A Baby For Billionaire Knox

THEME: Betty Lawson is out

THE MARTINS EMPIRE

ELAINA MARTINS OFFICE

She was a bit surprised to see Eretia. She wasn’t expecting to see her this soon.

“I thought you planned to spend some time with your family.” Mrs Elaina said.

“Yes I planned to stay till evening but I had to leave after receiving your call.” Eretia responded.

“Well I wasn’t in a hurry to see you. But I am happy to see you, Eretia. And I apologize on Betty Lawson’s behalf.” Mrs Elaina heaved a sigh.

“No apologies needed, Mrs Elaina.” Eretia replied.

“First of all I want to thank you for reuniting me and my Son. Knox and I are on good terms now.” Mrs Elaina Martins smiled brightly as she told Eretia how she had reconciled with her son on Tuesday.

“I am glad you and Knox are back together now as mother and son.” Eretia fiddled with her fingers that suddenly became sweaty. She realized her contract with this old woman was over. And it only means that she was going to leave Knox Martins home and probably start looking for another job.

Eretia exhaled roughly as so many thoughts flooded her mind. Oliver, Ryan.. and Knox Martins.

Oliver and Ryan would definitely be happy the contract was over. Oliver won’t be mad at her anymore if she moved back to his home.

But what about Knox Martins who has openly confessed about his feelings to her?

“The contract… is over right?” Eretia asked without looking at the old woman.

“Let’s leave the contract aside. I found out from my son that he loves you. Eretia, it is surprising that you reconnected us and also won is his heart.” Mrs Elaina sounded so excited.

Eretia knew it was the excitement of reconciling with her son. She nodded slowly. Is this really the end? She mused.

“You achieved all these things in less than two weeks. So I have decided to fulfill my part of the contract.” Mrs Elaina said.

Pay her and ask her to leave? Eretia thought of her love towards Knox. Suddenly Eretia wished she could be with Knox Martins forever. But it was impossible with the Neifion bracelet on her wrist in the human world. The bracelet belonged to the sea and she also belong to the sea so she has to return to her world some day. Eretia knew it.

Mrs Elaina Martins pushed a cheque to her. “This is your payment. The money I promised you and this too.” She gave Eretia black card. It was Gold Mall special shopping card. She could shop at the Mall without paying a penny.

Eretia took the cheque and card. “One Million Dollars!” She gasped out with a wide eye.

“Yes Eretia.” Mrs Elaina replied.

“But… we.. didn’t.. agree.. to one millions dollars. This is too much.” Eretia objected. She wondered if Mrs Elaina was offering this much to tell her to stay away from her son.

“Eretia, you have no idea of what happiness you brought back into my life. That long lost joy of hearing my son call me mom and regarding me as his mother after all these years. You brought everything back. You deserve more than this amount I am offering to you.” Mrs Elaina had tears at the corners of her eyes.

“So.. our contract.. is over?” Eretia asked as she looked down at the cheque and card.

“Yes.” Mrs Elaina answered.

Eretia looked at the old woman. And she felt them, tears at the corner of her eyes.

“Can I ask you something?”Mrs Elaina asked.

Eretia nodded slowly as she blinked back tears that threatened to spill anytime soon.

“Knox loves you but do you love him too?” She asked.

“Yes.” Eretia heard herself say without thinking too much. She couldn’t lie when asked a direct question.

“Eretia, you love my son.” Mrs Elaina Martins mumbled. A tear slid down her chin as her head dropped down to her laps.

“Yes.. I do.. I love Knox.. and.. I am sorry for falling in love with your son. It is not part of the contract I signed and the fact that.. I am.. not the.. best person to… love someone like him.” Eretia said shakily.

Mrs Elaina got out of chair. “What are you saying?”

“I am sorry… I know falling in love with him wasn’t part of the contract. I am just maid.. and I shouldn’t have let my feelings bloom in the first place.” Eretia sobbed.

“No please don’t be sorry.” Mrs Elaina placed her hands on Eretia’s shoulder.

“Knox loves you and you feel the same too. So there is nothing to be sorry about. As a matter of fact this is not the end of our contract.” Mrs Elaina added.

Eretia glanced up at her. “What do you mean? The contract is over since you paid me.” She sniffled.

“Listen Eretia, the contract might be over but we can’t end this relationship between us. I want you to stay with my son. I know Knox won’t be happy with me if I let you go just like that and if you decide to leave after the contract.” Mrs Elaina pat her shoulder blades gently.

“So.. are you.. asking me to stay with Knox without a contract binding this relationship?” Eretia asked.

Mrs Elaina Martins nodded her head in agreement. “Listen to me, I have watched my son closely this past few days and I found out that he is deeply in love. This is the first time he has ever loved someone and is willing to let the world know about it. So I felt that both of you could start something officially even after the contract ends. That’s out of it now.. I mean you could still work for Knox at the agency as his personal assistant. I want you by his side.” She sounded resigned.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Eretia was silent. “Do you want to leave?” Mrs Elaina asked after some seconds of silence.

“No I want to be with him.” Eretia answered sincerely.

It was the truth! She really wanted be with Knox Martins.

“Yes that’s it. You can be with my son!” Mrs Elaina clapped as she moved away from Eretia.

“Thank you, Mrs Elaina for giving me this chance to be with your son.” Eretia said.

“It’s alright. You are like a daughter to me and I also want my son to be happy with you.” Mrs Elaina helped her up and hugged her.

“I am so grateful.” The old lady added.

Eretia pulled away and looked down at the cheque in her hand. A smile formed on her lips. “Thank you for this too.” She waved the cheque and card in the air.

“It’s all yours.” Mrs Elaina smiled.

Deciding that she would give it to Oliver for everything he has done for her. It was enough to thank him for saving her life and taking her under his wings even without knowing about her background.

Eretia made up her mind that she would be honest with Oliver and tell him the whole truth especially her love for Knox Martins.

••••••

BETTY LAWSON’S HOME

Betty heard the doorbell as she was packing her clothes into a box. She moved out of the room and went to the door. She peered through the small gap on the door. Mary Ann was there. Betty opened the door.

“Hi Betty,” Mary Ann greeted with a bright smile on her face.

“Hi Ann, come in.” Betty stepped aside for Mary Ann to walk into her apartment.

“So how was your visit to the agency? Did you meet that slut?” Mary Ann asked.

Betty Lawson folded her arms. “Yes I did but things didn’t go has planned.” She answered.

“What happened?” Mary Ann asked again.

Betty Lawson narrated everything to her. “She scared me when her eyes shined.”

“So you really think she isn’t human?” Mary Ann demanded as she paced to and fro.

“Yes that’s lady is a strange being but no one seems to believe me. I told my mom and even ma’am Elaina about what I saw but everyone thinks I am losing my mind.” Betty threw her hands up in frustration.

“I believe you. I have always had this feeling that she is strange. But what do we do now? You can’t let someone like that be around Knox! She might hurt him!” Mary Ann snapped her fingers.

“What do I do? Do you think I should tell Knox about it?” Betty asked.

Mary Ann shook her head in agreement. “Yes, he should know about it. This is enough to end whatever is going on between them maybe you will finally have a chance to be with him if he finds out the truth and realize that you saved his life.”

Betty furrowed her eyebrows. “No, Knox won’t believe anything I say to him. Knox almost strangled me to death when he saw Eretia laying unconscious on the floor at the agency. He will never believe me because he is blinded by his love for that strange lady. She has cast an hex on him!” She asserted.

“You can’t just let her take him away from you.” Mary Ann pestered.

“I am out of the plan. I am not interested in Knox Martins anymore.” Betty blurted out after having a long full of air in her lungs.

Mary Ann stared at her in disbelief. “Why?”

“His heart belong to another woman.” Betty answered

“A strange woman.” Mary Ann countered.

“He loves her.” Betty added.

Mary Ann rolled her eyes. “You can’t give up on him.”

Betty shook her head in disagreement. “There is no point in sticking around him. I wasn’t able to make him believe in love but Eretia succeeded. Eretia might look strange but I think she deserves to be with him.” She sighed.

“You can’t just give up on-”

Betty silenced Mary Ann with a slow nod. “It is over. I am leaving the country tomorrow morning.”

Mary Ann arched her brows. “Where are you going?” She asked.

“Anywhere around the globe. I don’t want to hurt anyone all in the name of love.” Betty Lawson had a sincere look on her face.

Mary Ann folded her arms. “Unbelievable.” She mumbled.

“I hope to find the man who will love me the same way I will love him. I don’t want to be caught in an unrequited love.” Betty let out a shaky breathe.

Mary Ann nodded. “Your choice, Betty Lawson.” She stood up from the couch picked up her handbag.

“Safe Journey around the globe.” She said.

“Thank you, Mary Ann.” Betty accompanied her to the door.

After Betty Lawson shut the door. Mary Ann stood on the porch for a second as a wicked smile formed on her lips.

Mary Ann was happy that Betty Lawson already gave up which means she was now out of the picture.

“I have to face Eretia alone.” Mary Ann said to herself.

She wasn’t going to give up on Knox Martins. She wouldn’t let him go to a strange woman. Her new mission would be to find out Eretia’s true identity and expose her. She concluded.

Mary Ann walked down the few steps. “If I tell Knox about her without having an evidence he would never believe me.” She mumbled.

And then an idea struck her immediately. Maybe getting rid of Eretia would be the best option! If she was out of her way then Knox Martins would be left with no choice than to come to her for comfort. And she would be waiting to comfort him.

Mary Ann grinned wickedly as she walked to her car.