Chapter 4 Meeting A Little One

I started reviewing those documents while Harris' lawyer was talking to me. "I want you to know that Mr. Harris will take you to court if you breach all those clauses, as this meeting will address very delicate issues related to your private life that could damage your reputation and that of your family. I assume that as a lawyer you will understand that situation," he said. "I don't understand why we have to discuss my private life. Mr. Harris proposed to marry me, but my private life will remain mine," I replied. "Miss Lopez, what I am trying to tell you is that you could go to jail if you share even the slightest detail of this meeting or the documents you are about to sign with your colleagues or family. Several copies have been made, one for you, one for Mr. Harris, and those of us who will be present at this meeting," he said. Although the lawyer offered me a pen to start signing those documents, for a moment I hesitated and was surprised, as what I was about to see between Mark Harris and me was just a marriage of convenience, but on the other hand, I understood it, since Mark Harris was an important and wealthy man. "I thought Harris only wanted a simple wedding and a nanny for his daughter," I replied. "No, Miss Lopez, it's not just that," he said nothing more. Harris' lawyer acknowledged the documents I signed, looked at me, and smiled. "I noticed you were a bit nervous, Miss Lopez. Would you like the assistant to bring you something to drink? She can bring you an infusion to calm you down a bit," he said. "No, thank you. All I want is for this meeting to end as soon as possible so I can leave. I have already told you that I have an appointment at my firm with an important client," I said. "Mr. Harris, tell me something that has me very intrigued. I have signed the documents you gave me, but my question is, what is Harris' purpose with this meeting?" I asked. The assistant entered the office at that moment, addressing the lawyer and me. "Mr. Harris is already coming to your office. Would you like something to drink? Would you like a coffee?" she asked us. "I don't want anything, thank you," I replied. "Please bring me a coffee, just the way I like it," the lawyer replied with a smile. When the woman entered with the coffee the lawyer had requested, he turned his head to look at her, with a warm expression as he smiled. He took the cup of coffee and sat in one of the armchairs around the table. "Miss Lopez, you are not nervous. Mr. Harris wants to offer you a stability that he wouldn't give to any other woman," he said, seeing me fidgeting in my seat. "I don't need stability. As you know, I work at a very important law firm and I don't need anyone from outside my circle to help me," I replied. My heart skipped a beat, racing at over a thousand beats per minute, when suddenly the door to the office opened, and Mark Harris entered with a man who I assumed was another one of his lawyers. " Miss Lopez, my name is Cristofer, pleased to meet you " the man said, shaking my hand. I looked at the three men somewhat dazed and out of place, as Harris's two subordinates were too kind and I knew that wouldn't be good for me. " Good afternoon, Miss Lopez, I hope the wait hasn't been uncomfortable " Harris said, too serious. " Don't worry, Mr. Harris, but I would like us to finish this meeting as soon as possible since both you and I are very busy and I have already wasted a lot of time, time that is very valuable to me " I said. " Well then, let's start the meeting " Harris said. Looking at me while smiling, Harris sat in one of the armchairs next to me, handing me some documents. Harris seemed very calm, although I was a bundle of nerves as I didn't know what else was going to happen in that darn meeting, since he had already told me what he wanted from me in my office. Mark Harris kept looking at me with his beautiful emerald"colored eyes, when suddenly I heard the office door open, I turned to see who had entered when I noticed a little girl looking at me from behind the back of my chair." " Excuse me, Sofia, this is my daughter Cintia " Harris said, surprising me, as I knew for certain that she was the girl I had given up for adoption under the threats of my parents. I looked at that beautiful little girl as we both smiled, and she discreetly waved her hand. " Hello Cintia, you're so pretty " I said. " Hello, I'm three years old " the little girl said. " And you're very pretty, did you know that? " I said. " Cintia, sweetheart, come to daddy, my precious girl " Harris said. I looked at the little girl as she climbed onto her father's lap, feeling like I was about to have an anxiety attack, as the little girl had certain features of mine, thinking that Harris had not lied to me, that little creature was the one I had given birth to three years ago. Cintia got off her father's lap and as if we had a connection, she rested her little arms on my legs, resting her precious head on her arms as we both looked at each other. Suddenly, the little girl tried to climb onto the chair next to me, I got up from the chair, passed my hands under her arms and helped her sit down, the little one wrapping her short arms around my neck. Suddenly and without a word to all of us in the office, Harris got up from the chair where he was sitting, picked up his little daughter in his arms, looking at the girl and me, the little girl saying goodbye to me with her little hand, leaving with her father from that office, Harris entering seconds later very serious and sitting back in the chair where he was before.