Chapter Three

Lizzy POV

The costume day was a total success. Mia was awarded as the best role-playing child. She did her part well especially the “Dracarys” part. Meanwhile, Lizzy had been trying hard not to laugh as she saw Mia's haughty face when saying “Dracarys”

Mia was nodding her head now to a song blasting from the car radio.

“So Mom how was I today” she asked and Lizzy smiled and ruffled Mia’s hair. She allowed her this time.

“You won the award honey you are the best,” Lizzy said and Mia rolled her eyes.

“Yeah. But I know you mom, I want to hear your own opinions” she said and Lizzy smiled to herself. She was pretty smart for an eight-year-old.

“Okay, you’ve got me. I just find your “Dracarys” face funny that’s all”

“Mom! That’s not good” she said and Lizzy laughed and made an imitation of Mia on the stage.

“Dracarys,” She said and Mia laughed.

“Maybe you should have taken the role of mom,” she said and Lizzy laughed.

“Maybe” Lizzy agreed.  Lizzy used to love acting before. But now she worked as a journalist, and it was stressful as ever, she had to take the day off today just to be there for her daughter.

Lizzy’s heart raced when she saw Xander today, she thought she had gotten over him, and she thought that maybe when she saw him again, she’d be able to walk right past without caring.

But today just showed how wrong she was, seeing him standing at the far corner of the hall made old feelings rush back. She had never seen him look so hot even in his car mask with his eyes visible.

Lizzy's stomach felt all mushy and it took all her willpower not to walk up to him. She was still angry with him of course and probably resented him. He hadn’t noticed her of course, she had watched with jealousy as he flirted with the red-haired lady then he had walked away and that was it.

Lizzy pulled up in front of her house. Mia had fallen asleep during the ride and Lizzy smiled. All the excitement must have burnt away leaving just fatigue.

She carried Mia in her arms and chuckled when Mia mumbled something about dropping her down because he was eight and not a baby.

“You’ll always be my baby honey,” Lizzy whispered in her ear. She walked inside, took Mia to her room, and tucked her up.

Now time for the real deal——work. She sighed, She wished today would just go on forever, now it was work again and it was going to be as stressful as ever.

She heated to her room, sat behind her desk, and pulled out her laptop. She skipped to the latest project and sighed, her phone beeped with a message and Lizzy pulled it out to check.

Hello Lizzy, I have a new job for you, You are to meet with someone who needs our help with a case and you are going to be working with this person. I’ll share his details by email.”

Lizzy smiled to herself, deals like this tend to bring much income. She could get Mia the things she couldn’t afford before. Maybe the huge 2000$ teddy and a new bike.

She checked her email and smiled when she saw that her boss just sent an email. She clicked it open and her blood ran cold when she saw the picture.

It was a picture of Xander and it meant one thing, she was going to be working with him.

No no no

Why did life have to be so unfair, just the one person she wanted to avoid and suddenly he was brought for her to work with? Could life suck anymore?

She didn’t want to see Xander but she couldn’t outrightly reject the job either. Her boss was smart and she didn’t want suspicions which could lead to anyone finding out that Xander was Mia’s father. She didn’t even want Xander to know himself.

Mia was pretty much known among her colleagues at work, so it would be a big scandal if everyone knew she was Xander’s child as well and Lizzy didn’t want questions where Lizzy would be asked why she kept it a secret.

Lizzy shut the laptop in annoyance and sighed, she had planned her life already, and she didn’t want anybody to ruin it. Xander especially, can roll around the sheets with anyone he likes, not just her.

Her phone buzzed again.

I sent you the person’s profile, did you see it? If you did I want to know if you are in or not.

Lizzy sighed, this was her chance. All she had to do was no, but she had a feeling that whether she said yes or no, both choices wouldn’t end well. Lizzy had nothing to lose if she went for it, she would be making money in short. All she needed to do was to give him the cold and professional shoulder. Nothing more.

I’m in the typed and hit the send button. Lizzy could not help but feel like she was making a terrible mistake.

Lizzy heard a knock from the front downstairs. Lizzy slipped on her slippers and headed for the door. She pushed open the door and let out a gasp, there at the front door was the person she dreaded to see this close.

There, looking handsome as ever was……..

Xander.