Chapter 4 The Man Who Said I Looked Like Him

A WEEK LATER. As Sienna prepared little Emilio for school, Jayson sat nearby, watching them in silence. He was waiting, as usual, to drop them off before heading to work. Once Sienna had finished dressing Emilio and helping him with his backpack, she turned to Jayson, her face lit with a smile. "All set," she said. Emilio approached Jayson, who gladly lifted him up as he always did and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. “You’re looking great today. I bet the girls at school are already swooning,” Jayson joked, causing Emilio to smile and flash his perfect white teeth. Sienna shot a disapproving glare at Jayson in response. “Could you stop with that? He’s still a kid and doesn’t need to hear things like that,” Sienna reprimanded. Jayson just laughed. “Alright, alright. Can we head out now?” he asked. Sienna rolled her eyes playfully and nodded. They left the house as usual, heading straight for Hearst Elementary School this time. Once they arrived, Sienna gently stroked Emilio’s hair and kissed his cheeks before handing his backpack to his homeroom teacher. “Bye, Mom… and you too, Dad,” Emilio said cheerfully, waving at them. “Be careful, okay? Don’t get into any trouble and—” Sienna started to advise, but Emilio quickly interrupted. “I won’t talk to strangers,” he said, making Jayson chuckle while Sienna nodded in agreement. She waved goodbye as the teacher led Emilio to his classroom and then turned to get back into the car. “Isn’t he just adorable? He's too mature for his age,” Jayson remarked as he drove toward the restaurant to drop off Sienna. “You’re the one who made him that way. How could you spoil him from birth?” Sienna retorted, giving him a look of disbelief. Jayson’s laughter made her frown even more. Even with the frown, she looked remarkably beautiful, like an angel who had just descended from the heavens. “Alright, I admit it. He’s too charming not to indulge in his cuteness,” Jayson conceded. “Whatever,” she said dismissively, rolling her eyes, which only made him chuckle again. “Has anyone ever told you that you look pretty when you’re angry?” he asked. Sienna took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Many times,” she replied without opening her eyes. When she eventually looked at him, she noticed that he seemed thinner. “Do you skip meals at work?” she inquired. He hesitated before answering, and she could tell he was trying to lie. She shot him a pointed look that made him nod, indicating he was ready to admit the truth. “Work has been so demanding that I don’t have time to leave the office until everything is finished,” he explained. Her frown deepened. Why would he neglect eating when she's a chef? “Then why don’t you just call me?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Aren’t you too busy to come to the office?” he questioned, glancing briefly at her before returning his focus to the road. She scoffed at his remark. “Have I ever turned you down when you called me?” she asked. Jayson offered a faint smile. “Fine... From this week until the end of the month, I’ll be very busy,” he announced, and she nodded. “Perfect. Call me a few minutes before lunchtime and let me know what you want to eat. If you don’t, don’t bother coming to the restaurant to pick me up or trying to talk to me,” Sienna instructed. “Understood, my queen,” Jayson said with a nod. “Good,” Sienna said with a smile, settling back in her seat and closing her eyes. Jayson smiled gently, admiring her beautiful face. “Stop staring and pay attention to the road,” Sienna said, keeping her eyes closed, fully aware of his gaze. ***** Alexander stood by a large glass window in his hotel suite, gazing out at the bustling streets of San Diego while holding a glass of wine. The all-glass suite offered an unobstructed view of the city. He had just received a call from his secretary, who informed him that they had still not located the woman he was searching for, which had soured his mood. Where on earth was she hiding? He had come to San Diego a few years ago after his secretary had spotted her here, but by the time he arrived, she had vanished again. Yet, he had a persistent feeling she was still in this city, which was why he was reluctant to leave just yet. He knew he had wronged her. He understood that his words that night had hurt her, and he regretted it deeply. As his phone rang, he answered it slowly, seeing it was Jake calling. “What? Did you call to discuss the absurd idea of me having a child somewhere?” Alexander’s tone was neither warm nor cold. “I’m not here for that. You clearly don’t believe me, especially since you’ve deleted the picture of the boy, which means words don’t convince you. But, do you mind coming over? Grandma wants to see you. She mentioned something about partnering with CLOMUS GROUP, which could influence your company's growth,” Jake explained. Alexander turned around and set his wine glass down on the table. “Why did she ask you to convey such important information when she could have told your dad, her own son, instead?” he inquired. “She said she appreciates your independence and that you’re not taking over your dad’s company like my dad did. Plus, my dad is wealthy enough. I support Grandma’s decision,” Jake replied. “Is this because you have issues with your dad?” Alexander asked, and Jake smiled. “Does the reason really matter?” Jake countered. Alexander shook his head, choosing not to respond further. After agreeing to visit his grandmother, he ended the call. As Alexander made his way to his dressing room, he couldn’t shake off the thought of Clomus Enterprises that Jake had mentioned. It was a rival company that everyone seemed eager to partner with, owned by the formidable Jayson Williams, a man Alexander despised. It was as if they had always been at odds. ...... HEARST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4PM Emilio stood by the gate, waiting for his mom to pick him up. She was running unusually late today, which he assumed was due to her busy schedule. Alexander parked his car and got out, looking around while making a phone call. He was trying to find Jake's house and had taken a wrong turn. Despite calling Jake repeatedly, he wasn't answering. As Alexander scanned the area, he noticed a young boy staring at him. To his surprise, it was the same child Jake had sent him a picture of. Ending the call, Alexander approached the boy. “Hey,” he said, waving. Emilio looked at him silently before speaking. “I don’t talk to strangers.” Alexander chuckled. “Neither do I.” Emilio looked up at him, clearly intimidated by his height. “Then why are you talking to me?” Alexander found the boy's attitude amusing and intriguing. He suspected Emilio was a bit of a troublemaker. “Because you’re handsome and remind me of myself. We look alike, so I wanted to talk to someone who might grow up to be as good-looking as me.” “I’ll be even more handsome than you,” Emilio said confidently. Alexander smiled and nodded. “So, what’s your name, handsome?” Alexander asked. “Emilio,” the boy replied casually. “Are you waiting for someone?” Alexander asked. “My mom. She usually picks me up, but I don’t know why she’s late today.” Alexander squatted down in front of him, gently patting his head. “I was heading to my friend’s place but took a wrong turn. I’ve got some time now. Would you mind if I gave you a ride?” he offered. Since he was already in the area, it seemed harmless to help the boy. The little boy shook his head. “Mom will be angry if she sees me with a stranger.” “Okay, how about I drop you off a bit away from your house so she won’t get upset?” “She’ll be worried if she doesn’t find me here,” Emilio replied. Alexander was taken aback by how a young child could have such thoughtful answers to his questions. “Your mom must be a wonderful person” Alexander remarked, watching Emilio's smile widen. “Of course. And my dad is great too,” Emilio replied. Alexander nodded in agreement. “While you wait for your parents, how about we get some ice cream?” Alexander suggested. Emilio stared at him for a moment, hesitant. Seeing that the boy wasn’t moving, Alexander went to a shop across the street and returned with an ice cream. He offered it to Emilio, who hesitated. “Take it, at least for talking to me even though I’m a stranger,” Alexander said, encouraging him. Emilio reluctantly accepted the ice cream. “Mint? This is my favorite flavor!” Emilio exclaimed happily. “Really? It’s my favorite too,” Alexander said with a smile. Just then, Jake called, interrupting their conversation. “I'm sorry, but I have to go now. If we cross paths again, let’s get along,” Alexander said, ruffling Emilio’s hair before heading back to his car and driving away. “Emilio!” Sienna called as she stepped out of the taxi that had just arrived. Emilio beamed when he saw his mom. “Sorry I’m late; I had to go to the office,” Sienna apologized. Her eyes then fell on the ice cream Emilio was holding, and her expression darkened. “Jayson gave you money for ice cream when I specifically told him it was too cold outside?” she asked sharply. Emilio shook his head and looked down. “It wasn’t Dad; it was someone else.” Sienna’s frown deepened. “Didn’t I warn you about talking to strangers and accepting things from them? Come on, honey, I really don’t like that.” she scolded. “I know. He just gave it to me. Besides, I can throw it away if you want. I haven’t eaten it yet, so don’t be mad,” Emilio said gently. Sienna sighed, crouching in front of him and ruffling his hair. How could she stay angry at him? “You shouldn’t have taken it if you were just going to throw it away,” she muttered. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t take it on purpose. He just put it in my hands,” Emilio explained. Sienna smiled reassuringly, kissed him on the forehead, and then stood up, taking his hand and leading him towards the taxi. “So, what did you two talk about?” she asked as they were about to get in. “Not much. He just said I look like him,” Emilio replied. Sienna paused, her steps faltering.