“It's fine. I'm good,” he finally said.
“Thank you sir. Liam, leave…” she began but Noah cut in,
“I said it's fine. Let him be.”
“Yes sir,” the teacher said, unsure if she heard correctly. Seeing her still standing there, Noah gestured her to leave and she did so immediately.
“My baby boy. Let's round up the competition and I'll see you after that, okay?”
“Okay daddy!”
Noah finally stood up and led Liam back to where he was to receive his prize. To everyone seated in that room, Noah was a perfect gentleman who took care of a child that ran to his arms. What they didn't know was that he was the boy's father. Only a few teachers who were from Liam's school knew that
After the handing of prizes and the end of the competition, Noah and the other important guests filed out of the hall. Jones didn't make it anymore due to unforeseen circumstances.
“Congratulations! Liam. You made our school proud!” Mrs Lane, the organising teacher for the competition in their school said to him.
“Thank you, Mrs Lane,” he answered politely.
“We are proud of you! This is the first time our school is making it to the finals in that competition. Not only did we make it to the finals, we came first place! Congratulations! Your parents must be proud of you just like we are. Keep it up, dear boy!”
While she was singing his praises, he was busy looking around for his father, Noah.
“Mrs Lane, please, can I go and see Mr Harper briefly?” Liam begged the woman, taking her aback. She was hired specifically to coach him for the competition so she didn't know the man was his father. Mrs Lane widened her eyes. She was yet to scold Liam for running off and nearly putting the other teacher in trouble inside the hall and here he was asking her permission to go and bother the big man!
“No, you can't. He should not be disturbed. And you, don't try to run off next time, okay? Your teacher would have lost her job on a normal day if the young master was pissed! Be very careful next time.”
“But my daddy isn't that mean and will not make her lose her job simply because I ran to hug him,” Liam pouted.
“Your daddy? Please, let's go back to the school and celebrate your success.”
As she led him away, a security man approached her.
“Good day, Madam. Young master Harper requested to see the boy, madam.”
“Young master Harper?” Mrs Lane could not believe it because it was impossible. Noah didn't ask to see important people talk more of kids. It was true that he had been impressive in there and won prizes, but that wasn't enough reason to request a private meeting with him.
“Yes madam. As a matter of fact, he said he should come immediately. He's waiting in his car, madam.”
In order to satisfy her curiousity, Mrs Lane went with the child herself instead of handing him over to the security man.
Truly, this man of great influence was leaning on his car, patiently waiting for the boy. Just as before, Liam broke free from her grip and ran into his embrace, nearly throwing him off balance.
“I'm proud of you both. Give me five!” Noah raised his hands and shook him, his playfulness taking the teacher unawares.
“Madam, do give us a few minutes. He will be with you shortly,” Noah dismissed Mrs Lane.
“Daddy! You haven't been responding to my messages. I told you I was going for a competition but you didn't respond to me. I'm not happy with you!” Liam started his already prepared complaints.
“I'm sorry. I was busy…”
“Busy? But you responded to my questions in the study tablet.”
“I know, and I'm sorry.”
“Will you take me out?”
“Yes, maybe. But when I return, we will discuss that.”
“When you return? Aren't you back yet? Liam cried.
“Just give me a little more time. I know I haven't been home in a long time but that's the nature of daddy's new work. Please, bear with me. But I promise, I'll take a break and come to spend time with you. That's a promise.”
“Okay Daddy, thank you for the prize too. But when are you going to come back? I look forward to spending time with you, daddy.”
“Daddy has been very busy lately…”
“But why did you come to the competition? Did you come to see me?” Liam interrupted.
“No, not exactly. It's part of daddy's busy schedule. I'll be travelling to the United Kingdom immediately after this competition to get back to my work. I've been very busy but when ever I get the chance to return, I'll spend so much time with you okay? Just make a list of everywhere and everything you want to do with daddy. I'll make out time and it will be done, okay?”
“Okay daddy,” he said excitedly. He wa eager to spend time with his father. As he saw him smile, it broke his heart because he didn't know when he would fulfill his promise. He however made up his mind to ask Emily to spare him a little time with his son.
There was a live broadcast of the competition. Emily entered her office after a long meeting and the only thing in her mind was to get some rest. She was heavily pregnant and her stomach was protruded now. She turned on her television and the competition broadcast popped up. It immediately clicked in her memory that her child was attending a competition tha day. He mentioned it to her on their way to school but she was pissed off that morning, due to pregnancy hormones. She felt like a bad mother for not being there for him. At the time she was watching the program, they were almost done but it was just in time for her to see her son, Liam run into a man's embrace. This man she was quick to recognise as her ex husband, Noah Harper!
Why in hecks name was he there? Has he come to take the boy and run away? This was the only thing in her head as she grabbed her keys, offset a lot of things on her table and stumbled on her office seat. These accidents didn't matter compared to what was at stake. She must stop him from stealing her son and running away!
She ran out of her office and jumped into her car. She didn't mind the fact that she had another meeting in the next one hour. She jumped the traffic light and fortunately, she wasn't caught by the road safety officials. She took pains to hold still and park her car properly and ran towards the hall. But to her greatest dismay, the competition was over and she didn't know where to find the boys. Then, she turned to her right and noticed a man who exuded a powerful aura, he stood tall among the crowd, his jet black hair and his glowing skin all helped him to stand out. He was leaning on his car and standing with him, wrapped in his embrace was her lovely son!
He was talking to him nicely so that he would put him in his car and drive off with him! Damn him! What more does he want from her son when he had specifically hired someone to take good care of his mistress since she was pregnant? She was going to give him a piece of her mind right now! But….. she looked down at her stomach, reality suddenly dawned on her. She was pregnant and she didn't want Noah finding out about it. She noticed that Noah was about turning in her direction so she ducked behind a car, escaping his notice. She stayed in hiding until he left the place. Only then did she come out and let her son see her.
“Mummy!” he screamed and hugged her.
“Mummy you didn't come earlier when we were receiving our prizes! You also missed daddy, he left just now.”
“Oh, that's sad,” she feigned dissatisfaction.
“Excuse me, madam.” It was Mrs Lane. She was asking her permission to lead her son back to the school bus they had come in.