An Unusual Affair

Chapter 10

The driver parked the car outside Hayden's school. It was still ten minutes for Hayden to come out so Richard sat in the backseat going through his emails. 

He was replying to an email when Peter said cautiously, 'Erm Sir?'

'Hmm.' Richard said without taking his eyes off his screen. 

'Sir it's Madam Vanessa outside Master Hayden's School.' Peter said pointing at a woman walking towards the main gate of the school. 

Hearing Vanessa's name Richard quickly left his mobile and jumped out of the car. His car was parked across the school so he would have to go through the pedestrian crossing to reach the gate. As he turned towards the pedestrian crossing, he saw Emily standing there, waiting for the light to turn green. 

He stopped in his tracks, thinking whether he should go and stand beside Emily and walk towards Vanessa with her to give her a chance to malign their image or stand aside and see how things unfolded. 

The school bell rang and a swarm of children started to come towards the gate. Impulse took over Richard's thinking and he started walking towards Emily. 

Emily also saw Richard coming towards her. In his finely tailored suit, he looked picture-perfect. Emily could feel her race beat getting faster. She looked the other way not to concentrate much on Richard. 

As he came to stand beside her the red light turned green. They started walking as Richard said, 'Good Afternoon Mrs. Morgan.' 

'Good Afternoon Mr. Sterling. I hope you are doing well.' Emily asked in a low voice.

'Yes thank you. Vanessa is standing at the gate of the school. I am informing you just so you stay alert. Our walking together is already enough for her to cook up a storm.' Richard said urgently and walked ahead of Emily to reach the gate quickly. 

Emily looked closely around the crowd that was now gathered around the school and spotted Vanessa. 

Vanessa saw Richard walking towards her. and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Emily walking right behind him. 'Wow, what a sight. It seems the fly wants to get trapped willingly.' she thought to herself and a huge smile appeared on her face. 

'What are you doing here?' Richard said in a low voice approaching her. He did not want to create a scene here when so many onlookers were present. Emily maintained her distance from the couple, waiting for Lily to come. 

'In case you have forgotten Darling, Hayden is as much my son as he is yours. I came to see him of course. I thought we would go on a playdate.' Vanessa said coquettishly. 

A pulse started throbbing in Richard's temple. As much as he wanted to strangle her, he kept his composure. 'We will see if Hayden will want to go with you or not.' Richard said through clenched teeth. He hated hearing the word 'Darling' from her mouth. This was how she had started to seduce him in the early days of their college time. 

Hayden and Lily came into sight. Both were holding hands as they came towards the gate. Emily briefly risked a glance at Richard who was standing at the back of the crowd of parents. He was also looking at her. Their eyes met briefly when they both looked back at their kids. 

Lily left Hayden's hand came running towards her mom and hugged her. As Hayden approached Richard he froze momentarily seeing Vanessa standing beside him. For a moment he thought maybe they were back together. But the expression of utter disgust on Richard's face cleared to him that things were not as he was thinking. 

'Hey Baby how are you?' Vanessa said walking forward and hugging Hayden. Hayden never felt the sincerity in those hugs. It felt robotic whenever she hugged him or talked to him. 

'I am good Mom. How come you are here?' Hayden said walking towards Richard and holding his hand he added, 'Hey Dad.' and gave him a small smile. 

Richard held Hayden's hand tightly. Emily and Lily were now standing at the pedestrian crossing waiting for the light to turn green again. 

'I was thinking we should go on a playdate today. You and Me.' Vanessa said. 'Or if you want you can bring your friend as well. We will have fun.'  she added quickly knowing that Hayden would never lose a chance to play with Lily. 

Richard quickly looked around to see where Emily and Lily were. 'I hope they leave before Hayden agrees to this ridiculous idea.' 

'Yes, it will be fun. Dad, can I go, please? I should ask Lily first though. Where is she?' Hayden said excitedly. As soon as he spotted Lily he left Richard's hand and ran to stop Lily from crossing the road. 

'Lily, Lily wait.' Hayden said running towards her. 

Emily and Lily turned towards Hayden. Richard also caught up with them. Anger and frustration plastered on his face. Vanessa also followed him, enjoying the disruption she had caused in a few minutes in Richard's life.

Emily avoided looking at Richard. She could feel Vanessa's gaze on them. 'What is going to happen now?' Emily thought to herself. 

'Hey Lily my Mom is taking me on a playdate. She has invited you as well. Will you come?? Please?' Hayden said in a pleading tone. 'Mrs. Morgan, please let Lily come with us. We will drop her off back home safely. Pleaseeee?' he continued. 

Emily looked from Hayden to Vanessa and finally at Richard. He was also looking at her directly, trying to communicate with his eyes not to give permission. 

As if their minds connected in that moment of eye contact Emily said, 'But Lily has to help me with some things at home. Sorry, Hayden dear. Maybe some other day.' 

Richard let out a sigh of relief as a gentle smile appeared on his face. Vanessa saw this silent interaction between the two. 'So Richard likes Emily in real. I haven't seen him smile at someone like that.' She thought to herself. 

Hayden's face fell. Vanessa stepped forward and said, 'Come on Emily don't be a killjoy for the kids. They will have fun. I promise you Lily will be safe. Or if you have doubts Richard and you can come as well. The more people the better.' 

Emily found herself dumbfounded being called a killjoy in front of the kids. As much as she felt uncomfortable around Vanessa this was the first time that she felt malice in her words as well. 

Lily hearing the plan got lightened up thinking of a chance to see her mother having fun with Richard. She looked up at her mother and said, 'Please Mom let's go. We will not take too long and go back home early.' 

Seeing the helpless expression on Emily's face Richard clenched his fists and said, 'Mrs. Morgan can't leave her Bakery unattended. If she allows us to take Lily, I promise I will drop her off back home in two hours.' His words were earnest and his gaze never left Emily. 

As much as she knew her husband, Vanessa could feel the desire to be with Emily and to protect her burning within Richard. 

Emily agreed on the plan and bidding farewell to her daughter she left for her home. Lily went with Hayden and Richard towards their car half-heartedly as her plan did not work out as she wanted. 

Vanessa asked them to meet at the amusement park and went to get her car. Sitting in her car she replayed everything that happened just now. 'He is so much into Emily and he doesn't even realize it himself. Poor Richard. As much as I want to bring them together to get Hayden's custody, I should do something to drift them apart so they can not be together. How would that feel then Richard?' Vanessa said to herself laughing at the pain Richard would go through.

She took out her phone and dialed a number. 'I want to know where Emily's husband is. Find everything about him as soon as you can.' Vanessa said with an evil smile on her face.