The Billionaire's Ex-Lover

"Mommy," Nicole shouts, jumping on the bed. Kathleen laughed, "Happy birthday, baby." She said to the elated kid, after having a long laugh. Nicole's face pops back to the camera, with Lucas's face.

"Are you coming home?." Lucas asked her and she scoffed, "Are you kidding me?. It's my daughter's birthday." Kathleen told him, it was the craziest question ever.

"Once I'm done with the board president, I'll be flying out immediately."

"Okay. Take care." He said, then hung up. She turned around to look at her P.A.

The young girl opened a file and said, "Madam, you have a meeting with Mr. Carlos and.." Kathleen feigned a yawn, interrupting the young girl with an amused look.

"Sandra, today's my baby's birthday. Cancel my schedules and prepare, we're going to Sequim now." The girl nodded immediately.

"Yes, ma." She answered and turned to leave.

"Did you buy her gift?." Kathleen asked, standing up and adjusting her gown.

"I ordered a few minutes ago, ma'am."

"Okay."

Sandra walked out of the office with her phone, dialing a number immediately.

***

Arriving at the airport, and walking out to see Lucas standing by the car which was supposed to take her home.

Reaching her cheek, he pecked her and opened the door for her.

On their way home, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my God!. I'm so tired." Lucas looked at her, she had gone for months and was even planning to extend her return if not for her daughter. She had been working nonstop for three years now and had become so successful. She is the sole owner of the business and the family looked up to her a lot. However, she was not the same woman he knew five years ago, her personality had changed a lot.

"I know right?. We're all happy to receive you. Nicole can't wait to see you." He told her and she laughed, "She must be angry. I didn't come to her school for her dance performance. How was it?."

"Spectacular. I wish you were there to see Nicky." Kathleen felt proud, she held her head high and scoffed, "I know you will always fill in for me. Thank you, Lucas."

"What are friends for?. I would, always." He replied to her and she smiled at him and looked outside the window. There was silence in the car until they arrived at Houston's Mansion.

Back in the car, Kathleen could hear the loud music coming out of the mansion. Seeing the front porch, decorated with ribbons and balloons, was a beautiful sight to behold.

"Jordan has done it well. It's beautiful." She acknowledged, stepping out of the car and walking in, her eyes searching for Nicole.

Instantly, her eyes met her playing with Henry, jumping on top of Henry for a balloon that he held high in one of his hands. Kathleen watched her for a while struggling but Henry was stronger than her. Then, Nicole got angry and what she did next made Kat's eyes widen, she stumped on him angrily and Henry shouted and threw the balloon on the floor, limping and tending to his leg.

"Nicole," Kat yelled her name and she turned. A smile crept into her frowning face as she ran and jumped on her mom's body. Kat carried her up and twirled her around in the sitting room.

"Mommy. I missed you." She cackled and Kat kissed her cheek. "I missed you too. Happy birthday, Nicole." Kat told her and kissed her again, then turned to Sandra who handed her a red box. Nicole giggled happily, trying to tear the red ribbon wrapped around it open and Kat pushed it away from her reach.

"Wait, baby girl. Patience. This isn't the time to open your present." She stated and Nicole looked disappointed. "Come on. Let's go and see granny." Kat turned her around and they started walking upstairs.

Kat stood by the door, seeing her grandma in her wheelchair, reading the newspaper with the medicated glass on her eyes. The old woman looked up, then smiled sweetly.

"Kathleen, come in." She opened her arm as Nicole jumped into her spread arms.

"Good afternoon, granny." Kat greeted her, and her smile widened.

*You're home." Lillian was old, she is in her late seventy-nine and also stronger than most. Grandpa died on April 16th, 2018, two years after Kat left. She finished school on 2 October that same year. It wasn't easy for Lillian after he died but she's gradually getting over him. Though she would sometimes read his favorite newspaper like she was doing now.

"I came not too long ago," Kat told her.

"I have something to discuss with you." What could Lillian want to discuss with her?.

There was silence. She leaned forward, and took Nicole out of Lillian's separated legs, "Nicole, go outside and play with Henry, okay?. "

The young girl nodded and hopped away immediately. Kat sat on the bed and looked at her grandma.

"What is it that you want to discuss with me?."

"You're not getting any younger, Kathleen. You're grown up now, you have all you wanted, you're pretty and intelligent but don't you think it's time to give Nicole a father?." Kat blinked at her question.

"A father?."

"Aren't you old enough to get married?. You've practically rejected all the suitors I and your grandfather arranged for you, even the ones that are still coming, and yet you don't find them worthy?."

Kat rolled her eyes, "I just don't like any of them," Kat said to her.

"Well said!. I've thought about it and I think you should consider dating someone who knows you too well, someone who was there when you needed him, someone, ready to build a home with you." And Kat was confused.

"Who might that be?."

"Lucas."

Her eyes widened, "What?." It was the craziest she ever heard.

"Lucas is like a brother to me, why the hell did you think of that?." She asked with disbelief.

"I'm just suggesting the one made for you. It is left for you to do the needful." And that left her in thought.

She thought about it for a while, "Have you told anyone this?." She asked Lillian.

"No."

"Then keep it. Don't you say something like this again? Lucas is like a brother and would always be a friend to me. I'll wait for more suitors, just be patient." Kat promised her and Lillian didn't say any word later on.

***

Since granny told Kat about this, She had been restless. She does not understand why she kept declining her numerous suitors who were ever ready to take care of both her and Nicole.

She had never felt so disturbed in her life, especially when she remembered when Lillian said she should get a father to her baby. Was it not what she expected?. She can remember how it was, growing up as a child without a father or a mother. She knew the importance of having both parents in a kid's life. But she didn't want to get married out of love.

Kathleen walked to her wardrobe, she took out a picture of a young beautiful baby boy, sleeping peacefully in his crib. Hot tears rolled down her eyes, although she didn't get to see the baby alive after she gave birth to him, she still felt that motherly love towards him, she felt attached to the baby.

She's always kept this picture and only got to see it on Nicole's birthday because it was also his birthday. She's always reminded herself to see him every year.

Kathleen stood up from her chair and ran a hand on her now curled and glossed hair. She smiled slightly at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't look quite ugly, did she?.

"You still haven't lost your touch, eh," She said to Carolyn, who was looking over her shoulder. "I believe that should be your thank you," Carolyn said to her and she chuckled softly.

"And you are welcome." She added, Kat, sighed as Carolyn's hands grabbed her shoulder and turned her over.

Her look on her was weird, she was thinking of what to say, Kathleen could see it. "You have to behave yourself," Carolyn finally told her and she rolled her eyes at her, "Oh, stop now!. I already gave you my word."

"You give words and break them," Lillian said, wheeling herself into the room. Kathleen turned around, "Granny, I promise if he behaves well."

"He's a charming boy. A prince, don't forget who his father is!." Kathleen shook her head. "She's told me that multiple times." She mumbled to herself.

She picked up her small mirror and looked at her face closely.

"They are all the same, granny. Remember, Loretta's brother caused what happened to him. He spits while he talks, and Jackson eats a lot. He's fat and bossy. And this one, I heard he's rude. Gosh, I do not know what will happen today." Kathleen listed feeling irritated.

"Bla Bla Bla. If you continue like this, People will think you're portentous and ominous. You'll never get married, my child."

Kath tossed the mirror on the table and grabbed her phone. She turned and stepped forward to stand before Lillian.

"Love, grandmom. Love matters!." Kat stated, giving her a small kiss on her right cheek before walking out of the room.

She walked out, standing in front of Mikael. He looked tidy and clean in his tuxedo. He had brown hair, blue eyes and looked quite good. "Not bad," She muttered to herself as he opened the car door and she went in. Kat breathed out when he sat beside her and the car moved.

***

As Mikael ordered what he wanted, Kat watched him closely.

"How can I get someone like Aiden ever?." She asked herself. Though this one is close to being him, he is not him. Gosh, she can't believe what she's thinking of right now. For five years, she had never had this thought, she was so obsessed with power, fame and she succeeded.

Love was the least of her problems, but when her grandma thought of a baby daddy to Nicole, she couldn't help but think of him now. No one would measure up with him, she had lost contact with him and never heard of him after she left Sequim that day.

"Kathleen, I believe you know who I am, and I know who you are. Perhaps, we could tell more about ourselves." The young man began etiquettely.

Kat smiled at him and acknowledged the white lady pouring the wine into their glasses.

"Thank you," She said to the waiter who smiled and left. Kat picked up a glass and sipped a little.

How bored can she get at such a time?.

"You know me because we've done business before, however, you also know I have a daughter before agreeing to come out with me, and I get that you don't mind at all."

He blinked.

Noticing her domineering nature, he smiled. "I certainly don't mind, though I'd like to mind knowing you." He stated and Kat's lips curved up in a smile.

"You'll get to know me if you come closer."

"You're a beautiful lady." He could not help but admit.

Kat sat up, courteously "And you're. noble," Kat answered him. Mikael is the only child of Finn's family. They were among the richest in Sequim and her grandma demanded she treat him like a prince. And Kathleen knew what he wanted, a lady like her to rule with him and Kathleen found it rather demeaning, she preferred being the lord of herself.

And perhaps, that was the reason he acted curtly and not rudely to her. He wanted to impress her.

"Thank you for noticing." He said, then shifted his tie stylishly, revealing the numerous gold rings he put on his finger.

Kathleen snorted to herself, "Showing off, I guess."

***

The dinner with Mikael was boring with him doing most of the talking, telling her his stories of his adventures, great power, and riches. It was all about him. Soon, he wrapped it up and decided to go home. He didn't entice her at all.

As his car pulled up in front of Houston's mansion, the car door was opened for Kathleen by his driver and she climbed down.

"Well, when do we meet again?." He asked her. Kathleen was boiling inwardly, who would want to go into another boring session with him?, "I'll call you," She replied, briefly.

He leaned over and kissed her cheek, then he turned and entered his car. Kathleen watched his car drive out of the gate and turned back to the mansion.

Surprisedly seeing Lucas leaning against the door with folded hands, she walked up to him. "Why are you out? it's cold out here." She said to him,

"I was waiting for you to come home." He told her. Her eyes squinted, "Why?. Why won't you wait till tomorrow?." She asked him.

This was the month of February, and so winter isn't gone yet. The cold weather was getting to her as her arms were bare.

"It's urgent. Come in." He answered, then he turned and started walking in. Kathleen followed behind curiously, thinking of what was happening. Soon, they were standing alone in the sitting room, where the maids and servants or housekeepers were all gone.

He sat and she sat too. "What do you want to talk about?."

"I heard you're traveling back soon." He said, in an unfriendly tone, Kathleen breathed out and clasped her hands together. "Yes. Why?."

"When are you going to tell me?." He asked sharply. He was angry and Kathleen knew why. She hadn't wanted to tell him, not now.

"I..I.."

"Perhaps, hiding it from me because it's Seattle?." He asked again and her lips parted, she was stunned.

"How did you know about that?." Her voice was low.

"Come on. You shouldn't be asking about that. You know I would find out about it."

"I know you will but I didn't expect you to find out so soon. Are you spying on me?."

He raised his brows, "I don't have any reason to spy on you."

"You have. Yes, you have. You've been doing that since I started handling the business, you think I don't know?. Why would you spy on me?." Kat asked, pissed, and raising her voice at him.

"That...Your grandma asked to keep an eye on you."

"Well, we're both guilty after all," Kat told him and stood up to leave. She walked a few steps ahead.

"You're going to meet him." He said, and that stopped her in her tracks. She turned.

She behaved like she didn't know what he was talking about, "Who?."

"Nicole's father."

Kat blinked and blinked again, no one has ever referred to him as Nicole's father for such a long time. It was new to her and unfamiliar to her ears. Being reminded of him hurts her so much.

"I'm not going to meet anyone. I've set up a branch and I'm going to be there for a short time. And do I explain why I had a branch set up there too?." Kat asked him sarcastically and contemptibly looked at him for bringing Nicole's father up.

"What about Nicole? Are you going to leave her here?."

"I'm going for a meeting and not a vacation." She snapped.

Lucas knew she was angry.

"You're going to leave her again. Do you love your girl?."

She shut her eyes in anger, she was boiling and her cheeks were red. She clenched her fists angrily, speaking lowly but deadly, "How dare you?." Her eyes narrowed at him, "How dare you question the love I have for my daughter?."

"Why won't I?. You're always after this job or meetings, making sure you take care of the company but not for once, have you stayed with Nicole. I don't care what you think right now but that girl, lying innocently in her room yearned for you, prayed that her mother comes home every day, cries when she sees other kids' moms take them to school. You don't know..you don't know what you're doing to her now. And I don't think you know what you're doing either." He finished up, glared at her, and walked away.

Her eyes softened.

It was as if her legs got stuck on the floor, "Is this what I'm thinking right now?. Am I a horrible mother too?. What have I done?." She asked herself.

Tears spilled down her eyes as she forced herself to walk into Nicole's room. She opened her room and walked in. Nicole was sleeping peacefully on the bed. So innocently.

"My baby.." She choked out and sat beside her on the bed. Her hand went to her mouth, keeping her from waking Nicole up.

"I'm sorry, my love. I didn't know what I was doing, I didn't." She cried out, running her hand on Nicole's hair. Nicole stirred up and slowly opened her eyes. She was a light sleeper.

"Mummy. Why are you here?." The little girl asked, her voice very low.

"Oh.." Kat sniffed and wiped her tears away. "Are you crying?." Nicole asked again.

"No. I'm not!. Just..just something got into my eyes, but it's all gone now." Kat answered, sniffed again, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Nicole. I'm sorry." She said, then trailed off.

Nicole was confused, "Why are you apologizing?." asked Nicole.

"I'm just sorry. I will take you out tomorrow. What do you think?." She suggested changing the topic. Nicole's eyes glinted, her mom doesn't know how much she wanted this.

"Okay, mommy." Nicole nodded.

"Now close your eyes and sleep," Kat told her, kissing her forehead and watching her close her eyes.

Kat can't imagine the pain she's always felt these years that she had been away.

"I know I'm horrible in all things but not being a mother. I can't imagine my daughter going through what I went through as a child." She thought inwardly.

Even though Kathleen was angry at Lucas, she knew vividly he was telling the truth yesterday. Yet, she demanded an apology from him. He insulted her and accused her of not loving her daughter, it wasn't something she'd let go of.

On the other hand, Lucas was sorry and wanted to apologize to Kathleen. He felt he went a little overboard yesterday, but then she didn't know if he said those things because Nicole felt the absence of a mother or the fact that Kathleen was going back to Seattle.

Lucas knew Kathleen so well, even when she said she didn't love him anymore but she yearned for him all night, perhaps that's why she wouldn't let another man in for many years. Lucas loved Kathleen and wanted to go deeper with her but Kathleen saw him as a friend or moreso a brother.

"Good morning everyone," Kathleen greeted everyone, walking into the dining where she led Nicole to a seat. Everyone was amazed, Kathleen wasn't someone to stay home by this time, she's always left so earlier than anyone, even when she didn't have work to do at the office.

"You're not ready for work?." Carolyn asked her. Kat looked up at her, "I'm taking my daughter to school," She replied, patting Nicole's hair.

Everyone was stunned.

"Take Nicole to school?."

Kat looked around, "Why are you surprised? I can't take my daughter to school?." They turned back to their breakfast.

"You never do. That's how surprised you made us be!." Grandma said and she scoffed, turned to Nicole, "Eat baby." She kissed her hair and walked away.

"Really?. Is something going on?. I feel something's wrong with Aunt Kathleen." Henry was the first to break the silence, and his mom hit him on his head, "Eat." She ordered him. He rolled his eyes and went back to his meal.

"Lucas, you're the closest to her, what's going on?." Grandma nudged him. Lucas blinked and didn't say a word. He was loving the way Kat listened to him but he knew Kathleen was equally pissed at him.

Kathleen comes back in with her phone in her hand, she had just hung up the call she had been in when Sandra walks in, greeting everyone.

"I'm spending time with Nicole today, cancel my meetings today, and take the day off." Sandra raised her brows, she didn't expect that, this was the first time she went on leave under Ms. Kathleen.

"Yes ma'am." She nodded and walked out. Grandma looked at her inquisitively.

Kat sighed, "Don't ask me why. Nicole is my daughter and I miss her, and want to spend my time with her." She explained briefly and at that moment, Nicole was done eating.

Kat looked at them, "I'll see you later." Then they started walking out. She was a few steps to her car when she heard her name. She turned, then saw Lucas running towards her.

"Here to tell me that I don't love my daughter?." She asked him, He scratched his head, and answered. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to say that yesterday."

"But you meant it." She retorted back. "I have to go." She turned around when he didn't say another word and helped Nicole into the car.

Reaching the school, the little girl's class teacher was receiving the children in the school. When she saw Kathleen with Nicole, she was surprised.

"I'm Nicole's mother," Kathleen announced to the teacher, keeping her head high.

The teacher gasped, "Wow. You're beautiful just like she is. I've been trying to reach you for a while now."

"I'm sorry, I've been busy with work, then you had to look for me, I'm sorry. I would be useful from now." Kathleen told the young lady before leaving. But after promising to be back.

***

Seattle.

The figure of a man was stretched by the dim light and mussy building.

His fine collarbone was revealed with a widely opened white shirt. His tall slender fingers were holding on a cellphone to his ear, and he was looking out of the window.

"Don't you think you're overdoing it?."

He smirked and blinked slowly.

"I would cut off his fingers if he doesn't give me what I want." Then, there was a muffled noise, the young man tied before him had just heard what he said.

What the heck led him into assassinating the Smith family? let alone the monster himself. The story had it that he was a mafia lord, then turned businessman but now, didn't know who he was.

This man was going to kill him, and to be frank with himself, he received the order from an unknown caller. He was just doing his job.

When he hung up and turned to the man, the man looked back at him with frightened eyes and a whimper in his throat. What stops Aiden from tearing him apart now?.

"I have lots of enemies, yet I can't be killed, isn't that fascinating?." Aiden asked in pleasure, seeing the man cower fearfully in front of him, he walked to the table at the end and picked up a knife, a small knife. He twirled the knife around.

"I've killed, slaughtered people in this very building. And you're not going to be exceptional." The man's heartbeat accelerated as he began breathing faster than usual.

"But I won't kill you, because I made a promise never to." His eyes lifted.

"If you tell me the truth, you go home unhurt." The man nodded like a lizard, with his eyes wide open.

"I'll tell you all I know. Please don't.." Aiden sighed. Gosh, how much he hated people with the words, 'don't kill me.'

He stood in front of him and raised his chin so that the man was getting a better view of him. He pouts his lips, "I want the truth." He stated, then let him go.

"He said he wants you dead, he gave me the orders. He wants every one off the Smith dead. But I didn't do it, I.."

"He wanted you to kill my family?." Aiden asked him. What the man didn't know that that only infuriated him, he made the greatest mistake of his life by nodding.

Then, Aiden stabbed him, in his right thigh. The man let out a painful scream.

"How dare you try to kill my family?."

Tears were rolling off the man's eyes, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

"Who gave you the orders?."

He shook his head, "I don't know. I was just ordered to kill. I don't know."

Aiden watched the man for a while, he knew when someone was telling the truth, the man gave him his all. But then, he knew who would come at his family.

He shook his head and lit his cigar. "You're dead."