Woven Deceit (Stanfield Romance #1)

The party was in full swing with loud music blaring through the speakers. It started off with a slow song and now at midnight, the well-known businessmen and women shook their booties like youngsters with no care in the world.

Paparazzi would pay millions to get a sneak peek inside the party, for a single photo of their acclaimed business magnets getting wasted in a drunken haze.

Kevin took a sip from his glass, half filled with the amber-colored liquid that burned his throat numbing his heartache.

His eyes wandered across the dance floor. The host caught his eyes and winked at him as he shook his heavy body on the dance floor. Two women clung on each side of his arms, rubbing their bodies against him seductively.

Rodrigo Fernandez, a sixty-year-old ruthless businessman, was known for his mean weekend parties. The man threw parties for anything and everything.

His parties served as an escape haven for all. Mainly because of the tight security, not even a fly could get through the security Rodrigo had around his billion dollars' worth mansion in The Gold Coast, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Chicago.

This was the place were top businessmen in Chicago met occasionally and closed many beneficial deals, a place where they let go and enjoyed with no worries.

"Hey... looking for some fun?" A red-haired woman wearing a black skimpy dress ran her hands suggestively on his arm bringing him out of his thoughts.

Kevin took a moment to look at the beauty stood before him. She was beautiful with an hourglass frame and long toned legs, which was adorned with red fuck-me heels. She will be a good lay. He had no doubt in that.

Did I want to take her on the offer?

"Apologies my lady, I will have to decline the offer for now, as I have a long day tomorrow." He smiled not wanting to hurt her emotions.

The woman pouted before slipping her card in his pocket, "Just give me a ring if you need me, " she chimed, giving him a seductive grim before walking off. Kevin did not miss the way her round hips swayed as she went to join others on the dance floor.

Rodrigo, who noticed their small exchange, met his gaze and gave him a meaningful smile, with a curt nod before turning his attention to the party.

It's time to leave.

He hated these parties, but coming here meant new business deals. Rodrigo had contacts across USA and Kevin used this opportunity. He called his driver on the way out, who had his car ready when he stepped out.

The drive towards his home in Lincoln Park was silent. Though it was no longer a home, he was used to calling it one.

Home should be a place where someone lived with their family. Wasn't it?

He thought about the girl in the party. Why couldn't I say yes to her? He was no longer married. He was free to have any women. Why? Why the touch of other women doesn't appeal anymore?

Because you are not her, his conscious piped in. His chest constricted at her memory. The love of his love, the one chose other man over him. Unlike her his love for her was true. He blinked to get rid of the tears that had gathered in his eyes.

His mansion was dark when he went inside and he didn't bother to switch on the lights as he sauntered towards his bedroom. Kevin was familiar with the dark interiors of his home by now. It has been the same routine for past few years.

She had taken his light along with her.

He didn't bother to change as he plopped on the bed, the whiskey he consumed lulling him to sleep.

------

Kevin stared at the newspaper in front of him. After all these years he still couldn't believe the news he was reading.

She was engaged.

The Chicago Daily had published a full blow-up photo of his ex-wife posing with his arch-enemy Ethan, sporting a fat diamond on her ring finger as she exited the Chicago airport.

His long fingers traced her face that glowed with joy. She looked a lot different now. She was no longer the lovely book loving Jessika he knew.

His hands reached the phone on their own, dialling the extension for his secretary, "Maria, cancel rest of the appointments for today and don't disturb me for a while." He disconnected the line without waiting for her reply.

He was upset-yes. Because he was still in love with her, he still hasn't moved on even after her betrayal. A small part of his mind still hoped to get her back. He almost called her once when another photo surfaced showing her partying hard in Ibiza, wearing a bikini that barely covered her assets.

However, this news confirmed that she had moved on from him. He didn't realize when his legs had carried him to the other end of the office.

It hurt.

He wondered if it was a coincidence or she did it on purpose. Five years ago, on the same day, she left him for his enemy. Memories of that day were still fresh. He remembered even the minor detail of everything that happened.

-----

Kevin met Jessika Smith during his senior year in college. She was his junior and was a friend of Ethan.

Kevin and Ethan's families were business rivals and Ethan made it a business to compete with him for anything and everything. He even stole his second girlfriend from him, which infuriated him in return.

Though Kevin had met Jessi at college, they never spoke to each other. He was at a birthday party of their football team's Quarterback when he saw Jessi entering the party with Ethan.

She took his breath away in a simple peach color dress that ended a few inches below her knees. He looked at her properly for the first time, her long ebony locks cascaded around her round face. At college, she was always with her friends or in some corner reading something.

He wondered how she even befriended a jerk like Ethan. He didn't think they were an item because Ethan was dating other girls and the entire college knew of his playboy manners.

Though she did not cake her face with makeup like other girls, just the simple eyeliner and nude lipstick highlighted her facial features, making her look elegant. He could tell that she felt uneasy. She looked at the crowd chewing her lips while her thumbs fiddled with each other.

It was around midnight when he went to the washroom he heard a female cry and rushed to help her. He was beyond angry when he found a drunken Ethan trying to force himself on Jessi, who was crying for help.

Kevin lost it when he saw a red handprint on her pale cheek. The bastard had hit her. What man in his right mind would hit a woman?

He didn't waste a second before pulling Ethan from her and beat the daylights out of him. Kevin stopped only when he saw Ethan's blood. Jessi cried beside him. He took her home that day, and the rest was history.

They were happy, so much in love. He gave her everything. He was with her when she went through the miscarriages.

His and Ethan's rivalry continued, with Stanfield Corporation always staying on top of the charts and Ethan's Fulton Inc. trying to beat him down. It was when Kevin went on a long business trip he received the first photo of Jessi and Ethan embracing each other.

Though he was furious at first, he did not bother much and he did not ask her about it, because he trusted her so much and for all, he knows someone could morph the photos. The Ethan he knew would go to any extent to ruin his marriage.

No matter how careful he was, there came a time when his trust in her was broken. It was during Jessi's third pregnancy. They had lost the baby at five months due to some complication and the distraught almost drove them apart.

He was too much occupied with her for a few months he did not concentrate on his business and their position in market charts took a nose dive upsetting the staffs, shareholders, business associates and everyone related to the business.

There was so much pressure from everywhere and he had to leave her at one point and their position in the market charts almost gave him a heart attack. Fulton's had gained an upper hand, and he even knocked a few deals, that belonged to Stanfield's.

His father had shouted at him to get back his shit together and warned him not to ruin the family business. Kevin had drowned himself with work and ended up traveling most of the time closing new deals.

In next five months he met Jessi only once, he was planning to spend time with her when his father sent him on another long trip. The number of times he spoke to Jessi has reduced and he could feel them drifting apart.

Realizing the bitter reality, he wound up the business deals sooner and take a break from his work when he received the shocking videos and few more photos.

Again he couldn't believe his own eyes. He contacted his friend Maxwell Turslow, CEO of Turslow group to investigate on this matter. Maxwell ran the Chicago's leading private detective firm and served as a reliable source considering how their friendship had grown over the years.

The reports he received was shocking, Maxwell confirmed that the photos and videos were real. He had followed Jessika and confirmed that she was having an affair with Ethan. He had provided more evidence of their affair which Kevin still couldn't believe.

His heart still wanted her but he couldn't have her after knowing what she did. Every time he thought about forgiving her, the intimate moments of Ethan and her flashed in his mind. So, he did the one thing he felt right.

He let her go. Kevin loved her so much to hold her. He blamed everything on him. Maybe if it was not for him being away from her for so long, she wouldn't have gone to Ethan.

His phone rang breaking his thoughts, wiping his tear stained cheeks when he realized he was crying. He had never cried before Jessi.

Kevin pulled his phone out of his coat pocket when it wouldn't stop ringing, to see it was his mother and groaned.

"Hello."

"Kevin, darling you no longer attend any of our family dinners."

He almost chuckled when she put it that way. Kevin knew well about his mother's family dinners. For short, it was never a family event. A dinner with your neighbours and friends wasn't a family dinner, according to Kevin.

"Mom, I am working."

"No more reasons boy. Momma misses you. You are coming for dinner today and that's final."

Kevin rolled his eyes at that. There was no point in arguing with her. "Okay."

"See you then, bye."

That was his mother, always getting to the point, her calling for another dinner did not sound like a good plan. She always had something in mind for him.

What has she planned now?

------

Kevin reached his parent's mansion on time. They only lived two kilometres apart. As he expected his mother had at least fifteen people for dinner and he groaned when his eyes found Stella.

Not her again.

His mother tried to hook him up with Stella from his early twenties and he doesn't understand why Stella would be even interested in him after all these years. He heard she broke up with her boyfriend of two years and was single again, which was why this dinner could be dangerous. His mother would again try to hook him up with her.

Just when he contemplated on making his presence known, Stella squealed running towards him.

Fuck... I should have never agreed to this.

"Kevin! It's been so long." She chirped engulfing him in a bone-crushing hug. He winced at her high-pitched voice and returned the hug.

"How are you doing?" He asked as he pried her hands off his body.

"I've been better." She said pulling him along with her and he couldn't wait for the day to get over.

As expected, the dinner was a disaster.

One thing Kevin did not understand was the people. They don't know when to shut up and he wondered why the hell everyone was so keen to know about his whereabouts. As the saying goes, it's so funny how the people who know the least about you, have the most to say.

Much to his dismay, Stella tried to touch him at every chance she got. To top it all, his mother ordered him to take Stella on a date, to which Stella nodded eagerly and looked expectantly at him.

Did she think I will fall for her cleavage and the little display she put in front of the guests?

It would take more than that to get to him and so far only one woman did that. And that one woman had ditched him for a good-for-nothing dick head. Kevin clenched his jaws and balled his fist. "My life is my life, what I do, where I go and how I live it is my business, not yours. So keep your nose out of it."

"Kevin!" She exclaimed in disbelief.

"Do you think I fancy this family dinner of yours'? Then tell me, mother, who is a fucking family here?" He pointed his long finger at their neighbour. "Who is she? Do you share a parent? Or him or that fashionist pig who sits next to you?" The eyes of the woman in question widened in disbelief as his mother's jaw went slack.

"I thought me, dad, you and Helena are family. I didn't know everyone who parades inside this home is one. Guess what, I don't want to be the part of your fake family anymore." He continued and his chest heaved with his quickened breath.

"You know what? I am done. Done with you all, I don't want to deal with shit you keep throwing on me." He yelled with his face reddening with anger. He had a normal life until the business and money came in.

This society of socialites as they called it ruined his life. If it was not for his business, he would have never left Jessi alone and she would have never gone to another man, leaving him to wallow alone in his misery.

"Kevin! Remember that is your mother you are talking to." Jacob's voice boomed from across the table.

Kevin slapped his hands on the table, making a few dishes jolt from its place. "That's the reason I am being decent, " he responded in a cold voice before leaving his family home. Anger pulsed through his veins and bubbled like molten lava, red and hot.

I put up with everything they did and what more did they expect from me?

He wanted a simple career, a small home with a picket fence, a wife and children that graced his life with joy and happiness when he came home. But, he was forced to take over the family business. He was ready to give it all to Helena, who was more interested in the position than him.

Helena was hardworking and devoted, but their father was adamant. He chose his male heir as his successor, creating a rift between him and his sister.

Not that they were attached to each other at the hip. Even the most civil conversations they used to have were gone, she treated him like a stranger and he blamed it all on their father. He wanted to get away from everything. He didn't want to be the part of this upper-class society anymore. The more he stayed the crazier it drove him.

When the car stopped in front of his home, he rushed towards the gym, removing his clothes on the way. He did not care where he threw his clothes. His housekeeper would take care of that, anyway. The gym, his haven was the same, the one place which seemed to not change over the years. He worked out, punching the bag with all his strength. The burning pain that spread over his hands brought a relief like none.

Two hours later...

His muscles screamed in protest as he continued to push his legs over the treadmill, welcoming the pain. The work-out has cleared his mind, and he knew what he wanted to do.

Jacob would object, but for the first time in life, he didn't care. At thirty-three years old, he'd had enough.

After a quick shower, he tried contacting Helena who was in Milan for a fashion week. When their father declined her birthright in his company, she had gone alone and started a fashion brand of her own, which was growing.

Helena was a stubborn woman and no matter how much he tried to call her back offering an equal position in the company, she wouldn't relent. Kevin admired his sister's willpower and respected her decision of not wanting to do anything with her father's business.

As usual, his call ended up in her voice mail, "Hi... this is Kevin. I know you no longer think of me as your brother and want nothing to do with me, but this is important. I had a fight with our family and I need you now. Call me when you get this message." He left a long message knowing well it will get deleted without being heard.

Maybe he should just meet her in person. She won't be able to avoid him when he goes in person. Yes-that's what he will do.

-------

The following week had been busy and his sister had not returned from Milan.

He had contacted her secretary and booked an appointment using a different name. Knowing Helena, she would never meet him if she were to know who he was.

Kevin still remembered his sister, two years older than him and always trying to impress their parents-getting good grades, excelling in everything she does. When she wanted a position in their father's company, he declined to say the Stanfield's Corporation belonged to the male heir.

When Kevin found out, it was too late and Helena had left their home to live on her own by then. She had refused to take their father's money, working on multiple jobs at a time to save money for her new business.

His thoughts were disrupted by his secretary who announced that his two p.m. appointments were waiting for him in the conference room.

The meeting went eventless, his mind wandering to the outside world the entire time. He nodded now and then, pointing at his marketing unit head when the client asked questions.

"Care to tell me what is going on?" Mathew, his friend and the head of their marketing unit asked.

"If you love her so much, then why don't you get her back?" He asked when Kevin did not answer.

Kevin let out a humorless chuckle at that.

"Dude, I think you should read the newspaper occasionally. She is engaged to that bastard Ethan."

Mathew's expression was grim. They went to college together and when Kevin took over the business he hired Mathew, because of his brains.

"I am worried for you Kevin. Why don't you come for a dinner sometime? The kids miss you, you know."

Kevin missed the kids too. He was the godfather of Mathew's two girls Nina and Nancy. They were his gorgeous little angels who made him forget about his pain when he was with them.

"Tell Annie to prepare that killer chicken dish tonight." He smiled at his friend watching his lips twist up in a smile.

"Sure. See you then."

He took a deep breath clearing his thoughts and continued to work. The mention of the girls had lifted his spirits. Picking up the phone he asked his secretary to come in.

"Maria, I want you to arrange a gift for Mathew's girls. I am visiting them today, " he informed his secretary, who smiled at the mention of the girls.

"Sure thing, Mr. Stanfield. Anything else you want?"

"No. You may go, have it ready by six in the evening."

"Sure."

Maria was a woman in her late thirties, married with three children. She was a hard worker, trustworthy and efficient. He didn't know what he would have done without her. That was why he paid her well and also provided her with so many benefits.

------

"Uncle Kevin!"

Mathew's five-year-old daughter Nina ran towards him. While her three-year-old daughter Nancy wobbled towards him giving him a toothy grin.

He embraced them basking in all the love and comfort they provided.

"Long time, no see Kevin, " Annie greeted him with a peck on his cheek which he returned with a full-blown smile.

Mathew had met Annie in a restaurant when he joined Stanfield Corporation eight years ago, their romance soon ended up in a marriage and here he was living in a small home far away from the wealthiest neighbourhood of Chicago.

Kevin loved it here. This was what he called home and a family.

The dinner was delicious as usual and Annie had made him his favorite chicken casserole. They talked and laughed a lot, with Annie feeding to Nancy who babbled cute nothings.

Deep inside his mind, Kevin longed for something similar to this. He had thought at one time he had a perfect family until she ruined it for him.

"Uncle Kevin, do you want to see my recent drawing?" Nina asked bringing him out of his thought.

"Not now, sweetie. Uncle Kevin has work after dinner." Annie came to his rescue. Last time she asked this question, he ended up sleeping inside her mini tent inside her room. Though he wouldn't fit in, she was adamant, and he slept on the floor with only half of his body inside the blanket haven.

"Speaking of which, when are we going to Canada?" Mathew piped in.

"Sometime next week, I need to discuss two things with Jason before our trip, " Kevin answered taking a sip from his red wine.

They were trying to partner with Leon's group which would give their business a huge boost. At present, he was completing the terms of the contract they would sign. Jason was a tough nut to crack, which was the reason their partnership being delayed.

Returning home he changed in the dark and lay on the bed. The memories he had buried deep inside his mind breaking free of his clutches one by one. Her warm body tangled with his, her mild body spray which always drew him in, her giggles. How she fit against him, her lips so soft.

A memory of her kissing Ethan in their front room flashed in his mind, chasing all the good memories away. Pain and utter betrayal filled him at the memory. He had never once raised his voice or hand at her, always treated her with love and respect.

What did I lack? Where did I go wrong? Why would anyone want to go back to the man who hit women?

Not to mention a man whore who tried to rape her.

Thinking of that, he felt that Jessika was not the same person anymore. She looked and behaved different though he couldn't put his finger on what has changed. For one, she didn't dress like the old Jessika who used to loathe fashion brands. All her recent photos had shown her face caked with make-up and the Jessi he knew was not a fan of heavy make-up.

They had not met each other after that day. It was his lawyers and his father, who had dealt with the divorce formalities. She had demanded two billion dollars to sign the documents and he had given it to her.

"Why would you do this Jessi? Was that your plan all along? To trap me in your love and get your revenge for Ethan." He whispered into the darkness as his mind struggled between the good and bad memories.

Once he closed this deal and met Helena, he will move on. Start a new life, somewhere far from here, away from all the attention. He wiped the tears that had dried off and closed his eyes to find the sleep-he had lost five years back.

"Mommy..."

"Hm..."

Jessika looked up from her plate to see her four-year-old son Noah experimenting with the pancake she made for them.

"Why are your pancakes so soft?"

She chuckled, "maybe because mommy adds a pinch of love to the pancake mix."

"Okay. I think I know why Claire's pancakes are harder." Noah's twin Nathan supplied with a serious look that had Jessika crack with laughter.

"I heard that, kiddo, " Claire commented in a serious tone with her hands on her hips, Jessi could see how her lips were twisting as she tried to control the laughter.

"Thanks for coming Claire. I was getting late for work, " Jessika got up picking her blazer and smoothed her pencil skirt.

"You should eat more than that Jessi. Your weight loss is alarming, " Claire responded with a concerned look as her eyes raked on her body.

"I'm eating." Her voice low and tired.

"Yeah, your sons eat more than that you know. Girl, you need more calories on your body, if you need to keep up with the workload and raising your sons."

Jessika sighed. There was no point in arguing with her when she knows Claire had a point. "See you later Claire, " she said before kissing the boys goodbye.

Her job as a clerk in a medium-sized logistics company was not enough to keep her, and her sons fed. The children were growing and needed all extra nutrients, so she cut down on her meals to feed them.

With them going to the school from this year meant extra expenses, and she was contemplating on working additional jobs, which meant she would need Claire for extended hours.

Claire was in mid-forties and looked after Jessika's sons in the daytime when she worked.

Jessika boarded the bus with a sigh, her nerves rattled as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She clutched her seat tighter as she waited for the moment of weakness to pass.

It was happening a lot these days, and she thought it was due to the stress. Her company was not doing well. One of their company's cargo ships had sunk a few months back while taking goods worth millions to Australia.

The severe loss resulted in company downsizing and only a few experienced staff remained with her duties increasing. Though she was only a clerk with this new change, she was also handling the accounts department.

She was worried about losing her job and took the additional responsibilities without another word. Reaching the office, she lost herself in work and it was around three p.m. when she got to relax. Her boss has headed out for a meeting and there was nothing much to do until he gets back.

Closing her eyes, she leaned in her chair rubbing the sore muscles on the back of her neck.

Her life was supposed to be better than this. Her children should be having a good life with their father.

To this day, she couldn't decipher what went wrong or where it went wrong. Her husband had accused her of cheating and even showed her the evidence which she had no clue about.

Her mind traveled back to the day it all happened. After trying to conceive and failing thrice. Kevin had to work overtime to rectify the losses they made over the few months he spent with her.

They hardly met with Kevin traveling a lot and when he came back from his long business trip after two months, they embraced and he made love to her the entire night before leaving her for another business trip.

He promised to take her somewhere and spent more time with her once he was back. His phone calls had stopped and whenever she tried to reach him, it was his secretary answering on his behalf, always mentioning that he was busy in a meeting or in some work.

She had missed her periods again and didn't bother to test as she wasn't ready to face the results. One morning when she woke, a wave of nausea hit her. Her head hurt with her body burning up. To make matters worse, her heart dropped when she experienced mild cramps in her abdomen with a spotting.

She called their housekeeper, and the security drove her to the hospital where she stayed for a month.

The doctor confirmed that she was pregnant again and her happiness didn't last long as he explained the complication she had with her twins. They insisted her to be on compulsory bed rest and administered daily injections to keep her babies safe.

Kevin's parents had come to the hospital and told her to take care, they said they will inform Kevin about her illness and she has nothing to worry.

She didn't tell them about the babies as she wanted to tell Kevin first. Also, with the history of miscarriages in the past, she wanted no one to know at all until the babies arrived.

However, when she returned from the hospital after a month, it was Ethan who was waiting in their living room instead of Kevin.

"Ethan? What are you doing here?" She asked, and he kissed her instead. Jessika was too shocked to respond and before she knew what was happening someone pulled him away from her.

Jessica stood rooted to the floor as Kevin continued to beat Ethan bloody until Jacob, her father-in-law stopped him.

"Kevin!" Relief flooded her mind. She couldn't contain the joy on seeing her husband after a long time. When she tried to embrace him, he pushed her away and the hatred in his eyes startled her.

"Enough with the act!"

"K-Kevin?"

"I saw what you were doing with Ethan with my eyes. If you wanted him why did you marry me, Jessi? Why the hell would you play with my emotions?" He continued to shout with angry tears that further confused and scared her.

Did he think she kissed Ethan?

"Kevin, it's not what it looked like, " she tried to reason weakly. She felt dizzy and struggled to keep her composure.

"Then what does it look like Jessi?" He asked throwing a Manila cover at her.

She opened the cover with shaky hands and froze at the spot to see the photos of her with Ethan.

"Don't tell me this is not you. I have already tested it in the lab and these are a hundred percent original, " he fumed.

"Max followed you all this week and found you with this bastard. What more proof do you want?"

"Kevin... it-it's not true, I was ill, and I was at the hospital. Please..." she pleaded.

"Jacob you were there. You came to visit me, please tell him..." she cried to her father-in-law, who twisted his face in disgust.

"Get away from me you worthless piece of trash. How dare you lie about this to my son?" He yelled.

She didn't understand what was going on. He was at the hospital he had said he will inform Kevin.

"K-Kevin, please call the hospital. They will tell you, please trust me... I know nothing."

Kevin accessed her with a cold gaze before dialing the hospital and again the hospital management had informed him she wasn't admitted in their hospital.

"I-it can't be true. Kevin, I was there. I don't know why they are lying, it's not true." She went hysterical.

"If anyone here was lying, it was you, Jessi, " Kevin said and there was no emotion on his face as he looked at her.

"No, no..., no Kevin, please..."

"I loved you Jessi, and I gave you everything. I never thought you could even do such a thing, " he muttered. A vein ticked in his jaw as he balled his fists and moved away from her. "I can't bear to stand in your presence any longer. I will send you the divorce papers, sign it with no fuss and we will end this forever, so you can be with your boyfriend."

"K-Kevin?"

"Do you know how I feel now Jessi? I feel like someone is ripping my heart out. Even now I want nothing more than to pull you close and kiss you to oblivion, but all I can think is how you kissed that bastard not less than ten minutes ago and how you fucked him in all the videos I received."

Jessika stood speechless, the words failing her.

"You can stay here until the divorce. After that I want you to leave this place forever. Goodbye, Jessi. I wish I never see you again, " he said in a tone that held no emotion. "Oh, and Jessi remember this, I will ruin your life for this. I will make you regret everything you did and I will show you how it feels like to live in hell."

Her legs gave out as she watched him retreat before her vision blurred and darkness consumed her. When she woke up she was on the floor in the same position, she had fainted. There were no servants or security. She was alone in the huge mansion she called home for four years.

She still couldn't comprehend what just happened with her life. Everything was going fine until yesterday and just when she thought everything would work out, her world came crashing down.

That was the last time she ever saw him. No matter how many times she tried to reach him, he was always unavailable. A few times his father picked up and lashed out at her.

Jacob had brought the divorce papers and threatened her sign them if she didn't want her photos all over the media. He warned her not to get in touch with his son, he said he would erase her existence without a trace and she believed that.

True to his promise Kevin had blacklisted her name and made sure she no company in Chicago hired her. He had taken away all the cash from her current account, leaving her on the streets to fend for herself.

Fortunately, for her, she had a separate account where she had savings. The sum she had saved by working part-time before her marriage.

She knew she couldn't stay there anymore, so she went to Canada. She had a friend working in Toronto. Carolyn not only helped her rent the small house but also got this job for her.

Her phone rang with her sons face popping on the caller I.D. A joyful smile spread across her lips as she picked up the call, "hello."

"Hey, it's me, Claire. Will you be coming early?"

"Ah... yeah, " she looked at the time which showed four in the evening. "I should leave the office in an hour, " she replied rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"How are the boys?"

"Super cool... except for the part where Noah painted Nathan blue, and I had to spend an hour rubbing the paint off him." Claire chuckled and Jessika burst out laughing.

She ended the call after a few pleasantries, a goofy grin still occupying her lips. The boys were naughty and painting was not all bad when compared to what they lasted time. They were so bored and gave each other a haircut while she was cooking in the kitchen.

Instead of getting angry she ended up on the floor laughing hard as she clutched her sides. Imagine a four-year-old trying to cut their hair. Nate's head looked like it was half eaten by moths, while Noah's head was shaven.

She had to shave their heads that day and banned them from using scissors.

"Hey Jessi, can you prepare this invoice?" Justin's voice interrupted her happy thoughts, and she looked over her computer to see her boss Justin Spencer standing there with a file.

"Yeah sure, how was the meeting?"

"It was okay. The insurance guys are fussing." He replied raking a hand through his dark hair. His brown eyes looked tired than usual, "You can leave once you finish the invoice." He said before going into his cabin.

The insurance agency had to investigate before they release an amount. And their investigation had become a constant headache for Justin in the past months. Justin has not only lost his ship but also the goods. Her boss was in his mid-forties, married with two children. That was all she knew about him.

She prepared the invoice and left home early so she could spend time with her boys.