Take It From Me

chapter five

"Let's go, Joseph, time to go to school!! We can't skip today because I have to go to work," I say putting on my outfit for the day.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" he screams back running into the kitchen with his bag on his shoulder. He might be in kindergarten but we take that seriously. He sits down and eats his breakfast quickly.

I giggle as he tries to gulp down his cereal. His kindergarten lasts from 9-2 and that works out pretty well because I get off work at 1:30. It's not a long day of work for me, but it gets the job done and since I kind of work for me, it makes it even easier because I can continue to work from home. As we leave my apartment we walk into the elevator and a new guy walks into the elevator.

"You seem new," I say as the elevator begins to move down.

"I just moved in two days ago, I'm Randy by the way!" the younger gentleman says. He's pretty attractive and I can't help smiling at him.

"London," I say and shake his hand.

"I'm Joseph!" my 6-year-old pipes up holding out his hand too.

"Nice to meet you, little dude," Randy smiles, and the elevator doors open. "I hope I can run into you again soon."

"Me too, see you later Randy," I blush slightly. This is the first time I allowed myself to flirt with a guy in two years, I try to push past my feelings for Ethan. I need to move on from Ethan.

I drive Joseph to kindergarten and let them know that his father will be picking him up on Friday, and the teacher has a look of shock on her face but she nods. I smile and give Joseph a hug as I leave him there for the day and I drive to work.

The day is slow, as it is a Monday. It's mostly a paperwork type of day, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a few patients.

As the hours reach closer to 1:30 pm I have an unexpected guest. It's Ethan himself.

As he strides into my office, I tense up.

"Why are you here?" I ask him cautiously, looking around.

"Why I own this company or did you not know that?" he smirks as he sits down in my chair.

"No, I did not know that," I say through gritted teeth.

"Just bought it this morning," he smirks coldly looking around my office.

"Of course you did, how can I help you, BOSS?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"Just checking in with my employees on how I can make this company better," he grins at my visible discomfort.

"You can make it better by staying as far away from me as possible. Also, why are you even in Georgia? You live on the other side of the country," I say looking disinterested.

"Business," he shrugs and stands up.

"Mm okay, well I'm leaving now, I have to go pick up Joseph," I say standing up after him.

"Can I come with?" Ethan surprises me with his question.

"I thought I told you to stay away from me, and you could get Ethan Friday," I grimace.

"Well, the school needs to know what I look like to make sure that a random stranger isn't picking up our son Friday silly," I roll my eyes at him.

"Fine, I don't care but after that, you're leaving," I say grabbing my keys.

"Great, you drive and then after just drop me off back here," he says and trails after me like a lost puppy. Jesus Christ this man.

The drive to the school is beyond awkward, my blow-up at Ethan still hanging in the air from the other day. He and I get tense as a song comes on that was played at our wedding.

As I walk in with Ethan into the building to get Joseph the teacher stares at Ethan.

"Aren't you Ethan-" she begins in shock.

"Yeah yeah, that's me," he grins at her and she asks him for an autograph and I roll my eyes. I forgot what this feeling was, going places with a well-known man.

"Is Joseph ready?" I ask interrupting the fangirling teacher and she nods.

"Is this his father?" she asks and I nod.

"Yeah, he's getting him Friday," I say and she nods smiling shyly.

"Mommy!" Joseph runs out and stops dead in his tracks as he sees Ethan. "Daddy!"

I hug him and let him run to his father and he picks him up.

"Does this mean we get to hang out today?" Joseph asks hopefully and I shake my head.

"No, he just came to pick you up with me to make sure they knew who he was so he can get you Friday with no problems!" I say and Joseph frowns.

"But I wanna hang out with Daddy today," he starts to tear up.

"Joseph honey, not today, listen to your mother," Ethan says on our way to my car.

We get in my car and I drive us back to my work, on instinct Ethan reaches for my hand. I feel the goosebumps travel up my arm at his touch. I let myself enjoy his touch for a few seconds before pulling away.

"Ethan don't," I whisper.

"Why not?" he asks looking at me.

"Just don't, you're here for your son. Keep me out of this," I say focusing on the road ignoring him. As we pull into the parking lot, Ethan steps out of my car and gives Joseph a hug.

"I'll see you Friday buddy," he says ruffling his hair making Joseph giggle.

"Bye Daddy!" he waves at him as we pull away. I catch Ethan looking at me as we drive away and I avert my gaze.

"Mommy, I'm tired..." Joseph mumbles sleepily.

"Sleep baby," I chuckle and see him shut his eyes as he falls asleep in his car seat in the back.

When I pull into my apartment complex, I see Joseph is still asleep and I unlock his door and pick him up carrying him into the building.

Just then Randy pops up again.

"Hey stranger," he smiles at me pressing the elevator button.

"Hey, how was your day?" I ask him still holding my sleeping son in my arms.

"Pretty great, I got to see a pretty lady twice," he winks at me and I chuckle.

"I guess that does make a day pretty great, huh?" I shake my head and the elevator doors open. I try to get the key to my apartment in the door but struggle immensely with it. Randy laughs and grabs the keys out of my hands and opens the door for me.

"Thank you," I say and he nods handing me the keys.

"Have a good night London," he says smiling as I close the door behind me.

What a nice guy.