His ego

Charlene kept muttering to herself even after they got home, aggravated by the stranger who thought it was okay to touch other people's children. She had reported the incident to the school earlier, certain that they would make sure it never happened again.

“Who does he think he is?” She let out a scoff, helping Harry onto his bed. It was bedtime already.

“Are you talking about my friend, mummy?” Harry's little voice rang out in the silent room, jolting Charlene from her thoughts. She blinked at him and then furrowed her brows.

“He is not your friend.” She insisted.

“But he helped me when the other kids were making fun of me.” Harry pointed out, sadness laced in his voice. Charlene was taken aback, she stared at him for some seconds, shocked that her son was being bullied.

“Who was making fun of you!?” She questioned, holding his hand.

“The other kids. They said I don't have a dad. We're supposed to come with our dads next week for the daddy-son event.” Harry's eyes dropped, his voice shaky. Charlene could not help the lump that formed in her throat, a tear threatening to slip out of her eye.

“I've told you many times Harry, don't let them get to you. They're just bullies.” She tried to mask the pain in her voice. 

“But mummy, why don't I have a daddy like the other kids?” Harry queried further, keeping his eyes on his mother who was too busy trying to hide her own tears. 

“Sweetie, come here.” She joined him on his bed, cuddling him tightly. “I'm going to come to your school for the daddy-son event.” She said, distracting him from his question.

“But you're not a boy!” Harry screamed.

“You're right, but I can be the boogie monster!” Charlene screamed with a guttural voice before giggling him and causing him to laugh out loud, completely distracting him.

Harry fell asleep and Charlene left for her own room, but found it difficult to fall asleep. She couldn't stop thinking about her baby daddy, Noah. She felt like a failure, how could she not even remember the face of the man that got her pregnant?

After the one night stand, she only got to see his enchanting pair of blue eyes before he vanished. She didn't know him, she barely knew what his voice sounded like, but he took her innocence, and that bonded him to her. She was in love with him, and had continued to long for him since the first day they met. 

Their was something about his aura, his domineering but yet soothing presence that made her fall helplessly for him. Maybe it's because of how mysterious he was, she just didn't know. All she knew was that she missed him terribly, and would give anything to see him again— and it didn't matter that he left her when she needed him the most.

——

“One cup of cappuccino and two muffins, coming up.” Charlene handed the order over to Vicky who had come to help her out at the coffee shop that morning. 

“I'll take the other orders, finish up the others.” She announced before turning with a smile to a customer that had just walked in. As soon as she finished taking his order, a call came into her phone and it was from Harry.

Disturbed, Charlene answered the phone and the headmistress’s voice came through. “Hello Miss Hart, I'm calling to inform you of a development in your son's admission.” 

“What? What happened?” Charlene frowned, her heart missing a beat. She hoped that nothing had happened to her son.

“We're revoking Harry's admission, he can no longer attend our school.” The headmistress announced and there was dead silence for a while as Charlene tried to process what she had just heard. She couldn't possibly imagine what Harry must have done to deserve an expulsion.

“Miss Hart?” 

“Yes. What did Harry do?”

“Just come over and pick him up. We'll let you know what you get here.” The headmistress said and hung up, leaving Charlene tensed and worried. 

“Vicky, I'm afraid I have to leave for Harry's school, something is terribly wrong.” She bit her lip, taking off her apron in a hurry as she grabbed her purse. “I'll be back as soon as I can.” She rushed out of the coffee shop. 

She got to the school within minutes and rushed into the headmistress’s office where they had Harry ready to leave already. He ran to his mother, hugging her tight.

“Why are you revoking my son's admission? What did he do?” Charlene asked, boiling in rage as she glared at the headmistress.

“I'm sorry, but we got an order from the owner to dismiss him.” 

Charlene leaned back in shock, “who's the owner?” 

“I am.” 

The familiar voice made Charlene swing around. Her jaws clenched as soon as the masked man walked in through the door, his blue eyes narrowed and his hair resting on his face. 

“You?”

“Yes. I own this school, I bought it after you insulted me yesterday.” He answered, his voice deep and his words rolling out of his mouth with ease. He didn't rush his words at all. He was as cool as he was stern.

“Is that how low you're willing to go? You decided to buy a whole school to satisfy your ego?” Charlene scoffed, visibly angry. Her eyes had narrowed, and she was just a few nerves away from releasing a punch to the man in front of her. 

“Of course,” he leaned in, “I needed to teach you a lesson about running your mouth. I am the one person you don't want to mess with.” 

“So what are you going to do? Expel my son for your leisure? You're a terrible man.” Charlene fired.

“Still haven't learned your lesson? You do realize that I am capable of making sure that your son never gets admitted anywhere. I'll make sure that you lose your footing in this city and go bankrupt for the rest of your miserable life.” 

Although Charlene could not see his face, she could tell that his was grinning under that mask, and it made her blood boil. Fumes would be escaping from the top of her head if it were to be biologically possible. 

“Please..” she said through gritted teeth, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. 

“No, that simply will not do.” Noah folded his arms. “A simple please will not gain my forgiveness.” 

“What do you want!?” Charlene asked. She did not want her son to drop out of school, she definitely didn't want to lose her coffee shop which was her only source of livelihood. It was obvious that the man in front of her was powerful and wealthy, even his demeanor screamed rich. 

“I want you..” he paused, getting his hands out his pocket and folding them on his chest. “I want you to get on your knees with your lips touching my shoes, and beg for my forgiveness.” 

Charlene's eyes widened, “What!?”