Grace hurriedly ran down the stairs in her black six inch heel, with her grey designer dress which hugged her body perfectly, and a black handbag that hang low on her hands.
"One of this fine days you are going to fall so hard while running down those stairs with those heels." Julie said to her warningly the moment Grace entered the kitchen.
"And how could I possibly forget that, when it's the same statement you've been telling me every morning, for a couple of years now? " Grace answered while rolling her eyes as she poured herself a cup of tea. "Mmmmh, is Amelia back from her leave? The tea tastes like hers." She then asked enjoying the flavor of the tea. Amelia was their house manager, who also happened to be Raymond's mother. Grace had recommended they hired her after they had hired Raymond as their head security. And they hadn't been dissapointed at all. Amelia had proved to be one wise woman with perfect managerial skills and not to talk about her epic kitchen skills. To top it all she was a very caring and a loving woman towards everyone around her.
"Yeah, met her in the kitchen this morning. She says she got bored at home alone so she came back. Couldn't be happier ha," Julie answered happily feeling relieved that Amelia was back. Everytime she wasn't around, she felt overwhelmed with work and probably managing the other house workers who most of the time were only there to do some cleaning and gardening. Well, that was apart from the 20 security guys who Raymond was their head. Most of them were also ex-army just like Raymond. She had to hire them since most of the time when she was out, she needed body guards while others remained behind to watch the mansion though most of the time you wouldn't even know they were around, since they were almost invisible. However Julie and Grace had built another big house beside theirs where all those employees resided. Each one of them had their own flat but on the ground floor there was one large dining room and a kitchen where all they all took their daily meals. Julie had suggested so, since she wanted to make them all feel like family and it would be easier for them to interact even with Julie and Grace, their bosses. And to promote that family and unity thing, they also always organized for camp fire each and every month where everyone in the compound had to attend and they would sing, chat and laugh all night until the fell asleep. It had made the employees feel free and also become loyal to their bosses who had shown them nothing but love and kindness. Not even one employee had ever thought of resigning not unless it was due to other circumstances that didn't involve Julie and Grace. This benevolence in Julie and Grace wasn't only at home but was also even at their companies.
"Trust me, I am happier than you are. So where's she?" Grace asked happily. She probably wanted to say hi to her before she left for work.
"I asked her to prepare Brandon for me. Am kinda thinking of taking him with me to work." Julie told her as she took a bit of her omelette.
"You want to take Brand to work? He's probably gonna be bored. Why don't you let him stay with Amelia instead?" Grace asked thoughtfully.
"He asked me to take him with me and I couldn't say no. Besides, am not going to the office today but to the field since we are shooting the movie I told you about. Which I think will be a good experience for him. Am sure with his personality, he'll get to learn a few things about this whole film thing. " Julie answered with a thought of wanting to get her son learn a few things as young as he was. She was determined to expose him to things that would build his intelligence and capabilities.
" Sounds thoughtful enough. Sooo.... "
" Hey ladies. " Jason interrupted Grace's statement as he joined the ladies in the kitchen. Seems he had also woken up late like Grace had.
"Hey Jay. You are sure an early riser like me." Grace said sarcastically as she smirked at him. Julie had told her that they had decided to reconcile and she had supported her decision. So she was back to her teasing behavior every time they were all together.
"Blame Julie for that. She kept me late, last night with her obsession for Prison Break." Jason answered her chuckling while he went to kiss Julie Good morning.
"No, you are lying. We didn't even watch Prison Break anymore. You technically forced me to watch The Witcher and it wasn't even interesting." Julie complained hitting him lightly on the shoulder after he gave her a peck on her lips.
"Come on babe, that was after we had already watched the first 5 episodes of season 1 PB and I couldn't take it anymore." Jason defended his point.
"You made her watch The Witcher? How sad, you should have made her watch Sex Life. Ha," Grace commented while chuckling at Jason knowingly.
"Oh, trust me I wouldn't want to be lectured about how that movie series is temptation factor to a christian." Jason commented jokingly as he winked at Grace.
" Not just lecturing but also you'd have to be forced to fast and pray." Raymond added has he also appeared in the doorway.
" Jeez Raymond, am not that much of an extremists for goodness sake. You guys are just unbelievable." Julie answered, rolling her eyes at them.
" Haha, I know dear and well, am here to hand back the watch to you. Apparently it doesn't have any tracker so I guess there's nothing to worry about. " Raymond said handing back the watch to her.
" Sounds like a relief. Thanks Ray." Julie answered as she took the watch from him.
" You're welcome. And I also have someone here to see you. " Raymond said as he ushered in whoever he was talking about.
"Carlos." The three of them uttered in a bored tone after they saw who it was.
"Hi guys? I thought someone would at least be surprised to see me this beautiful morning." Carlos smirked at them, feeling so full of himself as always.
"You wish Mr. Baby daddy. Trust me, we got tired getting surprised of your goofy acts long time ago. Guess it's a high time we also start surprising you." Grace immediately shot back at him then winked at Jason who already had his hands protectively around Julie's waist.
"Carlos, why are you here?" Julie asked not waiting for him to answer Grace.
"To see my son of course." Carlos answered bluntly as he snotted.
"And I thought, people had to be descent enough to make someone aware that they'd show up." Grace commented snotting too.
"Trust me am such a decent man as always. Maybe you should tell your best friend here that she should be decent enough to pick her baby daddy's calls." Carlos commented, rolling his eyes at him.
"Babe, just a minute." Julie said as he pecked Jason's cheek and broke free from his hold while she walked towards the door. " Carlos, a minute please. " Julie added as she exited the kitchen which Carlos followed her out. And when they were at the living room, far from other people's ears, is when Julie they stopped walking.
"How'd did you know that Brand is here with me. I don't remember telling you that?" Julie asked him while looking at him sternly. As much as he was the father of his son, she still had to take precautions.
"I asked your mom and she told me, he was here with you. I tried to call you so I could inform you that I was coming to see him but you didn't pick up. So I decided to just show up." Carlos answered in a bored tone, not liking Julie's attitude. Julie had truly seen his call, just that when he had called, she had a lot in her mind. There was Hotstuff's issue eating up her mind and also Jason's unloved issues. So she had just ignored Carlos's call not wanting to add some more troubles.
"I see. So how long are you gonna be here?" Julie asked wanting to know how much time he was going to stay in her house. He didn't want him overstaying in her own safe space.
"Am actually here to take him out. So I guess you won't have to worry about me contaminating your safe space with my presence." He answered rolling his eyes at her. He knew Julie didn't want him there, so he could as well take his son out.
"And where exactly will you be taking him?" Julie inquired wanting to know every detail. She wouldn't just let him take her son away without knowing the full details. Infact her giving him access was because she felt it was the right thing to do. She didn't want to be those type of single mothers who had to lie to their kids that their fathers were dead yet they were alive. Brandon had once asked her about his dad and she had been honest with him on why they hadn't ended up together. It might have been some huge information but the boy had understood and promised not to have anything against his dad since their issues didn't concern him. And when Carlos had finally sobered up and asked to have access to his son, Julie had accepted his request in condition that they respected their spaces and as long as it's also what Brandon wanted. And of course he sobered up after Julie was in the spotlight. She'd suppose Carlos had seen that his baby mamma was doing fine and awesome even without him. Good enough, Julie had truly forgiven his mistakes and didn't have any bitterness or anything against him, as long as he watched her space and not do anything that would hurt Brandon, then all was fine.
"And why should I tell you that? I mean whether I tell you or not, you'd still know since you always get those security guys of yours follow me around when with Brandon. Or you think I don't know that Julie?" Carlos said smirking at her. He was right, Julie always had Raymond trail Carlos every time he took Brandon out. She was doing it for her son though. She had to make sure that Brandon was safe and Carlos didn't try anything stupid. That was the only way she'd stay peaceful knowing Brandon was safe. Besides, her being on the spotlight had kind of made Brandon to be on the spotlight too, so she was protecting him from anything that could distract him, and the only way was to have Raymond and one other security guy follow Carlos around when he was with him.
"Daddyyy..." Brandon called as he ran into the living room not giving a chance, Julie to react to Carlos's comment. He hadn't expected to see his dad that morning and he was definitely excited.
"Hey, my boy. How are you?" Carlos greeted as he picked him up so he could hold him.
"Am fine. I missed you and mommy didn't tell me you were coming." Brandon said as he embraced his dad.
"I wanted to surprise you and I have missed you too. So are you ready to go out with Daddy today?" Carlos excitedly asked his son.
"Like right now? But I'd promise mommy to go to her workplace with her, maybe we can go out tomorrow? ." Brandon said looking at Julie who was just smiling at him. Brandon was always careful not to hurt his mom's feelings in everything he did. Naturally he put her first knowing that his mom mattered to him than everyone else. Of course, that's after God, as his mom had told him that it was important for a human being to put God first before anyone or anything else. So he'd say that after God, came Julie and then his grandma, and then Mommy Grace, then Grandpa Harrison( Julie's Dad) and then probably Uncle Jason, his dad or maybe Uncle Geff. There was no clarity between the three yet. So it was obvious, he'd choose to spend his time with his mom than his dad.
"It's okay Randy. You can go out with daddy today and then tomorrow we'll go to my workplace." Julie told him as she smiled sweetly at him so he wouldnt have doubts of her agreement. She also knew that Brandon wouldn't want to dissapoint her so she had to make him know that she was okay with him going out with his dad.
" Sure mom? " Brandon asked again for confirmation.
"Yes sure honey. Go have fun and don't forget to take some pictures for me." Julie sweetly answered him and then gave him his small camera that she had been using to train him.
"Thanks mommy. I'll take as many as possible!" Brandon said excitedly as he took the camera from her.
"Miss Blacks, I hate to interrupt but you are late for work. Luke and the rest are waiting outside.
" Raymond called as he stood at the living room's doorway while checking his wrist watch. While some other security guys remain behind to watch the mansion, he had made it his work to always drive Julie to work or wherever she went and if he wasn't the one driving he always trailed behind her for safety but that day since he had heard that Carlos was taking Brandon out, he knew Julie would ask him to watch out for Brandon instead, so he asked Luke who was second after him, to drive her while some other three trailed behind her. Not that Julie enjoyed all that shit, but being a celebrity sometimes, didn't give you any other choice but to walk around with body guards. Grace was lucky enough, that she wasn't that much in the spotlight, hence she could freely walk around, not unless she met a few fans who knew her as a best friend to Julie, which didn't give her much of a bother.
"Damn, Lorine is even calling me." Julie said seeing that her manager was calling her. She was really late. "Hey honey, am gonna see you later okay? Enjoy your day, bye and I love you." She added telling Brandon as she kissed his cheek and headed out hurriedly.
"Bye mommy, I love you too." Brandon happily called after her and with that she was out of the door, finding that her car door was already being held open for her waiting for her to jump in. Meanwhile she prayed so much that Brandon wouldn't tell Carlos about him meeting Hotstuff and what has transpired between them. Otherwise it was gonna get fucked up.