Jules was immersed in her work when Alice called in.
“Ms. Jenna, Mrs. Thompson is here to see you.” Alice said.
Mrs Thompson? Ceaser’s mum. What’s she doing here?
“Send her in Alice.”
“Right away.”
Seconds later, Alice walked in with Selene following behind.
“Selene, what a surprise.” Jules went around her desk to give her a hug.
“A good one I hope?” Selene asked as she embraced the young woman her son couldn’t seem to get out of his mind.
“Of course. Please have a seat.” Jules offered “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you. I won’t be here long.”
Jules nodded and turned to Alice.
“Thank you, Alice.”
“I just came straight from Ceaser’s office.” Selene said when Jules was seated next to her.
Jules let out an unsteady breath as Selene studied her.
“Selene, I didn’t know Mr. Thompson, your son, was my boss when I accepted his offer to be his date to the charity function.” Jules told the older woman “I found out that evening and I don’t know what you must have thought of me when I told you I worked for him and I didn’t even know.”
Selene placed her hand on Jules’
“I didn’t know either.” Selene said “Up until you mentioned the name of the company you worked at, at the Charity function, Ceaser hadn’t said anything about it to me or his father.”
Jules sighed.
Selene didn’t know about it. That was a weight off her shoulder.
“How did you find out?” Selene asked.
“Well, Ceaser told me he was a Thomas, not a Thompson. The night of the charity function, Ceaser dropped me home and my friends who knew who he was told me. To say I was shocked would be an understatement.” Jules said, still hurt at his betrayal.
“Well, that explains why my son is in a good mood.” Selene said sarcastically.
“Excuse me?” Jules looked at the woman, curious.
“Well, my son isn’t his normal self as we speak. He’s… troubled.” She paused “It’s like, he was right there in the room but at the same time he wasn’t. He was distracted by something…or someone.”
Jules understood what Selene was trying to tell her not so subtly.
“I doubt I’m the reason for his pleasant mood.”
“If you say so.” Selene smirked, like she knew something she didn’t “Anyway, I thought I’d get a chance to see your daughter, but it looks like…”
“Of course.” Jules said “My work can wait. I can use this as an excuse to go check on her as well.”
“If you insist.” Selene said happily and they left her office.
“Alice, I’m escorting Mrs. Thompson to the day-care, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Alice gave her a curt nod and they were on their way.
Jules and Selene arrived at the day-care and made their way from the elevator through the corridor leading to the reception before the children’s play room and a nap room.
“Beth, where’s Andy and Sofi?” Jules asked one of the babysitters.
“In there.” The young woman said.
“Okay thanks.” Jules said “This way.” She told Selene.
They entered the play room where all the children were. Some sitting on the floor playing with their toys, some on their very small tricycle.
Jules saw Sofi with one of the kids who looked up and saw her. She waved at Jules and pointed at the other room. Jules went beyond the play room into the other room where the children took their naps and immediately saw Andy with Ivy. The sight of Ivy brought a smile to her face.
Andy saw her first then Ivy next.
“Momma.” Ivy beamed at her from across the room when she saw me. Jules made a beeline to her and took her from Andy raining kisses on her daughter’s small face.
“Hey darling.” Jules said to her.
Ivy grinned at Jules and cooed. Jules had forgotten why she was there in the first place until that moment. She looked behind her to find Selene smiling at the both of them.
“Andy this is Mrs. Thompson, Selene this is Miranda, my friend and babysitter.” Jules introduced them.
“Nice to meet you ma’am.” Andy greeted her.
“Please call me Selene.” Selene said “It must be so much fun working here.”
“Hmm, that’s debateable but I love it.” Andy said “Well, I’ll go check up on the rest. Excuse me.” Andy said before she left.
“Selene, this is my daughter, Ivy.”
Selene’s was so excited to meet Ivy.
“May I?” She asked Jules.
“Of course.” Jules let Selene take Ivy from her.
“She’s so pretty.” Selene said as she just looked at Ivy and something in the child’s feature seemed familiar. “Her eyes…”
Ivy smiled and Selene’s heart caught, there was something about Ivy that Selene couldn’t quite put her hands on. Ivy reached out to touch Selene’s sparkling diamond earring.
“You’ve got good taste.” Selene said to her but Ivy full attention was on her earring.
Jules watched as both of them got along with each other.
Minutes passed and Jules had forgotten she had to get back to work as she stayed back with Selene and Ivy.
“Ah-ha!” Someone interrupted their conversation “I was wondering where you’d run off to.”
Selene and Jules turned to see who it was.
“Oh Eric.” Selene said “She’s adorable.”
Eric joined them
“Nice to see you Jules.”
“Nice to see you again Mr. Thompson.”
“What did we say about the formalities?” Eric asked Jules.
Jules smiled at the older man.
“Eric.” She tried again.
“Much better.” He turned to Ivy who was in his wife’s arms. “Sweetheart, can I have my turn?”
Ceaser had been ambushed up by Jules’ friends in the previous room but he’d finally caught up with his dad. He reached the room and leaned against the door post watching his parents before his eyes went to Jules and he just watched her watch his parents.
Jules smiled at the older couple.
They were still so much in love.
Ivy stared into the older man’s eyes and cooed when she was in his arms.
“You are the sweetest baby, aren’t you Ivy?” Ivy beamed at him like she knew what he was saying.
“Dada.” Jules heard Ivy say and she froze, the smile falling from her face before she swallowed and turned her head to find Ceaser leaning against the door post, his eyes were on her before he looked away and smiled at Ivy as he walked further into the room.
He looked as perfect as ever. Well, just his looks, definitely not his attitude. Jules thought.
Ceaser walked towards Ivy.
“Hey Munchkin.” He smiled at Ivy.
“So, Jules, how have you been?” Eric asked.
“Busy, at work, at home.” Jules said.
“I guess my son isn’t making it easier for you then.” Eric said.
She looked at Ceaser who also chose that same time to look at her and it was like the only thing they were both thinking of was the moment in her office because the tension in the room went up a notch. Well, more than a notch.
“I…I mean, he’s a great boss.” Jules finally got out as Eric and Selene just smiled at her.
Ceaser watched Jules.
“Well, we best get going and leave you to your work.” Selene said.
“Yeah. But we would love to see this cutie again.” Eric said.
“Anytime.”
“How about you come over to our home this Saturday, for lunch.” Selene suggested.
“That would be great.” Eric said.
“Hmm…” Jules didn’t know what to say.
I’m sorry I can’t be there because I have issues with your son?
That didn’t sound like an answer to her
“I… I don’t think…” Jules began.
“She’ll be there.” Ceaser said, interrupting her and Jules glared at him.