Something new!

Chapter 1

"Jones and Evans, I want you two to work together on this case. It's crucial that you both give it your all and come out victorious."

Mercedes groaned internally as she studied her new partner, Sam Evans, with annoyance. They had just been paired up for a new case, and she already despised the situation her superiors had put her in.

"Ready to tackle this case, Cedes?" he asked with a smug expression.

"Mercedes." She corrected. "I'm as ready as I can be... we can meet up tomorrow around eleven and brainstorm." She said, grabbing her bag and walking away from him. She stopped when he grabbed her arm and she instantly felt the shock that shot through her body. She turned around and looked down at his hand then back at him. He smirked and tugged her slightly so that she was closer to him before removing his hand.

As Sam stared into Mercedes' deep, chocolate brown eyes, his intense gaze caused her to shift nervously from one foot to the other. "Okay Mercedes, we're in this together but eleven won't work for me. I have an important client meeting at that time. Can we meet later tomorrow?" he asked, his tone serious and determined.

Mercedes tried to hide her flustered state and calmly replied, "What's a better time?"

"How about six? I have back-to-back meetings all day, but I'm free from six until nine. We could even grab drinks if that helps?" Sam suggested.

"Six works for me, but just a heads up - I'll need you to come to my house because I won't have a babysitter," Mercedes explained.

"A babysitter?" Sam furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Yes, I have a child," she said with a hint of exasperation in her voice as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh wow...I had no idea. Are you married?" Sam asked, immediately regretting his question when he saw the hurt expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy...I...damn it. Look, I'm not always the most observant person and I didn't-" Sam's rambling was cut short when Mercedes placed a gentle finger on his lips and gave him a weak smile.

Her words were firm but kind as she spoke, "I was married, yes, but that is no longer the case. I will give you my address tomorrow when we meet again. Goodnight, Sam." Her body turned to leave, only to be stopped by his gentle touch once more. "Sam, I really need to go. My daughter is waiting for me," she said, glancing at her watch.

His smile softened as he replied, "I was just going to ask if I could bring anything? Food or wine?"

She shook her head with a small smile, "No, it's fine. I can cook. I really must be on my way now. See you tomorrow." She gently removed his hand from her shoulder and walked away into the night, leaving him with the lingering scent of her perfume and the sound of her heels clicking against the floor.

Exhausted and relieved to be home, Mercedes gratefully released her babysitter and made her way up the stairs to check on her daughter. The soft glow of the nightlight illuminated the peaceful scene in the nursery, where her daughter lay sleeping in her crib. Her delicate features mirrored Mercedes' own, but upon closer inspection, one could see traces of her father's handsome face in her tiny features.

Charlotte was the one bright spot in their failed marriage, the reason Mercedes fought tooth and nail during their divorce proceedings. Her husband had never wanted children, and she had resigned herself to the fact that she may never have them either. But one day, after feeling ill for weeks, a positive pregnancy test brought a rush of joy and excitement. She couldn't wait to share the news with her husband and went to his workplace bursting with happiness.

Flashback

"Mr. Puckerman, your wife is here." The secretary's voice echoed through the spacious office. Peeking out from behind her desk was a woman with a warm smile and a hint of excitement in her eyes. She held something tightly in her hand.

"Send her in," Mr. Puckerman replied, barely glancing up from his computer screen. His attention was fully absorbed by the numbers and graphs on the monitor.

Mercedes entered the room, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She wore a white dress that showed off her glowing complexion and accentuated her curves. In her hand, she held a small object that she was clutching onto with all her might.

"Hey baby... I have some amazing news to tell you," she said, beaming with joy.

"Yeah, what's that?" he asked, still looking at his screen.

"I know you didn't want them, but it looks like we're going to be adding to our little family soon!" She said, her voice trembling with excitement as she held up the pregnancy test for him to see. When he didn't immediately look up, she walked around his cluttered desk and stood in front of him.

"Did you hear me?" Her tone was a mix of excitement and frustration, trying to suppress her anger.

"How can you be sure it's mine?" He asked, finally meeting her gaze with a coldness she had never seen before.

"What? You're the only one I've been with... why would you even think to ask such a ridiculous question!" She replied, clenching her jaw in frustration.

"I haven't touched you in months, Mercedes. You've been coming home later and if we're being honest here, you haven't exactly been desirable." His words were sharp and accusatory, causing her heart to ache with hurt and betrayal.

"Don't you dare try to play innocent with me," Mercedes seethed, her voice rising to a dangerous pitch. "I work long hours just to come home and give you my undivided attention. I've never even looked at another man." But as she spoke, she could feel the heat of betrayal coursing through her body.

Suddenly, a blonde woman interrupted their argument. She gave Mercedes a scornful once-over before turning back to Noah. "Mr. Puckerman...oh, you have company. I'll just come back."

Mercedes' jaw clenched in anger as she watched the woman leave. But Noah didn't seem fazed by her presence, finally looking up from his phone since she had arrived.

"No need to leave, she's just about to go," he said casually to the woman before turning his attention back to Mercedes.

"Hi, I'm Mercedes. Noah's pregnant wife, how are you?" She said with fake sweetness. She saw the expression on the woman's face change from triumph to confusion. That's when she knew and she turned and looked at Noah with her head tilted to the side and tears brimming.

The woman's smug expression turned to confusion as Mercedes' words registered. Her tears threatened to spill over as she looked at Noah, her head tilted in disbelief.

"Well, I guess we know who's been cheating and who hasn't now, don't we?" Mercedes' words dripped with venom as she stared daggers at him, then rolled her eyes and stormed towards the door. This time, there was no fake sweetness in her voice – only raw pain and anger.

"I want to see my child!" Noah's voice boomed through the office, his fist slamming down on the desk. The young woman sitting across from him flinched in fear.

"Miss? Do yourself a favor and find someone who won't hide you or treat you like trash." Mercedes said to the young woman sitting there still looking confused.

Did you hear me Merce? I want to see my child!"

"How can you be sure it's even yours?" Mercedes challenges, her tone filled with disdain.

Noah's eyes narrow as he takes a threatening step towards her. "You don't want to play this game with me, Mercedes. You won't win."

With one last defiant look, Mercedes turned and left the office, holding back her tears until she reached her car. She drove home in a state of panic, frantically calling her assistant to find a good divorce lawyer. As she packed up her belongings, she can feel the weight of betrayal and heartbreak crushing her chest. But she refused to let Noah win. She will fight for herself and her child, no matter what it takes.

After being served with the divorce papers, Noah's mental state began to spiral out of control. He would call her for hours on end, pleading and begging for another chance, his voice laced with desperation and sorrow. She would try to ignore his calls but would eventually give in, only to be met with insults and threats when she refused to take him back. His actions became more erratic and dangerous as he showed up at her job, waited outside her home, and even resorted to breaking the windows of her car. Fearful for her safety and that of their unborn child, she obtained a restraining order against him.

As their divorce proceedings began, Noah offered her half of everything and joint custody. But after experiencing his volatile behavior, she declined and fought for full custody, citing his actions as evidence of his instability. She never intended to keep their child away from him but felt it was necessary for their safety.

The divorce was easily finalized, but the custody battle dragged on for months. By the time she was eight months pregnant, she was exhausted from the constant fighting and just wanted it all to be over. Thankfully, Noah ended up impregnating another woman, causing his interest in seeing their child to fade away entirely.

As he strode into the courtroom, his expression remained stoic and unwavering. With a slight nod, he withdrew his claim without blinking an eye. In a surprising turn of events, he promised to pay Mercedes child support every month in the hefty amount of ten thousand dollars until their daughter turned twenty-one. In addition, he had set up an account for her to access on her sixteenth birthday, allowing her to choose any car she desired. And once she graduated high school, he promised to continue supporting her education so she could attend college without financial worries. A wave of gratitude washed over Mercedes as she thanked him before they parted ways.

Just a month later, with her mother and best friend Tina by her side, Mercedes gave birth to a healthy baby girl. The newborn came into the world with strong cries and the most beautiful features. She was a perfect blend of both her parents, but it was clear that she inherited her father's captivating eyes.

Mercedes took it upon herself to inform Noah of their daughter's birth through a heartfelt letter, including a copy of one of their baby's newborn portraits so he could have a small piece of their little miracle. From that moment on, she dedicated herself to raising their daughter alone, making sure she never felt anything but love in her presence. Every day was filled with cherished moments and unconditional love between mother and daughter.

End Flashback

With a soft sigh, she slipped out of Charlotte's room and made her way down the hallway to her own. As she walked, she couldn't help but appreciate the comfortable spaciousness of their four bedroom, three and a half bathroom home. It was perhaps a bit more space than they needed for just the two of them, but she had managed to turn one room into her office and another into a personal library, complete with a designated play area for Charlotte. At her young age, she was still content to stay in one place while her mother worked or read.

Entering her bedroom, she took in the tasteful decorations - a large, plush queen-sized bed with a tufted headboard stood against one wall. A canvas print hung above it, capturing a sweet moment between mother and daughter at the park when Charlotte was only nine months old. The comforter was a beautiful azure blue with soft pink sheets and pillow shams, all perfectly coordinated. The walls were painted a calming white, with abstract gold trim adding elegance to the space. A matching tufted ottoman sat at the foot of the bed, accompanied by large cherry wood dressers on either side.

On her bedside tables, she displayed cherished photos of herself and her mother, and of course, numerous pictures of Charlotte. The room felt warm, inviting, and full of love - just like their little family

Mercedes slipped out of her high heels, feeling the ache in her feet from a long day at work. She quickly shed her tailored suit and button-up blouse, opting for a comfortable pair of pajama shorts and a loose tank top. As she removed the last traces of make-up from her face and threw her hair up into a messy bun, the comforting scent of lavender and chamomile filled the air.

Making her way to the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of wine and debated on what to make for dinner. But then she decided to forgo cooking altogether and opted for some popcorn and a movie instead. Just as she settled onto the couch with her snack, her phone began to ring. She glanced at it and saw that it was her father calling, someone she hadn't spoken to in months due to his disapproval of her divorce from Noah.

Part of her wanted to ignore the call, but she couldn't bring herself to do so when it rang again. With a sigh, she answered begrudgingly, hoping for a quick conversation.

Mercedes gritted her teeth as she answered the call, dreading the confrontation that was sure to come. "Hello," she said through clenched jaw.

"Took you long enough," her father's voice sneered on the other end.

"I see you're still ignoring my calls."

"I wasn't ignoring your call," Mercedes retorted, trying to keep her tone even. "I'm just busy."

"Yeah, I bet. How's my grand baby?" he asked, his voice suddenly softening.

Mercedes couldn't deny the warmth in her heart at the mention of her daughter, but she knew the conversation wouldn't stay pleasant for long. "She's perfectly amazing," she replied cautiously. "She's walking and is trying to run… It's so cute."

"And Noah?" her father prodded, an edge creeping back into his voice.

Mercedes sighed and braced herself for what was to come. "Look, if that's why you called-"

"Don't get that tone with me, little girl," her father interrupted sharply. "You will show respect."

Mercedes took a deep breath, struggling to maintain her composure. But when he threatened to snatch her through the phone, something inside her snapped. The years of being criticized and controlled by him came rushing back and she felt a surge of anger rise up within her. "Okay, this conversation is over," she declared firmly. "Goodnight."

"Mercedes Diane Jones, if you hang up on me so help me God I will snatch you through this damn phone!" her father yelled as she ended the call. She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She had been raised to always show respect and deference to her elders, but this man constantly pushed all of her boundaries and didn't care about how it affected her.

"What the hell do you want from me, dad? I don't speak to Noah anymore. He's moved on and so have I. It's time for you to do the same."

"Don't you dare try to lecture me about what's right or wrong. You have no idea what really happened between me and Noah. He abandoned us, never showed any interest in our child. But oh, I'm sure it looks good for him to be a father now that he has a new family and other children. Why should I have to suffer just because he couldn't handle being a responsible father?"

"How dare you raise your voice at me! That man tried to win you back, but you wouldn't give him the time of day. You're just as stubborn as your mother. And Charlotte needs her father, and you need a husband. Do you know what people think when they see an unmarried woman with a baby? Why do you think I haven't introduced you to my colleagues? I can't have them thinking my own daughter is out of control."

"Enough, Frank. Goodnight."

She hung up before he could continue berating her. Tears streamed down her face as she felt the weight of her father's disappointment crush her yet again. She fought the urge to break down completely, determined to show him that she didn't need a man to complete her and that she was worth more than just someone's wife or daughter.

Mercedes reluctantly reached for the bottle of wine, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. Should she just drink straight from the bottle, ignoring her father's disapproving gaze? Could anything ever change between them, or would she have to give in and take back Noah just to please him?

She plopped down on the couch, taking a desperate swig from the bottle. The empty living room seemed to mock her loneliness, reminding her that she had no one to share it with except for her daughter.

This was not how she envisioned her life. She never expected to be spending yet another lonely evening after work, drowning her sorrows in trash TV and alcohol. As much as she wanted to get out and meet new people, she wasn't sure if she was ready for that yet. Besides, she was content with being a mother - that was all that mattered.

With a bittersweet chuckle, Mercedes realized how far she had drifted from her former carefree self. Taking another sip from the bottle, she couldn't help but wonder if this was really enough for her happiness. But before she could dwell on these thoughts, exhaustion finally took over and she headed to bed, stopping to check on her daughter one more time before crawling into her own room.

Chileeeeee...