Well Deserved
With each quick stride, Nelson’s hands clenched into tight fists, his anger palpable.
Why was his boss so furious? Who was this unknown guest, causing such strong emotions without even being seen yet? Herbert thought to himself as he ran to catch up with his boss.
As they walked through the foyer and stepped into the elevator, Nelson caught a glimpse of the person who had stirred up his anger. His grip on his fists tightened even more.
As the elevator chimed and stopped, Nelson and Herbert stepped out. But as they neared the guest, Nelson came to a sudden halt, as if his feet were glued to the ground.
It was her. The same person he had hoped to never see again. Same vibrant red hair, same alluring makeup, same petite figure. Ariel Smith.
Noticing his presence, Ariel Smith slowly lifted her head, and a pleased smile slowly covered her lips while she rose to her feet.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“It’s my sweet Nel,” she said sweetly, walking towards him.
But Nelson’s expression did not reflect any pleasure in seeing her. His face remained cold and indifferent, yet it still held a certain allure. He glared at her, his eyes burning.
“What are you doing here, Ariel?” he spat out.
A smug smile crossed Ariel’s lips, as if she was expecting this reaction. “Come on, Nel. Is that how you greet the love of your life after all these years?” she pouted, her red lips standing out against her pale skin.
Behind Nelson, Herbert’s eyes widened in shock at Ariel’s words. The love of his life?
Nelson’s pupils shrunk in disbelief, his lips turning into a thin line.
Ariel noticed the coldness in his eyes, but she refused to back down. She felt she deserved every bit of his resentment.
“Alright, Nel. I know how much you despise me for everything. But I’m sure all of that will dissipate once you hear the news I have for you,” she beamed, revealing her pearly white teeth.
Nelson’s stomach churned at her words, his face turning into a scowl as he stepped closer to her.
“I don’t want to hear anything from you, Ariel. Your actions have caused enough damage and you are aware that I have legal grounds to sue you for your crimes. However, I am not interested in stirring up unnecessary drama. If you have any common sense, leave now while I am being amicable.” His voice was low and resonant, each syllable emerging from the depths of his chest.
As he finished his proclamation, he turned his focus towards the receptionist and spoke sharply, “I never want to see this woman again, do you understand?”
The receptionist vigorously nodded in response, “Absolutely, sir.”
Ariel rolled her eyes and strode towards the little boy who had been with her, shouting after Nelson who had already spun on his heel. “YOUR SON WANTS TO SEE YOU!”
Nelson came to a sudden stop, while Herbert flinched in surprise.
He stuttered and stammered as he scanned his surroundings, hoping no one was watching. But who was he trying to fool? The few employees in the lobby, including the receptionist, were all glued to the scene.
Herbert dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
Nelson had turned around by this time, and he couldn’t help but lock eyes with the little boy Ariel was holding.
His shoulders slumped, his eyes widening in astonishment. The child, dressed in a simple white t-shirt and cargo shorts with white sneakers, was an uncanny resemblance to Nelson when he was that age.
Same glossy black hair, same nose, and same ocean blue eyes. The boy was a spitting image of a younger Nelson.
Herbert’s jaw dropped in shock as he too noticed the uncanny similarity between the boy and his boss.
What was happening here? Who was this woman? Herbert mused silently to himself.
“Let us converse in a different location. Perhaps your office,” suggested Ariel, her feet already taking her towards the elevator with the boy in tow, leaving Nelson to trail behind.
By the time Nelson regained his composure, Ariel had entered the elevator and the doors were closing, taking her up.
“Are you alright, sir?” inquired Herbert with concern, noticing Nelson’s distressed state.
Nelson took a deep breath and swallowed hard, attempting to form words but failing.
“Is this all just a dream, Herbert?” he finally managed to utter, his chest heaving with intense emotion.
“No, Mr. Carter. This is reality. Is there something wrong, sir?” asked Herbert, his face displaying genuine worry.
Instead of responding, Nelson rushed towards the elevator and pressed the button to his office.
To his surprise, Ariel was already in his office, her eyes roaming around in admiration.
“I am truly envious of you, Nel. You managed to pick yourself up and achieve even more than what you had lost,” Ariel commented without looking at Nelson, still taking in every detail of the exquisite office.
Nelson entered his office entirely and took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself down.
He noticed the boy staring back at him with equal astonishment.
“Now, get to the point, Ariel. Explain what you meant by my son’s desire to meet me,” demanded Nelson, his voice dripping with icy coldness. “Who is my son?”
Ariel grinned and pointed to the boy. “Him. That is your son. His name is Trevor.”
Nelson let out a sigh and displayed pure disgust on his face as he looked at Ariel.
“Tell me, Ariel. Have you lost your mind? Are you insane? What do you take me for? A fool? A moron? You betrayed me and tore me apart seven years ago, took my fortune, and now you suddenly appear and claim that I have a son? Was I that much of a fool to you?” Nelson seethed, his expression displaying his severe disapproval.
He exuded an icy coldness that caused Ariel to instinctively back away in fear, as Nelson had never shown this side to her before.
Tears welled up in her eyes, betraying her composure as she began, “Nel, I implore you to believe me. No words can express the depth of remorse I feel, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make amends. I am truly sorry for betraying you.”
Ariel glanced towards her child, relieved to see him heading towards the designated waiting area, out of earshot of their conversation.
She continued, “Please trust me when I say I had no idea I was pregnant when I left you. It wasn’t until three months later that I found out, and by then it was too late to come back and ask for forgiveness. That’s why I raised him on my own.”
“But recently, he has been begging to meet his father, and I had no choice but to bring him to you,” Ariel broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Nelson scoffed in annoyance, glaring at her as she cried for a full minute before finally speaking, “Do you really expect me to believe that this child is mine?”
Ariel nodded, wiping her face. “If you don’t believe me, we can get a DNA test to prove it.”
“Just stop talking,” Nelson spat through gritted teeth, his anger palpable.
He cursed his unfortunate circumstances and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“Now listen to me carefully. Do you honestly think I could ever forgive you or let you back into my life just because you showed up with a child I knew nothing about?” he asked, his fury evident in his voice.
Ariel remained silent, allowing him to finish his rant.
“I am married,” Nelson revealed, a sense of pride in his voice.
Ariel’s expression showed her shock at the news. Married? That was the last thing she expected.
“Yes, you heard that right. I am married and my wife showed me that not all women are the same. She didn’t marry me for my money, she loves me for who I am,” Nelson declared, a hint of satisfaction in his tone.
Ariel was at a loss for words, unsure of how to react to Nelson’s unexpected news.
“I shall conduct a genetic analysis and if the results confirm my paternity of your offspring, I shall separate the child from your guardianship and you may simply vanish into the thin air once more,” Nelson declared resolutely, exiting the room without any desire for further discussion with Ariel.
Watching his departure, Ariel’s hands clenched into tight fists as her teeth furiously ground together.
Her anger was so fierce, she may have spewed flames like a dragon.