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Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Chapter 26 06%A 6%
The week had gone by in a flash with all the things that had taken place at work. Between finalizing the new investors contract and the countless meetings, both in person and virtual, had taken a lot
out of me.
| hadn’t seen much of Adam for the week but | knew that he was busy with his own business that brought him along with me to New York to begin with. All | wanted to do this weekend was relax and unwind at home. Perhaps test out the pool with Hayley and just have some mother-daughter fun before the week kicked off again.
But | was not that lucky.
When Friday had approached, | left the office earlier than usual because Hayley wanted to check out an art store that she had heard of just down the road from the main Street. | was happy to oblige and she was ready when | got home. Nancy helped strap her in the seat and we were off beneath the still bright later afternoon sky.
“| love this store, mama!” Hayley exclaimed receiving a few glances from passerbys that didn’t mind but instead smiled at her innocent enthusiasm.
“| knew you would. Pick a few things that you like. | encouraged her, walking behind her as she looked at all the flashy, artsy things on display.
From paints to glitter, various stationaries, wooden trinkets that needed assembling, Hayley was too taken away with it all. “Look, | have boogily eyes.” She reached for a pack of big googily eyes and placed them over her eyes.
| chuckled at her and she smiled. “Those are googily eyes and | find them very funny.” She placed them back then lead me to the next aisle where she immediately reached for a canvas with the black outline of a farm house and an array of animals loitering at the front of it
Hayley looked at it for a moment before giving her head a small nod more to herself than me. “Can | have this one?” She asked fluttering her eyes at me.
“Of course, you can. You will need paint for it.” This lead us to the pain aisle where she carefully chose the colours she needed for the idea she had in mind.
“Maybe | should take one more colour.” She tested but | nodded without any hesitation. any “Take what ever you want.” Said a strong voice behind me that sent an | welcoming shiver down my spine.
| shifted enough to actually verify that | had heard correctly and it was not just a figment of my imagination and, clear as day, ‘Dante stood there dressed in a delectable three piece suit. His hair was tousled from the stresses of the day yet the corners of his eyes remained bright and refreshed. Gone were his dressing and bandages around his head and arm. In fact, he looked like he had been fully healed and back to normal.
My nostrils twitched seeing him there since a man of his appeal and demeanor looked completely 10 25 Tue, 5 Mar Chapter 2
out of place being in a stationary store yet here he was in all of his arrogant, intruding glory. Did he follow us here? Why else would he be here? His hands were empty and | couldn’t imagine hin dropping by for some glitter and washy tape.
| couldn't even imagine him stopping here for office stationary. Knowing Dante and the scale his business ran, he was not seeing to such an errand personally
Hayley tugged at my hand and the excitement coursing through her was instantly palpable. It made me feel uneasy that she had gotten so sparked up when ever she saw him.
“It's your friend, mama.” Hayley said like she was reminded me who Dante was because | hadn't said a word yet.
“Yes it is.” | said tightly eyeing Dante skeptically, preparing myself for what ever he had planned this
time.
It was like he could not leave me alone and to be peacefully with out finding some way or the other to meddle in my business.
“| wasn’t expecting to run in to you both today.” He looked at me smugly before shifting his attention to Hayley before a snarkly comment could leave my I*ps. “but I’m happy that | did. It saves me making a special trip all the way to your house. His orbs danced with mischief knowing full well that | did not want him any where near my house.
1 frowned, staring at him with curiosity. “What ever for?” | questioned him, crossing my arms over my chest waiting for him to speak.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.
Dante opened the side of his blazer and retrieved 3 ticket looking rectangular papers. | couldn’t quite see any details from where | stood aside from the large font about an experience of a lifetime.
“lam glad you asked. You see, | managed to pull some strings and get 3 tickets for a full tour of the chocolate factory tomorrow morning” | felt my face fall and my anger bubble beneath the surface, “Il know Hayley was eager for the experience.” He beamed at Hayley who seemed like she couldn’t believe her ears.
“Can we go, mama? Please. Please. She begged, tugging at my hand and | caught the ghost of a grin before it disappears from Dante’s face like he had achieved exactly what he intended.
“As nice as that sounds, we did make plans. | faked a smile ignoring Dante's raised, condescending brow.
“To sit at home and relax. I’m sure we can do that in the afternoon.” Trust your own kid to betray you like this in your time of need. “But please can we go? | really want to. She pleaded for this like she had never done for any thing else.
“| will think about it.” | said trying to calm her down and
use the situation until later when |
could tell her that we go some other time together with out Dante’s looming presence.
“Perfect. It is all set then. | will pick you both up tomorrow at 10 am.” Hayley was already vibrating with excitement.
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| glared at Dante but he didn’t care at all. Hayley was so excited once he had finalized the plans for tomorrow that | didn’t have the heart to tell Hayley other wise after this.
But this high handed, entitled behaviour of Dante’s needed to come to an end and | vowed not go let him get away with these things after tomorrow. | needed to set firmer boundaries in place so that he didn’t feel like he could just do what he please with out asking me first.
In any case, he shouldn't be showing such a great interest in Hayley, the fact that he was didn’t sit well with me one bit. It gave me a slight inkling that Dante was skeptical and on to some thing when it came to the matter of Hayley’s paternity. | knew that he would like to think that | was the one who wronged him and it didn’t help that | actually lead him to believe so only because that was the easier way out.
All | had to make sure of was that tomorrow | kept a close eye on Dante and try my best not to let Hayley get carried away with his tricks and ability to pull strings for random adventures she just expressed an interest to.
“We do not need to be picked up. Thank you very much. It is a nice gesture but it is simply too much. | am more than capable of meeting you there and, besides, there really is no need for you to take time out of your busy schedule to accompany us.” | tried to side track him and kick him out from this planned outing entirely but he was too cunning.
Dante grinned at me with a look in his eye that said he knew exactly what | was trying to do and he expertly had his own devious way of holding his grounds.
“It's a Saturday and my schedule is only as busy as | decide it is.” His hauty response was no surprise.
His attention shifted over to Hayley and | saw some thing Flash through his orbs but it was gone before | could analyze it any further. “I'll see you tomorrow, Hayley.” He waved at her in a way that was so unlike him before he left the store leaving me looking at his retreating back.
| like him. He’s nice.” Hayley said to herself with a small nod of confirmation and | stiffened feeling angered by all of this.
| couldn't exactly explain to Hayley why she shouldn't be so accepting of him because she was a child after all. Her mind was innocent and it should remain that way. She shouldn't be dragged in to the complicated matters of adults.
The drive home was long. Aside from the traffic, it consisted of me having to listen to Hayley express her joy for tomorrow and answer all her questions about what it would be like and where chocolate came from. | didn’t mind her at all but the man behind all of this was getting on my nerves to the point that my hold tightened around the steering wheel.
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