Chapter sixty nine
Song recommendation : September by James Arthur . Ride for me by Anne Marie ft Yung Bleu .
The encounter
Mariah knocked on Emily's office and prayed that she'll reply this time . This is the third time that she'll be here to remind Jennie of the reservation . Thank God that she had reserved for 5 hours , judging from Emily's personality .
And of course she isn't wrong !! . This is 2 ' o clock ! Zeke will get out if school in no time and she has to pick him up for God's sake . Having had enough of Jennie workaholic behavior, she burst the door opened and just like she had predicted , her head was buried in between piles of files that laid hugely on the table .
"Jennie !! Jennie !! . " Mariah yelled out a little even though she was right in front of her
"What is it ?? I'm busy . " Jennie replied without looking up from the piles that she had her head buried in
"I made a reservation, remember??! And thus is past 2 ! It's almost Zeke's closing time . You've not had any breakfast this morning . Not even a cup of coffee! Don't you feel hungry? " She stalked at her and Emily looked up from her files .
Mariah frowned at Emily and her face brooked no argument . Her face clearly said " get up right this instant . "
And Emily did , albeit grudgingly .
"Fine fine . Let's go . " She carried her purse and car keys and they both went to the parking lot .
They Emily the car and Emily turned on the air conditioning . She even opened the window .
"What's the use of the air conditioner if you were going to open the windows anyways? . " Mariah said to her , she brought out her phone to pass time till they'll get to Zeke's school
"I told you against eating in my car ! Look how smelly the car is now . And it's all your fault . " Emily wined up the windows as she kept complaining to Mariah who said nothing again since she's clearly at fault .
They got to Zeke's school after a few minutes of driving and she told Mariah to get Zeke
Few minutes later Mariah and Zeke came into view , with Mariah carrying Zeke's school bag and listening to the loud chattering of Zeke telling her about how his day went .
"Good afternoon mom . I'm back . " Zeke told his mom as soon as he got into the car . Emily turned to face , she pinched his chubby cheeks and smiled at him .
"How was your day baby?? You had a nice day ? Were you a good boy to your teacher? " Emily asked . She helped Zeke put on the seatbelt and Zeke nodded enthusiastically to her question .
She patted his head and rubbed on his back hair . Her cute son
After missing the way a few times , because Mariah had made a silly mistake with the Google map , they finally arrived at their destination . It was a fancy restaurant , a faint building that stood in the middle of a busy area . But it also screamed money , judging from the exterior decoration . Emily could see that they'll treat their palate to some good food
"Mariah , what is this place?? ." Zeke was in awe as he stared intently at the huge building .
"It's the new restaurant, built by the federal government for the .... " Mariah didn't complete her words as Zeke had zoomed off.
"Be careful!! ." Emily called out to him . She ran after the little boy , to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself from his inquisitive mind .
That was Zeke . Her son was inquisitive to no end and he seldom bothers her with his questions . This was one of the reason she doesn't allow him to come to her office everyday .
She got to the terrace and could no longer see him .
"Zeke ?? Zeke ?? Ezekiel?? Where are you !?? " She yelled out and strained her ear to catch any response but none came .
Mariah came panting and she looked relieved when she sighted Emily . She held her knees and tried to stabilize her breathing
"Mariah have you seen Zeke ? I suddenly can't find him again . " Emily was starting to get panicky .
Afterall Ezekiel was the only son of EME corporation . He could have been ....
No !! She didn't want to start thinking in that direction. They'll surely find Zeke !
"Mariah you know what ? How about you enter the building and ask for their manager ? See if there's any camera around . I'll continue to search within the vicinity . He couldn't have gotten that far . " Emily told Mariah trying to act like she was ok .
Trying to act like she wasn't trembling and shaking inside , at the thought of anything bad happening to her son. He was her everything!!
Ezekiel is the only family she has now ! Nothing must happen to me ! . She sniffed back when she felt a tear running down her cheek .
She wiped it away with the back of her hand , and yet another was falling before she could finish cleaning that one .
And another ! And another ! Until her eyes were getting blurred from the tears.
She'll definitely consider Mariah's opinion . Mariah has told her to get some bodyguard to protect herself in case of situation like this
And yet here she was , searching for the another reason why she was alive, and still alive . The only reason why she was working this hard !

*********†***
Micheal got out of his car , that he had parked at the parking lot . He was waiting for his secretary.
Although he'll be brief with this trip , he needed everything to be comfortable .
He looked around again as the sunlight streamed on the plant and he couldn't agree more that nature was indeed beautiful .
For some reason he couldn't explain , he was feeling happy today . A feeling that he thought he couldn't know again since the last three years when the incident happened .
There isn't a soul in the whole of Newland who didn't know what happened . His bride to be had been kidnapped a week before the wedding . And till today , she was nowhere to be found .
He searched everywhere , every nook and cranny . Throughout Newland and back . He even asked for help from his friend who were in overseas . Yet the search was futile .
They couldn't find her .
He shook his head , trying not to think about the incident again . Just thinking about it made the heart ache resume again.
The heart ache had been so overwhelming in the first year that he thought he would die for it
But all that's left now is a black void and a ache so brutal that it had dulled to a icy memory over the past years .
His phone rang , distracting him a bit from the thought . He picked up the call when without checking who the caller was .
"Hi sir . It's me ! It's about the search . I went to where you ask me and there has been some updates . Should I tell you now or come over !? I've already reserved a table for you . " The person on the other side , his secretary spoke
"Mm . Tell me now . " Was his reply
"She was here in the first year . But ever since then, there had been no traces of her again . Only for a month was she here . "
"Alright . I'll handle the rest . You can proceed to the next task . I'll eat now before retiring to the hotel . We'll talk business tommorow " he ended the call and sighed .
A small smile curled up on his lips . At last !!
Suddenly when he was about to open the door , he collided with something or rather someone collided into him .
"Ouch ouch !! I'm sorry uncle . "
Micheal instantly looked backed as if been controlled by a remote . He was shocked to see a boy probably two or three years old looking up at him and squinting because of the sunlight .
The boy had a sleek black hair , as he black crystal orb looked up at him , trying to access him as he was doing to him .
He moved closer to the boy and saw a mole beneath his lower lip . What a coincidence that he also has a mole in the exact place .
But something about the boy attracted him so much that he actually got scared for a second . His emotions were all jumbled up , happiness , protectiveness and relied surge through his bone in an overwhelming manner .
"What is your name ?? . " He crouched , so that he was now tje sight height as the boy . For a minute his breath caught and if not for the strong self control that he had , he would have hugged the boy
"My name is Zeke . A Ezekiel !. " He smiled at him , showing him , his perfectly white teeth .
With some missing ones .
"Where are you the only one here . Where's your mom or dad ?? " He asked him again and the boy smiled .
Gosh ! He couldn't help but cooed at how cute he looked with a dimple on his cheek.
He wasn't a fan of cute things but he couldn't help himself over this boy .
"I don't have a dad . " He looked downcast for a minute before lighting up again .
"Look !! That's my mom ! . " He pointed somewhere and Micheal stood up to have a good look .
His mouth dropped and his heart stopped beating . He was dumbfounded !
She looked dumbfounded too , but relieved . She ran to where they were standing and Zeke met her half way .
"Mom !! . " He hugged his mother who had crouched to his size and hugged him tightly .
Micheal fought back the tears . Why was he crying anyways?? The scene in front of him touched his emotional chord . His heart contracted with so much pain that he doubt whether he had developed a heart disease .
"Uncle look ! This is my mom ! Isn't she beautiful ?? . " Zeke grinned at Micheal and he had no choice but to smile back
"Your boy is cute ! " He found himself saying .
He needs to get out of here fast ! Before he even embarrassed himself some more !
"Ahh thank you . "
Her voice !
Made his heart start beating loudly! And it's brought back memories .
"I'll get going now ! . " He bowed slightly and hastily turned to leave .
He had to ! God damn it !! He was having a hard time controlling himself . He needs to sort of himself somehow
"Zeke ! Why did you do that . I was worried sick when I couldn't find you . Where did you.go ?? " Emily asked as she examined his body from head to toe

"I'm sorry for making mommy worried . But I found that uncle here . And he seems nice . "
****$###
Author's note .: Jennie is still Emily . It's just like she changed her name and identity.
Guys , I made a mistake . this is chapter sixty seven