In out and back in love with you.

20. Earth challenge

Alexander left his office and arrived at his house where he found his children still awake watching a movie with their grandmother Linda, when he looked up the woman smiled at him.

- Hello son, how did it go at work? - Linda's soft voice greeted him.

- Everything is fine. I'm fixing some things, but everything will be in order on Monday. - Alexander replied.

- Come with me to the kitchen...- Linda said heading there without another word, Alexander followed her aware she wanted a word with him away from his children.

- Narcy was here a few hours ago- She started.

- I imagine it wasn't a pleasant meeting. - He confirmed

-Well, she didn't say much, only that she would be away for a few more weeks, the children tried to talk to her and tell her about their progress at school but she just packed and left, before leaving, however, she commented that very soon she would be a powerful woman, and she would not have to be a tasteless housewife again.- Although the old woman said it as a comment Alexander knew she wanted to know more so he told his mother everything that had been happening in the company and his talks with Narcy regarding the their marriage and the way the woman had tried to extort him.

-For God's sake! I can't believe it!! How can she do something like that? Leave her children that way? Ask you for your company shares and you say Cassie is here? She’s helping with the MTC scam problem? - Linda couldn't believe what she heard.

-That's right mom, it was Monica who hired her, and I didn't know she was the one who would come help me. - The CEO was honest

-And you were shocked when you saw her? - Linda knew what her son had felt for the youngest daughter of the Donovan’s, she knew if it hadn't been for Alexander and Cassie's fathers, her son would probably have ended up with the young consultant, and maybe it would have been the best, now she saw it.

- Shocked? I almost fell flat on my ass... - Alex replied, an embarrassed smile on his lips.

-Many years ago your father and I intervened thinking it was just a love of youth and our friendship with the Donovan’s would be compromised if it ended badly, this time I will not intervene, but Alex, Cassie is a widow and has two small children and you are about to divorce and with two children too, it’s a lot of baggage, on both sides. Think about it, would you accept her children? And her? Would you accept Alec and Kyle? - Linda questioned him.

The CEO thought about it for a minute, of course he was willing to accept Cassandra's children, they were a part of her after all and to love her was to love her completely, so he would also love them, but he didn't know if Cassie would accept his children, hell, he didn't even know if he could get her back and make her fall for him again, even if he managed to do that, raise and take care of four children would be a challenge for any woman. Would she, do it? There was much he hadn't considered but he couldn't afford to doubt, not again, doubt and lack of self-confidence was what took him away from her so many years ago, he would have to take the bull by the horns this time, so to speak.

- Of course I would accept her children, they are part of her after all and if I get my way, they will be mine too. I only pray to God and all the saints in heaven she is willing to accept Alec and Kyle... but first I must make her fall in love with me again. - The businessman declared

- I have met Cassie's children, Chelsea is the exact replica of her mother inside and out, is just as strong and independent as she is and has the same pretty face too, Ethan is a sweet and affectionate child but fiercely protective of his mother, he is simply beautiful, Cassie has done a very good job with those two. The truth is I would be calmer knowing that Alec and Kyle have such a strong maternal figure. As I told you before I will not intervene, I could even try to help you a little with your father and Arthur Donovan if it were the case. - Linda concluded

- Thank you mother, because the first thing will be to win her back, I was lucky she fell in love with me the first time, to achieve it a second... -Alexanders knew well what his mistakes had been and now he could understand that love is not the same as permanence, and that in the past he knew how to love but did not know how to stay, this time he would have to show her that he could be the man worthy of being by her side and that he wouldn’t run again, but stay even against all odds.

- Don't underestimate yourself so much Alex, you are a great man, and you deserve to have a great woman by your side. - Linda concluded.

On Saturday morning Alexander McIntyre woke up determined: he had to talk to his children, so he got up early and prepared his favorite breakfasts and planned a trip to that amusement park his children wanted to go for after the heavy talk he had to have with them, when he heard small footsteps coming down the corridor, he shouted his greetings

-Good morning, guys!! Come have breakfast I made your favorites.

Alec and Kyle ran downstairs to see their father

- Waffles? Kyle shouted excitedly

- Bacon omelet? - Alec shouted.

- I did both- Alex replied with a big smile.

Oki guys, I want to talk to you about something, but I want you to know that no matter what happens I'm here for you ok? - The CEO was used to talking to many people but now suddenly he didn't know where to start.

- Where is grandma? -Alec asked,

- Grandma went to take care of your great-grandmother but that's not what I want to talk to you about. - Alex replied

- Is it because great-grandma is sick? - Kyle asked.

- No, it's not that, ok listen... your mom packed and left for a few weeks, but she and I have been talking, and we have decided we want different things, and it would be better for everyone if we no longer live together. - Alex studied his little ones to see their reaction.

- Are you going to divorce? - Alec asked and sounded surprised but not sad.

- Yeah buddy, that's right. - was the answer

- And what does that mean exactly? - Now Kyle spoke.

- Well, it means you are going to stay with me, and your mother will no longer live with us. -Alexander tried to explain as delicately as he could.

- So, we don't have a mom anymore? - Kyle was upset.

- Of course not, your mom will always be your mother, and you can see her whenever you want and you can call her, it’s just me and your mom are not going to be married anymore that’s all. - Alex clarified

- She's never here, so I don't see the difference. - Alec said, now his father understood, he wasn't sad, but angry, he was very angry.

- Look guys, I know that changes are scary, and you may have many doubts now, but you can ask me anything. Meanwhile, grandma and Rebecca will continue to take care of you as until now, when I'm at work, and when I get home, we'll do the same as always, I love you both, and we're going to be fine, you'll see. - The young father wanted to give them security, make them see their world was not ending and he would be there every step of the way.

- Ok daddy, I believe you, and as Alec says mommy is never here anyway, but do you think she can still go see me in my school play? - Kyle said Hopefully

- I don't know son; we'll have to ask her. Do you have any other questions? - Alex told them looking into their eyes.

- When mom came yesterday, she told grandma she would no longer be a boring housewife. Is that why she’s leaving? Are Alec and I boring? - Kyle had tears in his eyes Alex though he most has heard his mother talking with Linda.

- Of course not!!! You two are the coolest kids I know; it has nothing to do with you, ok? - Alex said wiping a tear from Kyle's cheek.

- Yeah, sure, that's why she left, right? - Alec was being sarcastic, anger still distilling through his pores.

- Alec listen to me son, Your Mom left for her, not for you or your brother, and we decided to divorce because we no longer want the same things, and we are no longer in love, but that has nothing to do with you either, okay? I think that. - Before he could continue the CEO was interrupted.

- I don't want to talk about it anymore, ok?!- Alec said with annoyance.

- Neither do I. - Kyle agreed sadly.

- Ok, guys, if you don't want to talk now, I understand, but you can ask me anything whenever you want, okay? - his father concluded and exhaled deeply

- Now what if you go and pick up your things, I'm going to take you both to the amusement park we were talking about...

- Both children ran upstairs without looking back, Kyle had cried a little and didn't seem to understand everything, but Alec had understood perfectly, and he was angry, maybe with him or with her or with the situation, but he was pissed, he was the one who worried Alexander the most.

Upon arriving at the amusement park "Earth Challenge" the children seemed to be a little better, although Alex knew that he should resume the conversation at some point maybe he would let a few days pass and ask again, they bought the tickets and the truth it did seemed a fairly fun park, of course Kyle could not enter many of the amusements because of his age, but surely they could wait for Alec to get off the game, right? Adrenaline was no Alexander’s cup of tea. They entered the park and tasted a few games, although the brothers constantly friendly fought about which game they should go up next, Kyle wanted to visit the train that went around the park while Alec wanted to get on the children's roller coaster. The brothers were still arguing when the whole sound suddenly died out in Alexander's head. He saw her in the distance…Cassie… She was laughing with that accountant who didn't leave her side. It was the fuc**ng weekend!! Didn't the moron have a life? And what were they doing here? then he saw Monica next to them; ok maybe that explained it, that's why Monica asked him what he would do on the weekend… maybe he would leave, turn around and not be seen, it was childish, and he knew it but what other option was there?

This was so NOT the way he wanted Cassie to meet his children. Maybe they could get out of here quickly, The CEO turned around and called his children to accompany him, only in that moment he heard someone called him.

- Alexander?? Is it you?? What a surprise, what are you doing in "Earth Challenge"? Monica's voice came with a totally fake surprise, f**k. too late to hide now….