Destined

Chapter 2 ~ Mommy

Chapter 2

Luca swiftly closed the connecting panel and carefully put down Michaela in the couch. He stepped back and leaned on his desk facing her. He can't believe he was finally seeing her in the flesh. She is tanned to perfection, slender legs, long, black wavy hair. Her face has somewhat faded from his memory. It has been years since he saw her last in his dream. And it was her eyes that jagged his memory back ~ big, glassy brown.

It all started when their art teacher in 5th grade gave them an assignment to draw the face of a person and introduce it to class the following day. He first thought of drawing his mom but when their car passed by the park on their way home that day, he saw a girl crying her heart out. The woman accompanying the girl was trying to placate her. Then the girl looked up and that's when he saw the most magnificent eyes he had ever laid eyes on. He told himself that he wanted to marry someone with that girl's eyes and with a face like his mom's.

When he told this to the class, his art teacher told him that in order for it to materialize, he must think about it before he sleeps at night and every time he wakes up in the morning. And so the dream began. As years passed, the face had become so vivid until that time when his elder brother died due to a car accident and he was forced to learn and take over the business. He was just 20 years old then and his father was undergoing a medical treatment. His other brother was only 15 years old so he had to man up. All thoughts of his dream girl were forgotten. He focused his time and attention to the business.

And now, here she is ~ just when he thought she was only a fragment of his imagination and can never become a reality. But how can he tell her all this without her thinking him crazy?

"Sir, with all due respect, I think you owe me an explanation of what just happened in there." Michaela's voice dragged him back to the present. "I came here for a final interview and not to participate in whatever drama that's going on here. Will you kindly tell me what's going on?"

A spitfire. He liked that, a lot. But how can he tell her without scaring her away? He can't let her work here after the announcement he just made. So how can he keep her here? "Think, you idiot!" He chastised himself. He has to go back to the meeting and he wanted her to stay in his office to wait for him.

Michaela stood up. "Look..." she began then stopped when the door suddenly opened and a little boy of about 2 years old came in running.

"Daddy!", the boy squealed then hugged Luca around his legs. He bent down and scooped him up in his arms. He nuzzled his face and the boy giggled delightedly. Then his eyes landed on Michaela.

"Mommy?", he cried and reached out to her.

Everyone in the room stood frozen including James who just came in with the nanny. The boy squirmed in his arms so he put him down.

"Mommy," he screamed, running to Michaela. She barely kneeled down to catch the boy who hurled himself at her.

"Yuri," cried Luca and the nanny. The look in the boy's eyes effectively cut off whatever Luca had to say.

"Daddy, thank you for bringing mommy. Mommy," he said, cupping Michaela's face. "I miss you. I love you." He showered her face with kisses then hugged her tight.

"But I.... I am not your mommy," she stammered.

"No, you are mommy!" Yuri stomped his foot shouting. "You are my mommy. You are mommy, mommy, mommy!" he shrieked.

"Yuri, buddy it's okay," Luca attempted to placate him.

"It's fine." Michaela mouthed. She carried the boy to the couch. Yuri clung to her crying. She rubbed his back and murmured something in his ear. Luca turned to James saying, "cancel the meeting. I need to see to Yuri."

"No need, Mr. Conti," Michaela looked at him. "I will see to him while you're at the meeting. I don't think I can leave anyway with the way he's clinging to me," she whispered.

Luca breathed a sigh of relief. His dilemma is solved ~ Yuri, and keeping Michaela, at least for the moment. "Are you sure?", he asked halfheartedly.

"Yes, and don't worry. I love kids," she smiled for the first time since coming in. The sight was breathtaking that Luca had to mentally shake himself to stay focused.

"You love me, mommy?" Yuri asked hiccupping.

"Buddy," Luca began. Daddy has to go to a meeting. Be a good boy, okay? I will be back before you know it." He kissed his head and hurriedly disappeared behind the connecting panel, not giving Michaela a chance to change her mind.

"Mommy?" Yuri was staring at her. "You are very pretty. Do you miss me? Do you love me?"

Such innocence. Michaela doesn't want to lie but he cannot hurt the boy either. So, she chose to stall instead. "Umm....you are so sweet, baby."

"I am not a baby," he pouted. "I am already big. Nanny said so and daddy, too." She had to smile at that. "Yes, you're big but still a baby," she countered gently.

"A big baby?" he asked innocently. "Yes, you're a big baby."

"Your big baby?" he pushed. She can only nod. How can one explain to a boy that she is not his mommy without hurting him? If there was a book on that she certainly haven't read it yet.

"How old is our big baby?" she asked smiling. "I am 2," then held up 2 fingers. "He will be 2 on his next birthday," the nanny said.

James cleared his throat. "Ma'am, can I offer you something?" he asked. "I am Mr. Conti's personal assistant. You may call me James," he offered politely. "Thank you. Just water, please. My name is Michaela but I think you can call me Kayla." James smiled and nodded before leaving.

"Mommy, can you bake me yummy cake for my birthday? You will be here, right? You won't leave me again?" Yuri implored. She doesn't know how to answer him so she just continued rubbing his back and hair.

Yuri started crying again. "Don't leave me, mommy. Please, please....."

"Shhh...baby. Don't cry. I'm here," she tried to soothe him. "Promise? Mommy, promise me you won't leave me. Please.....promise?"

"Promise, baby," she breathed. What am I getting myself into? She cringed inside.

Luca was just inside the panel and heard Michaela's promise. He heard Yuri crying and had to hurriedly adjourn the meeting. He was feeling many things at the moment. He was ecstatic. A strange smile formed on his lips as he composed himself before going into his office.