My Ex-Alpha Wants Me Back

5

Liora's POV

"Miss Ashwood, the investors from Europe approved the final designs," my secretary said, smiling.

It was just a week after we had my grandma's funeral and although this contract was supposed to be another win for me, I was still sad.

"I'll leave early" I told my secretary and made to go home because my son would've been back from school now.

The second I walked through my front door Liam came running full speed, screaming,

"Mama!" He called and threw himself into my arms so hard I nearly stumbled backward laughing.

He told me everything about his day at preschool in one long breath, then paused halfway through a sentence about snack time.

"One boy laughed at me today," he said, quieter now,

"because I don't have a daddy."

My smile dropped before I could stop it, and I pulled him tighter against me.

"I'm enough, aren't I?" I asked, hating how much I needed him to say yes.

He nodded against my shoulder, but I knew he was still sad.

The doorbell rang while I was still taking off his uniform, and Liam was already screaming,

"Uncle Ethan!" and sprinting for the door.

Ethan walked in holding two paper bags "Emergency delivery," he said, and Liam gasped.

"Chicken and chips!" Ethan said and he crouched down to his height.

"You've grown taller since last week."

"No I haven't," Liam said, but he stretched himself up on his toes anyway, proud of it.

"You definitely have," Ethan said, grinning, and I smiled.

I have gotten closer to Liam over the years and we've been best of friends. Anyone would think he is my husband and a father to Liam.

Later, after Liam finally fell asleep, Ethan and I sat out on the balcony and we didn't say anything for the past few minutes. We were just sipping beer until he finally decided to break the silence.

"I've been thinking," he said,

"Liam's getting older, he needs someone who can legally step in for him if anything ever happens to you."

"Ethan..." I started, already misreading where this was going.

He put both hands up fast.

"No, I'm not proposing, I'm not asking you to date me, I'm talking about Liam, here. I'd like to become his legal foster father." He said gently.

I didn't answer right away, my mind going straight back to the day Liam came home crying, asking why nobody came for him on Father's Day, and why the other kids called him strange.

Although Ethan had wanted to go that day, I had stopped him, not wanting any misunderstanding.

"You're sure?" I asked him finally.

"I already love the kid," he said, simple as that, "that isn't changing, with or without paperwork."

We signed everything a week later at the lawyer's office, and Liam insisted on signing his own blank sheet of paper because he wanted to help too, scribbling his name in huge crooked letters while both of us laughed over it

My assistant rushed into my office two days later, breathless.

"We won the government contract," she said.

"Which one?" I asked, already smiling.

"The Moonridge project." She replied and I froze completely, the pen in my hand suddenly heavy.

Moonridge, the one place I'd sworn I would never set foot in again and my assistant kept asking what was wrong but I dismissed her.

That night I told Ethan I was going to reject the contract, and he was surprised.

"You've spent three years building this company," he said,

"You're really going to throw away the biggest win of your career?"

"I can't go back there," I said.

"You don't have to go back as the woman who left," he said, stepping closer,

"You'll go back as the woman who won, and you won't be doing it alone, I'll be right beside you. We're best friends, remember?" He added, making that puppy eye he does anytime he wants to request something.

After a long silence, I finally said yes.

*****

We took a private jet to the hotel suite I'll be staying at Moonridge before we went to the hall where the conference is being held. The moment I stepped out of the car, the entire lobby went quiet.

"Isn't that the former Luna," someone whispered.

"I heard she disappeared...."

"I heard she's a billionaire now...."

Different people had theirs to say and I didn't look at any of them. I just walked with my head high straight to where the meeting was being held.

Alexander was already in the conference room when I walked in, and the moment his eyes landed on me he actually forgot to stand up for a second.

"Liora," he said, finally rising.

"Good morning, Mr. Vale," I said calmly and I watched his face change.

Oh, mine! If only I could capture this moment and laugh over it again and again.

Throughout the whole meeting, he barely looked at the presentation, he just kept watching me, and I never once looked back at him.

He tried to catch me after.

"Liora, can we talk..."

"I'm busy," I said, already walking, and my assistant stepped between us before he could say another word.

I felt his eyes on my back the whole way to the elevator and then the doors opened and Ethan stepped out.

Every head in that lobby turned toward him instantly.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, smiling, and slid his arm around my waist.

"I figured," I said, smiling back.

"Daddy!" I heard Liam call out and every head turned towards his direction, including Alexander's

Liam came running as fast as his little legs could carry him, straight toward Ethan, and Ethan scooped him up immediately.

Liam laughed in Ethan's arms, and for one brief second, my eyes met Alexander's across the room... and his whole body went rigid.