Come Back, Dear Ex-wife.

…

Six years later.

“Mommy! Mommy! Wake up”. Erica heard her son’s voice followed by his tiny pair of hands, shaking her.

“Oh Nicky, go away. I will get up soon”. She said with a sleepy voice, her eyes still closed.

“It’s Ricky mommy, not Nicky. By the way, your alarm has been beeping and it's causing such a nuisance already”.

“Oh sorry my love, I’m up now, see!” Erica said, finally opening her eyes. She slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position and pulled her son closer. “Give me a hug, my dear”.

The little boy threw himself into his mother’s waiting arms and snuggled deeply. Erica placed a deep kiss on his forehead before asking, “Where are your siblings?”

“Ricky is still sleeping and Becky is outside, painting as usual”.

Erica nodded and smiled. “Let's go see what your sister is painting”. Erica intertwined her hand with her son’s and went outside into the garden.

It was big and filled with beautiful flowers which spread across the floor, giving the place a beautiful view. Erica spotted Becky at the far end of the garden, doing what she loved the most.

“Hey beautiful, what are you painting, my love?” Erica asked, bending over her daughter’s shoulder to get a closer view of her painting.

“Hi mommy, it’s a butterfly”. Becky responded, smiling cheerfully.

Erica smiled and rubbed Becky’s head satisfactorily. “That’s beautiful love, it’s time to get ready for school. You can resume painting when you get back, okay! I need to be at work early, so let's go get you guys ready”. Becky looked at her mother and smiled. “Let’s go wake your brother up”. Erica held Nicky’s hand on one side and Becky’s hand on the other side and plodded towards Ricky’s room, chatting cheerfully with her kids.

Just like Nicky said, Ricky was still sleeping. Erica walked towards him and gently shook him, “Wakie wakie, wake up, Ricky, it’s time for school”. The third triplet stretched and yawned, Erica bent down, pulling him up, she kissed him on the forehead, then led the trio into the bathroom.

“Mommy, can you make another omelet for me please?” Becky asked, pulling at Erica’s gown as she got their lunch box ready.

“Another omelet, why?”

“She wants to give it to Jaime”. Ricky’s voice rang out. Erica looked at Becky who was shy already then back at Ricky. “So Ricky, tell me, who’s Jaime?”

“A boy in Becky’s class…”

“A boy! okay, I see.” Erica mumbled, she stared at Becky who was blushing already. “What did I miss? You know what, you will give me the full gist when we all are back home, how about that?” Erica loved her triplets dearly and she cherished them. They come first in her life and she was willing to do anything to see them happy. One thing she had adopted when it came to them was active and effective listening. It gives her time to interact with them and bond with them.

Once she was done packing their lunch boxes, she led the triplet downstairs. Rebecca, the maid, was waiting for them downstairs alongside Mathew, the driver.

“Make sure they are in safe hands; I need you to see them to their classes.” Erica said to Rebecca. “And please drive safely, Mathew.” She said, turning towards him.

Erica stood and watched with smiles on her face as they walked out of the house. She rubs her chest satisfactorily after which she goes to her room to get ready for work.

She was done in about one hour and hopped into her Maybach. She had just purchased it a week back, adding to her collections of luxurious cars. The ride to work was often therapeutic for Erica as she gets to see the city bustling with people just going about their lives. Little children playing by the roadside and chasing after each other. It was nostalgic.

After what felt like forever, Erica pulled up in the staff parking lot, she got down from the car and strode towards the company’s building.

Grace, her secretary, rushed over and took Erica’s handbag from her. “Ma’am, there’s someone at the reception waiting for you.”

“Who?” she muttered, chewing on a gum as she made her way towards her office.

“Your maternal Aunt, Amelia.”

“Amelia! What is she doing in my office at such an odd hour? Let her in”.

“Okay ma”.

Erica sat in her office wondering why Amelia wanted to see her all of a sudden. She was still deep in thought when the door opened and a woman, who should be in her late forties, walked up to her. The striking resemblance the woman had with her late mother made Erica stare at her awkwardly.

“Please sit, pardon my manners for staring at you but you look just like my late mother. And I still can’t get over it.”

The woman smiled, “Erica, I know you are surprised to see me in your office at such an odd time but I need to discuss something with you”.

“Go on, I can hear you, but you should have informed me before coming, aunt. What if I wasn't around?”

Ever since Erica left the United States, Amelia has been the only family member she was communicating with. She was her mother’s younger sister and took Erica just like her own daughter. She had taken Erica in until she was buoyant enough to have gotten her own place and helped her build her company from scratch.

“I know how you love to work, so I know you must surely come to the office. Well, what I want to discuss with you is about the company back in the United States, your father’s company”.

“What about it?” Erica sounded aloof. The last place she ever wanted to be reminded of was the place she fled from.

“It is on the verge of winding up due to bankruptcy”.

The revelation came as a shock to Erica. All this while, she had thought the company was doing so well, especially since her stepsister Delaney got engaged to Norberto, just so they could merge the company together. “Hum, this is shocking, but then, what has it got to do with me?” Erica said with confusion etched all over her face. She stared at the woman from head to toe.

“You are the only heir your father has on this earth. He has no other child. If there’s anyone to save his company, it is you, Erica. Your father spent quite a fortune on that company”.

“Then let Delaney and her father take care of that, not me”.

There was a heavy silence in the room as Erica said those words. She was not ready to go back to the United States. Everything that happened years back came rushing to her memory. She could remember everything vividly as though it was playing right in front of her.

Amelia understood the reason for her refusing to go back to the United States. “Keep the past behind you Amelia. Won't this also be an avenue to shove all they've done to you at their face. More like your own revenge”.

“These people are from the past, aunt; I don’t want to have anything to do with them anymore”. Erica pleaded.

“Norberto is now a major shareholder in the company. So he's affected too. And should I tell you about his own company, it's close to winding up due to bankruptcy also. The last information I got was them pitching for a grant, from your company and also trying to seek help. They need your help but then, they do not know you are the owner of Global Enterprises”.

Erica smirked as she rested her back against the high gloss painted wall of her office, pondering over what Amelia said.

“I think I know what to do aunt”. Amelia smiled and bade her farewell as she exited the office.

Grace walked inside with her left hand holding a file which she dropped on the table. She had a cup of coffee on the other hand which she handed over to Erica.

“You have a meeting with some new clients today, scheduled for three pm. Would you be available so I can add it to the to-do list ma?”

“What’s the meeting about?” Erica mumbled, typing on her laptop as she sipped the coffee at intervals.

“The meeting is with the Welling's enterprises. They are almost on the verge of closing their company due to too much debt incurred, so they are making a proposal to be considered for the grant as that would help settle off their debts and have the company back on its feet again. Considering the numerous benefits attached, they are willing to take any percentage of profit they will get if they merge with our company in the United states”.

“Hmm!” Erica sighed, “I see. Postpone the meeting till another time. I’ll let you know when I am free to meet with them”.

The company was her father's company. And Norberto being a major shareholder meant he was greatly affected too. Remembering what they made her pass through, she was determined to get her revenge back and make them beg at her feet. She realized she could only achieve this, if she agreed to help them and attend the meeting, revealing herself as the CEO of Global Enterprises.

She will make them bite their fingers in regret.

“But ma’am, are you willing to help them, I mean if we collaborate with them, won't it pull us back?” Grace said, interrupting her thoughts.

“No grace, I believe we have enough resources and finance to take care of everything. Send a message out to them. We will be having a meeting with them. Get me more information about that company. I need to know everything about them.”

“Alright ma’am.”

………………..

Five hours later.

Erica was going through some files when she heard someone knocking. “Come in”.

The door opened and she looked up to see Richard walk in with a smile on his face. He had a small gift bag with him.

“Hello pretty”. Richard said as he sat on the chair opposite Erica.

“Hello Richard, how are you?” she responded casually, still looking at the files in her hand.

Richard was a medical doctor who specialized in gynecology. He had been attracted to Erica for the past four years and since then, he had been hoping she would accept his advances and allow him into her life.

“Don’t you think you need some rest, Erica? You look tired. I got you this.” Erica took the gift bag from him and brought out its content. It was a necklace which had her name inscribed on it.

“This is beautiful. Thank you Richard. I have a lot of work to do and taking care of the triplets isn't easy either.”

Richard smiled and took her hand, rubbing it fondly. He looked at her and brushed the strand of hair that was squeaky clean, aside, as he kissed her hand gently.

“You know you've always got me Erica. I'll always be by your side, willing to help you. You don't have to carry the burden alone”. Erica's face flushed as Richard said those words.

“I'll need to go to the United States”. Erica explained her reasons for taking this decision and her fears about it.

“I'll go with you; you need not worry”. Richard assured her.