Beth decided to get her sorry ass up and go hang out with her only friend Janie. Janie is her friend she met on Instagram about three or four years back, she wasn’t a CEO then still hustling and all, Janie has been the only friend she ever had, faithful, loyal, and also a sister. She couldn’t ask for more but be grateful to God for all her blessings.

“Hello there, baby” Janie called.

“Hey”

“What’s wrong? Why do you sound like you cried an entire river, ” Janie asked. Beth could hear the concern in her voice.

“Um- nothing, want to hang out?” Beth asked after clearing her throat.

“Yeah sure, my place?” Janie asked.

“Perfect, I’ll be there in 20”

“Ok bye,” Janie said.

“Bye “Beth replied and the line went off.

__________

“I know mum”

“You know? then why aren’t you married yet, look you can’t keep on mourning over Mary it’s sad that she left but you have to move on with your life, you have a beautiful daughter Gwen, she’s four and this is the time she needs a mother ” Rachel Ricardo’s mom said.

“I know mum, I know. I could get any lady if I want but I need someone who will not only love me but will love and cherish Gwen as her own just the way I do. I am 25 am still young so don’t stress okay? Mum? “Ricardo told his mother.

“Am just wo- “Ricardo cuts his mum mid-sentence.

“You don’t have to be, I appreciate your concern but please don’t push me to make a mistake that will cause me and Gwen, please mum ” he begged.

“Okay I won’t I love you baby boy, so I am off to bed, okay and Gwen is already sleeping you go to bed soon please don’t overwork yourself, goodnight,” Rachel told her son after placing a kiss on his head.

“Goodnight Mum,” Ricardo said and went back to studying the blueprint paper in front of him, but he couldn’t anymore his mum was right Gwen has been asking for her mother all the time, she does need a mother in her life, thinking about Gwen needing a mum brought the events that happened earlier.

Earlier that day...

“Yes call all of them and let them know am not bringing the price down, okay? ...No...No...No more excuses am I clear?...God ” Ricardo barked orders to his assistant and he entered ′ paradise cakes and chops ′ looking for an empty seat since he was still in his business suit, he spotted an empty seat and was walking towards it to sit when he saw a familiar dark brown hair, brown eyes, pink lips, dark skin wearing black leggings and a white sweater, he then remembered ” ebony ” the girl he bumped into a few weeks back. He walked up to her standing in front of her.

Ebony felt someone staring at her she tried ignoring it but the intense gaze made her uncomfortable so she looked up and her eyes widen a bit before going back to their normal size.

Ricardo saw her eyes go back to their normal size ‘she’s so beautiful’ Ricardo thought to himself.

“Hey there Eb, we meet again “Ricardo greeted her.

“Um yeah and my name is not Eb,” said Beth.

“Okay, so what’s your name then?” he asked her.

“Beth... Bethany Fiyinfunoluwa Ayotunde” she replied.

“Hmm beautiful name for a beautiful girl ” Ric complimented. “Well my name is Ricardo by the way ” he introduced himself offering her his hand to shake and she took it when their hands met they both widen their eyes, Ricardo has never this kind of feeling before it felt strange to him, it was electrifying so captivating like he shouldn’t let go but he had to. He reluctantly let go of Beth’s hand so he won’t look like a creep or scare her away.

“Nice knowing you too Ricardo,” Beth said. That was when the waiter came to take their order, after the waiter collected their orders he turned to leave.

“So, waiting for someone?”

“Yes but she stood me up for her boyfriend, guess we’ll hang out some other time”

“Okay but don’t worry am here and I won’t bore you at all, this is actually my favorite pastry shop their pastries, snack, cakes and many more are really tasty and delicious,” Ricardo said.

“Yeah it’s true” Beth paused for a while after taking a sip of her banana coconut and pineapple mixed fruit juice. “I don’t really eat pastries and cakes but their pastries here are awesome I could eat them for eternity”

“Yeah” Ricardo answered while studying Beth as she talks, he didn’t listen to anything she said because he was busy admiring her. He has not felt the word let’s call it attraction towards any girl like the way he’s feeling for Beth, ‘men she is gorgeous those beautiful eyes...no sexy looking eyes and perfect slightly pointed nose with those luscious lips’ he thought, he hasn’t found any girl attractive, Mary was beautiful but Beth is an exception.

“What,” Beth asked Ric.

“Yeah err... what did you say?” Ric asked lost that he had no idea what she said as he got out from his trance.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Beth asked.

“Like what?” He asked with a cocky smile on his lips and raised his eyebrow.

“Like that”, she said taking a sip of her juice.

“Oh sorry I was just admiring a beautiful scene,” Ricardo said putting his elbow on the table while he rested his jaw on his palm.

“Oh really,” Beth said mimicking his actions.

“Yes really”

“What beautiful scene if I may ask?” Beth asked obviously of his answer.

“You, of course, you’re beautiful” Ric complimented her.

“Thank you, you are good-looking also” Beth complimented back making Ric to raise his eyebrow.

“Just good looking?” He asked faking offense. Beth rolled her eyes.

“Well you’re be-” Beth was cut off by the waiter’s arrival.

“Here are your takeaways,” the waiter said.

“We didn’t order any t-” Beth began but was interrupted by Ric.

“I did order for us both, don’t worry bills on me” Ricardo gave her a wink making her blush.

“It was nice talking to you Eb but I would love to get your number,” Ricardo said after placing the bills on the table.

“Sure” she gave him her number and also her Nigerian number.

“Nigerian?, you are Nigerian? You don’t look like one” Ricardo said surprised she was not American. She looked more of an African American sexy, cute, slightly pointed nose, slightly pink lips, sexy eyes and -- ′ Ric get your hormones together ′ he scolded himself.

“Yes I am, and I do get that a lot though,” Beth said with a smile while handing him his phone.

“So...I should be leaving now, I need to get back home” Ric told her.

“Okay well see you later then Ric,” Beth said gathering her things and held her hand out to shake him. “Nice meeting you again Ricardo”

“And you too Eb, you’re leaving now let me give you a ride” he offered still holding her hand. Holding her hand felt magical to him.

“Thanks but I brought my car,” she said.

“Okay, after you” he gestured like a gentleman for her to move. He saw a blush on her cheek as they walked out of the pastry shop. He purposely walked behind her so he can have a clear view of her butt, as she walked he couldn’t take his eyes off her swaying hips it was so- ‘what in the world am I thinking’ Ric ask himself.

He bid her goodbye once again as she entered her car and drove off. He too went to his car and maneuvered it out of the parking lot heading for home.

“What a beauty” Ric chuckled to himself and got up from his chair to check on his little princess since he couldn’t focus on work anymore. He got to the 2nd floor of his mansion and went and went to the door that was painted red and yellow, he entered the room and found his baby girl sleeping peacefully on her bed, her room was decorated normally not like all those princess themes that most girls like, his daughter wasn’t like that she talks maturely for her age, neither does she have a doll or dollhouse, or stuff toys just a colored picture of her parents Ric smiled upon seeing the picture that sat beside her bed. He kissed Gwen’s cheek making her stir in her sleep but didn’t wake, he caresses her head.

“Arrrrghhh” Mary screams echoed in his ears. He closed his eyes.

A memory flashed through him.

(Mary’s panting) “arrrrghhh”

“Come on push you’re getting there her head is out”

“It hurts” Mary’s weak voice sounded.

“Baby you can do this, do it for our baby girl, you are strong” Ricardo tried to comfort Mary but Mary is lacking strength with every breath she takes she knew she can’t do this she wouldn’t be able to but she hoped Ric will forgive her.

“No I can’t,” Mary said as she pushed again and lay flat on the bed.

“Come on baby you got this” Ric told her holding her hand kissing it while wiping beads of sweat from her face.

“Ma’am, I want you to just give a really hard push and your baby will be here,” the doctor said.

“You heard the doctor my love please one more push and this is over,” Ric told Mary looking at her she looked back at him with teary eyes while panting and mouthed ‘am sorry’ he didn’t understand what she meant by that, she gave a really long and hard push using every strength left in her and heard the cry of a baby. Too bad she wasn’t going to hear it a little longer with that Mary fell down flat on the bed while...

End of flash.

Ricardo opened his eyes his body full of sweat, he didn’t know he had dozed off within that short period. Not that dream again Ric groaned inwardly and sighed, he was about to get up when his daughter called him with a sleepy voice.

“Papa” little Gwen called.

“Yes, baby” Ric answered scooping her into his arms.

“Stay,” Gwen said while wrapping her hands on his neck resting her head on his chest.

“Okay I will,” he told her patting her back he asked. “Miss Papa?” He got no response, he took that as a clue she had gone back to sleep but continued patting her back until he too was in Dreamland