The billionaire's double twins

Chapter 4

"Hey kids?" Ryan beckoned on the children as he made his way towards them.

The children watched him warily, then paused in their stride, jasmine and Jamie looked over to were their aunt was, she was no longer there, she had stepped away for a few minutes.

"I mean no harm." he explained.

"We are not to talk to strangers." Eden replied.

"I'm not a stranger, just a friend you do not know yet." he squatted to their level, he had made sure Candice was gone before he approached them but he do not know when she will be back and this might be his only chance to win the kids over.

"A friend?" Jayden asked suspiciously then shared a look with his siblings.

"Yes a friend, a friend bearing ice cream." he opened the bag he was holding to show them the ice cream.

The siblings shared a look.

"But we don't know his name." Jamie disagreed.

"I'm Ryan, Ryan pride." Ryan volunteered.

Eden and Jamie moved a couple of steps closer but Jasmine stopped them.

"But he's friends with the bad man."

The children shared a look then moved backward.

"That why I'm here, he's not really a badman... it's all a misunderstanding."

"Mis...mis...and...What is that?" Jayden asked.

"Oh mistakes,he made mistakes and he wants to apologise and say sorry to you kids." Ryan explained.

Eden looked at him warily the stretch her hands out to him.

Ryan tried to touch her but she retreat then pointed to the ice cream.

"Oh!" Ryan handed her an ice cream then the rest outstretched their hands too which he gave one to each of them.

Eden smiled then sat on the grass, "so you are sorry?"

"Yes." Ryan replied.

The kids sat next to Eden and ate the ice cream while watching Ryan warily in front of them.

"And that man?" Jayden asked.

"He's sorry too."

"Where is he?" Jasmine asked which spooked Jamie up and he began to look around warily.

"At home, he's afraid you kids are still mad at him and doesn't want to upset you."

"Upset...mommas upset." Jamie looked at the ground downcast.

"Yes, so are we friends?" Ryan extended his hand for a handshake .

Eden smiled then shakes him and the rest followed suit,

He stood then said good bye to them hastily as he saw Candice approach.

*****

"Where have you being?" Will demanded, he was supposed to work on their finances with him today but had gone missing earlier that evening.

"Drinking ice cream."

"Ice cream!" he exclaimed

Kyle looked at Ryan then continued with his game.

"Didn't you heard what he said?" Will turn to Kyle.

"Truthfully, I'm not interested, frankly I don't want to know."

"I don't know about you guys but we have a deadline in three days and we aren't any closer as we were five days ago and this mister..." he pointed to Kyle "has given up, and this mister he gestured to Ryan "has made it a habit to disappeared every evening, it's like you guys aren't aware of what at risk, we are risking our customers trust, if this fail, we might loose half of our customers as we all know how hard it is to build a reputation and how easy it is to destroy it.."

"And what else am I supposed to do?" Kyle turned to him.

"Anything but playing PS."

"Arrh, this the real deal." Ryan groans he took a shot of brandy

"Did you hear anything I just said or was it wasted on you?"

"Of course I was listening, but my mouth has eaten too much sweet, it's beginning to taste bland."

Will sat down frustratedly, "will you keep talking about your mouth or do you have anything relevant to say?"

He grinned,"I might have a solution."

"Beep us."

"Janice or Candice but never both, takes the kids to the park, everyday unfailingly by 4pm, I've gotten quite close with the kid."

"How close?" Will asked.

"Close enough to say we can go there tomorrow and not get chased out."

"Sincerely?"

"Yeah, you will be surprise by the power of ice cream and sweets."

The men chuckled

"Let's all go by noon then?" Will suggested

"You will have to go without me." Kyle declined.

"No, we all have to go, I promised the queen an apology from you."

"An apology?, why does everyone keep demanding that from me, what did she said to them?"

"Well a misunderstanding, nevertheless, they claimed you switched off the light at the restaurant's restrooms to scared them."

"No, I chased after the i***t who did and gave him a pieces of my mind."

"I know but they don't and tomorrow is a chance to clear that up." Ryan got up and went in.

"I..." Kyle looked at Will for support but he just shrugged "at least we know the way forward."

Ding, ding ding, the door bell rang, the third time in a roll.

"Arrg!" Janice groaned frustratedly as she carried a crying Eden in her arms and went to get the door. The day had begun with a disaster, she should have suspected something with their sudden rush of energy at night and their not eating but she had been too busy thinking about how to make the next end meet now that candice had quit her job, she really doesn't want to return to the casino. And there's Ryan... Always lurking in the corner, she shook her head, she doesn't even want to think about it, all this had clouded her mind so she really didn't notice the kids, they had all came down with a running stomach and constant stooling, since whatever they ate, they ate it together, then they then fall sick together.

"what is it?" she snapped the moment she opened the door. She had been thinking about this moment for a long time but more so since their encounter on the plane but she never visualize it like this, she had thought she would look at her best, say the right things, looking beautiful, not this, not when she feels like the whole world problems is on her shoulder, she move to slammed the door on his face but Eden reach out to him.

"Hey Queen, what wrong?" Ryan took the child from her.

Janice and his friends looked at him in amazement.

"My stomach hurts." she replied.

"Oh, sorry, have you taken anything?"

"Yes." she nodded affirmatively.

"Eden, come here." Janice reach out and took the girl, "what can I do for you?"

"Sorry we came at a bad time." Will replied, "we were hoping we could catch Candice at home."

"Sorry you just missed her." she moved to close the door but Ryan stopped her.

"But the kids said she will be home."

Janice turned to him as she pin the dots together "and when exactly did you meet the kids?"

Ryan had the guts to look guilty, "I'm sorry I met them without your permission but..."

She moved to close the door but he was holding it with his arm.

"It's was totally harmless, I swear, I just..."

"Harmless, you swear, you bastard." she screamed which caused a disgruntled Eden to cry, "why don't you come in." She released the door, "why don't you come in and see the harmless thing you've done, you self centered bastard." she laid a crying Eden on the sofa, "shhhh." she patted Eden gentle then turn to Ryan, "I swear to God, I'm gonna kill you."

The men shared a look then walked in just as Candice rush down, with Jayden in her arms, "what's... What are they doing here?"

"This asshole, this precarious bastard... is the cause of my headache, this morning."

Candice paused as she tried to make sense of what Janice said, she gentle pat Jayden back as he coughed, which later erupt in a vomit, she closed her eyes as the hot liquid touch her back.

Will squeeze his face as he began to realise what happened, Ryan had fed the children too much desert, he removed his jacket and rushed to Candice to take Jayden, "I'm so sorry."

"Get out." Candice boomed causing Jayden to cry.

"Sorry let us..." Kyle began but was interrupted by Shelby who ran down the stairs,

"What the hell is going on here? I asked you to get them calm, not make them cry or wake the..." She stopped in between sentence, she didn't expect to see guest.

"I'm sorry." Will began, "I know no number of kids is hard for a mother to handle but please let us help, I practically raise my siblings."

"And you think my kids are some stupid teenager..." Candice took Jayden to the chair.

"I raised them since I was fourteen, and there was eight."

Candice paused and looked at him.

"He's good with kids candy." Shelby got of the stairs.

"And how the hell do you.... Great she threw her hands up, you are f*****g him."

"Language young lady." Shelby bypass the vomit and move to Jayden, "Will come take the boy, candy I need you to get out of that clothes, you do not want to trigger anything and Janice, show the boys how to clean, I want Candice near when I sting Eden." she checked Jayden temp, "still normal..." then she turned to everyone who were still standing, "why aren't you moving?"

The men looked at Candice who just pulled off her night shirt and ignore them, leaving her chemise in place

"Candice, a mother always put her kids first..."

"It's their fault..."

Eden groan then reach out for Candice, she ran to her and lifted her, "fine but those two..."she pointed to Kyle and Ryan "must not come near my kid."

"Nevermind they will be too busy cleaning." Janice passed them the mob.

Will lifted Jayden then headed upstairs with Candice and Shelby behind while Janice led the boys to do the cleaning.

Two hours later, the kids were attached to drips and they lay on their bed sleeping while the adult made their way down. "so poison ivy..." Candice turned to Ryan, her new profounded enemy, "...now that you are done poisoning my kids, what may I do for you?"

Ryan looked at his associates then down cast, "I'm sorry."

"She will return to work on Monday." Janice announced to them.

"No I won't."

Janice ignored her then walked ahead to the wall where the picture of her grandfather shot gun was hanging, "do you know what this is?" she touch the frame.

"Your grandfather shot gun." Ryan replied.

"Good, I'll get Candice to work by Monday but if I ever see you within a 100meter of my kids, I'll put a shot through you."

The men shared a look, then Will spoke, "can you get her to attend the ball, this weekend?"

"No I..." Candice protested.

"I'll get her there." Shelby covered Candice mouth.

"She will be there." Janice opened the door and watched as they walked out before closing the door.

"I can't go." Candice sat on the chair, "the children are sick and you are quite tired."

"We will have to make do, you need your job just as much as we need the money, we may have paid off out dept but we do not have enough to last the month, so except you have some money hidden that I do not know about, you need your job."

Shelby and Candice shared a look, "fine but only till..."

"No but, I didn't asked you to return just because of the money Candice." She picked the jam and began to spread some on the bread, "you love that job Candice, I haven't seen you glow like you did in the last six months, you always chatter about your adventures when you return and the smile on your face is always second to none, so please, do not let a bastard who is not worth a second of your time, deprived you from your joy, why give them that luxury."

"Fine." she picked Janice bread and ate.