Falling For You Again
"Dean, ooh… that hurts," soft, breathy sounds escaped the girl’s lips, laced with a mixture of pain and pleasure.
"Do you like it?" came a deep, hoarse voice from the shadows.
"Hmm… I really like it," she whispered, her face flushed with warmth and shyness.
She didn’t know how long it lasted—minutes, hours? Time had blurred. All she knew was that it went on longer than expected, and when it was over, she felt something inside her had shifted. She didn't know why, but she felt complete, or so she thought.
–––––––––
"Mom, you're lost in thought again."
Helen blinked rapidly, pulled from the memory like someone surfacing from deep water. She turned to face her daughter, whose tiny arms were crossed over her chest and lips curled into a pout.
"I'm sorry, baby. Mommy's just thinking about a lot of things," Helen replied, mustering a small smile as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
If there was anything she was happy about, it was the girl who stood in front of her.
"Mommy, are we going to find Daddy today? You promised yesterday," the little girl asked. Her wide, innocent eyes glistened with expectation, while hoping her mom wouldn't let her down.
Helen’s smile faltered. A familiar wave of guilt swept through her.
Diana could see the look in her mom's eyes, and she was hundred percent sure her mom was about to reject her.
She bit her lips as tears filled her eyes.
Helen looked at the girl who was about to cry, and she let out a sigh while the guilt gnawed at her.
"Not today, baby," she said softly. "Mommy has a meeting. I won’t have time today. But maybe another time, okay?"
She tried to keep her tone hopeful, but even she could hear the weakness in her own voice.
"You always say that!" her daughter snapped, stamping her foot.
"I won’t talk to you anymore! I only want Daddy. Give me Daddy!" Diana demanded, tears falling from the little one's eyes.
The two maids lingering in the hallway glanced in nervously at the sound. Helen closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled slowly.
How could she explain the truth to a child?
That she didn’t know where her daughter’s father was.
That after one beautiful night, the same night their daughter was conceived, he had disappeared without a trace. No note. No goodbye. Just… gone.
Helen crouched down and gently pulled her daughter into a hug. The little girl resisted at first but then melted into her mother’s arms.
"It's okay, baby," Helen whispered, stroking her hair. "Don't you like being with just Mommy?"
"I do…" her daughter mumbled.
"I love Mommy. But I want a complete family. Everybody at school teases me because I don’t have a dad. I don’t want them to laugh at me either." Diana whispered.
Helen’s heart cracked a little more. It was all her fault. If she was a bit powerful, she would have been able to locate Dean.
She held her child tighter, burying her face into her soft curls.
"I know, sweetheart. Mommy’s trying, okay? Just a little more time."
"Promise?"
There was a pause.
"I promise," Helen said, though the words weighed heavily on her tongue. She didn't know if she could do it.
Just then, a soft knock echoed at the door. One of the maids peeked in.
"Ma’am, your car is ready. You have a thirty-minute window to make the meeting on time." The maid informed.
Helen nodded, reluctantly releasing her daughter. She kissed her cheek and wiped away a stray tear.
"Go play with Aunt Mel. Be a good girl for Mommy, okay? I’ll be back before bedtime." Helen smiled at her.
The little girl didn’t respond but turned and followed the waiting nanny, dragging her feet.
Helen watched her go, then turned toward the tall mirror in the corner of the room.
Her reflection looked strong just like the empire she’d built with her own hands. Impeccably dressed in a beige power suit, her makeup subtle but flawless, pearls sitting gracefully on her ears.
She looked like the woman the world respected. Admired.
But the woman in the mirror was tired. And under all the polish, she was still haunted. Haunted by the past.
Six years. That was how long it had been since Dean vanished from her life. One moment, he was the man she thought she’d build a life with. Next, he was gone. No goodbye. No trace. And no explanation.
She had gone through the stages, anger, heartbreak, and denial. And eventually survival.
She poured everything into building her company, growing it from a single store into a nationwide empire. Fashion. Tech. Real estate. Her name was now on lips that once doubted her.
Yet today, of all days, the past decided to stir.
Her assistant had mentioned the name earlier while briefing her about the upcoming investor.
Carter Holdings.
The name shouldn’t have made her stomach tighten. It was a common name. Carter.
Still, it unsettled her, and she didn't know why. She felt that something would happen today, and she almost didn't want to go to the meeting.
Perhaps, she was scared. But more than scared, she was hopeful. She had no idea why the feeling of hope was spreading through her. When was the last time she felt hope?
She pushed the thought aside, grabbed her tablet, and walked out of her suite, heels clicking down the corridor with practiced confidence.
She walked to the carpark where the driver and her assistant were waiting for her.
Giving them a subtle nod, she entered the car, and the car sped off in the direction of her company.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived, and she walked in.
As she rode the elevator down to the boardroom floor, she mentally reviewed her pitch. The investor was supposed to be bringing a tech partnership that could unlock global distribution channels. She’d reviewed his portfolio the night before, impressive numbers, rapid growth, strong connections.
Still, there wasn't any photo, somehow unsettling her, but she pushed the uncertainty to the back of her mind.
That wasn’t unusual. Many private investors liked to keep their faces off the internet.
Her assistant greeted her at the boardroom entrance
"He’s already waiting inside, ma’am. Would you like coffee brought in?"
Helen shook her head. "No, thank you."
She straightened her shoulders and opened the door, but she froze.
The man standing by the window turned slowly at the sound of the door.
Her heart stilled as different memories came rushing into her mind. She saw a very familiar person.
He hadn’t changed much. The suit was more refined, his jaw sharper, the stubble more deliberate, but the eyes, those stormy gray eyes, were the same.
'Dean.' Her heart whispered as it beat rapidly.
She couldn't speak. Her breath caught in her throat. The room felt smaller somehow.
He smiled. That same calm, confident smile she remembered too well.
"Hello, Helen." He greeted.
