Krystina.
"Hello Krystina."
I'm usually not one to play the blame game, but since being assigned the S&S Toys project, the strangest things keep happening to me. Fernando being the S&S rep, seeing Stephen at the club, Bryan randomly asking about his father, Fernando finding out about Bryan, the list goes on.
New day, new abnormal occurrence.
And judging by the person standing in front of me, today is no exception.
She looks every bit as poised as she always has. Her dark brown hair is slightly curled and pulled to one side, her diamond studs glisten as she tilts her head to side, and her youthful face pulls into a wide cautious smile.
"Mrs. Sims!" I breathe out, shocked.
She laughs lightly, "I wasn't even completely sure it was you before I said your name. My, you haven't changed at all, Krystina." She looks me up and down.
I'm still standing at a lost for words, my mouth opening and closing repeatedly. How can she speak to me so casually? She and Stephen have always been close. Surely she must know of the interesting conclusions we've come to about her husband.
"I......I don't know what say. I'm honestly stumped. This is the last place I would've expected to run into you." I tell her.
Had I still lived in New York, I wouldn't have been surprised to see her here at all. If there were two places you were guaranteed to find Larissa Sims, they were the kitchen and the grocery store. She was married to one of the richest men in the country, and was the only wife in her circle of friends who didn't hire out a chef.
She'd always been the maternal type. I used to wonder why she married Stephen's father, of all people. They were, at least in my opinion, polar opposites. Where he was cold and often put business before everything, she was warm and family oriented.
I already figured she was in town to see her son, but I ask anyway. "What are you doing in Chicago?"
"Oh. Well, Stephen lives here now. He said he needed to talk to his father and I, so after Calvin landed this morning, we flew right over. Stephen doesn't know we're here yet. I'm going to surprise him with dinner. Knowing him, it'll probably be the first home cooked meal he's had in a while." She says, her eyes lighting up and the thought of cooking for her son.
Movement from the end of the aisle briefly catches my attention. I discretely glance over Mrs. Sims shoulder and see Bryan staring intently at two different cartons of ice cream.
He's such an adorable kid, even when he's doing the most mund-
Wait, what?
The entirety of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks.
Oh
My
God
I try to conceal my panic as best as I can, but it's in vain.
"Krystina, darling? You look like you're going to be ill. Are you alright?" She worryingly takes a step closer.
Am I alright?
My son, the grandson you have no idea exists, is ten feet away from us and could race back over here at any second. Oh, and to make matters worse, your son doesn't know of his existence either.
No. I am MOST definitely not alright.
"I'm fine." I lie through my teeth. "I'm just a little......tired. Work and all, you know. Being an adult is draining." I laugh, nervously fidgeting with my hair.
Her brows furrow, "If you're sure, dear." She says unconvinced. "Speaking of work, have you and Steph seen each other since he moved the company here last year?"
Stephen Sims, self proclaimed "Momma's boy", hasn't told his mother about our eventful reunion? How interesting.
"Yes, funny enough, we have. I'm actually working on an advertisement bid for S&S toys. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was his company."
"You didn't know? You two were so close, I thought you would've kept tabs on him over the years?" She sounds genuinely confused.
"Well I didn't." My response comes out harsher than I intended, ruining the mood.
She swallows hard, and stares at me for a moment. Her expression falls as if she's remembered a bad memory. "Of course. Well, it was nice to see you again Krystina. I must be on my way now." She gives me a tight smile and a slight nod, before turning in the opposite direction.
As she nears the end of the aisle, Bryan picks a carton and starts to make his way back to me.
The moment plays in my head in slow motion. I hold my breath, waiting for the inevitable.
Waiting for them to get close enough to each other....
Waiting for her to see him...
Waiting for her to recognize his features....
Waiting for her to put the pieces together.....
Waiting for her to realize....
...............only she doesn't.
Bryan, too intent on his desert, pays her no intention. And besides a glance in his direction, Larissa keeps strolling out of the aisle.
In a single moment, I feel as if I've aged ten years.
Friday can't come quick enough. The sooner I tell Stephen, the sooner this stress and anxiety can be alleviated.
"What'd you get, hun?" I ask Bryan when he returns to my side.
"Moose tracks!" He jumps up and holds the carton out for me to see.
I pick him up, and sit him in the cart. "Good choice, bud." I high five him.
I cautiously make my way through the rest of the aisles. Checking them to make sure the coast is clear.
I find myself repeating to same task in the parking lot as I load the bags into the trunk. Looking around to make sure Mrs. Sims or anyone else close to Stephen, doesn't make a sudden appearance.
Good Lord, I've gone mad.
Get a grip, Krystina.
Bryan being the perceptible muffin he is, stays fairly quiet on the drive home, most likely sensing my less than stellar mood.
My mind runs wild with all the possibilities of how our run in with Larissa could've turned out.
That could've been detrimental to all the effort I've put into being friendly and cordial to Stephen.
It'll be bad enough when he finds out the truth from me, but if he had found out from his mother?
I shake the thoughts out of my head, refusing to let it worry me.
Everything will be fine.
There's absolutely nothing to worry about.
____________________________________________________________________
AN: I have no idea why, but this chapter was soooooo hard to write.
It's about 150 words shorter than usual, so forgive me?
ANYWAYS.....I've been searching through Wattpad and Radish for wonderful books, and I've not been impressed.
If any of you know of any GREAT books on either of those apps, be sure to let me know please.
How about 150 votes for the next chapter, which definitely won't be a filler, and will hopefully be at least 1500 words.
And pleeeaaaassssseeeeeee don't forget to comment.
Thank you!!<3