Chapter Seven

"Don’t you find it very strange that your daughter looks a lot like me?”. Cesar asked her innocently. They had just finished a two hour meeting and went for lunch but Cesar decided to try a new place. They were having pizza for lunch and smoothie.

“She does?". She feigned ignorance. "I haven’t noticed.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

Cesar stared at her then down at his french fries. “Are you trying to tell me..that you gave birth to your daughter seven years ago and you’ve never taken a good look at her?.” He stared at her in disbelief.

“M..maybe.” she mumbled.

“Do you take me for a fool Ellie?”. He stopped eating and leaned back in his chair.

“No of course not. I dare not". She shook her head. "But if that’s your story.” She added cheekily. "I thought you said you wouldn't bring this up again? You gave me your word." She said accusingly. 

"I'm curious." He said. "She looks exactly like me. Like I was cloned or something. Anyone with half a brain will think the same thing Ellie and wonder. Hence the question."

"God created two people alike." She said. 

Cesar shrugged. “I don’t believe that cock and bull story about God creating two people alike.” He said gruffly.

“Haven’t you met your doppelganger? I have seen mine and she’s a little girl. She’s so adorable.” Ellie smiled fondly.

“I have seen mine too but that’s not the point here.” He rumbled.

Ellie let out a frustrated sigh. “Okay but what if it’s the truth?”. She asked.

“What if it isn’t?”. He countered.

“Have you ever seen the inside of a church since you were born Cesari Sandoval?”. Ellie mocked him.

Cesar’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t try my fucking patience Ellie”. He growled at her.

“Why?”.

“Okay you know what? Forget it." He snapped. "I really don’t care.”

“Why were you getting worked up about it then?”. Ellie demanded.

“I said forget it!”. He snarled at her.

“Don’t raise your voice at me.” She reprimanded him.

“What the hell Sandoval? Why are you so bothered about this? You really need to get laid.” He thought grimly.

He took a deep breath to calm himself then looked at Ellie who had a deep frown on her face and she was stabbing at her salad angrily without eating it so he placed his hand on hers to stop her movement making her send him a death glare.

“You’re mad at me so stop torturing the poor salad.” He joked.

Ellie yanked her hand away and dropped her fork. “Can we leave now?”. She snapped then didn’t bother waiting for a reply as she rose from her seat, grabbed her bag from the handle of her chair and left.

“Fucking hell!". He groaned as he watched her leave. "I really need to get laid.” He hated the fact that her anger seemed to turn him on which was usually a turn off for him with other women.

He paid the bill then left the restaurant but when he got outside,Ellie was nowhere to be found so he assumed that she’d gone to her daughter’s school and he got into his car but didn’t drive immediately as he started the car.

He was torn between going after Ellie and going back to work but of course going after Ellie won so he found himself driving to Miesa’s school.

Cesar got to Miesa’s school and parked the car in the lot. He alighted from the car and hoped he’d not missed them but he let out a sigh of relief when he saw them coming out of the school building.

Miesa had a petulant look on her face and her arms were crossed in front of her. He didn’t know what was wrong but he could feel Ellie’s frustration from where he was standing so he pushed back from the car and walked across the lawn to where they stood.

“There you are.” He said.

Miesa’s face lit up like the fourth of July when she saw him.

“Mr Sandoval! You’re here!”. She squealed in delight and threw her arms around his waist.

Cesar mentally frowned when he felt that strange ache in his chest again. 

“I guess I’m not imagining things then.” He thought.

“Hey princess.” He crouched down to her level and kissed her forehead. "What’s wrong? did mom say anything to upset you?”.

“Of course not!”. Ellie refuted.

“I asked her why she didn’t come with you and she said that you were busy". Miesa said. 

“I’m here now aren’t I?”. He smiled at her. "Now smile.”

Miesa beamed at him showing her dimples and he mirrored her big smile.

“Fucking hell! did you clone yourself man?”. His subconscious removed his sunshades to get a closer look at her.

“That’s what I intend to find out.” He thought.

“Um..sir.. can we get ice cream on our way? I’m craving some.” Miesa asked him.

“Sure princess. Call me Cesar.” He told her.

“Okay.”

“Let’s go?”. He looked to Ellie.

Ellie sent him a dirty look and flounced off.

“I think she’s on her period.” Miesa told him.

Cesar threw his head back and let out a bark of laughter making Miesa giggle.

“I think so too princess.” Cesar whispered to her.

“Annoying sexy as hell idiot.” Ellie muttered under her breath as Cesar opened the passenger door for Miesa and she got in then he fastened her seatbelt for her before he closed the door.

“Hey Ellie." He put his hand on the door to prevent her from getting in the car.

“What?”. She bit out.

“I’m sorry.” Cesar apologized. "I don’t like us fighting.”

Ellie stewed inside for a minute then looked at his face. He was sincerely remorseful so she let it go too.

“Apology accepted.” She mumbled.

“Say that with a smile.” He urged.

“We don’t have time for this.” Ellie said and on cue Miesa honked twice impatiently.

Cesar chuckled and stepped back to let her in so he went around the car and got in.

“Where to princess?”. He asked as he started the car.

“Um.. Angel’s please!”.

“Right on it Your Highness.” He said and drove off.

Cesar parked right in front of Angel’s and unfastened his seatbelt. He got out of the car and went to help Miesa out of the car as she was practically dancing on her seat in excitement which made him laugh.

“You coming Ellie?”. He asked her.

“Sure.” She got out and closed the door then followed Miesa into the ice cream shop.

“What will you have sweetie?”. Ellie asked her when they got to the counter.

“Hmmn..there are so many flavors to choose from.” Miesa said.

“You can have just one.” Ellie said firmly.

“Okay I’ll have rocky road then.” She said in defeat.

“One rocky road and..”

“Won’t you order for Cesar?”. Miesa interrupted her.

Elyon rolled her eyes. “Cesar hates ice cream.”

“Who told you that?”. Cesar asked from behind her.

“You did, remember?”. She turned to look at him.

“No I don’t remember telling you that Ellie love." Cesar said. "I’ll have rocky road as well." He said to the attendant.

“Okay. Anything for you ma’am?”. The girl asked Ellie.

“Neapolitan.”

“Coming right up.”

“We’re over there". Cesar pointed to a window booth in the corner.

“Sure sir.”

They walked over to the booth and sat down. Cesar and Miesa sat together while Ellie took a seat opposite them.

“This feels like a family outing doesn’t it?”. Cesar asked. He stared at Ellie pointedly.

“Fucking say something please!”. Her subconscious begged.

“Do you have something to tell me Ellie?”. Cesar mentally asked her.

“It does, doesn’t it?”. Miesa chimed in.

“I..guess.” Ellie shrugged.

“We should do this more often.” Miesa said. "Right Mommy?”.

“You love putting mommy on the spot don’t you girl?”. Ellie’s inner goddess gave Miesa the stink eye.

“I don’t know. It’s up to Cesar.” She said.

“Yeah. We should.” Cesar agreed. "I have this movie coming up where I have to act as a widowed dad with four kids. I think I’ll need a lot of help. You’ll help me won’t you Ellie?”. He flashed a panty dropping smile.

“If I’m not too busy.” She mumbled hiding her flushed face. She couldn't help wondering exactly what that would entail and she hoped he wouldn't ask her to play house with him. He probably wouldn't but she'd noticed that Cesari Sandoval was a very unpredictable person. You never know what to expect from him.

“Two orders of rocky road and one neapolitan.” Their waitress dropped their orders in front of them with a smile. "Enjoy.” She walked away.

“Thank you.” Miesa said and dug in excitedly.

Yes they had to do this soon enough and everyday if she could help it.