Our meal came briefly and I had asked Ellie for her surname which she replied without fidgeting around.

"Locks" she simply said and proceeded to eat.

I never thought I'd be content with seeing someone eat,

Then I opened the file that Dr. Cortez sent me.

Eliana Locks

Age 5

Sex: Girl

Weight: 39.5 Ib

Height: 3"2 (96.52 cm)

Father: Henry Locks

Mother: Julia Locks(deceased)

Siblings: None

Custody: Henry Locks

Additional notes:

Henry Locks was fired from a financial firm, after the death of his wife.

He has become a drug addict along with a alcoholic and gambling.

Julia Locks worked multiple jobs to make ends meet.

She has been paying for Ellie's treatment.

She died on August 6th, 2016.

Her parents have passed already.

Conditions: Development delay,

Selective Mutism.

I looked over the file information again.

Could the guy I stopped be Henry Locks?

There is no way in hell would I allow Ellie back in his care.

I continued to read the notes that Dr. Cortez wrote.

Eliana Locks does not have much friends. Well that's a sure way to start off, i mentally rolled my eyes then continued to read the rest she has been picked on due to her Selective Mutism.

Selective Mutism? Perhaps that's why she doesn't talk much.

I went back and read what selective mutism and how it was caused.

She had been through a trauma at such a young age too.

I was determined to get princess under my care.

Antonio are you hearing yourself? You thought of Ellie as your princess, how ridiculous are you? don't you understand that if you take in this child, your image may be tarnished or worse people may even look down at you, realizing you aren't 'all' that.

i really wanted my conscience to shut the fuck up, so i did my best to block it out.

I had to ensure that she was under my custody.

About half an hour.

"Ellie" I said setting the file down and put it back into my briefcase.

"Would you like some dessert?" I questioned and then I saw her eyes lit up.

"Server" I said and then the server came.

"Yes sir?" she asks.

"I'd like to get a hot fudge sundae" I said.

"Of course" she said then hurried off.

"Thank you" Ellie says.

I gave her a pat on the head.

I can't believe that yesterday I met this girl.

If my employees didn't give me such a headache I don't think I would ever meet Ellie.

I guess I should be happy at my employees.

She was already changing me from the first moment I saw her.

The hot fudge sundae came.

"Here you go princess" I said cooling the hot fudge down.

I just called her princess, she's such a bundle of joy, I smiled looking at her in awe,

'Antonio you fucker. think this through.'

without thinking, I scooped some ice cream along with fudge onto the spoon and brought it close to her mouth as she exclaims

"Yummy!"

Then to my astonishment she had told me to give her the spoon.

Which I did then she scooped up a ice cream.

"Open" she demands, this was very odd of her to hold such authority against me.

i simply followed orders and opened my mouth for her to put the scoop of ice cream in my mouth, little bossy ellie is what I call this.

There has been a lot of progress since the first hour.

"Merci princess" I said.

Then confusion was written on her face.

"Mur- sea?" she repeated.

"Yes that's correct it's french for thank you" I responded happily, teaching a child such simple things made me happy.

"I like it" she said.

"princesse you're very adorable" I continued then her face was red.

"princesse?" she echoes.

"It means princess" I replied.

As our server came back, I noticed she silenced herself, which I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

I was having a normal conversation with her.

I became rather annoyed at the server.

Must they come at the wrong time? I paid the bill and princess ate half of the dessert.

I already could see the improvement in her.

It was 7 at night.

On the way back to my penthouse I looked through the rearview mirror.

Ellie was sound asleep.

I pulled into the parking gate and drove down into the underground parking space.

I turned the engine off and got out the car.

I opened the backseat door then I quietly unbuckled her and carefully picked her up without waking her up from the slumber.

Tomorrow would be Saturday I could go and shop for the basic necessity that she needs.

I got into the elevator and it took me up to the penthouse.

Once I opened the door to my pent house.

My housecleaner left shortly I usually sent them home around 10 but since I was caring for a child I didn't want them to scare her.

I put my hand on Ellie's head and gently laid her down on her bed.

After that I went and plugged a nightlight in.

it was opposite of the bed.

Yes I have a nightlight It was given as a gift but I never use it,this is the first I was using it.

I turned the nightlight on then I went over to the window and closed the curtains.

I made sure she wasn't going to trip over anything in the middle of the night.

as I was overseeing the room, my eyes widened as I saw a used condom and a lady's lingerie, I quickly disposed of the items, I cursed myself.

I hope she didn't see any of that. I guess I have to stop giving women one-night stands.

I quietly shut the bedroom door close.

Then I heard a knock at the door.

I groaned.

Who could possibly be at my penthouse at 7:30 at night.

I opened the door, revealing the one and only Jenna, I internally groaned,

"What do you want" I questioned dryly.

"Tonyy I missed you" she said in her usual whinny voice.

"Jenna. I'm not in the mood go find somebody else to bother" I roughly said.

"But tonnyyy I need you" she continues to whine.

"Jenna. I don't need you anymore" I coldly said.

"Tony I can't get enou-" before Jenna was about to finish her sentence I heard Ellie scream.

"A child?" Jenna raises an eyebrow.

"Jenna leave" I said and I pushed her away.

It was by father instinct, that I rushed to Ellie's bedroom, within seconds.

I burst open the door, to reveal her running towards me and she cries

"spider"

A spider? Why would a spider even be in any of the rooms.

It seems the housecleaners are slacking off. "A spider?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Where is it princess" I picked her up.

I looked to where she was pointing.

It was one of those common house spiders.

But to see a spider in my penthouse that's a no go.

She buried her face into the crook of my neck.

"It's okay I'll get rid of the spider okay?" I said grabbing a tissue and snatched the spider that was on the wall.

I went to the bathroom and dropped it in the toilet and flushed it down.

"There no more spider" I said throwing the tissue away.

She unburied herself and looked at the toilet that was being flushed.

"Since your up now why don't we get you ready for bed officially?" I said.

"Okay I do it myself" she said.

I grinned at her.

She was using her words more.

why does it feel like I'm experiencing first time father things... Antonio you aren't even her father don't flatter yourself.

I placed her on the countertop of the sink.

"Do you know how to brush your teeth?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Alright show me" I said giving her the extra toothbrush.

I gotta buy a child's toothbrush as well.

I've been making mental notes on what to get.

Ellie put the paste onto the toothbrush and began to move the brush in a circular motion.

"Good job" I praised her.

While she was brushing her teeth I decided to let Mat know on the new intel.

"Mat her name is Ellie Locks.

Look into Henry Locks" I said low enough that Ellie wouldn't hear.

"Okay man. But why are you whispering?" he asked on the line.

"I'm supervising her while she is getting ready for bed" I replied.

"Ooo Okay 'dad' when's the curfew" Mat said chuckling.

This time when he made a joke that in the past would've ticked me off.

I remained calm and I didn't deny it.

"Damn you're serious. I gotta meet this kid my dude" Mat said.

"Alright soon" I said then I hung up.

"I need help to brush my hair" Ellie said as she puts the toothbrush into the holder.

"Certainly" I said and I made my way to her.

I picked up a brush and she was sitting on a chair already.

I stood behind her and gently combed her hair.

I had accomplished brushing her hair.

"Now can you get into your jammies?" I asked setting the brush back to the counter.

She nods her head.

"Alright. I'll be in the living room if you need me okay?" I said she nodded then went out of the bathroom and to her dresser.

I followed her out then I walked out of her room.

I decided to grab the documents that Dr. Cortez handed me.

I put it in a special file cabinet then I locked the cabinet.

I went to my bookshelf and grabbed a classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I situated myself down on a sofa.

edit: 4.19.21

edit: 10.31.22