Word count: 2180

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"Are you going out today again mommy?"

"Yes baby."

Monica didn't bother looking at her daughter, who had stressed the word 'again'. Stephanie's face scrunched up in confusion from the reading table she was hunched over. There were several crayons scattered over the open page where a butterfly had been sketched.

The three year old had chosen pink top and blue jeans to wear since that was what her mom was also wearing and Stephanie had thought they would have a nice time staying in or go out to the park like they used to do on some school free days.

The little girl couldn't comprehend her mother's actions. She was going out so much nowadays but at least that meant she got to see her daddy more. She liked her daddy; he was fun and didn't spank her bum but corrected her in a way that would make her not repeat the same mistake anyway.

Stephanie thought her daddy was like superman because he was so tall and cool at the same time. She loved her daddy. But Stephanie still wanted her daddy and mommy to sit at home and play with her together. She'd seen it happen in movies and even some of her friends got dropped in school by their parents.

"Again?" Her eyes widened incredulously all the same, as she wished her mother would stay at home at least today. "Why?"

"I need to go out. It's...relaxing." Monica was going through some files, her face in a concentrated expression.

"Oh. Relax...ing." Stephanie drawled. Relax. She too needed to relax from school and sports and home works since today was a no school day. "So where are you going?"

"On a date." Monica sighed.

Her eyes shone in excitement. She had been on a play date with her friend a few times. It was always fun. "Can I come?"

"No."

The little girl frowned, "Why?"

"A date is for...for adults."

"Not play-dates?" Stephanie frowned.

"No, a man and a woman go on dates, Stephanie. Not children."

"A man and a woman?" Her big eyes inquired, genuinely poking for answers as curiosity ate at her insides. "Nana told me a man and woman are adults. When I grow up and get very tall and more beautiful, I'll become a adult."

"Nana is right, and you're very pretty now too. The most pretty girl I've ever since. Also, you say 'an adult' not 'a adult."

"Oh, 'an adult'. Thanks momma." Stephanie giggled. "Are you going with Aunt Veronica?"

"No baby, I'm not."

The girl couldn't understand. If mommy wasn't going with Aunt Veronica, then who else could she go with? Definitely it would be another adult. Stephanie's interest was piqued.

"So you and daddy are going on a date." She said in a conclusive tone. She giggled.

Monica heaved a sigh. Her chatterbox of a daughter was always curious and didn't know when to stop talking.

"No baby. Enough with the questions now, continue with your drawings. Your dad will be here anytime soon." Stephanie jumped up and ran around the sofa Monica was sitting in circles, throwing her fist into the air in a celebratory way.

"Yay. You can go on your date, I and daddy will have a good alone time. It's fun!" Stephanie giggled again and went back to chattering about things that they could do when mommy was away. "Daddy and Stephanie to the rescue!"

Her happiness was evident.

Monica almost scowled at her daughter who'd just said she would be spending 'good alone time' with Sucre but caught herself in time. She shook her head and went into her room to change, packing up her files in the process. What would they do when she was away anyway? Quickly heading into the shower, Monica prepared for her date and got dressed. Her date had asked her to dress in a simple outfit because they would be seeing some fun places and she needed to be relaxed.

"Daddy's here!"

Monica heard them talking in the center room but just took her time to get ready, jumping into the shower. After finishing, she started going through her closet for something nice to wear. The time was already past eleven and the time she would be picked up was still at one pm. Monica finally decided on what she was going to wear.

She put on a white dress that reached just above the knee. She chose black sandal heels and a small and sleek white clutch purse to go with it. Then after spraying her perfume and making sure she had put on a light makeup, she added some light jewelry with her silver stoned wristwatch and knew she was finally good to go.

Leaving her room, Monica came into the room to find Sucre tossing a giggling Stephanie in the air. She smiled while staring at the duo. Her heart was filled with contentment. It was great to have her baby daddy and daughter in the same room, playing together.

She chuckled and slowly walked towards them. Stephanie had just been thrown in the air when Sucre caught sight of the figure approaching them. Quickly, he collected her and pecked her forehead before placing her down.

Monica eyed Sucre's outfit and licked her lower lip in appreciation. His hair was combed back neatly. He was in black shirt that hugged his torso firmly and dark blue jeans. He'd already changed from his shoes to flip-flops, which he'd known to be her tradition even far before he started spending the night over. That was how Monica was.

Take off your shoes at the doorstep, hang them on the shoe rack and then put on flip-flops before coming in. That was Monica's rule and it had to be followed. Her home, her rules.

"Look, mommy's here." Stephanie went and stood beside Monica, taking her hand.

"Doesn't mommy look pretty?" Sucre asked with a charming smile. He gazed down at Monica for only a few seconds and Monica understood that look. He loved her. He was telling her he loved her. That was the same look he usually gave her whenever he wanted to say those words and even among ten thousand people, he wouldn't have to vocalize it.

She shut out the thoughts, looking from father to daughter.

"Mommy looks pretty. Can you go now so I can play with daddy?" Stephanie faced her mom and gave her an inquisitive look while questioning Monica. Sucre and Monica looked at each other with wide eyes and they both turned to face an oblivious Stephanie.

Just like any other little child, she was more than eager to start her play session with her dad. She didn't even know if she'd said something wrong or not. All Stephanie knew was that it was time to play with daddy. And daddy loved singing with her too, whereas mommy sometimes slept off whenever the little girl was playing her songs on her iPad.

Sucre chuckled. "She'll go soon. I got you a doll with long hair like you said you wanted. We'll braid it together. The doll is in that pink bag, go and check it out, okay?"

Stephanie's eyes brightened. "Really? Thank you daddy. You're the best!" She grinned and ran over, not after making sure she'd planted two big pecks on Sucre's cheeks.

Sucre chuckled as he watched his daughter run off. The sight of her alone made his mood brighter.

He turned to face his wife who was staring at their daughter while the little girl ransacked his bag. How good would it be to have a nice family time like this? With your wife and daughter, cuddled up on the couch and having a nice Saturday?

"You look good."

"Thanks, I heard you the first time though." Monica smiled. She was an hour early and should be picked up in about thirty minutes from now. Deciding she had time to chat for a couple of seconds more, she walked towards the chair to join Stephanie.

"Er Monica, can I see you for a bit?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Yeah? Is everything okay?"

Sucre's heart melted at her concerned tone. "Yeah, everything is perfectly fine. I uh...need to just tell you something."

His phone pinged and Sucre raised it up to read the content. His expression turned grim as he returned the phone back into his pocket.

"Alright. Let's sit an-"

Sucre held out his hand and grabbed Monica's elbow gently just as she was making a move to head over to where Stephanie was sitting.

"In private." He eyed her and licked his lower lip.

Monica's eyes followed the movement. She didn't feel good about being in the same space with Sucre because the man had promised to be formal whenever they were at work but this wasn't his office. This was her home. And Sucre had made out with her on the wall one time. He'd been so irresistible...

Monica shook her head. "No."

His face fell. "Monica please."

"I don't think that's a good idea." She wondered what he could want to tell her that he would use the magic word 'please' because Sucre rarely said any magic word to anyone.

Sucre's face fell. "Really? You don't trust me."

Monica stuttered. "Well, I mean- yeah." She tucked her neatly shoulder trimmed honey pecan hair behind her ear, "I kind of don't trust you. You can be...be weird at times. Like now."

Sucre raised a brow. What did she mean by him being 'weird?' It was enough torture for him that she was taking time to chat with other men and also fixing darned dates with them. But the man knew what he was going to do about that- when the time was right.

"It's alright. Let's just go back to our daughter." He shamelessly checked her out and admired her cleavage even though it was properly covered. "Also, good luck on the date."

"Thanks." Monica smiled grimly at him and went to play with their daughter. Sucre joined them but Monica's thoughts were still gnawing at her. Finally, ten minutes passed by and she could no longer take it. She huffed and faced Sucre who was playing with Stephanie as she spoke with the dolls having a tea party in their own mansion.

Sucre chuckled at the adorable girl who was his daughter. He still couldn't believe his copulation with Monica few years ago had resulted in this bundle of a pretty face who was absentmindedly talking to the dolls whom she'd of course named.

He was startled out of his thoughts by Monica's voice. Wasn't she supposed to be heading for her date anyway?

"Sucre."

"Huh?"

"Let's have that talk in the kitchen."

"Oh, there's no need."

"Seriously?" Monica asked exasperatedly. "You were serious the other time and now there's suddenly no need? You know what, maybe I should be on my way out."

She went over to peck Stephanie on the cheek and picked her clutch purse without facing Sucre as she walked to her car. The driver was supposed to arrive in another twenty minutes but she would now prefer to drive there herself.

So Monica called her date, the estate manager since he already made the arrangements to have her driven to their meeting spot but he didn't pick. After two rings, she received a message.

Hey dear, sorry but I can't make it. A last minute family emergency came up and I have to bail. Have a goodnight rest and I'll be the first person to call you tomorrow morning, I promise. Goodnight.

Pierce <3

Monica felt her mood take a U-turn.

This was the fourth date in two weeks that would go wrong. The first one was a sex freak and totally freaked her out. The second one was almost too good in being a gentleman. Only, he had an obsession for corpses, morgues and reincarnation. Fredrick Roman, a thirty five year old police officer only kept talking about death, what she would look like if she died and was finally in 'after life' throughout their date night.

Freaked out, Monica had politely told Fred that things couldn't work out between them. The third one only wanted her to be his third wife because the two women he was legally married to weren't giving him peace and home. And Monica seemed to know how to give men 'peace'. For that reason, she'd also struck that one out. And now this one bailed on her.

And so Monica decided that she was either doing something wrong by choosing the wrong men or...something else was wrong.

Either ways, she would have to put a pause to dating- for now. Feeling pathetic about the whole thing, Monica sniffed and headed back to the door.

Her mood had been ruined.

*

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