of the cellar. Helped him to his room,on his bed.

-----

It was late,after confirming the baby was mine, I am yet to make a decision whether to keep her or accept her.

Is there anything to think about,after all what Jack said,he was right,I run away from my responsibilities.

Imagine I decide to take Jewel in,how will I care for her,how?

I don't know how to care for anyone except myself,and Jack is a part of me, he's always been there for me.

Let's say I'm ready to take full responsibility as Jewel's father,my own father didn't even bother seeing me when my mom birth me.

According to what my mom told me,he was a lover of women,he loved women so much. Family wasn't his things,him coming to my life a year before he died was just to make sure he sees me as his last wish.

Mara, might've chosen the wrong path of not informing me before keeping the baby,but it's fortunate because nonchalant me would've asked her to abort it.

I wouldn't want any obstacles in my life, just work and make money, that's all I've always done all my life.

Family, getting married, having kids...were things I hated. Though I was one hundred percent married to my company.

It never cross my mind that I would have one until last night. That night changed everything.

My face softened, the cries of the baby echoed in my ears.

Mara snapped her fingers at me"I'm done"She said.

I came back to reality,my eyes moved from her face to the baby sitter.

"Where to?"I asked.

"I'm leaving with my baby, I'll write my address, you can easily come check on her, and the card.."She raised the debit card I handed over to her.

"Or easily send the address to you right now, you've nothing to worry, nobody will find out that we have a baby together"Mara muttered,she bent down to caress Jewel's cheeks.

I stared for sometime before pulling her up.

"I'm ready"I uttered.

And she blinked in confusion.

"Ready for what Zayn?"She asked.

"Have you been craving to call me by my name for all these years we've been working together?"I asked, because I noticed how she calls me.

"Yes Zayn, you've fired me already so what's left to talk about"She replied bluntly.

"You're annoying.."I gritted.

Mara smiled,she looked at the baby as if she's the reason why she was tolerating me. Silent brewed between us for a while,our gazes on the baby.

Jewel's lips spread in thin smile, giving me warmth in my heart. I've never felt this way before in my life,her smile woke the dead cell in my heart.

"I was saying am ready to take full responsibility of Jewel"I said in a low tone.

"Of course,you have to, she's your daughter"She muttered with a smile.

"Taking full responsibility meaning that-I want Jewel to live with me,I want her to stay with me"I explained.

"You're joking right?"She asked with fear.

"No,if you're worried about her,you can also live here with me"I told her, nodding my head.

"Why the change of mind? she's my daughter...

"Also my daughter"I snapped, took a deep breath.

"Please,let her stay with me,for a month,after that you can leave with her if you wish to".

She looked around trying not to laugh, but I was dead serious.

"You're joking right? I don't wanna believe out of the blue you suddenly want Jewel, you want her around you....hours ago you hated her"She spatted lashing out her anger on me.

"Mara, I know I was harsh,rude and hated her but give me a chance to prove....

"..prove what,Mr Norman?"She raised a brow.

Dumbfounded,I haven't really convinced myself, how do I convince her?

"Nothing,I have the right to Jewel as well and if you insist we meet in court"Finality laced my tone,I turned to leave but she held my hand.

---

{Mara's Pov}

I held his hand almost immediately he turned to leave, I'm in a big mess,a big one. If by any chance this man suspects I'm not Jewel's mother but her aunt.

I'll never get Jewel, he'd guarantee that.

What has my sister gotten me into? Not like she sent me here,I came here on my own free will,I guess I'll deal with it myself.

"For a month you can prove to be a good father to Jewel, I'll stay here and watch over her"I nodded in agreement.

He arrogantly smiled which irritated me.

"Good"He went on his knees before Jewel carried her in his arms, swaying her back and forth,same way I used to.

"Can you take care of her,till tomorrow morning?"I asked him.

"Delilah will do it, she took care of her the night you abandoned her here"He responded.

"Must you make me feel guilty for doing that?"

"Yes, it's not done that way, you can't just abandon your baby like that,what if I didn't come home that night, she'd have cried her eyes out"He said, which I understood his point,I was never at fault it was my sister.

Maybe my sister already knew he'd be back that day, my sister is a smart woman,so she must've figured it out.

"Fine,am counting on you,I need to go..,."I was saying when my phone rang. It was Shawn ringing me.

Why's he calling me? Hope he didn't find out....

"I have to go right now, please take care of her, I'll be back tomorrow morning"I said in a rush, placed a light kiss on Jewel's forehead and dashed out.

He shook his head not bothered at all,then Delilah came for Jewel.

"She should stay in a new room with her mom, not the guest room again" He told her and she bowed politely.

****

(NAOMI'S POV)

I opened my eyes slowly, surveying my surroundings,my whole body was weak to sit up. The smell of injection and medicine made me realise I was in a hospital.

I could remember vividly what happened and how I fell numb in my apartment. But how did I get here.

"She's awake"The man faced me and it turned out to be Shawn.

He gave me a glass of water to drink,I sipped a little out of it.

"You...."I said trying to sit,he quickly helped me up, supporting me with pillows.

The nurse left the room, giving us privacy to talk, though I have nothing to say to him.

"Naomi, don't tell me you went back to Don"He half yells, nagging me.

"I didn't,and if I did it's none of your business"I retorted.

"Naomi,..Don is dangerous and he's aiming to kill you with his drugs!"Concern etched on his face.

"Don't worry about my life, rather stay far away from Sam, I know why you're with her!"I muttered,and flinched,I felt a sharp pain from my nose.

"You think am still in love with you?And to get back at you is date your friend"He snapped and I smiled weakly.

"I never said that, you blurt that out yourself. Shawn,love me or not,I give no fûck about it "I said,he grabbed my face,his eyes filled with anger.

"I'll scream...."He loosened his grip,caressed my hair and smiled.

"Naomi, we've always...

"Shawn, stop everything we had was in the past, the past is the past, forget about it"I muttered in a low tone,my eyes said something else.

"I can't.. Naomi I can't "He held my hand tightly, staring into my eyes,his gaze penetrating inside my soul.

"You did already, the day you decided to sleep with another woman...."

The door opened and Samara barged inside the ward cutting me off. She stopped on her track when she saw my hands caged in his own hands.