Chapter 7 

The next day…
As per some
unspoken agreement, Erika had sort of moved into Alexander’s
penthouse, so she decided to go home and get some things. She left
Asher with Alexander while she went to Erin’s apartment. She wasn’t
trying to be snobby, but she could see the wealth gap very clearly.
That caused some ugly doubts to rear their ugly heads. How long
would Alexander want to keep playing house before he got bored? She
could've swore he told her he loved her last night but she’d been
half asleep, and that would be something her brain tricked her into
believing. “Long time no see,” Erin said with a grin from the
couch. “Hello to you too.” “Been staying with Alexander?” She
nodded, “Yeah. We finished Asher’s whole room yesterday.” “Are you
moving in with him, already?” Erika shrugged, “I don’t know. He
just suggested I bring some stuff over to his place so I wouldn’t
have to walk around in his T-shirts all day.” She didn’t add the
part where he said he wasn’t complaining though. “He lives in a
penthouse, right?” She nodded. “What’s it like?” “It’s got a
gorgeous view.” “I’ll bet.” Erika laughed, “You should come over.”
“Already inviting people over to his place?” Erika blushed, “I
didn’t mean it like that.” Erin waved her away, “I was joking. I
may make it over one day. Tell him I asked how his cheek was.”
Erika burst out laughing, “Will do.” That’s the first thing she
told Alexander when she got back. He laughed, “Mu cheek’s all good
now. She packs one hell of a slap.” “That she does,” Erika said,
going to play with Asher.
 
The next week
went by in a blur. Erika was in a happiness bubble. She felt like
she could fly. She was so happy.
 
One morning,
Alexander went to the kitchen to start some coffee. Erika was just
getting up with Asher so she’d be coming in a minute. He found that
he liked to have coffee ready for her in the morning. Okay, he
really just liked that she rewarded him with a scorching hot kiss
in exchange. He grinned just as the elevator doors opened and
Whitney stepped in. She saw him and smiled, “Alexander!” “What are
you doing here?” he asked. “I’ve thought about our relationship and
think I can be a step-mother now.” “What? I thought you broke up
with me?” She laughed, “I never said that.” He glared at her, “You
didn’t have to. You got up and left the restaurant glaring at me
then came back and took all your stuff from here. I’ve moved on.”
“Moved on? Please, Alexander.” He filled two cups with coffee. “You
made me coffee,” she said, reaching for a cup. He snatched it away,
nearly spilling some. “I said, I moved-” He didn’t get to finish
that statement. Erika came in with Asher on her hip. She looked
between him and Whitney. Whitney sneered, “This is who you moved on
to? Her?” Alexander didn’t appreciate the demeaning tone she used
toward Erika. Instead of answering, he walked over to Erika and
took Asher while handing her her cup of coffee. She gave him a
kiss, like they’d been doing every morning. “Can we help you with
something?” Erika asked. “Bitch. Get out of my man’s place!”
Whitney said. “I’m not your man. You can’t walk out of my life and
expect me to wait around for you.” Whitney glared at him, “You sure
did move on pretty quickly. Did you even love me?” “No,” he said.
She reared back like she’d been slapped. “What do you mean ‘no’?”
“I mean, spending these last few days with Erika has taught me what
it’s like to be in love.”
 
Erika sucked
in a sharp breath. Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
Was he in love with her? She wanted to ask him right there, but she
understood what was happening here. His ex wanted him back. If she
cowered, or showed any sign of anything but a united front with
Alexander, his ex would prey on that. She knew these types of
women. They loved putting other women down to build themselves up.
So she stood pole straight beside Alexander and sipped her coffee
like she didn’t have a care in this world.
 
Alexander
wrapped an arm around Erika’s waist, “You need to leave Whitney.”
“Just wait until your parents hear of this,” she said and stomped
out. As soon as the doors were closed, Erika turned to him, eyes
full of questions. He had some explaining to do. He motioned for
her to sit down, which she did. He sat beside her and sat Asher on
his lap. “Well?” she said. “The morning after I found out about
Asher, I told her,” he motioned to the space Whitney had just
vacated, “Whitney, about him. She just up and left after getting
pissed. When I came back here, all her stuff was gone. I thought
that was her way of leaving me. Guess I was wrong.” “So you two
never officially broke it off?” He shook his head. She sighed and
rubbed the bridge of her nose like she had a headache coming on,
“No wonder.” “I’ll call her later and make it official.” She tilted
her head, “Are you sure that’s what you want? There’s such a thing
as co-parenting.” He shook his head so hard he was sure he had
whiplash, “Absolutely not. I don't want to be with her. I want to
be with you. I love you.” The last part slipped out before he could
think better of it. Her eyes widened then filled with tears as she
smiled, “I love you too.” He leaned over and kissed her. Asher
babbled between them. They laughed.
 
Later that
afternoon, he got a call from his mother telling him to bring his
son and his son’s mother over for dinner. Alexander knew Whitney
had gone over and blabbed to them, putting Erika in the worst light
possible. And that irritated him. He knew that this dinner was most
likely to test her to see if she was worthy to stand at his side.
Like he needed his parents to tell him yea or nay. He knew Erika
was worthy. So whether they liked her or not, he was going to stay
with her. Once he told Erika, she disclosed that she didn’t have
any dresses suitable, so he took her shopping. They split the costs
on her dress. That evening, they got ready to go. “How do I look?”
she asked. He kissed her, slowly, savoring her lips. He pulled
back, “You look amazing.” She beamed, “Thank you. You clean up well
too.” “Why thank you.” They went into Asher’s room where he’d
gotten him ready. Erika cooed over him for a minute before he
steered them down to his garage and they headed to his parents’
mansion.
 
His mother met
them at the door. Alexander sighed with relief at the genuine smile
on her face. “Welcome,” she said. “Hi mom,” he said, giving her a
hug, “This is my girlfriend Erika and our son, Asher.” His mother
smiled and gave Erika a hug, “Hello dear. Call me Jane. It’s nice
to meet you.” Erika smiled, “It’s nice to meet you as well, Jane.”
His mother turned to Asher in his arms, “Well hello little fellow.”
Asher cooed happily. Alexander wished he could say the meeting
between his father and Erika went nearly as well, but it didn’t.
His father was stiff and condescending. Alexander couldn’t believe
how well Erika kept on an unaffected mask. He knew it was a mask
because on their way to the dining room, she squeezed his hand. Her
hand was trembling. He gave her a quick kiss of
reassurance.
 
Dinner, thank
goodness, was a lot more pleasant as his mother did most of the
talking with Erika. They mostly spoke about Asher and compared him
and his son. It was slightly embarrassing but it could have been
much worse. After dinner, his father pulled him aside. Alexander
was ready to have it out with his old man. First his father kept
the knowledge of his child away from him, now he didn’t approve of
his choice in women. It’s not like Erika was a floozy or anything
either. “Dad,” he said, crossing his arms. His father’s stern face
broke into a big grin and he patted him on the back, “You did good,
son.” “Huh?” “Erika. I like her.” “You do? Is that how you show
people you approve of them? Scare them?” he snapped. He couldn’t
help it. He hated feeling her shaking hand. His father sighed, “Had
to test her. You know the world we live in. It’s cutthroat. I had
to make sure that the woman by my son’s side was strong enough to
be there.” Alexander blew out a breath, knowing his father was
right. “And about your little boy,” his father went on. Alexander
stiffened. “I’m really sorry that I didn’t tell you about him. I
was so focused on the business that I didn’t realize a man was
running it. You’re human and you want human things- like children.
I don’t know what I would have done without you so I know what it’s
like to love your child.” Alexander didn’t know what to say. His
father wasn’t exactly known to be an apologizer. He smiled and gave
his father a hug, “You’re forgiven.” His dad stepped back and
scoffed, “Did you know that that Whitney girl called me and said
you were cheating on her.” Alexander rolled his eyes. “That’s what
I did. I almost hung up on her. I never did like her. She was all
beauty, no brains.” “Tell me about it.” His father gave him a
serious look, “You better seal the deal with Erika before she comes
to her senses and sees there are much better men than you.”
Alexander mocked hurt, “How could you say that?” His father laughed
and headed out, “I owe Erika an apology.”
 
Erika watched
Alexander and his father come into the sitting room where she and
Jane were fussing over Asher. She stiffened when his father’s eyes
turned to her. She glanced at Alexander and he gave her an
encouraging smile. She turned back to his father. “Erika, dear, I
owe you an apology,” he said. Her eyes popped open. From the short
time she’d been with him, she would bet he wasn’t an apologizing
type of man. He said what he said and did what he did with no
apology. That’s how he had to be to make it this far in the
business world. “You do?” she asked. He nodded, “I wanted to test
to see if you were strong enough to stand by my son’s side. Of
course, I didn’t mean to scare you, much.” He grinned on the last
part. She laughed and relaxed, “I understand. I’ll hope you use
that tactic on whatever girl Asher brings over when he gets older.”
His father laughed, “I’ll remember that,” he looked at Alexander,
“I told you she was a keeper.” Alexander hummed, “Yeah.”
 
The rest of
the evening went by in a mixture of dessert, talking, and getting
to know Alexander’s parents. They insisted Alexander, Erika, and
Asher stay for the night so they did.
 
The next morning…
Erika slid out of bed, being careful not to wake her boys.
They were both sound asleep. She headed down to the kitchen,
following the addictive aroma of coffee. It led her to the kitchen,
and Jane. “Would you like a cup?” Jane asked. Erika nodded, “Yes,
please.” Jane made her a cup and handed it to her. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you.” Erika got the feeling Jane wasn’t thanking her for
allowing her to make her a cup of coffee. “I didn’t do anything,”
Erika said. “Nonsense. Have you looked at my son? He’s beaming like
a kid on Christmas.” Erika blushed, “I’m a very lucky woman.” “No,
he’s a very lucky man. You could do much better than him.” She
scoffed, “Oh please. Have you
seen him lately?” “Seen who lately?” Alexander
walked in, looking all handsome and scruffy and sleep mused. “Girl
talk,” Jane said. He narrowed his eyes between her and Erika,
decided he didn’t care to know what they were talking about, and
picked up Erika’s mug, taking a healthy swallow. “Hey! That’s my
coffee!” she said. “What’s yours is mine. What’s mine is yours.”
She rolled her eyes, but allowed him to kiss her anyways. He tucked
her hair behind her ear. “I love you,” he said quietly. “Love you
too.” He gave her another kiss before heading upstairs, presumably
to check on Asher. Erika turned back to Jane who was fanning
herself, “Whoo boy. That was romantic.” Erika blushed, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You know you’re in love when you forget there are people
around.” Erika took a gulp of her coffee. Jane grinned, “How many
more babies are the two of you planning on?” Erika choked on her
coffee. “Jane!” “What? A woman can dream.” Erika shook her head.
But now that Jane got the idea into her head, she did want more
children- and close to Asher’s age so they could grow up
together.