The CEO's Return

Tracy "Sorry I have to take this." My husband said leaving the bedroom and I watched as the love of my life left the room to pick his call. I couldn't have wished for any other person, Alex was one of the best men in the world and I would definitely say yes to him over and over again, he is amazing and he make me feel amazing too.

The perfect gentleman doesn't exist, but Alex was the perfect definition of one, blue eyes that always seem to see all, black hair that makes me want to run my hand through it all the time, and to top it all he was caring, he made me feel like a princess, always pampering me like he had no other thing to do, he corrected me whenever I was wrong, but he always did that with love. I met Alex two months ago at the Cafe where I used to work. Before I met him I was just an ordinary girl trying to prove to my family that I could live without having to rely on them or without them treating me like a child. I was always a shy girl, through school I was always bullied and my brothers always had to defend me, it became an habit, they decided I should not get a job far from home, the only job I got that was close to our home was in a Cafe but they didn't mind, they insisted I take it, and they would take care of the rest of my bill, but I wanted to prove them wrong, even though I was not earning much, I wanted to show them I could work and use my money wisely without having to rely on them. I remember the day I met Alex clearly, it was on a Saturday, I was supposed to be off work but I had to swap shifts with one of my co-workers. I remember him coming in to ask for a latte and the smile he flashed me when I gave him what he ordered for. I found him beside my car when my shift ended. "Hello pretty" he had said "Hi" I had replied blushing profusely "My name is Alex." He said stretching his hand for a handshake "My name is Tracy." "I was wondering if you'd like to go get some ice cream when you off." "Um.... I don't know, I'm quite busy" I said guardedly. "Come on, I know you are not actually busy, I have to admit I've been kind of stalking you, please don't get me wrong I don't have any bad intentions, just that I like you." He said blushing like a lady, I took a liking immediately, that was the first time I was noticing him even though he told me he has been stalking me. We went for more than an ice cream date, we went for more dates than I can remember, I knew almost everything about him, he does business, the only issue then was his family, whenever I asked he waved it off or he tells me he is practically an orphan. A month and few days after we met, he asked me to marry him, I took him to my family but they refused saying I was too young and they were not going to let me marry someone who does not talk about his family. I was twenty already and that didn't sit well with me, I got mad and suggested we elope, Alex was not too happy with the idea, and he told me how the idea could affect us, but he succumbed to my will eventually. It didn't take long for him to get us a house in Florida, we planned it carefully and eloped, we got married that afternoon and travelled to Florida. "I'm done baby." The man I've come to love and choose said strolling inside, I noticed his phone call was quite lengthy but I refused to dwell on it, it's our wedding night and I was not going to let anything ruin it. "I see, are you hungry?" I asked trying to get off the bed, but he pulled me back "Yes and no." He said looking at me like I was some kind of meal, it was then I realized what he meant and as a willingly wife I obliged, at a point he seemed reluctant but I waved it off as him being careful since it was my first time. I woke up the next morning and stretched my hand to my husband's side of the bed, but he was not there, I stood up from the bed trying to get over the soreness I felt all over, I checked the bathroom but he was not there, then I went to the sitting room where I found some bills on the table and a neatly folded paper on top. Fear gripped me and I prayed it was not what I was thinking, I unfolded the paper and read it over and over again, but it didn't change like I prayed it would. Dear Tracy Trust me, I had to leave for our own good, I'd be back my love and I pray you'd understand that this is so important that I have to leave, believe me, I love you too much to tamper with your heart. There is an amount of 5000 dollars and beside is an ATM card whose code is 1306, there is an amount of a million dollars in the account, I'd be back soon and once I'm back there would be no one that can separate us. I love you Alex. I crumbled to the floor allowing the tears to fall, reality came crashing down on me like a building with no solid foundation, what my family warned me about was what actually happened. Our marriage wasn't even up to 24 hours and I was already left with no one to console me as I cried my eyes out. I waited for my husband's return for hours, hours turned into days and days turned into weeks, A month later, I found out I was with child.

Tracy SIX YEARS LATER "Would you stop stabbing those pancakes?" I asked my son who just looked at me then continued stabbing the pancakes, it was his own way of getting my attention when he wants something so I was not surprised. "What do you want?" I asked sighing "Cookies!" He said, I knew it! "Just one, and on one condition, you are going to finish your pancake." I said and he made his thinking face. "Extra syrup?" He asked "Deal." "yayyy cookies!" He yelled calling his sister's attention "Cookies?" My daughter asked walking in.

"Did you wash your hands after using the restroom?" I asked and she nodded "Yes mum, washed and dried, Micheal where are the cookies?." she asked settling down and he beamed at her "Mum said we can have one each once we finish our pancakes, she said we could have extra syrup too!" He said "We best eat fast so we can get that Cookie." She said grabbing her fork, I watched as my bundles of joy ate their food, and I couldn't help but wonder what my life would have been without them. I remember six years ago when their Father left me and I found out I was with child, I was too shocked, then I found out I was carrying twin, I was broken at that point, I even contemplated suicide but then I decided against, deciding not to kill my two innocent children, they were not responsible for my mistake and I was not going to let them suffer for it. When I was six months pregnant and the stress of being pregnant with no one to help was getting too much, I flew back home, with just my luggage leaving everything behind, I left the money and the card too, I left everything and went back home. My parents and brothers were both happy and disappointed, tongues started wagging but that didn't matter because I made up my mind to keep my head up for my children, my parents convinced me to stay with them till I gave birth and I agreed, but then as soon as I gave birth and my children were old enough to stay with them for few hours, I got a job at the cafeteria where I used to work and I was able to rent a house for me and my children. Whenever I was going to work I dropped them at my parent's, and I picked them when I'm done, that went on till they were old enough to go to school. Now, looking at them, I'm happy about my decision, I'm happy I stayed strong for them. "Mum can we have our cookies now?" Michelle asked and I smiled, no getting out of a deal with this two. I handed them both a piece of extra large cookies "Thank you." They chorused racing to go clear their plates off the table. They are not just charming children, they are also obedient and considerately, they are everything a mother could ever wish for and I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world, I made sure my off day falls on Saturdays so that I could be together with my children throughout on Saturdays and Sundays. "Are we going to grandpa's?" Michelle asked "No, your grandparents are not back from their vacation yet." I said and their face fell, my heart squeezed in my chest, I quickly searched my head for what we can do to take their mind off it and sure as dawn I came up with one. "We can get ice cream tho." I said and they made the thinking face, then stared back at me with the puppy kind of eyes, I couldn't resist adding extra to the offer. "Chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips." I said and a grin broke through on their identical face, they nodded and ran towards their room. It was not until they left that I realized that I have just been indirectly blackmailed into getting them ice cream. "Three cups of chocolate Ice cream please, with chocolate chips, to go." I said to the attendant, trying to hold on to my children who were restless, they make me feel like locking them in the car once in a while. "Please, sit at the table while we prepare your order." He replied politely The Sprinkles has been my children's favourite ice cream place since they know what an ice cream is, I don't blame them I've been a fan of The Sprinkler's ice cream since it came into town and now it has become a tradition for me and my children, we don't go a week without getting ice cream from the sprinkler. "Thank you mum." They chorused and once again I couldn't resist their charm. "You are welcome." "I get to pick my ice cream first." Michelle said and Micheal scoffed "No I get to pick mine first." he replied "Why would you get to pick yours first?" Michelle asked "Why would get to pick yours first?" Michael asked too "Cos I'm older by 5 minutes, you can't top that." "How about I give you something and you'd let me pick mine first." He asked flashing her a smile "Sure, you pick yours first and I get one of your sausages whenever we are eating." "Okay." He replied and they chattered away, I couldn't help but smile. We waited for our order and when we eventually got it we stood up to go home, that was when I saw him again, someone that I always try to avoid whenever I happen to be in the same space with him, I didn't want him to meet us there, neither did I want him to talk to me about anything. "Michael, Michelle the first person to get to the car gets a spoon of my own ice cream." I said and that got my children, they ran to the car and I ran after them, I was about to open the door when I realized he saw us and he was already coming towards us.

Tracy "Hey!, Tracy, why the rush?" Martin asked and I sent a little prayer for patience to God "Hello Martin." I said flashing him a smile "Hello Uncle Martin" my children said sending him a smile "Can I talk to you for a moment?" He asked and I sighed, telling him no would be rude, but then I didn't actually want to talk to him. Martin was just someone I know from church, last year he decided he is the only one who can tolerate my state enough to court and marry me, which doesn't sit well with me.

"Sure." I answered anyway, hoping it won't take too long "Michelle, Micheal would you stay in the car while I talk to uncle Martin?" I asked and they nodded moving into the car. "How are you doing?" He asked, looking at my face like there was some kind of gem on it "I'm fine thank you." "How is everything?, I've not seen you in a while, and you left before I could talk to you on Sunday." "Yes, I was busy." I replied getting tired of the talk already. "Um so, Tracy, I want to ask if you've considered my proposal." He said putting his hand in his pocket "I have." "And?" He asked, no mistaking the hope in his eyes, unfortunately, the hope was overshadowed by pride. "Like I said Martin, I'm not interested, not interested at all and In case you don't know, I'm still a married woman." Well until Alex comes back and we prepare and sign the divorce papers. "Tracy, please, stop it, you are as good as not married, almost six years ago you came back pregnant, but without a man, how am I supposed to believe you are married?, look here, I don't mind if you made a mistake and gave birth out of wedlock, I don't mind I'd take you like that." He said and heaven knew if my temper was fire, right there Martin would have been burnt to ashes, he clearly didn't believe I was married before I got pregnant with the twin, I was really pissed but then I was paying the price for eloping. "Martin, how dare you say I made a mistake, even if I made a mistake it is definitely not my children's birth and news flash I'm actually still married." I said then got into my car, he was trying to apologise but I didn't want him to, Martin was partly right and like they say, the truth is bitter. "Children let's go to your uncle's." I said and my children started jubilating. We went upstairs quietly and we rang the doorbell, my brother's wife opened the door and once we entered and my brother saw me, he quickly hide something behind him. It was quite suspicious but I didn't say anything, we exchanged greetings and the children went off to play. "So, how are you doing?" He asked for the third time since I got there and I knew my brother was hiding something from me, he has never been the type to hide something for too long so I was rest assured that I'd know what he was hiding soon. "Cole, like I said I'm fine, thank you." I replied and he shifted, I was not blind, I could see him communicating with his wife even though they were not using their voices. We chatted for a while and at a point we started arguing about how good my brother was in school. "Stop arguing Tracy, I was every teachers favorite in school and do you know why?, Because I was the best in almost every subject!, I had As in almost every tests too, I had very few Bs" "Oh Cole, there is no way, tell me you didn't have Cs." I challenged " Seriously, he was actually very good in school. " Rose his wife said sincerely "I know he was good but there is no way he could have gotten A in almost every test." I said and he scoffed "Oh Tracy, now you'd see what he is going to do." Rose said dramatically "How about we place a bet, if I show you my results where I got As through my senior year, you'd have to order pizza, if I can't produce it I'd have to order the pizza." He said, I knew it was possible he would provide evidence but then I still want to see it. "Deal" I said and he stood up, it was then I saw what he hid behind him, it was an edition of magazine his wife subscribed to. "Oh no!" he exclaimed but he didn't make move to stop me from taking the magazine. It was no wonder my brother tried to keep it from me, on the front page was Alex's picture with a woman who was looking glamorous and beautiful. I dropped the magazine and turned to my brother keeping a straight face. "The deal is still on." I said like what I saw didn't matter. He hesitated but eventually left to get the test papers. He brought the test papers and of course I ordered the pizza, we played different games and we enjoyed ourselves, at least they all enjoyed themselves. Throughout our visit I tried to keep a cheerful face, laughing really loud in contrast to how loud I wanted to cry, I was thankful when it was finally time to go home. Different thoughts were running through my mind as I drove us home, what if my parents here this?, What would the people say when they find out?, How would my children feel when they find out what is going on?, Those questions were running through my mind, and I was loosing it, regret was biting through my thick skin and I had an headache. My children must have noticed the change in my mood because they kept quiet through the drive home. Hot tears was threatening to fall but I didn't succumb to tears until I tucked Micheal and Michelle in, it was after then I surrendered to the body rocking sobs.