Antonio's POV

"Server" I called.

"Yes sir?" she responded.

"Did you see a little girl and where is she?" I asked a bit impatient.

"I saw the girl sitting but she seemed to be frightened by something" the server replied.

"Well? Then where is she" I asked.

"We could check the security footages" The server said.

"Fine. do it quickly" I said getting more and more annoyed.

The server quickly went back into the back of the restaurant.

Right before the server came back to inform.

I saw Ellie she was standing very still and looking outside.

I walked over to her.

"Ellie you gave me a scare" I said picking her up.

"I-I I saw my father" she stammers.

I brushed my fingers down her hair.

"Did you get scare and hide?" I asked.

She nodded.

"If you ever get scared just run to me okay?" I softly said.

I looked outside to see if I saw that man but knowing he is lurking around made me flare up.

Then the server came back.

"thank you for helping. But it appears I managed to find her" I said giving her the bill and walked out of that place.

We walked into a play area.

"Elli why don't you try that slide out?" I said motioning her to the 4 feet slide.

She nodded and went over to the slide.

I sat on a bench that was only a few feet away from the slide so I can keep an eye on her.

I phoned Mat.

"Mat I think you should track Henry Locks" I said.

"Ant this is the first time you've called me multiple times over the past days" Mat says.

"Mat you understand what I"m asking" I replied.

"Yes I'll keep track of him. But I've got some intel of him" Mat begins to say.

"Well what is it" I questioned.

I knew he is a alcoholic and a abusive person but what else is he?

"It seems that Henry Locks isn't Ellie's actual father" Mat said.

How can that be possible? Even Dr. Cortez gave me a file saying he was the father.

"Mat are you drunk? I just went to Dr. Cortez and everything checks" I argued.

"Yes yes I didn't think it was possible either. But He isn't her father which proves that he doesn't have custody" Mat explains.

"Then who the hell is he to her?!" I was getting furious at that Henry Locks.

He isn't even the birth father of Ellie.

"He is her step father" I clenched my fist.

"Then what of her birth father?" I inquired.

"That is highly classified I wasn't able to get any deets. So that's probably why Dr. Cortez just assumed Henry was the father" Mat briefly explains.

"We have to talk face to face meet me at the Rainbow Mall right now I am located in the Children's play house" I said.

"Thank you Ant I get to meet the kid now" Mat hangs up.

Within minutes he came over.

Now I'm wondering if he just tracked my IP and somehow knew I'd call him?

"Antonio" Mat walks up.

"Matthias" I stood up to greet him while casually looking at Ellie playing on the slides.

"Is she the cutie who captured your heart" Mat teased giving me a nudge on my shoulder.

"Ellie" I called to her.

She slid down the slide and looked Mat up and down.

Then she slowly made her way to me.

"Ellie this man is Mat he is going to help you" I said.

Ellie glued herself to my leg.

"He looks scary doesn't he? Well he went to school with me" I coaxed.

"Hi cutie" Mat kneels to Ellie's level.

She then takes a good look at him.

She didn't open up to him.

"Mat it looks like she doesn't like you" I said proudly.

"Ant do I need to tell her a story of that incident" Mat says defending himself.

My eyes widened.

"You would never think of doing that" I glared.

"Ellie did you know that your daddy onc-" Mat began to say before I stepped on his foot.

Ellie had looked at me curiously.

"Ellie you do not step on people's foot unless you don't like them" I instructed I didn't need her to be going around stepping on strangers' foot.

She nodded slowly but then a grin came to her face.

Uh oh what is she thinking.

Mat slowly stepped away from Ellie then before we knew it she raced between his legs and since she was small her head hit him in the groin area.

I roared with laughter.

Mat fell to the ground and yelped at the horrendous pain.

But then Ellie looked back.

"Daddy why is he in pain?" she asked.

Then she began to fumble with her thumbs.

I picked Ellie up while my buddy was on the floor trying to get rid of the pain.

"He's alright" I said giving Mat the hint to pretend to be alright.

Then Ellie's lips began to quiver.

"I hur-rt h-im" she says burying her head in my chest.

I stroked her head.

"He is just a little disoriented" I said and while she had her head buried I kicked Mat to have him stand up. To which he did.

"Cutie you didn't hurt me" Mat says slowly rising from the ground even though he was in so much pain.

"How about we discuss matters a bit later?" I said seeing that he would be too focused on the pain.

"I- I sorry" Ellie says unburying herself and facing Mat.

"You didn't hurt me no need to apologize" Mat covers his pain with a smile.

"O-okay" Ellie said.

I don't think I ever laughed that much.

But god I pray he doesn't tell Ellie my embarrassing story that happened like 8 years ago.

I still can't believe he spilled coffee on me though.

"Sounds good to me. Now it was lovely meeting with you Miss Ellie" Mat said and gave me a pat on the shoulder and walked out.

I gotta guard myself down there then.

While attempting to walk out of the children's play house "Put me down" Ellie demands.

"You want to play some more?" I asked.

She nodded.

So I let her down and she made her way to the swings.

"Be careful" I said to her while she was running towards the swings.

Other parents were sitting down on a bench or a table while their offsprings went to play.

Then a brunette woman approached me.

I narrowed my eyes.

She was brining her son as well.

"Sir can I leave my son with you for 20 minutes tops?" the brunette woman asked.

I was surprised.

Isn't she at least concerned if I am going to kidnap her son?

Then again I had a daughter so I guess it makes sense she puts trust in me.

I scoffed.

"Very well. 20 minutes and that's it" I coldly said.

She nodded.

Her son seemed curious at me.

"His name is Xander, and I'm a Camille" she explains.

"That's been a minute now you only have 19 minutes tops" I said.

Then the woman scurried off.

Didn't even say goodbye to her son I rolled my eyes.

"How old are you" I asked.

"I am 8 years old" the boy replied.

"Where is your mother off to" I asked.

"Camille is my aunt" Xander replied.

I inhaled.

"Then what of your mother?" I tapped my foot.

"She is on a honeymoon" Xander replies.

I'm not sure why but the presence of this child made me lose my patience.

"How old are you" The boy asked.

I tsked.

"I am 25 years old" I responded dryly.

"You're old" The boy said.

I furrowed my brows.

0Don't you know you can't disrespect your superiors" I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

I am Antonio Smith the world profound CEO.

"Father never told me that" Xander says.

Who the heck is this child's father? To not have respect for their superiors.

"Don't test me young Lad. Your aunt should be back in 15 minutes" I said.

"Why are you in the childrens'

playhouse" Xander questions.

I was beginning to lose my calm.

"Because I have a child" I tsked.

"I wouldn't want you to be my father then" Xander states.

The nerve of this child.

Antonio you can't be easily taken down by a mere child.

Prior to my response I was alert when detected Ellie's cries.

I brushed passed Xander and I made my way to Ellie.

She was sitting on the ground favoring her right hand.

I gently took her right hand and prodded it.

She sprained it.

"Shh I'll get a first aid kit" I said.

"Don't move it too much" I continued then I went to the supervisors for the Children playhouse.

"I need a ice pack asap" I ordered. They moved quickly and gave me a ice pack and a sling.

"Grazie" I said and I made it back to Ellie.

"Ellie I'm going to put this over you okay?" I said and I carefully put the sling over her head and I rested her hand in the sling.

I pressed the ice pack on her sprained wrist.

"Your child is not like you" The boy says.

I ignored him.

Right now my focus is my baby girl.

"Ellie does it hurt badly?" I questioned.

She shook her head.

Okay that's good.

She'll just be in a sling for maybe a couple weeks.

"Xander where is your aunt now" I questioned.

"She should be back by now" he said.

I inhaled to calm myself.

I wanted to bring Ellie into Dr. Cortez but I can't leave a child here alone.

I decided it's best to phone Julian.

"Hello, Antonio" Julian says.

"Cortez Ellie has a sprained wrist she says it doesn't hurt badly but how long should she be in a sling" I asked.

"Well if it's not severe then 10 days she should be fine" Julian replies.

"Alright thank you" I said and I hung up.

And within moments Camillie came back.

"Thank you for looking after him" Camille says.

"Teach him how to respect people older than him" I clicked my tongue and I gently lifted Ellie up.

"Is she your daughter?" Camille asks with adoring eyes at Ellie.

I ignored her question.

"We'll be going now" I said and I brushed pass them.

Ellie was resting her head on my shoulders as I walked onto to the escalator.

It was only 2:30 I had a conference call around 4.

Once I got off the escalator I went out of the mall and unlocked the car.