Chapter 3: New Beginnings

SIX YEARS LATER-SAN FRANCISCO

Celia stood in the reception area of the BP group building with her adorable twins standing on either side of her.

“Excuse me, could you please find a place for my kids to sit? Celia asked the receptionist politely. “I just could not find anyone to leave them with today.”

"You really didn’t have anyone to leave them with?" the receptionist responded with raised eyebrows.

"I’m afraid not," Celia responded in a level tone of voice. She hadn’t returned to San Francisco once since moving to New York, and her contact with old family and friends was minimal to none.

“A pity that ladies these days have to care for their children entirely by themselves,” the receptionist commented. "You should really have made a plan. You can’t be taking them to job interviews like this," she continued in a critical tone.

“I apologize for the hassle. It’s just a few minutes while I have my interview,” Celia responded, trying to keep her tone pleasant. “A prestigious company like this should do its best to accommodate those with different family responsibilities.”

“Oh, I was only stating the obvious,” the receptionist responded.

"Well, I do not think that you should be airing your opinions about job candidates, ma'am," Celia responded in an affronted tone of voice.

“I am sorry about that," the receptionist responded apologetically. "I will find a small office for them.”

A dark-haired woman stepped out into the waiting area, interrupting them. “You may come in now, Miss Sanchez.”

Celia followed her down the hall and into a beautifully-decorated office. When her eyes ran over the people there to interview her, she almost turned around and left.

Georgina sat there, smiling smugly at Celia. Celia’s lips quivered and eyes grimaced at the sight of the woman who betrayed her.

Celia took a heavy breath. She then smiled in return as she sat down, remembering her purpose for coming, and listened to the lady making introductions. She had to make a strong effort to keep her focus away from Georgina.

“So, what made you decide to become a jewelry designer?” the man on her left asked with a friendly smile.

“I have wanted to make my own jewelry since I was nine years old because I always had ideas about what I would like to do with my own earrings and necklaces,” Celia replied with a sweet smile on her lips as the memory hit her.

“Where did you study?” asked the dark-haired woman.

“I went to F.I.T. in New York City, and completed a lot of internships while in college.”

“And where did you work after graduating?” Georgina suddenly asked.

“I was lucky enough to get a job soon after graduating which also involved further training. That is where I got to hear about opportunities at this company,” Celia replied.

“I see that your past employer recommended you highly. They sure think that you have the potential to make it here,” another man remarked.

“I don’t think she is well-known enough for the position,” Georgina cut in suddenly.

“I have a lot of experience at this stage in my career,” Celia offered in protest. “The portfolio I submitted details my past projects. My work has appeared on several reputable N.Y.C. runways.”

She then handed her portfolio file to the man next to her. He seemed impressed and passed it around.

“I think that you have what it takes,” the most senior-looking manager remarked, finally. “You may join us by coming in just before nine o’clock tomorrow morning,” he concluded with a friendly smile.

Celia was too overjoyed to be concerned about Georgina’s sour expression.

“Thank you, everyone,” she responded. “I will try my best not to disappoint you.”

***

The twins were sitting comfortably on a beige-colored couch in an office which was not far from the reception area. They paged through magazines. The whole trip felt rather important.

As they chatted about the cool texture of the couch cushions, they saw a handsome man walk into a nearby office.

"He looks just like you," Lillian remarked, nudging Lennie.

“Do you think so?” Lennie asked in surprise. He had noticed the man, too.

“Why do you think that is?” Lillian whispered.

“Maybe he knows mom?” Lennie asked. “If she’s gonna work here.”

“If people look alike, it means they’re family, dumb-dumb,” Lillian said. Then, suddenly, her eyes went wide as saucers.“What if he is our father?”

“I bet he is!” Lennie cried excitedly. He craned his neck around the doorway the man went through. “Where did he go?”

“Don't worry, if Mommy starts working here, then we will definitely see him again,” Lillian responded with a smile.

At that moment, they heard the click of heels behind them. Celia stood in the entrance to the small office with a smile on her face.

“What happened?” the twins asked almost at once.

“It was scary in there,” Celia whispered in return as they walked out of the reception area. “But it was scary in a fun way. I got the job, and they want me to start tomorrow!”

***

As she waited for a taxi with her kids, Celia saw a man and woman walking out of the building and up the road.

For some reason, her eyes tracked them. They looked like a couple. The man looked really tall and broad shouldered. Celia wondered who he was.

She was shocked out of her reverie when Lennie dropped her hand and broke into a run.

He shot in the couple’s direction at a frightening speed. Before she could register what happened, he was almost in the road, and cars were driving past fast.

Celia ran after him as fast as she could. She could not allow him to be kidnapped!

“Don’t worry, Mom, we know that man!” Lillian shouted behind her, but Celia did not pay attention to her.

As she drew near the couple, she saw Lennie tugging at the man's sleeve and heard him say, "Daddy, daddy."

Celia’s stomach lurched, but the man seemed to be patient towards Lennie. She hardly spared him a glance as she reached for her son.

Before Celia could pull Lennie away from the man, however, the lady at his side took Lennie by the arm and ripped him away from the man so hastily that Celia was gripped with panic.

"Lennie, get away from them," she began as she reached out to take Lennie's hand and to get him away from the woman.

But the woman did not let go immediately and Celia noticed that she had a tight grip on Lennie's arm.

“Lady, you’re hurting my son!” Celia exclaimed. “What’s wrong with you?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” the blonde replied. “What is wrong with him? He can’t just latch onto a stranger and call him Dad. Is that what he’s been taught to do?” she asked in a disgusted tone of voice.

“Excuse me, but you are going too far now,” Celia shouted. “Let go of my son at once, or there will be trouble.”

The man had been watching in impassive silence this whole time. Suddenly, Celia heard a low rumble as he spoke.

“Let go of the boy, Natalie. You’re hurting him,” he said sternly.

“But, Carter, he was grabbing at you like a wild child, so I had to do something,” the blonde responded indignantly. She stared at Celia and the children in disdain.

“Please go inside. I will deal with this.” The man’s voice was like ice.

He then turned to Celia. She flinched in anticipation, but his words were softer.

“Let's go back inside and calm him down,” he said.

“We were on our way already,” Celia explained, hoping to slip away—he was dressed like an executive, and seeing as they were still in front of the BP building, she had a sinking feeling this man was one of her bosses. “Thank you, but I’m sure we’ll be—”

But when her eyes reached Carter’s face, she lost the rest of her words.

It wasn’t just that he was strikingly handsome, with piercing green eyes and chestnut-colored hair. It wasn’t even that he carried himself with as much authority as if he owned half of San Francisco. No—

He looked just like Lennie!

Celia’s heart was pounding. She quickly rolled her memory back to that night on the cruise. She had not been aware of any BP Group personnel there. She would have known… right?

“We’ll be fine,” she finished at length. “Sorry for the trouble.”

“Don’t worry,” the man said with a friendly smile. “I just want to make sure both children are OK.”

“I have a cellphone, so you must take down my number!” Lennie cried.

Celia looked on in horror as Lennie exchanged phone numbers with the stranger who looked just like him. She could already tell that her son planned to latch on to this man, and the thought made her uneasy.

Could he possibly be related to her children?