AllFreeNovel
Share Us
3
Layla
With my reflection staring back at me, I ran my fingers over the lace of the dress. The dress fit me perfectly. I didn’t know how he could guess my size so accurately. The material hugged my hips by and the neckline was just off the shoulders.
A gentle knock at the door arrived, I knew it was Marcus here to escort me down. I picked up my small clutch from the bed and left the oversized bedroom behind. I stepped down the marble staircase, my heels echoing in the large suite.
I felt like a princess as I strolled down the hall and to the door. Opening it, Marcus stood gawking at me. I’d come into the hotel in worn out jeans, tennis shoes, and my hair in a messy bun. Heading to the gala, I wore a dress that cost more than my rent, I’d done my make-up, and my hair fell in gentle curls to my shoulders.
“You look stunning,” Marcus complimented me as I stepped into the hall and closed the door to my suite behind me.
“Thanks,” I mumbled as I looked away with warming cheeks.
“Mr. Sullivan is running late, but I’ve been asked to escort you down and to your seat,” Marcus informed me.
I nodded and began to follow him up the hall, toward the elevator we’d taken upstairs. My nerves began to set in the closer we got to the elevator. I still didn't fully understand why Mr. Sullivan requested me of all people. I hadn’t even arrived, and I already felt out of place.
I could run away, but instead I continued along my current path. Marcus and I entered the elevator and rode down to the casino floor. There was something about the sounds of a casino. Noises from the slot machines went off everywhere, people chatted, and cheered in excitement.
My eyes danced around with all the flashing lights and heads turned my way as I continued to follow my escort. People watched me as if I was some celebrity, but I was only me, an analyst and single mom.
We approached a hallway where I saw others dressed in black tie attire. Marcus and I followed behind until we approached the entrance to a ballroom where a man stood checking a list for the names of everyone ahead of me in line.
“I have Mr. Sullivan’s guest, Ms. Hudson,” Marcus noted to the balding guy who stood at the door with his checklist.
“Go right in. Mr. Sullivan’s table is the table front and center,” the man pointed out.
At once, vibrations alerted me to my phone in my purse. I reached into the small clutch to retrieve my phone to find Mom was calling. Immediately, I panicked. Julian was with my mom while I was away.
“Give me a moment, I need to take this,” I said in a rushed voice as I jolted back up the hall and toward the entrance of the hotel.
Outside in the hot Vegas air, I answered my mom’s call. I was already bracing for the worst and my limbs were shaking. When it came to my children, I always jumped to conclusions, I didn’t know what else to do.
“Yeah, Mom. What’s wrong?” I asked, already frantic as I paced back and forth at the front of the hotel.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to check in on you and let you know Julian’s dad came by,” she informed me. I was in a state of shock and didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Really?” I finally spoke in disbelief. We hadn’t heard from the sperm donor in months and now he suddenly wanted to make an entrance.
“He brought Julian some new shoes and some basketball gear. He was here for about twenty minutes. He asked about you, I said you were away for work. He said he would be coming by more–”
“More often. I know the line. He does this at least once or twice a year. He comes and brings some gifts as if he cares. Then he says he will be trying to come more often with some other shit promises he doesn’t intend to keep,” I snapped angrily.
I hated what he was doing to my son. He made himself out to be some loving father, and then would never show his face for months at a time.
My mom sighed knowing I was right about him. She’d warned me all those years ago about him, but I couldn’t see her side. He eventually showed me his true colors when he left me with two boys to raise on my own.
“Besides that loser, is everything good there?” I asked her.
“Everything is good. Julian and I just finished dinner. He went upstairs to do some homework,” she told me, and I smiled to myself. Maybe my talk with Julian had gotten through to him. I hoped it did.
“The gala is about to start here. I better get back inside. If everything is good, I’m happy. Thank you for everything, Mom.” I said honestly. My mom had been my backbone through everything and was always there when I needed her.
“Enjoy yourself, you deserve it.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow. Bye.” I ended the call with her and placed my phone back in my clutch.
I was still a little shocked, but not at the same time. It had been the same story repeatedly. I had to deal with my son’s broken heart every single time. His dad would spoil him, make an abundance of promises, and never show up. I hated every moment of it, but I never wanted to deny my son’s father access to him.
