*7 months later*

Chapter 38:

"So where are you going to meet her?" I asked him.

Today was the day he decided to confront- and hopefully succeed in talking- his biological mother and I was proud of him.

"I don't know exactly." He was clueless. "Maybe just in my office."

"That's not exactly sound proof." I warned him. "I don't want it to turn into a screaming match."

"You would know." He took his time looking at me up and down before standing up from his desk.

"No we are not doing that again." Putting my hand up to stop his advance. "We are at work."

"You didn't say that two days ago."

"Because you wouldn't stop-"

"I didn't stop what?" He urged me to continue and I closed my mouth shut.

"Whatever." I muttered before turning to walk out of his office.

"Wait." He stopped me and-with a huff- I turned back to face him.

He always wanted a goodbye kiss from me and it didn't bother me at all, his hand skimmed my neck twice before he let me go. "You had a little something.." He trailed off.

"What? Is the hickey still visible?" I asked, already paranoid. "I'll just make a trip to the-"

"No, it's fine." He interjected. "You put too much of that pink stuff or whatever you use."

"Or whatever I use?" I laughed. "It's okay, I would have been a little worried if you knew what it was called."

"Well for what you're applying." He drawled out. "You should know me better than that sweetheart."

"Oh I do." I smirked before turning away from his stunned face. "Get back to work."

"Yes boss."

Rolling my eyes, I left his office. "There you are!" I heard a male voice exclaim and I turned to look over my shoulder to see Seth.

"Seth? What are you doing here?" I exclaimed, going in for a hug, I don't know why I was feeling so giddy today.

He was shocked a little bit but it didn't seem to faze him, more like he appreciated it. "Nothing just wanted to run this by you." He handed me the file. "That's if you have time."

"I always have time, and besides it not like I don't deal with enough papers in a day."

"Thanks." He grinned before he was literally attacked from behind by Adaline, he was pushed forward into me and if it wasn't for my quick reflexes I would have fallen on my ass.

"Adaline what the hell?!" We both exclaimed at the same time.

"That's what you get." She pointed her finger at Seth. "Don't act like I didn't forget."

"Forget what?" My eyes flickered between them. "What's going on?"

"I may have.." He cleared his throat. "Okay, she had this cake- which was delicious by the way- and I thought-"

"He ate my food." She glared at him. "Hasn't anyone told you not to mess with a girls food?"

"No I only have a little sister who's an aspiring model and she's built like the size of that wall." He pointed to the semi thin wall. "And she doesn't eat much so I wouldn't know."

"I'll never understand that." I chimed in to lighten the mood.

"What?"

"Size shouldn't matter, if a BBW wants to walk the runway, she should be allowed to. And it's the 21st century for crying out loud. Just like Tyra Banks did."

"Are you going to start preaching or something?" Adaline asked. "Because I'm here for it."

"No." I laughed. "Just my opinion- it's nothing against your sister- but girls shouldn't be risking their health to be accepted as something beautiful so what if I have a little junk in the trunk."

"She really just said junk in the trunk." Seth mumbled to himself. "Who have you been hanging out with?"

"That would be me." Adaline gleamed in delight. "And honey if you're going to try to hide your hickeys at least drop your hair."

"I don't have any-"

"Before you deny it, I spot two already, right here and here." Her cold chilled finger touched my neck.

"I'm going to kill him." I sighed in annoyance before letting my hair loose from my hair tie.

"Damn, he's one lucky man." Seth chimed in and Adaline swatted his arm.

"You should have seen her when she first got here.." and just like that I was the topic of discussion of how awkwardly shy I was-still am.

••••••••••

"Mr Hale." The intercom comes on.

"Speaking."

"There's a lady saying you know her by- I'm sorry, oh Miss Harrison."

Damn.

"Yes, you can send her up."

I disconnected the call and it didn't take long for my little fire cracker to barge into my office, she was the only one allowed to do so.

"What the hell," She glared at me, storming into my office.

"What?" I acted genuinely confused but seeing her hair down just made this even more amusing.

She shifted her hair from her left shoulder to her right and she bent her head at an awkward angle to show her neck to me. "I thought you covered that up?" I forged innocence, walking back over to my desk. She wasn't too far behind.

"I did but someone removed it." She accused.

"Oh did they? That's not nice." I picked up a file. "Who would do such a thing?"

"Starts with an L and ends with an N."

"Huh?" I flipped the file open. "Do you think I should merge with this company? Their offering me 10.5%- which isn't a lot and I'm quite offended- but it's for this smoothie business and-"

"Since when did you deal with drinks?"

"Since I paid cash for my clubs?"

"That's not the point of what I'm trying to get at." She blushed, embarrassed and it just made me want to smother her on how adorable she looked trying to be pissed.

"Why are you here baby?" I closed the file, leaning back in my chair. "Anything you want to get off your chest?"

"Why did you wipe them away!" She crossed her arms. "It's embarrassing enough that I have to cover them but you pulling a stunt like that-"

"A stunt?" I tried not to bark out a laugh. "Baby, come here."

"No." She huffed.

"Do you want me to come get you?" I challenged her, with a raised eyebrow.

"You wouldn't." Unfolding her arms, she turned to leave but I was one step ahead of her. "What the-" She was stunned to be secured in my arms so fast. "How did you?"

"Shut up." I bent down, capturing her lips with mine. Kissing her became my favorite pastime, present time and hopefully for the future and I wouldn't stop. I knew she wasn't upset from the beginning when she hooked her arms around my neck but what I didn't expect was for her to pull my hair the way she did and it made me want her more.

She broke away from the kiss and I watched her cautiously as to what she was going to do next, I let her lead. Her hands brushed down my sides before hand wrapped around my tie, pulling me forward while she walked backwards. "Oh you little tease." She squealed when I picked her up, pressing her to the wall.

"Why did you wear jeans today?" I groaned against her neck and she sighed, her heavy breast pushing against me.

"Because you need to behave yourself." She almost choked on her words.

"I am well behaved." I palmed her ass in my hands. "But you drive me crazy." Pulling my head back, she kissed me feverishly. My self control was soon to be-

"Landon?" I heard from outside the door.

Gone.

"Shit." I put her down and she fixed herself. "One second!" I wiped my mouth, clearing her lipstick. "You good?" I asked, seeing her still flushed.

"Yes."

Pulling the door open, I came face to face with my birth giver and something in my heart stirred from just looking at her. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad, it was probably my fucked up nerves.

"Landon." She greeted me.

"Anthea." I greeted her back before opening my door wider for her to enter. "Come in."

"Hello." Embre's voice was meek. "Nice to see you again."

"It's been awhile." Anthea acknowledged her.

The talking dropped from there and the room felt like it was becoming strained.

"Well maybe I should go..." Embre speaks up, clearly feeling it too. "I'll leave you two." She leant up on the tips of her toes to peek my jawline. "I'll see you later."

"You will." It was rare that she would keep eye contact with me, but I knew this time it had a under meaning to it and I was looking forward to it.

Releasing my hand from the door, I watched her begin to leave with a thumbs up once Anthea began to walk over to sit down. "Don't go." I mouthed to her and she gave me a stern look.

"No, this is for you. You've got this." She encouraged me. "She's not going to bite you."

Closing the door behind her, I took a deep breath before walking around my desk once again to sit "I'm glad you decided to talk to me." She started before I could even properly look at her.

"I know you don't want to talk to me-" She starts but I cut her off from going on a ramble.

"If I didn't I wouldn't have reached out to you.. I just need for you to explain why you did what you did."

"Well I'm sure Embre already told you?" With a nod my head, I could see in her eyes she was getting emotional.

My mother.. looked healthy. But it was clear she was under some type of stress, either that or she wasn't getting enough sleep. She dressed in a suit to my surprise but she pulled it off well.. navy blue.

"I'm so sorry," She reached her hand across the table and I didn't mean to flinch but it startled me. "Okay.." She drawled out, thinking she overstepped the boundary.

"Here." I reached my hand out to her and her eyes widen, seeing my little affection towards her and she gladly accepted it.

Apart of me did it because I wanted to feel how her touch felt a long time ago, and it felt the same.

Warm.

"I didn't want to leave you."

"But you did."

"I know." She shook her head, trying to stop the tears but it was already flowing. "I wanted you, I did, but he.." She took a deep breath. "He didn't, and I can't make up for it."

"You didn't have to leave. You could have just been honest with Dad. and I wouldn't have to be facing this problem."

"I'm trying to fix it Landon that's why I'm back, I left him and I'm trying to change my name-"

"Back to what?"

"Harrison, I'm still Anthea Hale." She sighed. "It's not who I am anymore." Her hand tightens around mine. "I know I'm not going to be the mother that I wish I was to you. But I do want you to forgive me and maybe we can become somewhat like friends? Mostly me checking in on you."

"I think I need more time." This wasn't going to be a session of exchanging phone numbers and adding hearts to it.

"That's understandable."

She takes a look around my office, but I know she already seen it before. It wasn't anything new.

"Are you serious about Embre?" The question threw my off and I released my hand from around hers, due to my palm being sweaty.

"Yes." A simple blunt answer.

"How serious?" She asked.

"Now that's she in my life, I don't think I can go back.. she's my life."

"She's a lucky girl." I laughed at her assumption and she seemed pleased that she could make her son laugh.

"No, I'm a lucky man."

"Well you've got that right." She joked. "She's beautiful, better than my days I might add."

"You're still beautiful." I noticed that I had gotten my nose and eyes from her.

"I'm old and wrinkly that's not a good mixture." She didn't accept my compliment external but I knew she felt it internally. "Well, I'll let you get back to it." She stood up. "And I'm sorry.. for even letting him get near you."

"Did he hit you?" The question startled her and more so me for even bringing it up.

"Yes."

"Did you call the police?"

"No, I didn't."

"What's his name?"

"Landon, don't worry about it." I could see her building her walls around the situation but I didn't let her.

"What was his name?" I asked again, more stern this time.

"Matthew Deed." She was blunt with her answer, and I knew she was telling me the truth.

"Consider him handled." I stood up, walking around to walk her out.

"What?"

"I said." I opened the door. "He's handled, unless you don't want me to." I was still going to, it didn't matter her opinion.

"No." She took a deep breath. "Thank you." She held her hand out for me to shake but I knew what she was looking for.

Wrapping her into a hug, I let myself feel for her and the situation that broke us apart. And she clung to me in a vine grip, I could hear her whimpers and cries but it just made me cling to her more. "Don't cry, Mom."

"Oh." She cried out. "You called me Mom."

"It slipped out." A chuckle rippled from me. "Take care of yourself Anthea."

"You too Landon." We broke away from the hug and she quickly wiped her face. "You too."

I watched her departure and I didn't bother closing my door, going to the only place I needed right now.

Giving her door a faint knock, I could hear her shuffling about before her door flung open. "So how was it?" She asked and I grinned at her and she makes a noise that's filled with excitement.

"I knew it, so what happened, no yelling?"

"It went better then what I imagined."

"Yeah I was hoping." She cheered. "Does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

"Sweetheart that was almost 7 months ago."

"Still, I could sense it."

"Okay wolverine and I could never stay mad at you."

"That's a lie."

Well maybe it is, but I don't think I would be.

"I'm craving donuts." She blurted out.

"Do you want me to go get you some?"

"You asking me out on a date?" She hinted.

"For donuts?"

"Yes." She walked over to her desk, grabbing her bag before walking back over. "You're taking me out for brunch."

"Oh so you're demanding me now."

"Takes one to know one, suga."

"Don't call me that."

She didn't bother listening to me as she went down the hallway singing. "Your Sugar, yes please. Won't you come and put it down on me."

And I would later.