A Typical Love Story

Chapter Seventeen: Custody Battle

“What time will you be back?” Penelope asked looking at Cesc, he had a meeting at his lawyer’s office along with Daniella to sort out custody of Lia; she worried what might happen when he was alone with his former fiancée.

Cesc sipped on his coffee, he looked at his girlfriend knowing that she wasn’t happy about him being near Daniella; he didn’t blame her but he wasn’t interested in getting back together with the woman who jilted him at the altar.

“About three,” Cesc replied looking at Lia who was eating her breakfast, he smiled hoping that he wouldn’t have to give her to her mother; his heart would break if she went to live with her mother.

Cesc knew that courts often favoured the mothers when it came to cases but he was more than capable of looking after his daughter; she was better off with him and he doubted that Elie would look after Lia in anyway.

Penelope sighed as she walked over to Cesc and wrapped her arms around him, she pressed a kiss to his cheek knowing that he was worried; she couldn’t come with him since she had a meeting with her publisher about her new book.

“It’ll be okay… anyone can see that you are the best choice for her,” Penelope said trying to make her boyfriend feel better, she didn’t see how anyone could give Lia to her mother.

Daniella hadn’t been interested in her at all since she had gotten back together with Elie, she only bothered with Lia when it suited her and to keep her picture in the papers.

“I know… I just worry,” Cesc said glad that he had Penelope by his side, he didn’t know what he would do without her making him feel better.

Cesc kissed Penelope, he had a feeling that Daniella wasn’t going to make this easy for him; she would play dirty if she felt that things weren’t going her way.

***

Cesc took a deep breath as he stepped into the room where he’d be meeting with everyone, he held Lia close spotting that Daniella was already inside and she wasn’t alone.

Elie smirked at the sight of the footballer, he was sure that things would go their way and he wanted Cesc to suffer for what he had done to him.

Elie wasn’t ever going to forgive or forget that Daniella had cheated on him with Cesc; he would never forgive or forget that he had been made a fool of when Daniella had left him for Cesc.

Cesc took a deep breath and kissed Lia’s head, he ignored the two as he moved to set Lia down in the small chair that had been provided for her.

“Mr Fàbregas it’s nice to see you again,” Cesc’s lawyer greeted moving to shake his client’s hand, he had arrived right on time and he was sure that things would go well.

Cesc nodded his head shaking his lawyer’s hand before they moved to take a seat across from Daniella, Elie and their lawyer; the couple looked smug and it made Cesc nervous.

“Shall we get down to business?” the court appointed official asked, he looked between the two groups as he set down the paperwork that he had.

Cesc nodded his head, he wanted this over with as quickly as possible; his stomach churned and he hoped that Penelope’s meeting with her publisher went well.

“Okay then… the custody meeting of Lia Fàbregas Semaan is in session,” the official said smiling, he was sure that this would be a quick session and he would be able to send the little girl with the right parents.

Daniella smirked staring across at Cesc, she had the advantage on him and Elie would ensure that things went her way.

***

“So how is your fourth book coming along?” Aisha said stiffly, she was Penelope’s publisher and she had been told that there would passing her off to someone else by her editor.

Penelope crossed her arms and stared at Aisha, she wished that they’d let someone else take over her account but she only had one more book to her deal and then she could go elsewhere if she needed to.

“Things are going well… I’ve gotten several chapters done,” Penelope said nodding her head, she doubted that Aisha would make any pleasant talk since they weren’t talking as friends right now.

Aisha was still sulking about the fact that Penelope was now dating Cesc, she didn’t believe that it would last and that Penelope was only going to get hurt.

“Good,” Aisha said pursing her lips, she typed a couple of details down wondering why Penelope couldn’t see that Cesc was only going to break her heart.

Daniella would always have a hold over him and there was no way to get rid of the Lebanese because she was Lia’s mother; she would want Cesc back and Penelope would be the one hurt.

“I’ll schedule us a meeting for two months and we’ll go from there,” Aisha said wanting this to be over as quickly as possible, she didn’t want to talk to Penelope and she wasn’t going to pretend that she was okay with all of this.

If her friend was willing to choose Cesc over her then Aisha wasn’t interested, she would work with Penelope in a professional capacity and that would be it.

Penelope nodded her head, she took a deep breath and shouldered her bag so that she could leave; she moved towards the door before she stopped and looked back at Aisha.

“I’m happy if that matters to you at all,” Penelope said staring at the woman that she had thought as her best friend before she walked out of the office to head home.

***

“Okay I have come to a decision that I feel is best for Lia,” the official said after hearing everything, he set down all the work that he had and rested his hands on the table; he was sure that this was for the best.

Cesc took a deep breath, he was hopeful that this would go his way; everything that Daniella had said had been lies since she had stepped into the room.

“I have decision that custody of Lia Fàbregas Semaan will go to her mother Daniella Semaan with visitation rights for her father Francesc Fàbregas,” the official said smiling, he needed to do what was right for Lia and she needed her mother a lot more than she needed her father.

Cesc felt his heartbreak as he stared at the official, he couldn’t believe that this was happening; he had been so sure that Lia would be coming home with him.

Daniella grinned triumphantly, she had used Elie’s connections to make sure that she would get Lia; she wasn’t going to allow Cesc to take her daughter, it would mean that she would lose control of him.

Cesc let his head drop into his hands while Daniella was handed some papers to sign, tears filled his eyes wanting nothing more than to cry.

Cesc didn’t know how Daniella had pulled this off, he had been sure that he would get custody since Lia was better off with him; he hated that he would have to deal with Daniella now.

“I think the best man won Fàbregas,” Elie said smugly, he had only agreed to help Daniella because he knew that it would hurt Cesc; he had no interest in the brat and he wasn’t entirely pleased that it would be living in his home with his children.

Cesc glared at Elie, he hated the man before him and he feared what his daughter’s life would be like now that the courts had given Daniella full custody of Lia.