Episode 11: Caleb
804 Words
Adrian's POV
By the time I got home, I was already tired and irritated.
The meeting with Bennett had gone exactly how I expected it to go.. Polite, controlled, and completely unproductive.
He was still firm on his whole family and stability thing. Just more talk about values, long-term trust, “the kind of man he prefers to do business with.”
I knew what that meant. I just didn’t like it. I don't like the fact that all my hardwork could mean nothing if I don't get this deal with him.
The fact that the future of my company's success depends on me doing the one thing I never planned to do. Getting married.
“Good evening, sir.”
I nodded briefly, loosening my tie as I stepped in. “Where is Caleb?”
“In his room,” the nanny said. “Asleep. He tried to stay up.”
That made me pause for a second.
“Tried?”
“He was waiting for you,” she added. “But he fell asleep.”
Of course he did.
I was about to head down the hall when she spoke again.
“He went to the café today.”
I stopped.
“The one near the park?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “He goes there sometimes.”
“He wasn’t alone this time.”
I turned back to her.
“He sat with someone,” she continued. “A woman.”
Something about that didn’t sit well.
“Did he know her?”
“I think so,” she said carefully. “It looked like he did because they spoke for a while and he seemed comfortable.”
"I spoke with her too and she seemed nice"
Comfortable. With someone I didn’t know.
I held her gaze for a moment. “Next time, stay closer.”
“I was watching—”
“I know,” I said, cutting in before she could explain further. “Just stay closer.”
She nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”
I didn’t say anything else. Just walked down the hallway.
—
Caleb’s door was open.
He was asleep on top of the covers again, like he hadn’t planned to be. One arm stretched out, face turned slightly into the pillow.
I stood there for a moment before walking in.
Sat beside him on the bed and pulled the blanket over him. He stirred.
“You came late,” he murmured, eyes still closed.
“I know.”
“You always say that.”
“I do and I'm sorry son.”
A small pause.
“Did you win?” he asked.
I almost exhaled a laugh. “Not today.”
He nodded faintly, like that made sense.
Then, after a second, “I have a new friend.”
My attention sharpened.
“Oh really? Who”
“Yes. Her name is Lila.. I met her at the cafe beside the park”
“Lila?” Surely it can't be Lila Hart.
“I'm just surprised you're making friends now. How old is she? "
“I don't know but I think you're older than her"
That caught my attention again. “Oh she's an adult?"
“Yeah she's really cool. She doesn't treat me like a kid” he added smiling
“But you are a kid Caleb” I laughed and tickled him.
“Dad!! See what I'm saying”
“Okay okay you're a big boy. My big boy”
A minute passed.
“Dad?"
“Yes son"
“Are you going to get married?”
The question landed without warning.
For a moment, I just looked at him.
“Why are you asking that?” I said.
He shrugged a little. “I heard grandma talk about it when she came to visit.”
Of course he did.
Caleb listened more than most adults realized.
“It’s something they’re discussing,” I said carefully.
He was quiet for a second.
Then, “Does that mean I’ll have a mom?”
Simple question. Just… curiosity.
“I don’t know yet,” I replied.
Another pause.
“Do you want one?” I asked.
He frowned slightly, like he was thinking about it properly.
“I don’t know yet” He repeated my words.
His eyes started to close again.
Within a minute, he was asleep.
I stayed there longer than necessary.
Long enough for the room to go completely quiet again.
Then I stepped out.
Closing the door behind me.
The next morning, I didn’t waste time.
If things were already moving in a direction I didn’t fully control, then I needed to at least define how it would play out.
“Set up a meeting,” I told my assistant. “With Lila Hart.”
—
- Writer
