"So, couldn't you have informed me earlier?"

Hearing the accusation clear in his tone, I penitently smiled toward him in an attempt to ease Elijah's dead stare through the screen, his brows drawn closer and eyes filled with dissatisfaction.

Keeping the smiled, I shrugged, "Look, I was busy," and admitted.

It's usually Elijah who drags me out of my tomb of work to have lunch with him often, but this time I have been telling him for the past some time to meet me, but he too was busy, with work and the new addition of certain someone. Well, I also didn't push and disturb him much, because I was happy he was giving time to something else, or more particularly someone else. So, at his silence and pursed lips, I playfully added, "I guess we both were."

Seeing my amusement-filled expression with only the lack of wiggling eyebrows, a smile threatened to break out of his face as he sharply turned his hazel eyes away and coughed, while also admitting, "...Yeah."

I know I'm to blame, and Elijah's dissatisfaction is justified. When I called, I knew he would be like this, we met the last time on Kai's birthday about one month ago and except for the phone calls or face times, nothing passed between us. And now I have told him just about two hours before the flight to Italy that I was leaving for further three weeks or four weeks.

The business trip was on the schedule for a long time, but Mr. Aris Salvadge's untimely intrusion has disturbed all the routine of the organization, and things have pretty much chaos in Gaborone(where the head office of the organization is). Where priorly I had decided to stay a week there, is now turned into one and a half weeks, two or probably more, that will be decided once I go there and see things on my own. Including others, this was also one reason work this month tripled because I had to finish the work of at least two months in one. Moreover, to finalize the trip I was waiting for the confirmation date of the Charity and awareness event, and that's also the reason we had to push our trip a week earlier.

After a moment of silence, I heard him say, now back to his casual tone, "When's Kai and Jackson's flight confirmed?"

At his question, Kai's excitement-filled face passed through my mind, he's so happy to go see the Cyber games with his own two eyes, and unknowingly a smile rose on my face too, "About five to six days later."

"Kai's staying behind for the first time, did he take it well?"

My smile faded, as his raging flashed before my eyes, with a sigh I avoided looking at Elijah's face, "Well, I thought I'd tell him later but the date pushed forward and I...forgot to tell him."

"And he didn't take it well," Elijah added with a flat tone.

"Yeah."

"How's he?"

"He's..." recalling his stubbornness of not even looking my way after he heard the news, I completed, "angry."

A smirk rose on Elijah's face as he mocked, "Well, you deserve it."

I mumbled, "Yeah."

Someone called Elijah's name, he nodded and turned toward me, "Inform me the moment you land back here, and let's meet after you come back," He paused, and I finally saw his goofy smile as he added the last part, "...I can't wait for both of you to meet too."

To whom he was referring, how I could I not know, I too was quite curious to meet that person, and till then it will be suitable to meet. So, I agreed unhesitantly, "Sure," hearing my assurance, his smile widened a little. My gaze flickered toward the scenery outside my window, and seeing that car has reached near the gate of the mansion, I bid goodbye, "See you later, Elijah."

His smile faded and after an indecisive pause, insisted, "...Take care, Allea."

Expressing, "You as well, take care," with a pleasant smile and a little wave of my hand, I ended our face-time.

When I stepped out of the car to enter the mansion, seeing the time on my wrist-watch, another sigh escaped my lips. It's four in the evening and after just less than two hours I have to depart on my long flight to Milan(Italy). I just can't work while being disoriented and jet-lagged, therefore, I have planned to rest well before starting my work there. After the hectic last week, today, I ended all the work in the office after and left all the responsibilities on my COO, team, Ben. While Nayla will go with me along with Ali —one other member of my team of nine, they will be meeting me directly at the airport.

Advancing inside the mansions, my eyes searched for Kai and Jackson's figure as I headed upstairs, toward my room. I'm here to pick my luggage and say goodbye to both of them. There's a little restlessness inside me because this is the first time, I'm leaving Kai behind for such a long period. Ugh, a part of me feels stupid too while feeling this way. He's no longer a child and doesn't need anyone to look after him always, I know, but still, I can't help it. But I'm also assured, it's Jackson who will be looking after him.

"So, all packed up?"

I was looking over the helpers taking my luggage out of my room. When I stepped outside of my room, Jackson was there in all his sleepy-head glory and pointing at the suitcase the helper was dragging away toward the car.

"Yeah, gonna leave in half an hour."

He nodded casually, so I added while moving my gaze around, "Where's that little-rocket?"

Giving me a narrowed-eyed stare, Jackson snorted, "About to launch."

Shaking my head lightly, I got the idea from his reply but still asked in a non-question tone, "He's still mad?"

Jackson gave me a side-way glance, and nonchalantly asked back, "Why didn't you tell him you were going on the business trip?"

"Can I say, I forgot?"

"I didn't see you forgetting this while you were begging me to stay."

Rolling my eyes, I turned away from the old man, it's useless to explain things to Jackson, he'll just argue back. Because nowadays Jackson is a bit cranky, well, I guess he's missing his good-ol'-days of freedom. Exploration of new food can't be done here as he long ago has been done with it, so, staying inside the mansion and doing nothing all day has put him in a really grouchy mood from the past weeks —unless he's playing video games with Kai. But that too has lessened from the day Kai has started his advanced classes, when we both are busy we really have no time for Jackson. One thing I'm sure about is when I returned, Jackson will be not waste one more day continuing his world tour. Though we will again go back to missing him but we can't deny that Jackson has his own life and wishes just like how we are busy in our lives, he too has something to live for.

Ignoring the old man behind me, I walked down the stairs toward Kai's room. I admit I intentionally or unintentionally forgot to tell Kai about the business trip, whenever I talked to Jackson about it, he was always away. Tomorrow while I was talking to Nayla at the dinner and confirming everything one last time, that's when he came to know and from then on he refused to give me one glance and hasn't said a single word to me, not even on today's breakfast.

Knocking on his door, I asked for permission, "Can I enter?"

Getting no response, I waited for a minute or two and then pushed the door lightly to poke my head and look for Kai. His back was turned toward me, sitting on the study table, which was pushed beside his Xbox setup. Kai's room was fairly lightened and I could see his head bent down, trying to disappear himself inside the book he was reading. Pushing the door to open it partially, I leaned against the wall instead of approaching him.

"So, are you really angry with me?"

No reply.

"Kai, I'm talking to you."

Nothing.

"You told me to stop treating you like a child, and now see, you're the one acting like one."

"You could have at least told me!"

His voice was loud, way louder than I like. But what made me pause was not his harsh way of speaking but the panic I felt in it, the fright he was trying to hide underneath.

Straightening up, wasting no time, I walked up to him, and said softly, "Look at me, Kai."

While seated on the chair, he turned toward me but didn't raise his head to look at me, but his clenched fists around the pen and the slight tremble didn't miss my eyes. Bending down on my knees, I disheveled his hair with soft hands and reached to engulf his fists in my own hand.

With soft murmurs, patting his hands, I spoke without any restrain, "I'm sorry, I should have, maybe I feared that you'll give me that pitiful look then I'll have to either take you with me or cancel the trip, and I can't do both of these."

I paused, his hands started to relax under my light caressing as I softly pulled the pens out of his grip, holding his hands in mine I continued, "I have been pushing any business trip from the beginning of this year, and things have worsened further in our industry in Milan. I need to supervise things in the organization, this a crucial moment, we can't let this opportunity go to waste."

As I ended my words, his shining blue eyes raised to met mine, "Can't I go with you, like always?"

"Then what about your trip?"

He was quick in reply, "I won't go."

"And the studies you've started, do you want to quit it now?"

"I..." He again ducked his head down, and I felt his gip hardening as I heard his barely audible voice asking, "When will you be back?"

"That's the biggest problem, things are yet to be deci-"

Before I could utter my word, suddenly he gripped my arm and tears filled his eyes but didn't fall and stared straight at me, somehow his gaze gripped my heart, especially when he stated in his almost trembling voice, "You will be back."

He wasn't asking but assuring himself.

Seeing this boy who was cheering just a few days ago, I can't see him like this, so, I controlled my own emotions, and asserted, "I will."

He didn't need to say anything, the panic in his eyes was enough to tell me that he was thinking about his father.

At my assurance, his expressions eased a little, and his grip loosened, so I continued, swallowing the lump in my throat, I tried to cheer him, "Of course I'll be back, do you think I will forget the bet you lost on last week's soccer match, you aren't getting off this easily!"

Moving his head down, after a pause he, now with a much better face, nodded,"...I thought you forgot about it."

"I can never!"

If I knew he was thinking such things, I would have surely talked to him earlier. I don't want him to think any unavailing things, and make himself go through this anguish, "Now, go and wash your face, come outside then,...I have to leave soon."

Hearing my words, after another reluctant pause, he stood up from his chair and headed toward the restroom, I too hurriedly walked out of his room, and took some deep breaths. Seeing him so anxious, such a child, I don't even know what might be going through his head, I never thought Kai will react like this. If I knew, I would have definitely kept in my mind to specifically tell him, I know I'm to blame.

As much as it came as shock, somewhere I also understand him, therefore, I'm glad he expressed it on my face instead of burying his worries inside him. It's just the first time and so sudden, he didn't even get to make his mind that's why his fears surged up.

Assuring myself with these thoughts, I walked toward the living-area and found Jackson sitting on the couch or almost lying on the sofa like a lazy old cat. With a little caution, I spoke, "Why don't you guys extend your trip a little longer?"

Jackson stared at me for a second and in an almost taunting voice retorted back, "Hasn't Kai started his classes?"

"Yeah."

At my half-dead reply, he straightened a little, and with a thoughtful look spoke, "As you say, he's still a child, soon he'll learn to grow out of this. He can't always let his fears weaken him."

Moving my gaze away from him, I nodded at Jackson's word. Although he was right, I was in no mood to continue this conversation any longer. With an inaudible sigh, I just sat down, leaned again the sofa, and waited for Kai to come, so, I could peacefully leave after seeing his calm and collected self.

...

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