CHAPTER 8

It had been a few days since Ceaser left Jules’ house looking all hot and dashing. Work was still the same for her; interesting, fun, other times boring. The new CEO - whose identity was still unknown to her - had made a few changes by firing most of the employees and hiring new ones, she was glad he had kept the staff in the children’s section though. She was already familiar with all of them asides Andy and Sofi and she was glad Ivy wouldn’t have to deal with new faces.
She heard he was planning on changing the name of the company which didn’t come as a surprise. The name, she didn't mind but him firing and replacing most of the workers wasn't fair. That was just cold hearted. She got that he was doing his job but he should have given them a month's notice or at least a week. He just upped and fired them...hopefully he included a severance pay. She had heard a lot of things about him from the gossip of the office but no one had gotten a glimpse of him yet.
Jules was in the kitchen cooking when she heard a knock at the door.
Who could it be?
She wondered as she abandoned what she was doing and went to get the door. Jules pulled the door open and her breath caught when she saw who it was.
Oh Darn!
Jules thought as her eyes betrayed her and went checking him out.
He looked flawless in his black suit, white shirt and the darker shade of blue tie which he had on. Not a single strand of his hair was out of place. In short, he looked immaculate. Her eyes met his and she saw a hint of smile on his face. That's when she realised, she had been staring.
"Are you done ogling me Ms. Jenna?" Ceaser asked in his husky and very masculine voice that made her swallow.
Ceaser had stayed away from her for the past couple of days trying to set his mind and get his thoughts straight; it wasn't an easy task. He had a hard time letting go of the woman he offered a ride at the office’s garage that night. He had to see Jules Jenna for who she really was, the woman who was with his daughter. He decided to set his plan in motion and he knew she wouldn't give his daughter up. So, he was going to wine and dine her, he’d make her fall madly in love with him. Jules Jenna was one of those hard to get types but she couldn’t remain immune to his charms forever. Sooner or later she’d crack and he preferred sooner than later cause only then could he move forward with the rest of his plan. He would get married to her and adopt his daughter. Finally, he would let his lawyer – who was the best – work his magic in court and he would have full custody of his daughter then and only then would he divorce her.
"I-I was not..." Jules’ stutter brought Ceaser out of his devious plan.
"May I come in?" He asked, interrupting her.
What was he doing here, again?
Jules wondered.
“Of course." She said, opening the door wider. He stepped in and walked towards the living room but not before he made sure his arm brushed hers and he lingered close for a while before he proceeded into the living room.
Jules sighed and closed the door joining him in the living room. Ceaser was scanning the room when Jules got there, he took in the surrounding something he hadn’t done the last time he was here. His gaze went to the kitchen and that made Jules remember the food she had left on.
"Oh shoot!" She ran into the kitchen and turned the gas off. She sighed in relieve when she checked to find she hadn’t burnt her meal. She would have gone to bed without having dinner.
“Everything okay?” Jules jumped at the nearness of his voice looking behind to find him watching her.
Darn! He made her kitchen look small.
“Yea.” She said “All good.”
She had felt the power and confidence oozing out of him the two times they had met but now, in her small kitchen, it was almost drowning.
Wait! What the heck was wrong with her and her thoughts these days?
Jules snapped herself out of whatever haze this Greek god had put her under.
"I'm sorry about that." She said walking past him out of the kitchen and into the living room all along aware of his gaze on her as he followed suit.
Ceaser didn’t say anything, just looked at her while they both sat on different sofas.
"So, why...?"
"I'm here to apologize for the way I stormed out of here the other day." Ceaser said interrupting her.
"Oh that? It's nothing. It's fine. I'm sure you had..."
"I remembered something really important I had to take care of." He said interrupting her once again.
"It's really okay. I mean, I wasn't..."
"I know, I just..." He was about saying before she cut him off.
"You do know you haven't let me complete a sentence." Jules pointed out getting irritated with his interruptions.
He looked taken aback.
"Excuse me?”
"You haven't let me complete a sentence since you walked through the doors." Jules smiled. “I don’t know if you’re telepathic or just...” arrogant “…that way.” Jules said instead.
There was something different about him.
Jules thought.
He had a hint of smile playing on his lips.
"I'm sorry. I..." Ceaser frowned as he apologized to the woman for the second time that day "Is your meal edible enough?"
"What?" Jules was confused as he changed the topic.
"The food; it was on when I walked in." He stated “Is it edible or did it get burned?”
"Oh. No, it’s edible."
"That's a shame. I'd have loved to take you out for dinner."
Jules felt the blush creep from her neck to her cheeks but she pushed away the excitement that bubbled up to the surface at his indirect offer.
"You do remember that I have a daughter, right?"
As if on cue, Ivy’s cry echoed through the house.
"Excuse me." Jules got up and ran down to the spare room she used for Ivy when she was busy in the kitchen.
She pushed Ivy’s door open and the minute Ivy saw her, she began to quiet down.
"Momma." she said raising her hands for Jules to pick her up.
"Hey princess." Jules smiled as she picked up a pouting Ivy. "Hungry?"
"Hunguwe." She said.
Jules smiled down at her. She was so adorable whenever she spoke. Adjusting Ivy on her hip she went back to the living room where she had left her uninvited guest.
"I don’t think you’ve officially met my daughter." Jules said as she entered the living room. Ceaser got up and turned when he heard Jules.
His face went blank when his gaze fell from Jules and landed on Ivy. Those two times he had admired her, he never knew she was his flesh and blood. But now that he knew, he felt his heart expand and fill with love. Love for his little girl whom he couldn’t wait for to be his completely.
If Bea hadn't given her up, he wouldn't have to go through this. He would have been with his daughter and been the happiest man.
Jules saw a look pass in Ceaser’s eyes and couldn’t quite place it. It was almost sad to watch the feeling play in his eyes as he looked at Ivy. Ivy always made people who met her smile but it made this man sad. Jules frowned at that.
Jules approached him with a smile plastered on her face as she looked from Ceaser to Ivy to see her reaction of a new face.
"This is Ivy." Jules said.