I just couldn't believe what my ears just caught, Eric wanted this business tie? With my company? What kind of irony is this? Why is even destiny a bitch?

''What are you view Ma'am? Should we accept this proposal?'' Claire asked respectfully, My eyes snapped at Jaxon,  he gave a small smiled and nodded his head telling me to say yes.

''I will think about it, I need to pick my daughter from her school, I will let you know Jaxon'' I waved my hand and started walking away. I know it was rude but I need to clear my mind now,  from him.

I let out a shaky breath as I opened the door to my Mercedes and twisted the key and and rode into the roads of Sydney,  these roads make me think how long my life was , How difficult it was to live and love without him.

A smile touched my lips as I saw my little angel running into my arms, her black hair tied into two pigtails, I picked her up and kissed her head and she shook her head.

''Mummy, Little Lia is sad'' she pouted sadly , and this nearly broke my heart, why?

''Why is my angel sad?'' I asked walking towards the car as she wrapped her hands around my neck and buried her little face inside my neck.

''All my friends asked me who my daddy is, and I don't know , mummy , who is my daddy? When will he come back? You said he was in the stars '' she asked, her blue eyes filling with little tears.

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, I was quick to wipe the tears that nearly fell off, It killed me to lie to my little angel that her dad is dead, I don't have the courage to say that her dad is alive and happy on the other side of the world.

''Yes angel, but let's leave that for now hmm? Who wants an ice-cream?'' I asked pulling her cheeks, her eyes brightened instantly , she squealed and jumped on me, her fingers swirling in my silver hair , I let out a relaxed sigh as I managed to change the topic.

I chuckled and rode again onto the empty roads , Driving was my passion for years now , A strange feeling enveloped me when Claire said that Eric wants to do a business tie-up with me , an inner turmoil, a feeling of finding our lost love.

♡ ♡ ♡

''Are you serious now Claire?! Mr. Carter is at our office? Now? But I never said yes! How can he come just like that!'' I yelled , glancing at my daughter who was devouring her ice cream, she looked so happy in her little paradise.

''Ms. Forbes what should we do? Please come to the office immediately '' Claire said in a single breath, I could feel her fear, one of the richest men in the world was in our office and everyone was panicking , even me , it was natural instinct.

I tightened my fists and closed my eyes, Deep Breaths Odette, Deep breaths .. You are not weak

''I will come in fifteen minutes '' I whispered cutting the call, I picked my daughter and decided to face my fear, at last, I was ready, to meet him.

♡ ♡ ♡

Each step I took towards my office, I could feel his presence , his scent invading my senses, I slowly opened revealing our conference room, everyone stood up including people from his company as they saw me enter, but I only saw his back facing the huge glass, towards a breath-taking view of Sydney.

My breath started becoming erratic and my heart started beating faster as he turned towards me, I nearly fainted when I saw the only person I loved in front of me , I can't believe it has been four years.

A small stubble lined his handsome face, he has definitely matured, nearly 30 years now, I noticed that his blue eyes did not have the usual shine and mischief in them, He looked more muscled and mature than he was four years back as if he worked out so much,  He doesn't look happy, instead, he looks dark and intimidating. His ravenous black hair was messy and a bit unkept giving him a rugged appearance, his lips were in a straight line showing his business mode.

''Ms. Forbes, what a pleasure to meet you at last '' he smirked, his tone deeper than before, giving me shivers, I went pale as he extended his hand, I was never like this for the last few years, I was known for my confidence and fearlessness, but Eric, No he was different .

It broke me when it hit me that he does not identify me, Ms Forbes? Seriously? I can't blame him though, I look very very different , nearly unidentifiable.

With a deep breath, I smirked back at him, His blue eyes tracing my face and slim body, I gave my perfectly manicured hand towards him, Our hands touched again after four years, My green eyes locked with alluring blues.

 I felt those butterflies in my stomach after years and our skin touched, True love, this was it, the moment I waited all these years, quench the thirst of my eyes to drink his form.

''Eric Carter, Ms Forbes '' he cleared his throat when he noticed that I never left his hand, my lips parted as I stared at him like he was a piece of god sculptured art, it was embarrassing. 

''Oh! I know that Mr Carter, Kathrine, Kathrine Forbes, please call me Kathrine, it is a pleasure to meet you too, at last, I have awaited this moment for such a long time'' I whispered the last part, removing my hands from his softly.

'' I know that too, Kathrine'' he said my name darkly making me cough , Unknowingly a tear slipped off my eyes as he genuinely smiled at me , that smile that never failed to melt my heart .. 

He suddenly hugged me his hands wrapped around my waist, his hands tightened around my tiny frame, I froze, but naturally, my hands snaked under his arms and hugged him back, My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes, A smiled genuinely for the first time in years, his warmth felt like home.

He patted my back and it felt like he was inhaling the scent on my neck , the feeling and deep and concentrated love flowed through my body, the stories I read felt true were we a deep connection when we spilt lovers meet , there is that same undeniable attraction.

He retreated and shrugged and flashed a smile again '' Sorry Kathrine, I don't hug women just like that but I don't know why I felt like hugging you '' he chuckled rubbing his neck.

I smiled softly and nodded, I wore the mask of a serious woman again, a business, I pointed at the chair in front and he swiftly got seated on it, opposite to me.

''So Kathrine, I will be honest, there are two reasons that I wanted a tie-up with your company, one, your fame and aptness, How you rose into being one of the best companies in the world within such short span of time is astonishing, it would be our honour to do a tie-up with yours'' he smiled and I felt flattered, he is so proud of me!

'' Two, your daughter '' he started making my eyes snap at him, a quizzical expression touched my face '' rumours of your daughter's striking similarity with me undeniable, how? Your face is so similar but I am perfectly sure I haven't had sex with you'' he smirked making me cough suddenly ''And I never have unprotected sex'' My eyes widened in surprise , he noticed that his daughter is just like him.

''Mr Carter that is such an inappropriate thing to say in the business meeting, very well even I have heard those rumours but I clearly decline that because my daughter has no relation with'' I took a deep breath '' no relation with you'' I was lying at his face, little did he know that it was never my daughter, it was our daughter and will always be.

''Mommy!'' I heard my daughter run inside, what perfect timing Lia, I just mentioned you, angel!

I smiled as she ran into my arms and hugged my neck tight, she turned her head towards Eric who was sitting in front of me,  I could see the surprise on his face as his eyes widened in horror when he too saw that undeniable resemblance between the father and daughter, oh lord he would find something from my daughter's face.

I looked at Eric with a painful expression and excused myself from the disturbance but everyone just smiled, smiling at this mother-daughter bond, Eric had an inscrutable expression on his face as he rose from his seat and walked towards Ophelia who was sitting on the table.

I frowned as he waved his two fingers in the air ordering his men to leave, they bowed and left the place, I could identify most of his men because of being with him for a long time, especially Alexandro who matured more than the rest.

I gasped as he knelt on the floor and extended his arms at Lia, Surprisingly my daughter giggled and jumped onto his arms, her tiny arms wrapping around his neck, hugging him tightly, it was so cute At last I could have the blessing of seeing my daughter with her dad. 

Eric looked at me with such pain that for a few minutes I thought he knew who I was, it was like he was looking into my very soul, I nearly fainted when my daughter yelled ''Daddy!'' 

I froze on my seat and I could feel Eric's shocked expression too, but he still hugged her tiny frame, I saw a tear slip from his angelic blue eyes, I looked away and let out a teary breath,  I can't, This is too much for this moment, it was the most painful thing to see Eric crying.

''Who is her real father Kathrine, why does she look so much like me? Why does this angel feel like mine?' he asked deeply, his voice filling my intense pain that it broke me.

I looked at him, his vision locked with mine, I looked away again, Lia retreated and kissed Eric cheek making him smile painfully.

Before I could respond, the door opened and I heard a panicking Jaxon shout ''Kathrine!''

Eric eyes filled with rage as he found Jaxon, I gasped audibly, what now? Eric of course knew Jaxon, trouble again.

''Jaxon? You are her father?'' Eric snapped viciously, the disgust and jealousy laced through his words, oh yes! My man is feeling jealous but I wondered why.

''Eric Carter? No sir, I am Lia's uncle, Kathrine is my umm, Step-sister'' Jaxon lied shamelessly, Eric grunted in disgust.

''So you know this waste of a human?'' Eric snapped at me, I took a deep breath and controlled my anger and quickly took my daughter from his arms making Eric groan.

''Enough! Eric Carter, she is not your daughter and Jaxon never is her father, her father died five years ago!'' I lied, my voice full of power and authority ''Now sign the fucking deal Carter!'' I snapped making Eric shoot daggers at me.

''You are such a headache Kathrine'' I heard Eric whisper.

Without any further discussion, he grabbed the pen and signed the deal, we were now officially business partners.

♡ ♡ ♡

I walked straight towards my gym and tied my boxing gloves, there was a lot of frustration to vent, I kicked the punching bag, punched it with all my strength, jumped and swirled my leg , kicking the bag so hard that it shook.

His face flashed again in front of me, we touched, we hugged, My eyes filled with tears of agony, pain and anger, I gritting my teeth and screamed with all I am, the voice that came out was the pain in my soul, the pain within

I fell onto my knees, My sweaty hair falling on my face as I cried, tears streaming down my face, after years I am breaking down again, again because of him.

''I still love you, Eric , I still do, Please come back to me..''

♡ ♡ ♡

At last.

𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 ,

𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚊 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐

https://youtu.be/DkeiKbqa02g

XOXO