Chapter 5 Fantasies

My first work trip wasn’t what I expected it to be. Mrs. Alexander seemed not to be okay with the fact that her son has a girlfriend, one with no rich family background. I didn’t know I would be caught up in a situation like that.

“I kind of felt embarrassed with the way his mother kept questioning me, she wouldn't even let me chat with his cousins, she kept staring at me with those cold eyes, but who cares, after all I’m not his real girlfriend, I was just doing my job,” I murmured.

“Gurl! Don’t tell me you’re still mad at your mother-in-law,” Linda whispered, giving me a serious look.

“Are you for real right now, Linda?” I rolled my eyes at her.

“Just wondering. I mean, you’ve been talking about her ever since you got back from that trip,” she said, scrunching her face.

“I know right… she annoys me,” I nagged, puffing out my cheeks.

“Yea, I know, but it’s just a contract right?”

“Yeap. Just…a contract.” I heaved a long sigh, leaning back against the couch.

“What about your boss?” Linda tilted her head, watching me like a detective. “I know there’s an emotion swirling around.”

“That right there is a big lie. Don’t be delusional, Linda.” I squinted my eyes at her, pretending to be unbothered.

“Hmmm, you sure it’s a big lie?” she smirked.

“Yes, Linda! It is.” I argued, then paused. “He’s handsome though.” My lips curled into a smile before I could stop it.

“I knew it!” she squealed, slapping my thigh playfully.

“Nah, you don’t know anything. I admire his looks only, and that’s all. He doesn’t even see me that way and I’m way beneath him,” I muttered, my smile fading into a small sigh.

Later that night, when Linda had left and my son was asleep, I found myself lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. No matter how much I denied it, the image of Liam kept flashing in my mind. His tall figure, his calm voice, the way he saved me at the dinner table when his mother was ready to shred me apart with questions.

I turned on my side and hugged my pillow, my heart thumping fast. In my head, I began to imagine him smiling at me, holding my hand, whispering my name like I mattered. I imagined what it would feel like if he leaned closer, if he kissed me, if he didn't see me as just a contract girlfriend.

My cheeks grew hot, and I bit my lip, letting the fantasy linger for a moment. For a second, it felt real, and I allowed myself to dream. But then reality hit me like cold water. I sat up, pressing my palms against my face.

“What are you doing, Maureen?” I whispered harshly to myself. “You’re just his employee. Nothing more. Don’t be stupid.”

I shook my head and lay back down, trying to erase the silly thoughts. He is rich, powerful, born into a family where women like me don’t even get noticed. I was just a struggling single mom trying to make ends meet. I could never be on his level.

The Next Day

While making breakfast for my son, my phone buzzed. It was Linda again.

“Don’t tell me you’re still daydreaming about your boss?” she teased the moment I picked up.

“Linda, please stop. I’m not in the mood.”

She chuckled. “Which means you were thinking about him. I knew it.”

I rolled my eyes, though she couldn’t see me. “Even if I was, it doesn’t matter. I know my place.”

“And what place is that?” she asked softly.

“The place of someone who can never belong in his world,” I replied, my voice low.

There was silence for a moment. Then Linda sighed. “You’re too hard on yourself sometimes, you know?”

Maybe she was right. But maybe she wasn’t. I carried my son’s food to the table and watched him eat with so much joy, and I reminded myself why I took the job in the first place. It wasn’t for love or fairy tales. It was for survival. For him.

Still, when I closed my eyes that night, I couldn’t stop the scene from replaying; the dinner, his mother’s piercing eyes, his calm voice stepping in to protect me. And buried deep in my heart, no matter how much I denied it, a tiny part of me wished it was real.

Then a notification alert binged on my phone. I turned slowly, reaching for it on the shelf beside the bed. It was from my boss.

“Another job?” I whispered under my breath, my heart beating a little faster.

I unlocked the screen and clicked on the message.

Hi, are you okay?

For a moment, I just stared at the words. My boss asking if I was okay, that wasn’t something I expected. My fingers hovered above the keyboard, hesitating. Why would he be concerned about me?

After almost five minutes of second-guessing what to write, I finally typed,

Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.

Almost immediately, his call came through, I froze for a few seconds, then drew in a deep breath before picking it up.

“Hi…sir,”

His voice came through, warm and careful. “I’m so sorry about what happened at the family get-together. That’s my mom…and well, that’s just who she is. I hope you know how to handle her now.”

I forced a small laugh, though my throat was tight.

“Oh, it’s fine. All I see is a protective mom. She’s just doing her job as a mother. I totally understand her.”

I lied. Deep down, I knew she had gone far beyond being protective, her words had stung. But what could I say? I had to protect my own job, no matter what.

“Okay then,” he said softly, almost relieved. Then there was a pause before he added, “Would you like to go on a lunch tomorrow?”

My heart skipped. Lunch? With him?

“A….lunch?” I asked, my voice barely steady.