Chapter 5: Who are you?

Sienna turned slowly to face her son after he spoke. She examined him intently for a moment, then took a deep breath and knelt in front of him.

"You should avoid people like that, especially this man who said you look like him. He’s likely a bad person" she advised, and little Emilio nodded in agreement.

"Don’t worry, Mom. I told him I’d be even more handsome than he is, so I don’t really look like him," Emilio replied. Sienna lifted him up and they got into the taxi, which took them to their destination.

During the drive, her mind wandered back to her son's comment about the man who claimed Emilio looked like him. She tried not to overthink it, reminding herself that many people can look alike.

As they stepped out of the taxi, a young man in his twenties approached them with a smile. Emilio beamed and gave him a cheerful hug. The man ruffled Emilio’s hair playfully before turning to Sienna.

"Welcome, ma'am," he greeted Sienna, who responded with a smile.

"You can head home now. Your payment for today will be transferred to your account," Sienna said as she entered the restaurant.

"Why didn’t you come pick me up when Mom was busy? What if I had been kidnapped?" Emilio asked. The man smiled and crouched down to Emilio's level.

"We had a lot of customers, and your mom went to see your dad at the company because I overheard he’s been having trouble with malnutrition," the man explained.

"You don't have to take me seriously. I’m five and can take care of myself. I’m going inside now, Uncle Michael Jackson," Emilio said, then turned and walked into the restaurant.

Michael had a bemused expression as he watched Emilio, "Michael Jackson?" he repeated, puzzled.

Emilio paused and looked back at him. "Of course. You're Michael, and a week ago, I saw you dancing to Michael Jackson's song. You were terrible at it. I thought if I called you that, you might end up like him" Emilio said with a grin before heading inside.

Michael blinked rapidly, trying to grasp Emilio's words. "End up like Michael Jackson? Emilio, are you saying I'll die too?" he asked with a chuckle as he entered the restaurant. By then, Emilio was already by his mother’s side, munching on a snack.

"Is everything alright, Michael?" Sienna inquired.

"Jackson," Emilio added with a giggle.

Sienna turned to Emilio with a disapproving look. "Emilio, that’s not his name."

"But his name is Michael," Emilio replied.

"You're only five. Act your age," Sienna admonished. Emilio pouted sadly and nodded, focusing on his snack. Sienna glanced at him, letting out a soft sigh. His overly mature behavior sometimes worried her.

"I'll be heading out now, boss. See you tomorrow," Michael said, giving Emilio’s hair a playful ruffle before leaving the restaurant.

Emilio frowned and straightened his disheveled hair. "I’m not a kid... I’m five," he muttered softly, but Sienna heard him. When he saw her looking, he flashed her a charming smile. Sienna returned the smile, her gaze lingering on him as he continued with his snack.

*****

As Alexander drove into the parking lot, he saw Jake waiting outside. He got out of the car, holding a small gift bag, while Jake approached him with a scowl, as if ready to confront him.

"What took you so long?" Jake demanded.

"I never said I’d come this morning," Alexander replied, adjusting his tie.

"Damn it, dude! I told Grandma you were on your way five hours ago," Jake said, clenching his fists as if he wanted to strangle his friend. Alexander ignored him and headed into the house.

With a warm smile, Alexander approached Grandma Emma, who frowned at him. Undeterred, he greeted her, "Good evening, Grandma."

"If I hadn’t asked about you, you wouldn’t have come to see me, Xander. You don’t even visit your mom, do you?" she questioned. He hugged her before taking a seat next to her.

"I’ve been busy these past few years, which is why I could only keep in touch over the phone. But don’t worry, I’ll visit more often," he assured her. She nodded.

"Did you have breakfast? What about lunch?" she asked. Jake scoffed, feeling his grandma was being partial.

"You didn’t ask me that when I came, Grandma," Jake interjected, whining.

"I’ll ask you that when you stop playing around and take over the company. Act like a man and get married too!" Grandma Emma shot back.

"Alex isn’t married either," Jake retorted.

"But he’s a man."

"So am I a woman?" Jake responded. Alexander stifled a laugh. He knew Jake enjoyed frustrating Grandma Emma, but she never backed down either. It seemed to run in their blood.

"You heard that, right, Alex? From now on, call me Patricia," Jake said, rolling his eyes theatrically. Grandma Emma ignored him and turned her attention back to Alexander.

"Have you given any thought to what I asked Jake to tell you?" she inquired. Alexander forced a strained smile. He had no intention of involving himself with Jayson Williams, especially after their last encounter, which had been far from nice.

The day passed quickly, and it was already 8 PM. Alexander had wished Grandma Emma goodnight and was now by his car with Jake, preparing to leave.

"Goodnight, dude," Jake said. Alexander nodded and was about to get into his car when Jake spoke up again.

"About that child..." Jake trailed off, causing Alexander to let out an exasperated sigh.

"He has a mom and a 'dad', so stop with the nonsense already," Alexander replied, getting into his car and not waiting for Jake to say anything more. Jake chuckled and waved as Alexander drove away.

******

The next morning, Sienna was already at her restaurant with her son seated nearby. Emilio hadn’t gone to school because he had caught a cold from eating ice cream the previous day, something Sienna usually avoided for him. Her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw it was Jayson calling.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, removing her apron with her free hand.

"Not really. I can’t concentrate because my stomach feels empty. I’m sorry," Jayson replied. Sienna’s smile widened at his words.

After reassuring him that she would be there soon, she ended the call and turned to her son. "We’ll go to the hospital after we leave the company, okay?" Sienna said. Emilio pouted in response. She knew he disliked hospitals and medicine, but she intended to take him there as a consequence for talking to a stranger and accepting something from him.

Emilio nodded softly as he watched his mother pack a lunchbox for Jayson.

*****

Jayson sat on his swivel chair with his eyes closed. When he heard footsteps, he opened them to find the man he despised most standing in front of him with a nonchalant expression.

Alexander took a seat without waiting for an invitation.

"I didn’t ask you to sit," Jayson said, his voice colder than before.

Alexander shrugged and crossed his legs, maintaining his intense gaze. "You don’t need to ask me to do that," he replied casually.

Jayson nodded, a dry laugh escaping him, his irritation palpable. Their antagonistic relationship had been longstanding; as rivals in the business world, their enmity was deeply rooted.

"Well, I never saw us partnering, but I’m here because I was forced to come," Alexander noted, inspecting his hands as if they were of great interest.

"You came at the wrong time. I’m about to have breakfast, and I hate being disturbed during my meal," Jayson said, reaching for his phone to make a call. At that moment, a voice called out to him.

"Dad!" Emilio exclaimed, running towards Jayson, who picked him up with a smile. Alexander, noticing Emilio, couldn’t help but smile as well. Was this Jayson's son?

"Hey, kiddo," Alexander waved. Emilio waved back, and Alexander was about to say more when a figure appeared beside him. He glanced sideways but didn’t bother to turn around, dismissing it as unimportant.

"I see you’re busy. Should we come back later?" Sienna asked Jayson.

The moment she spoke, Alexander's heart skipped a beat. The voice was one he could never forget. He quickly rose to his feet, shock on his face.

"Anne?" he called, turning her around to face him. He staggered backward, overwhelmed by shock. He wasn't wrong, It was indeed her.

"Anne. It really is you," he said, unable to hide his emotions. The next words she spoke nearly gave him a heart attack.

"Who are you?" she asked, staring at him strangely as she pulled her hands from his grip.