Stronger

Chapter Four

I sat next to Liam as he typed into his phone. I snapped my fingers in front of his face. "Liam. I need an answer for the question." He looked up at me blankly.

"Huh?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"The public relation ball, the planner needs an answer on what you want for the tables." He blinked.

"I forgot about that. Go with the theme. That should work." He continued to type on his phone. I rolled my eyes again and shot an email over as our guest arrived.

"Liam. What a pleasure." The older gentlemen smiled and shook his hand. "And you must be Charlie. Forgive me, but I expected a man." I shook his hand.

"No worries. I get that a lot." This was the owner of the team. Almost every single of these men usually tell me this. That or the managers. "How can we help you today, Mr. Chapman?" I asked him as Liam put his phone away and shook the hand of the manger.

"We have heard such amazing things from your company, we just had to have you come in and give your opinion on the inner workings. See if we can be making any more money." He called to the waitress to come over. Lunch meets were always my favorite, as I never had to worry about the people we worked with and the food was always good.

"We are more than happy to help," Liam smiled at him handing his phone to me to check his email. We got into the small details and prices when lunch was over. "Charlie will give you a call later this week on where we go from here. We'll fax you the bill and the plans." He shook the hands of the men before us.

"Pleasure to meet you, Charlotte." He smiled at me looking me up and down before fixing his suite and walking off with his manager. I rolled my eyes at Liam.

"Corn dogs, all of them." I sighed putting my note book away.

"He wants you, Babe." I glared at him as we got to his car. "I need you to come to the office and type those notes up and get the billing set up for them as well as for the Mackerhands in New York." I nodded at him.

"Can we pick up, Sammy? He can chill in my office with me." I beamed up at him making him roll his eyes. "Please?"

"Fine, just because I love that kid more than you." I buckled myself in as Liam turned the car on and it purred. We pulled up to the daycare to see Sammy playing out front with his little friends. "I'll be right back." I waved at him as he came running over. I can't believe that he is going to be three soon. He's growing up so fast.

"You want to come to the office with me baby?" He nodded happily as I picked him up and picked up his backpack.

"I can play!" He giggled as I took him to the car and buckled him in. "Mommy, I draw you a picture. It's me and you, and uncle Jake, and uncle Liam." He pulled the picture out give it to me. I beamed at him.

"Oh baby, its perfect. I love it. You did this all by yourself?" I looked at the picture. "Sammy, who's next to you and uncle Jake?" I asked him looking up.

"That's Daddy." I bit my lip as he looked at me.

"It's great, Sam." Liam answered when I sat back in silence. I fought the tears as I sat there. Jake was right. I need to find Avery because Sammy needs his father. When we got to the office I got Sammy settled in his play area while I went to work. I finished what Liam wanted long ago, but now I just sat looking at my screen trying to figure my life out. There was a knock at the door.

"Hey, Im going to go pick up dinner from Jake, what do you guys want?" Liam asked sticking his head in.

"Ice cream!" Sammy called loudly sitting up from where he is coloring.

"A chicken sandwich and Mac and cheese for him." I said smiling when Sammy turned to pout at me.

"But, Mommy!" He called. I rolled my eyes.

"And some ice cream. Only because someone was a good boy today." He cheered getting up to follow Liam to tell him what he wants. I looked back down at the piece of paper in front of me. Actually getting information on Avery Carter was incredibly hard. He's a famous quarterback but I can't find a way to contact him. I grunted covering my face.

"I going with Uncle Liam, Mommy?" Sammy asked holding his backpack with a puppy dog look.

"Okay, have fun." I smiled at him as he ran to go tell him, his curls bouncing on his head. My beautiful baby boy is growing up so fast.

"We'll be back." Liam called as the door closed. I hand my hand through my hair and sighed. I picked up the files for tomorrow as I pulled my hair out and go to make copies.

I hear the of the door opening in the other room. The office was huge. Liam was able to expand to have another two people to work for him, as well as a waiting room and receptionist, none of which who are here right now. Liam is the CEO and is always hear so I am too. Thankfully he lets Sammy stay here with me too all the time. I ignored the sound in the other room until I hear a voice.

"Hello?" A voice called into the empty office. I put the copies down and pick up my cellphone off the table. The offices are closed. The door should be locked. We might be in a large business building but there still shouldn't be people here, it's almost 8. "Hello?" The husky voice called again. I swallowed nervously, all alone in the offices.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked moving into the room, clutching my phone. I looked up into the eyes I could never forget.

"Avery." I said breathless looking at him. The pictures didn't do him justice. His forever long hair was cut short, not even long enough to fall on his forehead. I could see the defined muscles in his arms, his chest. He's still the most handsome man I have ever seen. His hard features were so similar yet so different from Sammy's soft child like features.

"Charlie." His eyes ran down me. I looked away embarrassed. I wasn't even wearing shoes, no one else is supposed to be here.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him as he put his hands in his leather jacket he was wearing. He cleaned his throat, scratching the back of his head.

"Uh, the coach told me that I had to speak to some guy about some speaking engagements." I bit my lip as he stepped towards me. "How, how have you been?" He asked stepping towards me.

"Look at you, big football star now." I fought the tears as I stared at him. "So grown up. You know, I always wondered what I would say to you when I finally saw you again." I gave a laugh as I pushed the tears back.

"Charlie, I, I don't know what to say." He looked away. I nodded wiping my eyes, what am I doing? Like he still cares.

"The offices are closed, come back during business hours." I shook my head. Stupid, stupid girl. Why would I think Avery would just  go back to what it was. I needed to think of Sammy. Sammy. Sammy. Avery's son.

"Charlie, I." I shook my head.

"Please, I don't want to have to call security." We stared at each other before he nodded.

"I'm sorry." I stared at him as he backed away from me. Sorry for what? Coming here after hours, 4 years ago, or just what he said. He wrote something down on a piece of paper from his pocket. He wrote something down.

"Here, Char. Call me. Any time." He put the paper in my hand and closed my fist. The touch of his skin sent tingles up my arm. I watched him as he walked out and closed the door behind him before collapsing under my own weight and sliding done the wall and crying.....