(1) A Long Day Ahead

Zoey's POV

I grab the remote from the counter and hastily switch off the television just as Xavier appeared on it. 

He's been appearing on tv a lot more often now, apparently his companies are doing extremely well. He practically makes billions on top of billions, he even sports a new bimbo on his arm every other week. Sad  to say but each one is sluttier than the last. He's definitely not slowing down but then again, it's his life... and his health not mine.

I shake the disgusting thought from my head before I throw myself back into packing my son's lunch.

We haven't spoken in years. Eight long years to be exact. I finally come to terms with it, he obviously doesn't want to be here. During those past years I graduated from my online college class, got a degree and even went back to college for a additional two years to continue studying business after my baby was born. A few months after. It was a really rough period in my life but I got through it with the help of my foster parents and friends.

A long while after I got a really great job as a CFO for a small but thriving company. I've been working there for four years now. I even got to buy my dream house two years ago. Things are really going great. 

Xavier can go on and march straight to hell... see if I care.

"Don't mind him," my mom says as she walks into the kitchen. She briefly looks at the blank screen, "I just can't believe he would abandon my grandson like that. No explanation, no nothing."

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at that, instead I focus on zipping up my son's bag. "It's his loss. Tyler is a great kid and please do not talk like that around him. He hasn't asked directly about his father yet and I still don't know how to tell him,"

I'm grateful he hasn't. There is just not a good way to tell your child that his biological father wants nothing to do with him. That he wasn't apart of his plan.

Taking up his packed lunch bag, I walked to the couch and fetch my essential tote bag. "Tyler, I'm ready. Let's go,"

I double check to make sure everything is in it before swinging it on my arm. The boy appears a while later in the kitchen with his customized galaxy bag pack secured on his back. "I'm here mom,"

I wait patiently while my son said goodbye to his grandmother after which she walk over to me and pull me in a warm hug. I kiss her cheek in return. "Bye Mom, lock up after. I'll see you next week,"

"Definitely," I hear her reply as we head out through the front door.

××××

I slow down at the entrance of the school automatically falling in the short traffic behind the other cars.

I lightly tap my steering wheel hoping the cars would go around the roundabout faster than this. Unfortunately the red Honda in front of me is practically creeping around the bend. My eyes trail up to my rearview to look at the other vehicles behind me. They too are falling in line. I heave a low sigh. Now I'm sandwiched and can't turn back around.

I look over at the time on the dashboard. It says fifteen minutes after eight.

Great. Definitely gonna be late.

Stephen's enterprises is a healthy thirty minute drive from Ty's elementary school and that's just on a no traffic day.

"I can get out from here," I hear him fidgeting in the backseat. 

"Don't," I glance at Tyler through the rearview mirror; he is already pulling his seatbelt. "I'll carry you up to the front then I'll go around. I can't turn here,"

"We could have beaten the traffic if we were five minutes early," he comments in a matter of fact tone..

"Good to know," I smile briefly at him. "please be on your best behavior, okay?"

I stop behind a blue SUV that is parked on the right hand side.

"Always," his hazel eyes shine innocently at me. It's funny how he looks like a small replica of his father; same pink lips down to the emerald green outter circle around his iris.

Pushing away my buried feelings towards a certain billionaire, I hand my son his lunch along with a $100 bill. He stuff the money in his small plain brown wallet.

"I love you Mom," he flashes me one last goofy smile before climbing out of the back.

"I love you too," I call out after him. He turns and give me a short wave before climbing up the short steps. Moments later he blends in with the other kids. I continue to watch him walk until he was out of sighr before driving off.

××××

I barely made it to work under an hour.

Awful Monday early morning traffic.

I quickly park my car in the small underground parking lot and ride the elevator up to the thirteenth floor where my department is located.

I greet the floor's security guard and receptionist as soon as I step off the elevator. Fishing the keys from my bag I head straight into my cozy office. It is a very suited room for a CFO; I have a nice desk with two white chairs sitting in front of it, some potted plants and average paintings scattered around but best of all I have a wonderful view of the beach.

My lips purse in bliss as the cool ventilated air hits my hot skin. Placing my bags on the desk I immediately head to the small machine in the corner of the room. I made myself a steamy cup of mocha chocolate.

I really need some chocolate in me.

I moan loudly as it slides down my throat. Swirling the hot liquid inside the cup I walk around my desk and sit on the soft cushioned office chair.

Setting the cup down I log on to the computer and start reviewing the company's financial spreadsheets.

I have a long day ahead of me.

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Kellisa Kelly