Chapter 7 Truth Revealed

• Renee’s POV
• Andrew's words hang in the air, the silence growing more uncomfortable. I open my mouth to protest or at least act confused but it’s Mia’s voice who comes out instead.
• “What are you talking about? Annie has been dead for five years.” I try not to brash at her statement. I find myself looking at Eric to see how he reacts and I’m surprised to see that his eyes are casting a warning look at Mia.
• Mia’s shoulders droop ever so slightly as though Eric‘s words physically knocked her down. “My name is Renee,” I say, hoping my introduction squanders Andrew’s claim of who I really am.
• This time Eric brings his eyes to me and I feel myself flush, and I can only hope I don’t look as hot as I feel. “Yes, Renee, my name is Eric I wanted to discuss your résumé and your dress entry for our design competition.”
• Eric shakes my hand and when he does it is as if those five years of not touching one another haven’t happened.
• I smile politely and nod, forcing myself to relax. However, when Eric doesn’t let go of my hand and his eyes begin to peel me away like a layered onion I feel the hair on the back of my neck start to stand up.
• I begin to remove my hand and just suddenly Eric lets me go. As if trying to keep himself busy to avoid this awkwardness, he picks up my portfolio and résumé off his desk and begins to thumb through the pages, keeping his eyes downcast.
• Meanwhile, I pretend not to feel Mia’s eyes staring down at me. “I see there is no mention of a husband, I did meet your daughter the other day who is she?” His unprofessional question momentarily stuns me.
• I pause to wonder how he knows for certain that I don’t have a boyfriend and my mind quickly jumps to the conclusion he must’ve had outside resources do a search on me. I guess that’s to be expected when hiring an outsider to the world’s largest multi-billion design company.
• My palms begin to sweat, suddenly feeling exposed as I think about some strangers poking around into my life and I had no idea. Well, they couldn’t have been so thorough I tell myself considering they didn’t find out who I really was.
• Besides, I can’t blame Eric for wanting to know more about my personal life if I’m going to be designing for his company. My status quo is important for superficial reasons. Or at least that’s what I tell myself and push aside the voice that tells me he wants to find out if Debbie is his.
• Of course, he’ll never know, I am wolfless and have spent the past five years perfecting my disguise he can stare at me and question what he wants and I have rehearsed for this very moment so I am ready. He can give me all he’s got.
• I swallow the lump in my throat. “She is from a previous boyfriend. He is totally out of the picture and we both want it that way,” As I hear myself saying that last part, something inside me wonders if he truly does. Eric gives a short nod and moves on.
• “And seeing that you’re a wolfless person, you seem to have a knack for a wolf style.” Eric comments, though his tone makes it sound like a question.
• “Thank you,” I say, ignoring the impulse to try and provide an explanation. When I don’t answer, the corner of Eric’s lip curls into a smile as if to say well played.
• The interview continues normally. Thank God. I’m glad that the rest of the questions are pretty much basic and what you would expect an interview. Such as what I can bring to the company, and why I want to work for Blue Moon Group.
• I must answer the questions well enough because Eric goes back to his desk without any follow-up to the statements that I’ve made. He lets my résumé fall from his hands and land on his desk, though he doesn’t take his eyes off of it
• As he scrutinizes my resume it dawns on me then there’s something else about his expression. He rubs his chin like he’s deep and thought, but his eyes aren’t really looking at my résumé, they aren’t really looking at anything at all. He seems somewhat withdrawn, sad even.
• That can’t be, he has nothing to be sad about. I mean, I know I’ve been out of his life for the past five years and a lot can happen, but by the looks of this company, it seems his life has only gotten richer. He seems to have all the things he has only ever truly cared about.
• If anything, maybe Eric is just stressed, I mean running a business this size is demanding.
• I look around his office and note the authentic leather chairs, the zebra wood desk that’s worth more than anything I have in my house, the heavy, red velvet curtains draping over large floor-to-ceiling windows, and display cases housing antique artwork from all over the world.
• Clearly he is in no shortage of funds, adventure, and freedom.
• I unconsciously tug at my plain blouse. I know that my outfit matches I mean, I’m a designer for goodness sake, but it doesn’t mean the material I’m wearing isn’t cheap.
• When I decided to leave Eric, I left everything behind. I didn’t get a dime from him, not that I ever wanted it anyway, and I can’t wear any of the old jewelry that he gave me as gifts. Though I wonder if he would even recognize it anyway or if he just bought that stuff without giving a second glance.
• When my eyes come back to his desk, I noticed Mia watching at me with a smirk on her face as if to say that everything he has is hers. Not to mention she probably revels in the envy she gets from onlookers.
• At least when I do feel like I can fit into an office like this with all of it’s riches and gold, it will be because of my own hard work
• Eric looks back up and clears his throat grabbing my attention. “Truth is, we need a designer like you, something fresh, original, and quick to notice new trends and upcoming styles.”
• “Well, I am definitely good at reading between the lines noticing something new, and even taking something old and changing it completely,” I respond laughing internally at my play on words.
• “Great. We would love to have you on board, welcome to the New Blue Moon group,” Eric says in a very business-friendly, like tone away that I’ve heard him speak many times that if you didn’t know him, you would think he’s being sincere.
• Mia suddenly swoops in and leans herself against Eric‘s arm, and she looks up at him with big hopeful eyes.
• “Nilo was hoping you would take him to the park today,” Eric scrunches his eyebrows together and I can’t tell if he’s confused because of what Mia said or because she is leaning on him, disregarding they’re in a place of business.
• “Nilo starts kindergarten soon he is interviewing at a place today,” Eric tells her flatly.
• Mia rolls her eyes. “With you around he doesn’t even need to interview. All of the kindergarten places are fighting just to have him even consider going to their school,”
• I begin to feel like I’m intruding on a personal conversation and I almost laugh in spite of myself. I’m quite literally a fly on the wall watching my ex-husband discuss parental responsibilities with the woman he loved before me and I feel like I’m invading their personal space.
• Only then, as the thoughts formulate do I begin to pick up on an old forgotten memory. I think back to that day when Mia showed up to our door, on our anniversary of all days, and said that she was pregnant with Eric's kid.
• At the time I almost didn’t believe her. I thought this was some kind of cruel joke or lie to steal Eric from me, but maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe she really did get pregnant. I almost visibly shake my head as I begin to scold myself internally . Of course, she was pregnant.
• She’s literally talking to Eric about a child named Nilo. That unanswered question from all those years ago about whether Eric had been with Mia and if he planned on getting back with her has all just been answered.
• Mia and Eric have a kid together. And did she say Nilo is going to kindergarten? That would mean her son is the same age as Debbie.