Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 14

Two days after Delphina had made her request, Alexis found herself buried deep in her work. She hadn't yet signed the adoption papers as she was still unsure about Mike's reaction to his wife's plea. However, she had sent a 'Yes' to Delphina via text.

She was so busy finalizing the designs for Royalty's next collection that she failed to notice a person standing in her office until he cleared his throat.

"Jesus Christ, Michael!" She screeched. "You scared me. Learn to knock, will you?"

Rolling his eyes, Mike asked her, "Could you join me for lunch? Please?"

Hesitantly, she looked at her workload. Ah well, an hour wouldn't hurt. Nodding, she picked up her bag and coat, ready to leave.

Just as they were about to leave the building they saw Garrett approaching towards them. "Hey guys," Garrett smiled at them. "Lex, your parents called me just now - why haven't you been answering their calls? They're worried about you."

"Sorry, I've just been swamped with the new designs."

"Well, call them soon. Okay?"

She nodded just as Mike asked, "How are the kids, Gary?"

"You mean the same kids who wave you goodnight from their windows every night?" Garret asked teasingly. "They're fine, of course. Karlos and Layla are enjoying having Isaac and Jayden home for the break. You know, your kids haven't visited much this break since Christmas Day despite us being neighbors. Send them over tomorrow, okay? Well, Isaac might be unavailable as my daughter is pretty much not allowing him to leave her sight."

Mike chuckled at that. "You and I both know that Layla is a bit bossy," he said, referring to Garrett's 4 year old daughter.

"It's hard not to when the boys give in to most of her demands. Being the youngest and only girl sure has its benefits," Garrett replied with a smirk. "Anyway, where are you two headed?"

"Lunch," Mike answered. "We.....uh....we need to discuss a some things. You.....uh, you wanna come along?"

Suppressing a smile at Mike's half-hearted invitation, Garrett shook his head. He knew what 'things' meant and he had no wish to be a part of that conversation.

Saying goodbye to Garrett, Mike and Lexi crossed the street to enter the cafe opposite their office. Ordering their usuals, the two friends seated themselves down on a booth.

Lunch was relatively quiet as neither knew how to start. While Mike understood his wife's intentions, he still felt guilty about what she had asked of Alexis. He didn't know how he could possibly look his best friend in the eye after Delphina's plea.

Mike watched as Alexis finished her sandwich and wiped her hands on a napkin. However, she folded the napkin back up into a straight, neat square - pressing on it slightly to smooth out the edges.

Laughing, Mike pointed to her napkin and said, "So that's where she gets it from."

"Who?" Alexis asked, somewhat confused. "What thing?"

"Mira," he replied. "She does that neurotic thing with her napkin the same way how you just did with yours. She also does it without realizing what she's doing, much like yourself. Drives her mother insane."

Alexis blushed and said, "Well I'd apologize, but you know what I actually want to say."

"Yea, yea. I know that this is what I get for leaving my children in your care for extended periods of time. You don't have to rub it in Miller."

Again, silence fell between them. Scratching the back of his head, Mike said, "Listen, I know what my wife has asked of you and I know you've agreed. But Miller, I don't expect you to throw away your entire life. I just.....I realize that the woman gave you the world's worst guilt trip and used my children as bait......but I don't want you to think that I expect you to actually listen to her."

"Michael, I meant it when I said yes to her. But......I still haven't signed the papers so that you could take the final call. They are, after all, your children and I don't want to overstep my bounds with them or become a nuisance to you."

"You're never a nuisance, Miller. You're my best friend," Mike said, smiling at her. "In all seriousness, you should know that I didn't put my wife up to this. It was entirely her idea, okay? Of course, I'll be forever appreciative of everything you do for Mira, Ara and Marv, but I don't need...... I just......." He trailed off, not knowing how to phare his sentences.

"It won't work if you don't need me," Alexis spoke softly.

"I always need you, Miller. My children will always need you," he answered back quickly. "I just don't want you to think that I need you."

"I don't want to replace her," Alexis almost whispered.

"But you will," he replied. "For the children, of course."

"Of course," she repeated.

"I don't want a replacement wife. Especially considering the fact that I was in the process of divorcing the one I already had."

Alexis snorted slightly. "Believe me, when I say that I've been through this whole disaster known as marriage. And so, I have no intentions of repeating that - least of all with someone as irritating as you."

"Oh please, Smith was more irritating than me," Mike replied with a mock glare.

"You're both irritating in your own ways."

"So, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Mike asked after a while.

"Are you sure you want me to do this?" Alexis retorted back.

"As I said, I'll always need you to help me with the kids Miller. And...... I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of you being their mother if I'm being honest with myself."

Alexis smiled at that and took out the adoption papers from her bag. She'd been carrying them around, reading them over and over again, ever since Delphina had handed them to her.

Taking a deep breath, she locked her eyes with Mike before signing them. She passed them over to Mike and said, "There you go. You can be the one to deliver them to your wife."

Mike groaned but nevertheless took the papers from her. It was done. There was no turning back now. Alexis Miller was officially the mother of his children as of now.