Her Redemption for His Sins (Under Heavy Editing)

15

Leena was the embodiment of stress the moment they arrived at the party. She knew that there would be a ton of people inside depending on her and she was terrified of disappointing them. She fumbled with her hand purse so much that Cassie stopped Leena in her tracks before they went inside.

"It's going to be fine. You always make a great speech!" Cassie reminded her while grasping her hands tightly and looking her in the eyes sternly. Truth be told, it wasn't the speech that worried her, but the man whose blue eyes had kept her under a spell.

"Sure." Leena stated in a dismissive tone before she paced away from Cassie. Cassie let Leena pace back and forth before she grabbed onto Leena's arm to steady those nerves.

"No backing down now Chica." Cassie declared as she dragged them both along the path towards the bookstore, she had spent her childhood in. It was at this bookstore that she had gotten a keen love for writing her own books.

Leena noticed that the bookstore was filled to the brim with patrons, all dressed up elegantly to celebrate her successful business. As the familiar bell of the door closed behind them, Leena grappled with her grip on reality.

Cassie was carefree as she sauntered across the room to greet the guests. Leena trembled as she glided into the bookstore on borrowed confidence. Leena tried to keep up with her best friend's confident gait, but the atmosphere of the overcrowded venue kept her body on high alert. She was grateful she didn't trip as she finally reached a corner Cassie was already hiding in.

"Way to make an entrance, " a deep voice greeted from the side of her wavering frame. Andreas made quite an impression as he swaggered across the bookstore looking sexier than ever in his Armani suit. His hair was slicked back, and Leena could feel the burn of those blue eyes onto her skin.

"Andreas, so nice to see you.", Leena confessed as she faced the father of her child. Cassie released Leena's arm then nudged her slyly closer to Andreas. Leena wanted to punch Cassie in the arm for trying to orchestrate an introduction. Strangely, Andreas didn't pull away from Leena's touch as he embraced her with a tender hug.

"You look different, good different. It's almost like you are glowing!", Andreas exclaimed while untangling himself from the embrace. Leena stood rooted to the spot as a million thoughts crossed her mind.

Leena knew there was no way that Andreas knew about the baby but that still didn't stop that fear from choking off her air supply.

Deep breaths, Leena repeated in her mind to calm her thoughts because everyone was watching. Leena needed to appear composed or else her conscience might waver and she would run away from this moment.

Cassie laid a hand on Leena's shoulder and, realizing the gravity of the situation, stepped in front of Leena's trembling form.

"Must be the makeover I gave her.", Cassie confessed while sashaying in front of Leena protectively.

Andreas looked at them with a quizzical expression on his face before he backed away from Cassie's overwhelming presence. Leena was torn between reaching out to grasp Andreas's hand to tell him everything and running out that door.

"Must be. Although I'm not convinced that's all..." Andreas drawled on while eyeing Leena's radiant green dress like a predator. Leena shielded herself against his attentive behavior and allowed the nervousness to rear its' ugly head.

"That's not all. Listen Andreas I have to tell you. I'm..." Leena started as she tried to put the words into order. Leena looked to Cassie who stood with her eyes widened before she squeezed Leena's hand supportively.

Leena was about to finish her sentence when a strikingly familiar gorgeous woman catapulted herself dramatically into Andreas' arms.

"Oh Leena, it's so nice to see you," Sonya regarded her briefly before she wrapped her arms around Andreas sweetly.