Paige's POV
"Alex has not come out from his room since he got back from school, he won't eat anything,he won't speak to me,I can't even get a reaction from him even if it's tears, just something "I said sobbing on Grace, apparently he realized I lied to him about his father, now he believes what everyone has been saying is the truth not lies like I told him, I know his father denied him and all but I didn't tell him that guess people really don't know how to mind their business,
"Let me try"Grace said walking away to Alex's room leaving I and the devil himself all alone, I was about to walk away to look for something to busy my mind with other than sitting here with the devil when he stopped me,
"Remove your filthy hands from me"I screeched like his hands just burned me as I pulled my hands away forcefully,he flinched a little but no it wasn't so noticeable but I noticed it,
"Can we talk, please?"he asked,
"What on earth do you have to say now that won't make me hate you more than I already do?"I asked glaring at him,
"Can I come visit Alex when I want to or probably take him to school on days you can't" he said avoiding my eyes,
"Why on earth did you even think I would agree to that?"I exclaimed,
"Paige just stop being childish,he is his father,they need to get to know themselves"I heard Grace say,I thought she was supposed to be with Alex,
"Mum" I quickly turned to the source of the voice pulling him into my arms,
"My baby,I need you to know that mummy is very sorry,she was trying to protect you"I said hugging him tight,
"It's fine Momma, Aunt Grace explained everything to me"he said smiling, I glanced at Grace and whispered a 'thank you' to her and she smiled,I really don't know what she said but it worked and I am grateful,
"Paige,come on let's go make lunch"Grace said giving me that look that meant she wanted us to talk while she made lunch,she clearly wants me to leave my child with this man,
"But...."I wanted to protest,
"Paige"she said in a warning voice,I kissed Alex on the forehead before walking away,I respect Grace alot,she reminds me so much of my mother and tho I may never tell Grace this but acting like her child is like my coping mechanism for everything I did or I have done to my mother that I am still bearing the consequences for.
*************
"I am not saying you should let him back into your life but Alex's life,he needs his father as much as you wouldn't want to admit it, that's the truth" She said after a moment of silence that I just realized I actually needed to think,
"I know I am being selfish but I don't think my heart can handle him being so close after everything"I said finally letting her see the tears I have been fighting,
"Come here" she said opening her hands for a hug which I didn't hesitate in hugging back crying on her shoulder,she really reminds me of my mother,
"Thank you so much for everything"I said when I finally got my s**t together,
"Don't thank me,Alex is like my grandchild and your my daughter,it's practically my role,I am her anytime, ok" she said smiling at me with so much love in her eyes,I hugged her tight once more before we set the table and served dinner.
********
"Mum" Alex called out he was done with his meal,
"Daddy said he is going to drop me off at school tomorrow,is that fine by you?" He asked with a very serious look on his face,he really wants to know my opinion,I fought the tears that wanted to come out as I thought about it, he wants to get to know his father but he wants me to be comfortable with it,
"Yes baby,Mummy has some work to do anyways"I said walking over to where he was and picked his plate but not before kissing his forehead which he didn't object to,
"Thank you" he said with a bright smile,
"No ,thank you,you know Mummy loves you right"I said with a smile on my face,
"I know,I know" he said nonchalantly but you couldn't miss the bright smile he had on his face as he ran off probably to go play with his toys or complete his assignments. Grace left saying her husband was going to be back early and she needs to prepare his dinner and as for Jace I sent him away immediately it was time for dinner cause I definitely won't let him eat with us,he is only allowed in here to see Alex and nothing more,he seemed to be satisfied that at least he met Alex but I didn't miss that longing look he kept giving me but that's his business not mine.
*****
"Thank you for letting me do this once again" Jace said I handed Alex's school bag to him,
"To school and back"I said ignoring what he said,
"Noted" he said in mock salute making Alex laugh but I simply rolled my eyes as I walked away,he can't get a reaction from me if that's what he is looking for.
******
Jace's POV
"Sir,you have a visitor in your office" my secretary said to me as I got to work,
"Who?" I asked so I could prepare myself,
"Your father" she said in a smaller voice,
"Why did you let him in?" I asked getting angry,so much for being in a good mood this morning,
"He threatened me" she said reducing her voice the more in a way I didn't even know was possible,
"Who is the boss,me or him?" I asked,
"I am sorry,I really am"she said,she was literally fidgeting,I glared at her a little before going into my office,I don't blame her I know how he can be,I was once in her situation and he made me make my biggest mistake in life, he had some balls coming here,
"What are you doing here?"I asked icily,
"That's no way to greet your father you have not seen in months"he said facing me,
"My father,sure"I said my voice dripping with so much sacarsm,
"Well you know why I am here"he said crossing his legs as he got comfortable on one of the chairs opposite mine,
"If it's not to tell me your dying then I don't want to see your face "I said glaring at him,the look he gave me told me that was too harsh but I could care less,
"Jace Nicolas Russo,I am your father"he said now seething,
"You were my father,I lost my father when I was 19"I said turning to leave the office for him,I can't stay here for too long,I have already said something I know I will regret,
"I know I have wronged you badly,I can't even forgive myself,but you have to do it or I will lose everything" I stopped,turned and glared at him before speaking,
"Jay could take over cause I won't do it,get that into your head" I said before walking out,
"When he is out,tell me"I said to my secretary before leaving,I need fresh air.
******
"Jay, what's up?"I asked as I picked the call,
"Dad was at the office"he said more like a statement not a question,he knew what happened, awesome,
"And?" I asked not getting his point,
"He said you won't talk to him"he said accusingly,well Jay isn't a fan of my father he was always Mama's boy but he isn't on bad terms with him like me,
"I am still not getting the point" I said slowly growing impatient , I was on my way to pick Alex up and I really don't want to be late even if it's by a minute.
"You know you have to forgive at some point in life" Jace said after sighing loudly,
"Is that a rule of some sort?" I asked nonchalantly,
"You have to and you know it"he said
"But I don't want to,he is a cheat, manipulator,liar,there are so many words to describe him",
"But mum asked us to"Jay said,for someone that's Mama's boy he definitely forgave that man easily,
"I know" I said with a sigh,
"This is more than what he did to mum right?" He asked,he knows me too well,
"It's about a lot of things,there are more to what meets the eye little bro,you will understand soon"I said ending the call before he could argue that he isn't a child and cause I was at Alex's school.
I got down at leaned on my car waiting to catch a glimpse of him in the crowd but I didn't miss the looks I was getting from both the mothers,the teachers and the children even a few men glanced my way,I don't know if it's cause they aren't used to this face or the power radiating off me but I don't care,the attention doesn't hurt,
"Hey"I heard a small voice making me look down,
"Hey buddy,how was school today"I asked crouching to his level,
"The usual" he said shrugging his shoulder,I thought he is supposed to be 6,
"Can we go?,the looks are becoming too much" he said,so he noticed it, I opened the door letting him get in before getting in,
"You want anything before I take you home?" I asked trying to be nice and trying to get him to be comfortable around me,
"Mum said school and back"he said not even looking at me,he had a book in his hands that he seemed to be engrossed in,seems he loved to read,just like his mother,
"But mum is not here"I said wiggling my brows at him when he finally looked at me,
"She will know"he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world,
"How will she find out?" I asked ,
"I will tell her obviously,I tell her everything,she will find out before I can talk anyways"he said going back to his book like he didn't say anything, I knew this was more than Paige finding out,he isn't comfortable around me,when I went with Paige to pick him up yesterday he was more open and he didn't even have a book with him,he preferred talking with Paige about random things,this is going to be more difficult than I expected but I guess it's my punishment.