Chapter Three

Liam’s POV

Before I knew it, the weekend was over and Monday morning was here.

I went through my usual morning routine. I hit the gym,had my bathe, prepare for work and was about to hit the road when a small voice stopped me.

“Daddy?” A tiny voice called.

I turned back to see Kaleb. I momentarily forgot that I didn’t live alone anymore.

“Good morning, Kaleb. How was your night?” I squatted in front of him.

“Fine.” He replied, using his palm to try to wipe sleep away from his eyes. “Where are you going?”

“I need to get to work. Is there something you need?”

“I don’t want to be at home alone,” he pouted. “Can I come with you? I always go to work with Mommy.”

Then I realized. Living a three year old at home alone was reasonable but also hiring a nanny hadn’t been on the list of things I thought I’d need to do this weekend. And another school session doesn’t start until September.

“Sure, buddy. Let’s get you dressed.” I stood up and carried him to his room.

“Nice room.” I said, looking around.

He had promptly arranged everything we got for him yesterday as neatly as he could.

I made a mental note to arrange some of them properly after work so that they won’t make him trip.

I took off my suit and as fatherly as I could, I began to get him ready.

After a very chaotic hour, we were finally ready. I parked in the garage behind Blackwell Enterprise because reporters were sniffing around the building for a statement from me. I climbed out and walked briskly to the back seat where Kaleb was waiting.

“Here we are,” I said and helped him out.

“Is this your office?” he asked, looking around with wide, amazed eyes. This place intimidated people ten times his age, yet he looked like he was exploring a playground.

“Yes, it is. Do you want to see the inside?”

He nodded enthusiastically.

“Really?”

He nodded, more enthusiastically than the last time.

“Then, let’s move.” I held out my hand to him.

And that was how I arrived at my company  on a Monday morning with a son no one knew existed as at this time last week.

“Good morning, sir,” Rob greeted me as I stepped inside.

“How’s it going, Rob?” I asked, asking for an update on Linda.

“For now, she’s off the grid. Nothing to hold on to. It’s as if the earth swallowed her whole,” he explained, walking alongside me.

“I expect a better answer sooner.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good morning, Mr. Blackwell.” Rose, my pregnant secretary, greeted me. She looked between Kaleb and me, but she had the sense to keep her mouth shut. She walked with us until we reached my office. I sat in my chair and lifted Kaleb onto my lap while Rose sat opposite us.

“You’re at work again? Rose, come on. I can’t have your husband suing me for making you work while pregnant.”

She rubbed her belly before answering.

“I made that decision myself.” She said. “And who is going to pick out a new secretary to replace me if I don’t do it myself?” She tried to reason with me.

“Fine. But make it happen quickly. By the end of this week, I want to hear that you’ve started your well-deserved break. With or without someone to replace you.”

“Yes, sir.” She playfully saluted.

Rose and I had met in our last year of university. She was studying Business Administration while I was in Finance. We met at a joined class and since then we became friends and got closer until we eventually ended up working together.

I can say that built this company, but Rose held it together. I’d be forever grateful to her for that.

“If I may ask... who is the little fella?”

“I’m not little. I am three years old and my name is Kaleb,” Kaleb replied instantly.

“Really? That’s a nice name.” She smiled at him. “Kaleb, can you wait in my office for a while? I need to speak with Liam.” She pointed toward the door. “My office is right next door.”

He looked up at me first for approval and when I gave a nod, he hopped down from my lap.

“Okay.”

“Liam, why are there reporters outside? And why am I hearing about a secret child on the news? Who is the mother?”

“Linda,” I answered straight forward. There was no use beating around the bush.

“Which Linda? The one from university?” Rose exclaimed.

“Yes. It was a mistake. I didn’t even know who he was until I was slammed with child support papers.”

“My goodness. So where is she?”

“I have no idea.”

“And the wedding?”

“Lola found out about Linda and Kaleb. She made Kaleb the ring bearer as a parting gift... and left.”

“You kept the child even from Lola? Liam, that’s low. She was mean, but she didn’t deserve that.”

“I know. I’ve tried to call her several times since the wedding. It keeps going to voicemail.”

“So, what’s your plan with Kaleb?”

“Take care of him. He’s my child, after all.”

She looked at me for a good minute before standing.

“I’d better go find you a new secretary, then. Children are more baggage than they let on. Good luck with this one.”

I can testify. Spending the whole day with Kaleb yesterday? It was definitely a lot but it was worth it.