CEO Leo’s Baby Mama Is Back

Chapter 72 Living for others

REDDINGTON HOSPITAL, LOS ANGELES.

Anthony stared hard at the screen of his computer, the resemblance between the two pictures he was staring at seem too striking to just pass by. He could have sworn he knows her from somewhere. Stretching out his neck, his eyes lingered on Emma. She looked busy with her back bent over while working rapidly on the computer.

He cannot seem to ignore the feelings that keep nagging at his mind for an entire week now. How is it possible that two different people would look so alike? It has been twenty-four years since he met her that night. Even though it has been such a long time, his mind still lingers on her and he finds himself searching for her in every face he comes across. But no one looks like her. However, this new staff of his just has too much in relation to her.

Taking a deep breath he stood up and made his way towards her. “Hi, Emma.”

Emma looked up from her desk with a full smile on her face, it made his heart thump in an unexplainable way. “Hi, sir. Do you need me to get you something?”

“No, not at all. I was thinking we should take a break and just talk freely for the next few minutes. Do you mind if I sit here?” He asked. pointing at the chair.

“Sure, sir. Please make yourself comfortable.” She said.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

Letting himself get comfortable, Anthony cleared his throat. “Have you been in LA all your life?”

Emma smiled. “Yes, I have never been out of here. Los Angeles has been my entire life.”

“I am a part and parcel of LA too, but I have travelled to other places in a bid to gain more knowledge on medical practice and also vacations.”

“It must be nice to get to travel around the world.” She commented.

Anthony nodded slowly. “So you are married to Darby’s father?” He blurted after a moment of silence.

She gulped hard at the question, unsure if it was okay to tell the truth or not. Emma didn’t want to get judged after such a long time. “Not exactly. She isn’t my husband’s daughter, but I have another daughter with him.”

“You don’t sound too elated talking about your family.”

“Because there is nothing fun to discuss there. I have a husband that doesn’t care about me. And my daughters and I aren’t in the most loving relationship.”

“Darby seems very comfortable with you.”

“Well that’s because she is most considerate and thoughtful. It’s just life as it is and I guess I deserve everything that happened to me. How about you, sir? I believe you have a large family.”

Anthony chuckled, “I wish. I don’t have any at the moment. I was once married but got divorced when my wife left me for someone else who seem to always have her time. I on the other hand seem to have unintentionally married my hospital. I am always here.”

“Didn’t you love her? Why didn’t you try your best to get her back?”

“I know this might sound selfish, but I never really did love her that much. I only used the hospital as an excuse. I got married to Catherine when my parents keep pressuring me to get married and she was one of those ladies that hangs around me a whole lot. It just felt convenient, she was ready and I needed to get my parents especially my mom off my back.”

“Did you have someone else in mind?”

He swallowed staring at her. “Actually, twenty-four years ago, there was this bar quite close to the hospital I did my residency. Whenever I got fagged from work, I head to the spot to cool off a bit. One night I noticed a beautiful young lady, who seem to have gotten my attention without trying. I would see her stuck in a corner ignoring all the men that came to her while chugging down every drink placed in front of her. She fascinated me and I find myself going back to the bar every night to avoid missing her face. One thing I was never able to do was summon the exact courage to meet with her.”

“Did you eventually got to talk?”

“Yes, finally after watching her for close to three weeks. This particular day she was crying profusely while drinking. And for some reason my heart clenched at the sight and I couldn’t just sit back and watch her wallow in pain. I didn’t know what was going on with her, but I just wanted to find out. We got talking and she sobered up. I took her out of the bar and we went to the park together acting like children. Just to clear up her mind, we even took photos together. That same night we had sex and it was the most beautiful moment I have ever experienced in my entire life. She was tender through and through. The next morning I couldn’t find her, she was gone. I had no contact, no name, except for the picture we had taken together.”

“Wow, that is so touching. Did you try to find her using the picture?”

“It was hard to. No one knew where she comes from at the bar. So it made it really hard to know where she probably comes out from. And for years I searched endlessly, it just never felt the same with any other person. This woman seem to have taken my heart with her. But it’s a surprise that twenty-four years later, there is someone who looks extremely familiar to her and I can’t just help but think that it’s the same person.”

“Really? That’s nice, have you affirmed it?”

“I’m about to. Can you come with me to my desk please.” Anthony mused standing up.

Emma followed suit, she gasped when he turned the computer screen to her. Staring right at her face was a picture of her when she was younger with Anthony and her work picture now.

“Is this you, Emma?” He asked.

Emma blinked rapidly in disbelief as she held his gaze. “How is this possible? I didn’t think there was any way to remember the person I spent the night with.” She shivered, grasping the edge of the table to keep still.

Tears almost laced Anthony’s eyes, “I can’t believe you walked in here yourself. Years after I had given up the hope of ever finding you.”

Pulling a chair to sit in, Emma tried to reminisce on that night. She had enjoyed every moment too, however the thought of her cheating on Noah had her scarred. It was more burdensome when she returned home after promising to never visit the bar and Noah was finally back from moving around states, he had returned to LA for good. Finding out that the escaped she had led to pregnancy made her hate every moment she stepped out to the bar in a bid to get over the hurt Noah caused her.

Tears rolled down her eyes uncontrollably, not only did she hate herself for cheating. Emma hated herself for birthing a child that would never get to know who her real father was. It was why she found it hard to accept Darby as she was her biggest mistake.

Anthony knelt in front of her. “I fought hard to find you, Emma. I wanted to ride you of the pains you were feeling but I couldn’t reach you. I feel so sad that I am late.”

She shut her eyes tightly, maybe fate has it that Darby would finally get to meet her real father. “We had a daughter.”

“What?”

“Yes, I found out I was pregnant a month later and there was no way it belonged to my husband.”

“Perhaps…. is the child, Darby?” He asked in a shaky voice.

“Yes, she is the one. I have made her suffer so much because I couldn’t point out to who her father was. I hated that she reminded me of my mistake. For months I tried hard to get rid of her, but she wouldn’t budge. She has been a fighter since her fetus days. I feel like a horrible mother.”

For the first time in many years, Anthony finally felt complete. He didn’t need to doubt Emma’s confession, he had sensed some unexplainable connection with Darby the moment she walked into his office. Embracing Emma tightly to himself the both of them remained that way, consoling each other.

***********************

ETHAN’S HOME, LOS ANGELES.

Ethan laughed heartily as he read the article in LA times that has his entire family’s face on the cover page. “This looks more beautiful to see with Sinclair in this picture. I’m glad his mother agreed for him to be featured.” He said.

Leo grinned widely. “I was most delighted when she didn’t mind exposing his name. I feel so complete with that little one in my life.”

“I have to thank you, Leo. You made retirement so easy for me. The company feels so safe in your hands that I do not doubt your ability for one second. Thank you for being so reliable.”

“You are welcome, dad. Thank you for trusting me, it means a whole lot.”

“I see appreciation flying around, where is mine?” Scarlett chipped in as she bounced off the couch Leo sat in. “Check this magazine brother. Your son is a relief to the eyes.”

Leo laughed proudly, “I would never doubt that.”

Evelyn walked towards them with refreshments in hand alongside the house help. “Sweeteners for you all. Lest I forget, where is Chloe, Leo?”

“She is at Pennsylvania for a job at the moment.” He replied.

Scarlett hummed in satisfaction as she grabbed a cookie. “That’s really nice. At least you will have a free time away from her lingering around.”

“Scarlett!” Her parents called out in rebuke.

“She is your brother’s wife and it’s wrong of you to talk about her like that.” Evelyn cautioned.

“It’s fine, you do know how Scarlett can be. You are so silly.” Leo said to her pulling at the tail of her hair.

Scarlett looked unrepentant. “I don’t know why we are all pretending to be fine with everything she does. Chloe isn’t suppose to be in Leo’s life, why am I the only one admitting the truth?”

“Chloe is a sweet girl. Why are you being so repulsive?” Evelyn glared at her sternly.

“She is sweet doesn’t mean she is the one for Leo. He needs a break from all of this and to live for himself. All he has ever done since I know him is live for every other person. I doubt he even knows what he wants out of life.” She snickered before walking away.

“I’m so sorry, please. I will go and draw her ears.” Her mother said going after her.

Silence reigned after both women left. Ethan cleared his throat lightly. “Scarlett was right about something though. You have hardly lived for yourself, Leo. And I feel guilty for doing this to you.”

“Scar is a growing teenager dad, you don’t have to pay mind to whatever she says. She is just plainly worried about her older brother…that’s all. I will talk to her.” Leo replied.

His father sat up turning to him. “You don’t always have to play this part, Leo. You should have been more sincere in how you feel towards Chloe. We might have been able to sort it out.”

“There is nothing to sort out dad. Let’s just leave it at that. ”

Ethan nodded. “Alright, son. But I want you to know that you can talk to me whenever you feel like it. Love is nurtured, not everyone is blessed with the love at first sight and crazy kind of affection. Some of us have to nurture every feeling that we come by. I trust that you will have a fulfilled married life. Don’t hesitate to come to me when you need someone to talk it out with. I have one or two experiences that I can share.” He grinned slapping his shoulder.

Leo nodded, “I will take my leave now, I am meeting up with Aaron.”

“How is he doing by the way? His father was whining the other day that he choose to leave the field and become a school coach.”

“It’s a college coach dad and it’s quite a big deal. Aaron’s dad is just being dramatic. Aaron is doing just fine with the life he chose for himself, his parents need to understand that.”

“I do get you. We parents need to know when to stick our nose into your businesses. How is Sinclair by the way?”

“I will be picking him up at his mom’s for the weekend. I should bring him to say hello to you.”

“I would love to have him around.”

“Okay, dad. Extend my regards to Evelyn and Scarlett.” Leo mused leaving the house.

***************

Aaron was seated by his house pool when Leo arrived. Next to him are empty can of beers that could last a normal human for an entire week.

Leo exhaled in exhaustion sitting on the resting chair next to him. “Are you having a crisis again? What’s all this? Or did you have some visitors?”

Aaron groaned as he took off the glasses on his face. “One question at a time, man. My head aches.”

“Can you get a hold of yourself? Why would you get drunk when it’s just past lunch time.”

He sat up abruptly. “Those cans are from the boys I invited over for a swim last night. It felt good being on a neutral level with them without trying to put on the coach facade. So tell me what are we doing for tonight? I can’t believe you are free from the clutches of Chloe for a whole month.”

“Errr, three weeks actually. One week has gone. And don’t get too excited, I am not going to do anything my wife would be against. Mark my words.”

“Yeah, right. I love how much fierceness you put up. Luckily dude, it’s got nothing on me. Come on I already made a reservation for us at the court.”

“The basketball court?”

“Yup.” Aaron replied getting up on his feet.

“Who in the world makes a court reservation?” Leo inquired looking dumfounded.

“Well I do and that’s it.”

“Why don’t you just build a court right here in your home? What basket baller doesn’t own a court.”

“I bought a fucking court outside my home man, it’s the only way I can get to meet different sets of people and not die of loneliness.”

“You are definitely out of your damn mind. But I will indulge you regardless.”

The both of them laughed heading out of the house. Leo tried his hardest to not enjoy the freedom too much. He didn’t want to admit it to Aaron that he felt good as regards Chloe’s absence. He finally got the house to himself and he can get to move around without being monitored. It made him want to scream in delight.

“So, is Sinclair still coming over for the weekend?” Aaron asked as he kick-started the car.

“Definitely. I hope you are still coming to our little sleep out?”

“Sure. I can’t wait to get to know my godson better. He would love me the most.”

Leo snorted. “You are always so ahead of yourself.”

“It’s why I am still the best in the game baby!” He yelled into the open air.

Leo didn’t hesitate to join him and in a second they were laughing their heads off like maniacs. If Leo had it his way he would love to keep up with this new found freedom of his. However, he knows better than to hope for something so impossible. Rather than sulk on the future, he would rather just have his short time of fun to the fullest.