Chapter 2 -- Deux.
To say he was shocked was an understatement. The little boy was her ex-wife's son. Karma finally caught up with her and she got pregnant he thought. After all the cheating and prostituting, how could she not ? He paced back and fourth in his office. He thought about how much different, her uniform was way longer than the other maids at the hotel. She seemed calm and not angry about anything. It made him angry that she acted innocent. It had been a week and he still couldn't get her off his mind. He dreamt about all the things they used to do, he thought about her smile and how she would speak Spanish to him whenever he spoke French. He thought about Adela McCarthy, the woman who broke his heart.
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Della made her way to the Levetté company, the building was huge. It hadn't changed a bit. It intimidated her, everyone seemed to be dressed all professional while she was in a sun dress and flats... her hair tied in a high bun. Jeanine had called her for a meeting, she mentioned it being very important. She didn't know how she had managed to get her number or what but how—
Della was afraid they would take her son away from her. She promised herself that she would protect Leondre from the Levetté family and the spot light. She wanted him to have a normal life. Della wanted to raise her son into a gentleman, one whom any girl would be lucky to have. Leo was definitely special, everyone whom he met seemed to love him.
After the receptionist allowed her to go up for her so called appointment. She remembered how she countless times she walked into this building with so much love for husband. Now she didn't feel anything, she had accepted that maybe love wasn't meant for her. At this point it definitely wasn't a priority. Love just wasn't a priority.
Della was raised by her grandparents after her father and mother had her when they were only sixteen. Della's mother always gave her the impression that she shouldn't have been born or she destroyed her life or she didn't deserve any love. She didn't know her father unfortunately because he didn't want anything to do with her either.
Her grandparents showed her the love she had not been able to receive from her parents, she loved them dearly. She constantly felt like she was a mistake, like she was not meant to be born. When she met Andre, he made her feel good, he made her laugh, he made her feel special but that changed in a matter of no time. She lost her confidence as the media constantly judged her, that she didn't deserve to marry a billionaire like Andre. She had always felt like she wasn't good enough. If it wasn't for her son she would have ended her life in a matter of seconds. Leo gave her a reason to want to continue, to want to fight, to have hope.
She was numb, she had been hurt so many times she had stopped expecting anything. After her grandparents were both no more. She had her degree in Literature and was working on her writing. After the divorce she was forced to drop out... not only because she was pregnant but also the fact that she could no longer afford it. A Good Samaritan later came along. She wanted to help other people out there battling with depression. Della wanted to tell them that everything passes, it's never permanent.
She knocked softly on the door as she heard a come in, she entered the neat office that belonged to Jeanine. "Morning Mrs. Levetté, you requested to see me." She still spoke so respectfully to the person who broke her marriage.
Jeanine was surprised by how calm she seemed even more surprised by her dressing. It was simple so simple, it made her blank not outstanding. When Della had been married to her son, she at-least put an effort but now... you could tell that she wasn't trying to get any man's attention.
"Yes and I assume you know exactly what it's about." Jeanine laced her fingers together, giving her a serious look.
"I'm not sure but whatever it is please don't take my son away from me, he is all I have." She said nervously. "He—" she was immediately cut off.
"I want you to understand that I did seven years ago was for Andre's good, for his well being, for my family. I couldn't have him marrying someone who was below us because that would have ruined his career but he did it anyways. I was just looking out for my family and I don't want him to hate me." Jeanine explained, a tear seeped from her left eye as these words left her mouth. In all honesty Della was not surprised that she was the one else who set her up, she didn't care about the past. The past should remain in the past.
"I know Mrs. Levetté, I also have a son now and I understand where you are coming from. I don't want any trouble myself, I just want to continue living with my son in peace." Della putting a fallen strand of hair behind her ear.
"So you won't tell Andre ?" Jeanine's face lit up, she didn't think that Della would be this easy to convince. She was so different from the Della she knew. The feisty, adamant Della who always stood up for what was right or always challenged her wasn't here anymore. Pain really does change people.
"Andre knows that I'm a cheater, I don't want any trouble really." Della muttered fiddling with her fingers.
"I'm sorry, I destroyed your marriage." Jeanine. "I can always give you some sort of payment even if it's for years. I assume you need help raising the boy." She suggested but Della immediately shook her head.
"No no no... Mrs. Levetté, please don't! I have enough shifts to sustain my son and I." Della gave a her a genuine smile. "Besides you didn't destroy my marriage you made me realise that your son never loved me and that's okay."
Instead of feeling relieved, Jeanine actually felt sad that her grandson would never know his father or acknowledge that he is a Levetté.
"You did what was best for your son and I would have probably done the same for Leo. I totally understand, it's a mother's instinct." Della seemed calm as these words left her lips. She had been disappointed all her life so this should faze her. If she couldn't be happy then atleast she could make others around her happy.
"You have changed so much Della." Jeanine looked at her suspiciously.
"Oh no really I just grew up. Andre and I were just young and infatuated we were convinced it was love." She sadly let out a laugh.
"My son loved you." Jeanine whispered to herself.
"It was a mistake honestly and you helped both of us to realise that, I hope he finds the right woman for him."
Jeanine was a bit taken aback by the way she was talking, she seemed so calm and unbothered. The old Della would have defended herself but this Della didn't seem to care about anything except her son.
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