Chapter 5

The past few days have actually been nice and serene, with no double shifts and no intensive emergencies at the hospital. Everything is just normal, and my life always goes on a normal daily basis.

Here I am again today, sitting at the entrance with Kassie, the receptionist, waiting for one emergency or the other.

“Marina, have you seen a new doctor that just replaced the new psychiatrist?” Kassie said, looking dreamy as she stared out.

Doctor Norman, he’s the new psychiatrist here and everyone is all over him, most of the nurses in his department always strive to work with him but seriously he is not that dreamy as they all scream it he’s okay, good looking that’s all. I will say the kids’ father is hotter than him.

‘You said the kids’ father,’ Ana, my subconscious, said.

Fudge, every now and then, I find myself thinking of the kids and their father.

After that day, I didn’t get to see them again, and I really missed them.

“Marina he’s coming over” I hear Kassie squeal beside which makes me look up to see the new psychiatrist walking towards us with a smile on his face, his blonde hair scattered around, his blue eyes shining.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” he said with a wink, which made Kassie look down, blushing.

What in the hell is wrong with this girl?

Clearing my throat, “How may we help you?” I said with a simple smile.

“I need the contact details of the patient that has been here for a while Mrs Barley, I need her relatives contact details to be able to tell them when to come get her she seems okay now” Doctor Norman said calm and collectively.

“I will get that,” Kassie said as she began going through some files on her table.

I felt my phone vibrate whenever I’m at work. I always kept my phone in vibration, I brought out my phone to check the caller ID to see if it was an unknown number.

Weird.

I rarely have people calling me, connecting the call. “Hello.”

“Auntie,” I heard a loud voice from the other side of the phone, and the voice sounded like Vincent.

“Vincent is that you” I ask wanting to be sure of who was calling but I can’t help but feel happy that they called, I don’t know I have a soft spot for these kids already.

“Yes, auntie, it’s me,” Vincent said, giggling loudly. “How are you, Vincent?”

“I’m fine, Mommy,” he answered giggling Xavier? “That’s good, what about Xavier?” I ask, I really want to talk to the cute little boy.

“Mommy,” I hear Xavier’s little voice say quietly. “Hey baby, how are you?”

“I’m fine, I miss you,” he said chokingly, sounding as if he wanted to cry.

“I miss you too, baby,” I say, I really want to see these boys. “What are my boys doing?” I ask.

“We are watching TV,” Vincent answered this time.

“How did you guys get my number?”

“Daddy gave us” Of course it had to be their father since he already knew the way to my house. Why did he have my contact details? I won’t be shocked if he already knows everything about me.

“Can we see you at the park today?” I hear Vincent ask, I look at my wristwatch to see if it was already 3PM. My shift will be over in an hour’s time

“Of course darling, you will see me,” I answered quickly, happy at the thought of seeing them this evening. I hear Xavier clap happily laughing.

“Dad, she said we can see her today.” I hear Vincent scream at their father. I guess he was with them during the call.

“Bye, we will see you soon,” Vincent said, sounding so pleased. “Bye,” I said as I cut the call.

“Marina, who were you talking to?” Kassie said, looking at me with raised brows.

Now, what is she thinking for God’s sake?

“I was talking to my neighbours kids,” I lied swiftly without thinking.

...........................................................

“Mommy,” I heard Xavier squeal as he jumped into my arms, I hugged him tight with a smile on my face, ruffling his hair.

“I missed you, baby,” I said as I set him on my lap. “You aren’t meant to call me mummy, baby, your daddy doesn’t like it, I’m not your mommy” I said to him.

“Mommy.” I turned to see Vincent taking his space beside me, and I pulled him into a hug, hugging him and Xavier together.

“Please don’t call me mommy, boys, your daddy doesn’t like it” I tried explaining to them.

“But...” “I can’t let you call me that boys, I’m not your mother, let’s drop it for now” I said to them.

“How have you guys been?” I ask, trying to change the topic. “We are fine, but we just missed you,” Vincent said cutely.

“No sad faces. I’m here now, huh?” I said tickling, and he giggled.

I heard a clearing of throat in front of me, I looked up to be met with a pair of grey eyes staring at me. It was the kids’ father. He was right in front of me looking blank. There was no scowl on his face hinting that he was not angry or thinking I was going to take his kids away.

“Dad,” Vincent said as he stretched his handle, signalling his father to carry him .

Immediately, his father carried him and sat beside me, making Vincent sit on his lap

I shifted myself to the side, feeling slightly intimidated by his huge domineering presence beside me.

I don’t know what to say, I’m short of words, I can’t help but just look at what game they were playing on their tablet.

God, I feel so insecure by just sitting beside their father.

“I don’t think we have met formally.” I hear their father's deep yet alluring voice say beside me.

It’s true we haven’t met. When I don’t even know his name, I only know the kids.

“Oh yes, Marina Thompson,” I said with a small smile as I faced him. He was just looking blankly. I couldn’t read his face. I don’t know what he was thinking. “Alexander Torricelli,” he said.

Alexander, what a nice name.

Wait. Torricelli, as in Torricelli’s electronics, The Torricelli restaurant, Torricelli and freaking Co.

I hear him chuckle slowly beside me.

“Whatever you are thinking, yes, I’m the owner of everything.” He said with a slight smirk.

Cocky

I think he already noticed my confused face.

But wait, this man is a fudging billionaire, I am here carrying his kids.

God.

What is this?

Isn’t he liked scared of the paparazzi?

“No need to panic, everything is alright no one can identify me here” he said that made me notice the kids are always with a face mask and a cap but today they are only with a face mask.

“Nice meeting you, sir,” I say, I seriously don’t know what to say right now, I’m short of words.

He just nodded, and silence fell between us . The sound of the game the boys were playing was heard.

After a short time, I heard him clear his throat again, which made me look at him.

“I want to apologise for the other day, I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you, I thought you were a stalker trying to take the kids.” He said at a go. I think it was hard for him to say that because his jaws looked clenched and he was staring hard unnecessarily.

“No worries, sir, I have actually forgotten about that.”

Lie, I still remember that day, which actually makes me fear him.

“Auntie, when will you come visit us at home?” I heard Vincent say, which made me turn my attention to him. Visiting him at home, I never thought I was actually going to visit their house, but I was actually going to a billionaire’s house. How bizarre that sounds.

“I don’t know, darling,” I answered honestly, “You can visit us on Saturday. It’s the weekend.” He said I have nothing to do this weekend, so why not?”

“Okay, I’ll come visit you...” I turn to Alexander. “Can I get your address? “ I ask.

“Don’t worry, my driver will come pick you up on Saturday by 10AM,” Alex said immediately, and I nod “Okay that’s easier.”

“Xavier, Auntie is coming home on Saturday,” Vincent said to Xavier, who was engrossed in his game.

“Really?” He asked, almost screaming, “Yes baby, I’ll be coming. “

“Yaaaay,” he said, clapping.

“It's getting late boys, it's time to go home,” Alexander said, and the boys jumped down immediately, holding their respective tablets in their hands.

“Bye,” I said, waving at them, and they held their father's hands.

“Come on, we’ll drop you at your apartment,” Alex said. It was not a suggestion, it was a command. He wasn’t taking no for an answer, his tone made that quite clear.