Mr. CEO, I Cannot Be Hidden Anymore

Chapter 5

Amaka:

I continued with the rest of the day working and felt Simon's gaze on me.

'Why was he looking at me?' I pondered but didn't ask him.

My phone rang. I unlocked it and saw Maureen calling. She would have taken Jason to school, but I didn't want to chat with her about Jason here.

Simon's scrutinizing gaze and Joseph's monitoring from his office made me uncomfortable.

"Hello, dear. I will call you back later," I told Maureen. She replied, "Okay."

I looked at Simon. He frowned and looked away. I didn't understand his frowning, but then I heard the buzzer.

"It's break time," Simon informed me. I sighed. "Okay."

I turned off my laptop and stood up from my chair. "I think we will go to the cafeteria, right?" I asked Simon as he rose from his chair.

"Yes. Or you can request your meal here." He smiled. I smiled back. "Fine. I am still new, so I will go to the cafeteria."

I exited Simon's office and sucked in a breath of fresh air. I was no longer under surveillance.

My day had been ruined by meeting my baby's father.

'How do I tell him we have a child? How does Joseph claim not to know me? Was four years too long to forget someone?'

I tried not to sob as I walked to the elevator for the second floor.

I arrived at the elevator stand, entered, and looked back. Joseph stepped out of his office.

My heart skipped a beat. I looked away from him and wanted to shut the door and leave, but the security man told me to wait.

"Hmm." My eyes narrowed at the security man as Joseph entered the elevator and joined me for the second floor. We didn't speak. A female staff member was in the elevator with us. She was nervous to share it with the boss.

Joseph had grown taller than the last time I saw him. I tried to look away, but my eyes traveled to linger on him. He spared me no glance. How ruthless of him?

Joseph walked out of the elevator with perfectly measured strides and maintained his stance in the second-floor hallway. Security men greeted him as he stopped to speak with two men, but I marched away. I felt upset at being ignored.

My year of being pregnant. Going through that journey alone. My parents sending me away.

I wanted to confront Joseph about this. He could not pretend he didn't know me.

I moved to the counter and requested my meal. They served free lunch. I requested a plate of jollof rice and fried chicken lap. It was one of my favorites.

As I turned to take a seat in the cafeteria, I saw Joseph looking at me. He looked away as my eyes met his.

I swear I saw longing in Joseph's eyes. He was lost for a moment, like he admired me. He looked away, moved from the security man he spoke with, and went to his seat.

I sat two chairs away from Joseph's seat, but his eyes were on me. Each time I looked at him, he gazed away.

A waitress went to serve Joseph's lunch, but I didn't know they had waitresses. Most staff didn't wait to be served. They requested their meals.

As I sat alone, lost in thoughts, I decided to speak to Maureen first before confronting Joseph again. He might have moved on. He was obsessed with s*x. He wanted to sleep with me until I gave in, but he changed after that night.

"Hi, may I join you for lunch?" Simon asked. He snapped me out of my trance. I felt Joseph's gaze on us, and likewise some other guys in the cafeteria. Many staff came and went. The space was vast.

"Sure," I told Simon. He sat across from me.

"How do you enjoy the meal?" Simon asked. I smiled.

"It's nice," I said, feeling Joseph's gaze on us.

"Okay. I am glad you like it. Can I get your personal number to call you after closing time?" Simon asked. I looked at his face.

"Why? I don't need calls."

"It's a harmless call to check on my colleague. Nothing else." Simon grinned. I smiled back.

"Alright. I will think about it. Maybe when we get back to the office, I will give you my phone to put your number." Simon appreciated.

"Alright." He waved to the waitress for lunch and ordered the same food as mine. We sat there eating. I finished my meal and rose to return to my office.

I felt Joseph's gaze on me and tried not to look at him.

I exited the cafeteria and went back to Simon's office to sit in my chair. My mind filled with numerous thoughts.

I resumed office work and helped the company advertise their new products online. I finished all the new products available and signed out. I picked up my phone and signed into my son's account.

I looked at Jason's photos and videos and recalled Joseph denying he knew me.

I didn't apply too much makeup to my face, so why couldn't Joseph remember me?

Simon came into the office. I signed out of my son's profile page, kept my phone in my bag, and waited until 5 p.m., when the company closed.

It was not a new company. I had thought they were just starting, but it was a branch of their main head office on the island.

I thought about Maureen putting my son in school and her going back to her husband's house.

They were married, since Chris paid Maureen's dowry. They had a church wedding remaining.

Maureen was not obsessed with weddings, so she wanted to live with her husband since he invited her. She would pack her bags tomorrow. I didn't know if I should tell her about my trouble.

Closing hour came. Simon rose from his desk and came to meet me.

"I haven't forgotten to ask for your number," he said. I agreed and took his phone.

I gave Simon my number. He said he would call tonight. I shook my head, picked up my black handbag, and fled the office.

As I stepped into the hallway, Joseph was not in sight. I made my way into the elevator and rode to the last floor. I stepped out of it and left the building.

I looked around the parking lot and saw only three cars there. I sighed, looked forward, and exited the premises. I entered a cab and went home.