Calix Radcliff

"What's up, man?" I answer the call over Bluetooth in my car. Quinn and I rarely interacted besides group events and moments normally involving Scarlett, so it was odd that he was calling me, even if I now considered him a friend.

"Hey, have I caught you at a bad time?" I could hear the distress in his voice and it immediately made me sit up straighter, a million scenarios running through my mind.

"No not at all. Is something wrong?"

"No, yes, well kind of." He rambles quickly. "There's a situation I'm trying to deal with right now concerning Rhett's mom that just came up urgently and Scarlett's trying to help me with it. I don't have anyone to pick up Rhett from school, I know this is a big ask but..."

I cut him off. "I can fetch him."

"Are you sure, I can try finding someone."

"I'm sure, I can hang out with him for the evening and you can pick him up from my place later." My workload had slowed down considerably in the last few days in an attempt to prepare for my up and coming trial but I was starting to feel bored out of my mind. It was a big jump from a hectic day-to-day life for years on end to doing basically nothing, all it was doing was making me nervous for the trial, I was grateful for any distraction I could get. "Fair warning, I haven't had much experience with kids."

"Rhett loves you, and if Scarlett trusts you then so do I." I hear his name being called in the background. "I have to go, thanks a lot again, man. I'll send you the details of his pick up."

♦

It was odd being back in the place where I went to school from when I was a little kid until just before I started working at my dad's company. The person I was when I attended school here is not the same person I am today because the boy who came here had his dad and the man that runs the company doesn't. It was eerie how similar it still looked, how I could vividly remember certain moments of my childhood yet at the same time it felt so many millions of miles away.

I walk up to where the other parents are waiting for their children but I don't go all the way forward, choosing to hang back a bit. I lean against a wall and stuff my hands into my pockets. The familiar ringing of the bell sounds out signalling the end of the school day and slowly kids start appearing in the same navy blue school uniforms that I used to wear every day. It takes a few minutes before I see the signature bright blond hair of Everett Atkins, he doesn't notice me at first, his eyes scan the parking lot for presumably his dad or Scarlett but as I walk closer to him he catches sight of me.

I'm not sure exactly what kind of reaction I was expecting but I wasn't expecting Rhett's entire fact to light up at the sight of me. Sure we seemed to get along when I saw him with Scarlett and Quinn but I always assumed he was so happy because he was with them.

"Cal!" Rhett shrieks when he sees me, lugging along a backpack that was far too big for his body with him. His curls were all messed up and frizzy and his cheeks were a bright red.

"Hey kid." I kneel down to his height. "How was your day?"

"T'was good." He answered, his attention lost from me as his eyes stray back to a couple of his friends. "Are you taking me home today?"

"I am if you'd like to hang out with me for a bit." I ask for his approval, he might only be four but it was important to get kids opinions.

"Yes." He nods enthusiastically making me smile. He was such a sweet kid.

"Okay then." I pick up his backpack and lead him to my car. "What would you like for lunch?"

♦

Rhett and I had decided on take-out, I had ordered it in the car on our way back home so we didn't have to wait too long for it to arrive when we got back. Everett and Zeppo had both been enamoured with each other from the moment they met so after an hour and a half of them racing after one another and burning out all of their energy they had now both piled onto the couch with a movie that held their full attention.

My work phone rings for the first time this afternoon and I eye it with caution. Silas was the main point for contact at the moment for all things to do with the company and I shouldn't have been contacted.

"Hello?" I hear my assistant quickly apologise on the other side of the line and then ramble on with a problem that they need my assistance on, one that Silas didn't have the access to override. When the call cuts I immediately call Quinn.

"Hey, is everything okay?" I had been sending him hourly updates about Rhett and he had spoken to his son when we were in the car on our way home but I hadn't called him since so he was worried.

"Yeah, Everett's good, he's watching some show that he said he likes with Zeppo. But I've been called to deal with something at the office, do you mind if I take him on a little field trip?"

"You're doing me a massive favour already, Calix. As long as he's safe you can take him anywhere. Scarlett and I are almost done here so I think we'll come past your office since its closer for me and then if you can Scarlett can leave with you."

"Of course she can." I assure him, time with Scarlett was always something I was willing to fit into my schedule. "I'll see you just now."

It wasn't hard to get Everett rounded up and into the car again especially when I said we could bring Zeppo with us. I felt sorry for Quinn because I was sure that the kid would be begging for a dog from this point onwards and I had noted how hard it was for Quinn to deny his son.

"Do you own all of this?" Rhett asks with wide eyes as he takes in my building.

"I do."

"That's so cool." He declares and once again I couldn't help the small smile that spread across my face. This kid was going to ruin my reputation as the grumpy boss everyone knew. All eyes were on us as we walked through the lobby of my building, I held Everett's hand tight in my own, making sure both him and Zeppo were with me at all times, I was grateful that Everett didn't seem to mind the stares. But why would he, his father and godmother with both public figures who always had eyes following them so this wasn't new for the child.

We made it up to the top floor; I listened intently to Rhett's commentary on my building taking note of the things he disapproved of. For a four year old he had a lot of opinions but nonetheless it was entertaining.

"What are you doing up here?" I enquire immediately when I see Katelyn Lawson sitting at the reception desk to the executive floor. Scarlett had asked me not to fire her siblings which I would have done in a heartbeat but I had followed her wishes knowing that even though Scarlett is forgiving she has reason for everything and not just out of the goodness of her heart. But I had also moved Katelyn down to another floor so I wouldn't have to see her everyday knowing just what she had done to the woman I was starting to fall in love with.

Her face heats up in the same way I've seen Scarlett's do a million times before but it doesn't seem at all appealing the way it does on her sister. Katelyn looks like she's terrified even though I never raised my voice or made it sound like anything more than a question, I was all too aware of Everett standing at my feet, even though he was far more focused on Zeppo than anything I was saying.

"Um." She stammers, looking caught off guard. I raise an eyebrow patiently waiting for an answer. "Denise is sick and I was called to come and cover this floor."

I look over at my personal assistant, Jess and she looks back at me a guilty look plastered across her face. I purse my lips, I had explicitly asked that Katelyn not be on this floor again but it seems by orders go ignored the moment I take a couple days off from the office.

The doors to the elevator opening, halting anymore conversation on the topic. Everett perks up immediately when he sees who's exiting the doors.

"Dad!" Everett races over to Quinn and Scarlett. "Aunt Lettie."

They both pause for a moment and fuss over him for a moment before they walk over to us. They both immediately notice Katelyn, I don't think Quinn has formally met her but it's obvious he knows who she is by the dark glare he sends her but she can't see it with the way she's hanging her head low, kind of like she was trying to make herself invisible.

I study Scarlett for a reaction but she surprisingly looked unaffected. She looks up to me with her beautiful light grey eyes and smiles genuinely at me, I couldn't help but return the smile.

"Come let's go to my office quickly." I direct the best friends but Quinn glances at his watch.

"I think we're going to head out, it's been a long day." Quinn sighs; I can hear just how true that is in his voice. "Thank you so much for watching Rhett, Calix if there's anything I can do to make it..."

I cut him off. "What are friends for, Quinn? You don't have to do anything back for me, it was a favour. And he's a good kid I don't mind hanging out with him."

Quinn once again thanks me and tries to pry Everett off Zeppo but it takes many attempts and a lot of bribery before the father-son duo makes it into the elevator.

"Shall we?" I ask Scarlett, holding out my hand for her and leading her to my office.

"We shall." She takes my hand and the two of us walk out of the reception space and into my private quarters, neither of us looking back at her older sister.

Okay so I didn't abandon you guys I promise. School has been so hectic but I only have four exams left before I'm completely off until January so expect updates coming soon.

Love you all, hope you enjoy the chapter.

Ara <3