They were both silent while they were walking to the parking lot. Ingrid could feel the cold air on her skin, and she wondered if it was because of the cold air or the overpowering presence beside her. Or both.
"Thanks for walking with me here," she said without looking at him as she searched for the keys in her bag. It may be rude to look at, but she no longer cares. She feels uncomfortable.
"It's that it? No goodbye kiss for me?" she immediately paused and looked at him wide-eyed.
"Are you kidding me?" But before he could react, Cliff went to her side and, gently kissed her on her cheeks, scurried away immediately. She was stunned for a few seconds before she could rant to him. But he was nowhere in sight when she came back to her senses.
"Aggghhhh! Pervert!! I'm gonna skin you alive!" she hissed.
Not far away, Clifford just grinned and made sure that Ingrid had left before he started the engine.
...
DAYS PASSED after their 'blind date,' and Clifford is noticeably visible in his father's company for the turnover of work. All the females would stop their job if they caught him walking past them. In the meantime, Ingrid was always out in the company because since she is the executive vice president for operations, her job is identifying and leading new business opportunities.
She burrowed herself to work also to avoid meeting the CEO's son, who always irritates her. She would go to work early and leave early from the office when she knew he was coming. Unfortunately, her meeting would also often take place. Never had she been so thankful for that. Whenever Clifford was around, he would just see a glimpse of her in one of her exits from his presence with a serious look on her face and projecting a don't-bother-me aura.
...
MEANWHILE, Clark and Nanny Tess were on their way to the school...
"Nanny Tess, let's go to Veanco Square later this day, I already told mom about it, and she allowed me to go."
"Okay, who else is coming?"
"Tristan and nanny Peachy."
"Fetch us early today, driver Joe, alright?"
"As you wish, nanny Tess.."
Upon reaching the school, Clark hurriedly went inside, running to look for Tristan.
"Clark, if you don't behave, I won't accompany you in Veanco Square today!" Nanny Tess warned, knowing how mischievous this child could become. Abruptly the child came to a halt and simply jogged.
"Look, nanny, I am just jogging, right?" the helpless nanny could not do anything but to shook her head.
When he reached their classroom, he saw Tristan on his seat and rushed to him and immediately asked him about their plan later.
"Tristan, how's the plan? Is your uncle around today?"
"Yes, he is. I told him that I'll go to him later in his office. His office has a nice view, and you could see the city there." Clark's eyes widen.
"Really? Will he be mad if you bring me there?"
"I think he won't mind since you are my best friend."
"I can't wait." Their teacher then entered the classroom.
"Good morning, kids. Take your seats now, and let's start our activity for this morning."
TWO HOURS LATER...
The boys hastened packing their things, and within minutes, they were ready to go.
"Goodbye, teacher Mei!" the two boys said in unison.
"Oh, aren't you going to play first?"
"Uh, not today, Teacher Mei. We will go to the mall today," Tristan announced excitedly.
"Wow! Okay, enjoy your day there! Bye-bye!" then they waved goodbye to their teacher.
The two nannies were also excited about today's errand. Not only they'll have paid free time strolling they would again go sightseeing for hot guys. They wasted no time, rode separate luxury cars, and arrived simultaneously. The two boys behaved and didn't make a fuss.
"Look, Nanny Tess, a hot guy over there, wearing a tight shirt; oooohhhhh, those muscles!" nanny Tess also looked at the guy, but she focused on his companion.
"But I prefer his companion. He is more handsome and appealing!" the two women giggled. Then, suddenly, the two men noticed their stares; they looked at the nannies, smiled, and held hands.
The nannies paled and struggled for breath upon seeing the men's gestures. Looking at each other wide-eyed, they both laugh. But then they melted like a candle. The disappointment was so evident on their faces.
"I don't like hunk men anymore." Nanny Peachy declared.
"I don't like appealing to men anymore, too." Added nanny Tess. The nannies and the boys later focused their attention on strolling the mall. The boys played in the playpen while the nannies were busy talking. After the boys played, they decided to eat everything they liked. Nanny Peachy's phone then rings.
"Tristan, your mom is calling." So she hands over the phone to the child.
"Hello, mom?"
"Hi, baby, where are you?"
"I'm in a fast-food mom, is uncle around?"
"He's not yet around. He'll be here an hour later."
"Can Clark and I go to his office? Because I already told him about the view we could see from his office. Please, mom?"
"Okay. I have already told him about it. I also want to meet your best friend. Hand the phone to nanny Peachy, please." The boy immediately handed over the phone to his nanny and continued eating.
"Lead the boys here at my office after you all eat, nanny Peachy."
"Yes, young madam." She hangs up the phone and diverted her attention to the kids. "Boys, I'll send you to young madam's office after you finish your meals. But don't eat too quickly." they nodded.
After they ate, they went straight to the young madam's office.
"Mommy!" Tristan runs to his mom, and she cradles him.
"Did you have fun?"
"Lots of it, mom!" then his mom shifted her gaze from him to the other boy.
"So, is this your best friend, Clark?"
"Uhuh..." he went down from his mother's embrace and pulled Clark near his mom.
"Clark, meet my mom, mom this is Clark." The young madam bent and gazed intently at the child.
"Gosh! You look exactly..." the child was bewildered.
"Pleasure to meet you, young man. I'm auntie Rona."
"Hi, auntie. Thank you for allowing us to be here." He said politely.
"Oh, you're such an adorable boy. Did your mom know that you'll be here?"
"Yes, she knew." The child answered shyly.
"How about your dad?"
"I don't have one." The boy looked lonely. When Rona looked closely at the boy, she thought deeply upon seeing him.
'Why does he look exactly like him when he was a kid?' she mused.
The young madam is determined to ask his brother if he has impregnated a woman before without his knowledge.
Before Rona probed more questions on the young child, Tristan suddenly interrupted, "Mom, can we play now?"
"Okay, you can play now."
"Yay!! Come on, Clark, let's play. I've had so many toys here." The two boys then enter another room in his mom's office.
"Nannies, you can go back to the mall if you like. I'll keep watch over the kids for now. I'll just call you when I need you."
"Yes, young madam.." and the two exited the office.
Several minutes later, the young madam was so engrossed in her work that she did not notice that the two boys sneaked out of the room to hide and seek.
Clark is the one to hide, while Tristan will seek him. Clark saw different rooms but never dared to hide there. So he decided to go to the end of the rooms to find a small space, but when he could not find any hiding place, he kept looking for a spot. Then the child noticed that there were plenty of corridors.
The young boy was unfamiliar with the corridors when he looked back, confused about where he passed through, thinking that Tristan would come looking for him, so he continued looking for a place to hide. So, he ended up in a quiet spot where no person could find him.
Not for long, the young lad noticed he was already lost, so he tried to walk back. The place is well carpeted and clean, yet so quiet that he could hear his heartbeat. He looked all over the place. He seems like a dead end, and only a big door is visible. So before entering the door, he needed to familiarize himself with every corner he passed.
He was about to leave where he stood when he heard a man scolding a woman. He hid in a corner, afraid that the man might catch him.
"You useless whore! What did I tell you beforehand?" the man said. The child peaked, and he saw the man gritting his teeth as he spoke and could hear the anger in his voice.
"I'm sorry I could not help it! I miss you so much!" the man slapped the woman and choked her.
"I won't allow you to ruin my career. This is my last shot, and if you coming here mess up my reputation, I swear, I'm gonna find you and kill you!"
Out of fear, Clark trembled and then cried. "Mommy..." he sniffed. "I'm afraid..."