The Sweet Encounter (Completed)

Chapter One - Trey

Trey never gave much thought to his life as an eligible bachelor. All his friends considered him the golden child, inheriting his father's investment firm, his mother's tender heart and her piercing blue eyes; he essentially had it all. He was 32 and spent most his adolescent life partying in the city life and sleeping with the next supermodel that rolled into town. His father died of a heart attack when he finished college while his mother took over their national investment firm.

She was the most intelligent woman he'd ever met. A graduate of an Ivy League college and earning her Ph.D. at a young age, she had a sharp intuitive mind that benefited the company more ways than even his own father knew.

Their love seemed indestructible, but it wasn't their fate when his dad died of a heart attack. His mom had been a silent partner with the firm so she could stay home and raise him, but that didn't keep her from being an integral part in decision making and actively involved with the firm. Once life settled after his father's death, his mom was appointed CEO of the firm and business continued as normal. Coincidentally, the firm performed better than the prior quarters.

Tragically, his mom's health took a turn for the worst ever since she turned 70. She began to forget simple tasks such as making coffee with milk only the way she's always preferred, or the one time she forgot to eat all day because she thought she already had all three meals. Her memory got worse, and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Trey moved in with his mom to be closer to her and oversaw her care. It was then decided before she would be in too deep of her memory loss that she turned the company over to Trey. He wasn't expecting it all to happen so fast, and he didn't feel mature enough to lead the firm. His mom, however, didn't want to hand over the company to someone else when his dad and her worked so hard to build the firm.

And with that quick turn of event, Trey found himself having to become the adult that his parents brought up righteously, and he was titled the new CEO of Bryson Investments.

Several years passed and his mother's condition worsened as the doctors had predicted. Trey was no longer able to keep his mom home alone and run the company, so he hired a full time live in nurse at home to care for her. His evenings were spent having dinner with his mom and hearing the same stories over and over about how he was such a riot as a kid. Yet she remembered how he worked so hard to pay for his first car because his parents didn't silver spoon feed him.

If there was one thing he learned from his parents, it was humility. They were the second generation of immigrants in the States and had to work hard for their money, and they implemented that into Trey. Trey never took advantage of his parent's money or their lifestyle. He volunteered at the local shelter for battered women which was something close to his mom with his aunt passing away from an abusive relationship.

Now, every year on his mom's birthday, he took the day off to take her to the shelter and volunteered their time there whether it was in the kitchen, laundry or organizing paperwork. His mother never asked for gifts but instead wished for a monetary donation in her name to the shelter.

Today marked that day like the past several years, and Trey woke up to start his usual routine. He went for his 5:30 run around the Meyers Park neighborhood where his mom lived, a shower afterwards, and then finished it off with the wholesome breakfast he prepared. If time permitted, he'd make his mom's famous blueberry pancakes topped with warm maple syrup and whipped cream. And as always, he prepared a plate for him, his mom and Rebecca.

"Mom! Breakfast! Just the way you like it!" He knew he shouldn't shout down the hallway, and he knew his mom didn't like it, but he enjoyed teasing her.

He placed the place settings on the breakfast table and began to pour the freshly squeezed orange juice into the glass cups when his cell phone rang. He pulled the phone out of his jean pocket, and it was Stacy. Why on earth would Stacy be calling him on his day off?

"Hey, Stace. Everything okay?" He continued to place napkins and the rest of the food on the table while waiting for Stacy to respond.

"Oh, Trey, I am so sorry." Her voice was out of character, and she seemed to be trembling. "You know I would never bother you on this day, but my son has a high fever this morning and I can't leave him. The daycare would send him right back home, and I don't have anyone that can watch him today. Out of all days!"

"Stace, it's okay. I hope Mason will be okay. What do you need me to do?" Hell, he had no clue about kids and didn't know what to do. It just came out of left field and natural to want to help Stacy out considering her life as a single mother wasn't easy on her, but she was a fighter and never let it bother her.

"I was supposed to pick up the cake for your mom at The Sweet Encounter in uptown, and drop it off at your house before you and your mom headed off to the shelter. However, with everything that is happening this morning, I can't. I am so sorry, Trey. I promise I will make it up to you. This is so embarrassing asking my boss to complete my task." The tone of her voice was unsteady that he felt sorry for her.

"I got this, Stace. Text me the address, and I'll pick it up myself before we head out. Take care of Mason. Don't worry about work today." He meant it too. She did deserve some time off which she barely used.

"Don't worry, Boss. I will remote from home and work on some pending projects-"

"Stop it, Stace. Seriously. Take this time to really take care of Mason. Work can wait. I'll see you on Monday. Have a good weekend."

"Thanks, Trey, and tell your mom I said Happy Birthday."

"Yeah, will do." He hung up the cell phone and didn't realize his mom was already in the kitchen. Work could wait for Monday. There was nothing of urgency that needed his attention. He wanted his weekend to start off on a good note.

"Are you trying to kill me with all this fatty breakfast of sausage and bacon? Blueberry pancakes. Did you get the recipe right this time?" His mom was feisty but always jested with him or anyone for that matter, especially when it came to cooking her recipes.

"Your recipe was done to the tee, Mom. Sit." Pulling her chair, he sat her down. He planted a kiss on her forehead as he watched her blue iced eyes gleam. "Happy Birthday, Mom."

He pulled the chair for Rebecca too, but she hesitated.

"Trey, I can seat myself down. Thank you though, sir." Rebecca had been a heaven sent nurse. After going through so many interviews, Trey wanted only the best for his mom. He wanted more than just a nurse for her, but also a confidant and friend.

Rebecca no longer needed to watch her kids anymore as they all had grown up and left the nest. She was a widow and never intended to search for another. His mom and Rebecca were able to relate in so many ways, and Rebecca had the patience to deal with his mom's Alzheimer's since her late husband died from the acrimonious disease himself.

Trey was good at reading people, and after the first initial interview with Rebecca, he offered her the position on the spot. It was the perfect nursing job for her, and she was the perfect candidate for his mom. She said she felt right the moment she saw the ad, and knew she was destined for this job. Now, Rebecca felt like a second mom to him.

As Trey sat down and placed the napkin across his thighs, he mentioned to his mother about having to make a quick stop prior to the shelter. This little hiccup wasn't going to ruin the rest of his day with his mom.

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