DO NOT READ THIS Chapter. IF YOU’RE STILL HERE, IT ANS YOU ARE READING IT. MOVE TO THE Chapter TITTLED, "DADDY, WAIT!"
eather stepped out of her car. She shut the door with a little bit more force than she intended. She felt the cool breeze pierce through her skin. Pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders. Today was windy.
She had to leave the self early after mumbling sothing about an "ergency." It wasn’t entirely untrue...she did have sowhere she needed to be, but it wasn’t an ergency in the way they’d imagined. A little white lie wouldn’t hurt anyone, right?
Her lips curled into a small smile as she made her way towards the daycare. She stood outside the daycare. The sight of other parents-moms and single dads going in and out with their little ones, is sothing she had co to appreciate over the years. It was peaceful, but Heather barely notice any of it.
Her focus was on him.
"You ready to go, Alex?"
There he was, standing behind the daycare gate, his backpack hanging slightly off one shoulder and a bright green lunchbox in his hand. It didn’t matter that his sneakers were tied or that his hair was not sticking up in wild curls. Still looking neat after school or doesn’t play like other kids do, instead read books. To Heather, he was perfect. He always was.
Alex nodded. His curls bounced as he did.
"I’ve been waiting forever, mommy."
Heather opened the gate and bent down to his level. "Forever, huh? Well, I’m here now."
Alex handed her his lunchbox, freeing up his hands to wrap his arms around her neck in a tight hug.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too, baby," she murmured.
She held him for a mont before standing and taking his hand.
"Let’s go."
Five years ago, the doctor told her she lost him. The fall during her pregnancy was severe, and they said he hadn’t survived. But her body told her otherwise weeks after she left Caius. Her stomach grew, and she went to check it out. A second opinion at another hospital confird it. Her baby had survived against all odds. The initial report was a mistake. And that’s how Alex happened.
They reached the car. Heather put Alex in the car. She entered too, holding him closer.
"So, where do you want to go first, birthday boy?" It was his birthday. Heather promised herself that no matter how chaotic her life gets, she’d always have ti for him. He deserved it.
Alex tilted his head slightly. "I know!" He paused, "I want to go to Daddy’s company."
"What?" Heather’s voice was sharper than she intended.
"VestorCorp" he smiled. "I want to go there and see it."
Heather didn’t understand what was going on. How did Alex know about Caius? She told him his father was away when he pressed, but didn’t tell him his father owns a company. He even knew the na. She kept away from him for a reason. Caius never wanted him and still doesn’t want him. She was very upset and irritated. Did Caius find him? She wasn’t sure, he never cared about him from the start.
"How do you know about that?" Again, her voice was sharper than she intended.
Alex was quiet for a mont. He looked thoughtful, as if he was putting pieces together in his head. "I read about it on the internet," he said finally. "That’s how I know about Daddy."
"What did you just say?"
"I read about daddy on the internet. It’s easy to find stuff about him." He was too calm, it bothered Heather.
Her mouth opened, then closed again. Her brain was trying to process what she was hearing.
"How? How did you get on the internet? I never let you use it. Hell, I have never showed you how to use it."
"Oh," Alex said, shrugging innocently.
"Well, aunt Penny gave her phone." He paused, "She looks at weird stuff about sausages, though. Mommy, why does she like sausages so much? She had so many searches about them. Like ’n with big sausages’ and..."
"Alex," Heather interrupted, while holding up a hand to stop him. "You shouldn’t know things like that. And Penny shouldn’t be letting you use her phone."
Alex blinked. He was confused. "Why not? She said I could. And I didn’t do anything bad, I just read about VestorCorp and Daddy."
Heather closed her eyes for a mont, taking a deep breath to keep her temper in check.
"You’re not supposed to be reading about things like that," she said firmly. "From now on, you’re not using anyone’s phone. No screen. Understood?"
"Yes, Mommy," Alex said quietly. He sensed her mood.
"I’m sorry."
She sighed.
"It’s alright," her voice softer now. "Just... let’s talk about sothing else. What do you want to do for your birthday?"
"Hmm"
"How about a spa?"
"Mommy, I’m not a woman!"
Heather laughed. "Okay, okay. Where do you want to go?"
"Maybe, the science exhibit?"
"Where’s that?*
"At the innovation center."
She didn’t understand how he knew things he shouldn’t know. He’s just turning five. She wondered if he searched up things about her. Heather walked to and fro in the restroom. She hadn’t received a call OR text from Marcus. She didn’t know what was happening right now. Cause she was stucked in this stupid restroom. The adoring crowd outside wasn’t helping the situation. She thought about just going outside and letting them tear her apart, but she couldn’t. Maybe if they saw her face, they’d let her go? But everyone would want a piece of Miss H for themselves. And doesn’t think they’d let her go. She just wants to find her Alex.
When Alex made it outside. The place was busy and full of people. He spotted Caius just a few steps away, heading toward a black car which just pulled over. This was it. His chance. He ran toward him, his small hand outstretched, ready to tug at Caius’s coat.
"Whoa, buddy," Marcus’s deep voice said as he held Alex firmly. "What are you doing?" Marcus’s strong arms lifted him off the ground
"Let go!" Alex shouted, wriggling in Marcus’s grip.
He used his small fists to hit Marcus, but Marcus held him securely.
"I need to talk to him!"
Caius paused just as he was about to step into the car. He turned slightly, his eyes landed on the boy struggling with the security man.
"Daddy!" Alex yelled, "Daddy, help! Let go of ! I want to see my daddy!"
Daddy?
Caius’s brow furrowed as he looked at the boy. For a mont, he couldn’t take his eyes off this scene. At first, he thought it was a fan, that’s why he paused, but the boy just called him daddy. He was only used to Asher calling him daddy.
Is this child confusing him for his father?
His security team murmured sothing to him, urging him to move. Caius blinked. His face returned to its usual stoic calm. He turned and stepped into the car without a word.
"Daddy!" Alex shouted again, his voice cracked as Marcus began carrying him away. "Daddy, wait!"
Marcus glanced at Caius’s car briefly, then turned his focus back to Alex. "Co on, buddy," his tone was apologetic, "We need to go."
Alex continued to struggle. He watched the car pulled away. His small body went limp with disappointnt and his arms fell to his sides.
Marcus sighed. He adjusted his grip as he carried him back into the building.
...
Heather was still upstairs. She assessed her options. She was still waiting for Marcus’s text to co through. And so it did.
*He’s with .*
Heather exhaled deeply. She leaned against the restroom wall. Her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t stay here much longer. The crowd outside grew louder. More persistent. She was thinking of a solution. She glanced at the restroom window. It was high and narrow, but it wasn’t impossible. She moved closer, putting her head out. When she saw just how far the ground was, her stomach dropped. She couldn’t jump. Not from this height.
Her eyes moved around the room until she spotted a vent near the floor. It was small but just large enough for her to crawl through. She bent down, pulling at the grate until it ca loose. She slid into the vent. She hoped it would lead her to a safer exit.
She reached an opening and pushed the grate aside. She tumbled out, only to find herself just behind the crowd she’d been trying to avoid.
She froze. Her sunglasses slipped slightly down her nose. The fans were still near the restroom entrance. Heather took a deep breath, pulling her sunglasses back into place. She stepped out cautiously, tiptoeing to the opposite direction.
She turned to a corner, but accidentally bumped into a young girl holding an ice cream cone. The cold treat fell to the floor with a splat. The girl stared down at it, her lip quivering, before looking up at Heather. Her eyes grew wide, then turned back to the ss on the floor.
Luck wasn’t on Heather’s side
"My ice cream!" she scread, pointing accusingly at Heather.
Heather winced.
"I’m so sorry," she said quickly, reaching for her purse. "Here, let ..."
The girl’s cries already drew the attention of a nearby woman, her mother, who turned at the sound. Her eyes widened as they landed on Heather.
"Oh my!" the woman exclaid, clutching her chest. "Miss H!"
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