chapter 5

Emily.

-Time Skip, 5 Years Later. ( May 29th 2019 )

The smell of lemon and citrus suddenly surrounds my office making me smile, I love that smell. It definitely has to be one of my favorite scents. I look up from my work to Alex who has one of my scented candles in his hands.

With the smile still on my face, I lean back in my chair, my arms folded with an eyebrow raised up at him.

His blue eyes meet mine and he shakes his head. "It smells like paperwork and boredom in here," He deadpans while, placing the candle on the table on the other side of the room.

I chuckle, shaking my head at him. Of course it smells like paperwork, I'm surrounded by it. Although I'm not sure if it smells like boredom because what I'm doing is far from boredom.

Unlike my dear friend who doesn't enjoy his daily business, I do enjoy what I do. I actually love doing my job, it makes me happy.

Alex has a huge business, much larger than mine. His business has been in his family for years and he has inherited it from his father when he passed away when Alex was seventeen years old.

Alex hates working though, he would rather sleep and waste the day away. I understand though, all that heavy weight of perfection on your shoulders can be nerve wrecking.

Especially with him being on of the top bachelors with the media. It's tough. There's always people watching and judging him.

I guess that's what happens when you're rich and famous, there's no peace for you. That's why he spends his time here, away from lurking eyes.

I watch him move around my office, looking at the few pictures on the wall and smiling at them and then he moves again, looking at the books on my shelf, pulling them out to read the backs before shoving them in their incorrect places before finally stopping what his doing to stand near the couch.

"Where's your girl?" I tease.

He sends me a glare before plopping himself on the black couch that's against the wall, across of me. He shrugs his shoulders, "She is not my girl. . .yet." He mutters.

I roll my eyes and give him a bored look. I glance back down at the sheets on my desk and sigh, I need to finish these today. I start working on them again and an hour passes by with Alex and I enjoying each other's silence.

Until his phone starts to ring which causes me to send him a playful disbelieving look, but he only sends me one right back which leaves me confused until I realize it's my phone that's actually ringing and not his.

I send him a sheepish smile while my hand reaches for my handbag underneath my desk, I grab the black bag out and start to rummage through it, looking for the device.

"Hello?" I answer.

I didn't look at the caller information so my greeting doesn't come out as a greeting at all, but more of a question and the answer that I get back makes me wince and move to phone away from my ear for a while.

"Emily!" Jasmine shouts.

"Hey, don't scream like that!" I scold with narrowed eyes, "Where are you? I thought I told you that I needed you at the office today? " I ask.

Jasmine is part of my business, but sometimes it feels like I'm the only one working because she's never around, helping me like she was supposed to be doing.

She's always busy doing god knows what and the time that she does come to the office it's only to convince me to go out with her which only brings her disappointment because I'm constantly declining of course.

I look over at Alex and mouth Jasmine's name when he sends me a questioning look, pointing to the phone in my hand. He nods his head in understanding before lying back down on the couch, probably to fall of to sleep.

"Uh-yeah..." She dodges my question.

"It's friday and you know how I told you that I'm going to go meet someone from my old town, he lived in the next town over? Well yeah, are you going to-" I cut her off when I figure out what she's going to say.

"No." I grumble.

I hear her groan over the line for another minute or so before she realizes she can't change my mind, she mutters a fine and cuts the call.

I frown down at the phone for a second before shrugging and throwing the device back in my bad.

I'll worry about her later because right now I need to finish all these files and finalize a few things before I can even think of worrying about anything else that isn't as serious.

Six hours later and it's half seven in the evening when Alex jumps up in a shock from his deep sleep, I send him a questioning look before continuing with my work. I hear him shuffling around, I ignoring him and his suddenly loud movements.

And that's how it stays for a few minutes until. . .

I'm not sure what happens or how it happens, but I'm soon being lifted up from my seat by my arms. I look over, confused at Alex who sends me hard disapproving look.

"You know, I love spending time with you," He starts tugging me towards the door.

I scoff, pulling away from his grip to glare at him, I stand unmoving in my spot. "Because I don't disturb you and let you sleep for hours?" I raise my eyebrow, crossing my arms.

He rolls his eyes at me before grabbing me again. He pushes me out of my office and into the dark hallways. "It's late, let's go home." He says.

"Hey, hey, hey-wait, I'm not finished!" I try pulling away from him again, but I fail miserably which only causes me to stumble and send him a deadly glare.

"C'mon, it's like almost eight." He reasons.

"Okay, let me just get my bag and keys then." I say after thinking it over for a few seconds to which he let's me go, but follows close behind while I walk back towards my office.

Ten minutes later and I'm standing by my car, outside where the sky is starting to get darker each passing minute. I smile, taking in a deep breath of fresh air.

"Are you coming home for dinner?" I ask.

I laugh, shaking my head at him when his eyes light up like a little kid on Christmas day, his face bright and full of happiness at the promise of food. He quickly sprints to his car, unlocking it before turning back to me.

"Fuck yes! How can I ever say no to your cooking?" He questions.

I smile, nodding my head before pointing an accusing finger at him before speaking, "Okay, I'll see you at home and please remember no swearing in my house." I narrow my eyes at him.

Twenty minutes later after we both tried racing each other and failed miserably when Alex got pulled over by the police for five minutes with me laughing at him for another five long minutes, we're both parked outside my apartment building.

"That's not fair," He pouts.

I shrug, "Life's not fair." I retort while pressing the green button for the third floor.

"I'm going home," He mutters making me laugh at him.

"What? You're going to cry your way up to the last floor?" I snicker, shaking my head at him when he stays pouting.

He sends me a warning look that only causes me to continue laughing further. He huffs and walks out of the elevator first when the doors ding open.

I quiten my laughter down, trying to contain my huge smirk, I smile as I trail behind him towards my door. I watch him unlock it with his keys, pushing it open only to run inside like a little child.

He is really a questionable creature.

"Mummy!" A happy voice screams as soon as I enter the apartment.

I quickly kick off my shoes and smile at the curly haired boy that runs pass Alex's opens arms and happy expression, towards me.

"Unfair again." Alex calls out while walking down the end of the hall that leads to the bathroom.

Chuckling at him, I look down to grab the tiny boy in my arms, pinching his pink and chubby cheeks causing him to give me a cute pout while he slaps my hands away from him face.

"Hi, baby." I murmur.

I hug him close to me when his small hands wrap around me in a welcoming hug. He snuggles his head in the crook of my neck. I smile and press a kiss on his head.

"What would my big boy like to have for dinner today?" I smile while placing him down on the floor.

He sends me a toothy and proud grin before grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the kitchen where he then tries jumping up to reach the cupboards and when he fails to do so, I smile at him and lift him up on the counter.

"Thank you, mummy." He beams up at me with bright eyes, placing at kiss on my cheek.

He turns around to open the cupboard and points at the Macaroni. I pull it out for him. He turns his head towards me to send me another grin.

"Cottage pie?" I ask.

His eyes light up again and he happily nods his head, up and down continuously. "Ooh, yes please!" He exclaims.

"Okay, baby. Why don't you go find uncle Alex while I get this done for us?" I pick him up off the counter and on the floor where he nods his head and runs off to find his uncle.

I smile at his retreating figure until I can't see his small body running. A content sigh leaves my lips when I begin to start cooking.

A familiar song starts to go through my head and I soon find myself humming out the lyrics to the old song. I frown and stop humming when I realize that I actually hate the damn song for various of reasons.

It brings back memories that I want to forget, memories that I want to stay buried away deep inside of my mind, away from my present life.

I hate thinking about my life before my adorable little boy. It doesn't sit well with me, at all, it makes me want to throw up all the contents of my stomach because I remember the feeling I felt, the hurt I felt.

I close my eyes and take in a deep breath to push away the uneasy feeling I get by thinking about my past.

"Boys, dinner is ready." I call out for the two after thirty minutes of shuffling by the hot stove.

I hear a giggling sound and two different sounds of feet running against the tiled floors and into the kitchen. Alex and Archer seem to be playing a chasing game of sorts. I watch them for a while and laugh when Archer tricks Alexs direction.

A few minutes later the two children are handed their plates of food and shuffle behind each other into the living area.

I grab a plate of food for myself and sit on single couch, by myself because Alex and Archer decided to sit next to each other and not by me because, Men sit together.

Although Alex is a twenty four year old adult with a multimillionaire business and one of the most popular male figures around, he sure acts like a child.

Especially when his near my five year old son who seems to be picking some of his weird habits like his smirk and raising of eyebrows and flirting, alot of flirting.

Or maybe he got that from his dad.

I sometimes feel like Archer needs a serious detox from Alex because when he says something Alex normally says, I find myself wincing.

The three of us eat in silence while our eyes say glued on the show that plays on the tv, well except for the occasional laugh or comment when something happens on the current show that's playing.

Maria comes out Archers bedroom after a while, bidding her goodbyes for the night to us. She is my sons babysitter when I'm too long in the office.

While I'm busy washing our dirty dishes, Alex says his tired and leaves for his penthouse, I bid him goodbye when he carries Archer and sits him beside me.

"How was school today?" I ask.

I'm really curious to know about it, but I also because asked to stop him from singing the song that leaves his small mouth everytime silence is around. I don't know why I sang the song to him when he used to find it hard to sleep even if it helped him sleep better.

And now he sings it at every chance he gets.

I stop myself from humming and singing the song on certain days, but it's hard to tell Archer not to sing his favorite song. He'll ask tons of questions that I don't know how to answer because I simply do not have answers.

Why don't I like the song when I actually do like it, and why do I try telling myself otherwise when the exact very song used to keep me sane before. It made me happy.

"I like it very much, mum. I have lots of friends." He mumbles.

His eyes focused down on his lap where his small fingers play with each other. I smile at him when he yawns and looks up at me to give me a toothy grin.

"I am glad that you like it," I pick him off of the counter. "Ready for bed?" I ask just as the front door opens.

He nods his head and releases another tiny yawn. He closes his eyes and leans his head on my shoulder.

On my way towards his bedroom I notice Jasmine pop her head into the hallway. I wave at her with my free hand and mouth to her that I'll be back in five minutes.

After I've successfully put Archer to sleep and comfortablely tucked him in, I kiss him on his forehead and shut off the lights.

"I need to talk to you," Jasmine quickly rushes out.

I frown at her before nodding my head and waiting for her to continue while I take a seat on the couch opposite of her where she looks nervous.

"Well my friend that I went to see earlier, yeah one of his bestfriends just got engaged like a month or two back so they are in need of a planner and they want a good one and he came to me because well I absolutely know one of the best wedding planners in the country!" She finishes.

"Okay..." I say unsure how to respond.

"Look, I know you're busy and you do everything by appointments and you have to know about everything like about a month earlier, but this is one of my friends and he really ne-" She starts again, but I cut her off.

"Tell them drop by my office," I shrug.

"Are you serious!?" She jumps up from her seat, squealing and clapping her hands with wide excited eyes.

I send her a look before reminding her to be a little quieter because I just put Archer to bed. If he wakes up now then he'll be up for the whole night and then he'll be sleeply and groggy in school. I can't have that happening.

"And yes, of course I'll help you." I add.

Jasmine has been an amazing friend to me since I arrived in New York, she's one of three people that I actually trust with my whole heart here.

I would literally do anything that she askes, even if it costs alot of money because she's such a good person and she treats my son with so much kindness and love, she deserves it.

"So tomorrow morning?" She inquires and I nod my head instead of answering. "Okay, what time?" She stands up and reaches over for her handbag.

I shrug, "Anytime." I mumble.

I stand up aswell when she starts walking towards the door, I follow behind her to lock it when she leaves.

"So I'll see you tomorrow at anytime?" She chuckles while stepping out the door, and then turning around to look back me.

I playfully roll my eyes at her, but nod my head. "Yes, tomorrow." I confirm, leaning my one side against the doorframe.

I study her appearance from her medium length light brown curly hair to her tired eyes and down to her killer heels.

"Goodnight, Em." Jasmine yawns.

"Goodnight, Jaz." I chuckle, shaking my head at her. I close the door and walk towards my bedroom where I fall into a deep sleep.