Chapter 19:

KIEL'S POINT OF VIEW

I ran from the press conference venue to the parking lot and drove fast to Odette's condo. While driving, I'm trying to reach her phone, but it just keeps ringing; she didn't pick it up. Maybe she's too mad at me. I turned my car right and drove straight away. Sh*t, please, Odette, answer my call.

I finally reached their company. Their employees looked at me, then looked back at their phones. I went straight to the information desk.

"What floor is Odette Lim's office?"

"Sorry, sir, but unfortunately, Ms. Odette went out for a business meeting."

"Where did she go?"

"Sorry, sir, only her secretary has her schedule. But she's with Ms. Odette; if you want, sir, you can wait for her and take a seat."

"No need; do you have her secretary's number?"

"Sorry, sir, I can't give you her number; it's part of our privacy policy." I mess with my hair and put my head on the desk of information. Someone tapped my back, and I turned around and saw a kid.

"Hi Mister, Are you an actor?" I sat down to be level with him.

"Yes, I am. I'm Kiel Calvin Lopez." I smiled at him. His eyes were wide open.

"Can you be my dad?" I laugh and brush his hair.

"Sure, I will."

"Mommy!" He turned around and shouted, and a lady immediately went after him.

"I'm sorry, sir if he's bothering you." She said this while bowing at me.

"No need; he didn't. What is your name, kiddo?"

"I'm Dalle; I'm my mom's moon." He smiled brightly. I mess with his hair and offer him a fist bump.

"From now on, I'll be your uncle, Dad. Is that okay with you?" He hugged my legs and looked up at me.

"Sorry, sir, for Dalle." His mom said

"No need, I need to go; I still look for my fiance's secretary." Dalle held my hand while I was pinching his cheeks.

"Are you looking for Ms. Odette, sir Kiel? He and Mr. Chua are having a meeting." Wait, is she Odette's secretary?

"Are you Odette's secretary?" She nodded at me, and in my happiness, I suddenly hugged her.

"Thank you, so where did they go?"

"Sorry, sir, but after our meeting presentation with Mr. Chua, he suddenly pulled Ms. Odette somewhere; she still didn't text me if they were there. She just gave me her car key for the driver to pick up. Maybe Mr. Chua shows the property for his company building." I took a deep breath. I thought I could see her.

"Once she contacts you, can you please tell me? I gave you my number." I grab her phone from her hand and save my phone number.

"Okay, sir," he noted. Dalle said, "Say goodbye to Mr. Kiel. We need to leave. I still have paperwork to do." Dalle looks at me; he looks sad.

"If you want, why still look for Odette and wait for her to contact you? I'll take care of this guy. Are you okay with that, Dalle?" He jumps, and I carry him.

"Please, Mommy!" He had puppy eyes, looking at his mom.

"Is that okay, sir Kiel? I can have him while working." I look at Dalle while still carrying him.

"Of course, there's no need to worry; I'll take care of him." I grab Dalle's bag from her and wave at her before we leave the company. I placed him in the back seat and put on his seatbelt.

"Did you eat?"

"Yes, Daddy, I want ice cream."

"Okay, we will buy ice cream." I was still dialing the Odette number while driving when I saw an ice cream parlor nearby the steakhouse. I was looking on the left side of the road before I turned into the ice cream parlor. As I was parking the car outside the ice cream parlor, I saw Odette with a guy. Wait, is that Daniel Chua? I dialed her number again.

She grabbed her bag and went out. She finally answered my call.

"Where are you?"

"I'm with a client meeting; why?" I'm still looking at her.

"Send me your location, my queen; it's driving me crazy. I miss you. I have to tell you something. Please, let's meet now." I saw her turn around and look at Daniel. This shit makes me mad.

"I can't talk to you now, Kiel; maybe later." When I get home, we can talk. I need to leave now, and Daniel Chua is waiting." She hung up the phone and went back inside, and I was still watching them.

"Dalle, can I leave you for a minute? My girlfriend just hangs up on me. I will just pick her." Dalle nodded, and I went out and saw her talking to Daniel.

A flash of punch just went into his face from my fist.

"Let's go, Odette." I saw her shock at what I did. She went to Daniel and held his face.

"How did you know we were here?"

"Why don't you want me to know you're with this guy?"

"You're being impulsive, Kiel; Daniel was just my client." I saw Daniel smirking at me while Odette was looking at me.

"Are you okay, Daniel?" She said,

"Help Daniel stand up." I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the restaurant. She let go of my hand.

"Can you explain to me what you just did? Can't you see Daniel was my client?" I punched the wall. Look into her eyes.

"Can't you see his flirting with you? Don't you think I can't see that? I'm also a guy, Odette, and I know how other guys stare at the girl they're flirting with."

"Why, that's how you stare when you flirt with Zafira? That's why you know how they stare."

"I'm jealous; can't you see that, huh?" I held her chin while looking straight into her eyes.

"So now you're acting like you are my jealous fiance, huh?" She went out and went back to the restaurant to grab her bag. She even helped Daniel get out of the restaurant. When they passed me, I saw Daniel smirk at me. Shit, that asshole. I knew why he just did that. I know he wants to pay me back for what happened before.

I went back to my car and saw Dalle looking at me. I open his car door and carry him out of the car.

"Where will Mommy Odette be going? She's the girlfriend you are talking about, right, Daddy?"

"Yes, she is, but she was busy with his client."

"Why did you punch his client if he was just Mommy Odette's client?" We enter the ice cream parlor.

"It's hard to explain it to a child like you. What flavor of ice cream do you want?" I look up at their menu.

"Hmm, I want double chocolate mint." He said that and wrapped his hand around my neck.

"A double chocolate mint and Picasso ice cream."

"A double chocolate mint and Picasso ice cream—that's $20. Is that all?"

"Yes." A group of schoolgirls gets into the ice cream parlor.

"Is that Kiel Calvin Lopez carrying a kid?" One of the students said this while they were sitting. They all look at me as I sit Dalle in the chair. I went back to the counter to get our ice cream.

"Excuse me, sir, are you Kiel Calvin Lopez?" I looked at the girl and nodded.

"Oh my gosh! Hi Kiel I'm Cheska, and I'm a fan of yours." Her friends came to our table.

"Oh my gosh, Kiel, can we take a picture with you?" Cheska, please show me her phone. I grab her phone, and they surround us. Dalle eats her ice cream, and Cheska, together with her friends, sits at the table next to us.

"Kiel, is he your child?" Francine said, and she pointed to Dalle.

"He's not my child; he's the son of Odette's secretary. I just carry him out of the office so she can focus on work, right, Dalle?"

"Yes, because Daddy Kiel is awesome." He said he wouldfist-bumpp me and continue eating his ice cream.

"Daddy?!"

"Did he just call you Daddy?" I nodded, and they looked like ice cream melting in their chairs.

"How sweet? So that means you want to be a father soon." Cheska said, Look at her friends. They agree with what she just said.

"Well, maybe if my fiance wants to have a child soon, but for now, let me win her back first."

"Sorry, Kiel, but to admit, Zafira looks just like a bitch to do that."

"Anyway, girls, did you order already? If not, let me treat you." Dalle pulled on my shirt as I looked at him; he was full of ice cream in his shirt.

"What happens?"

"I accidentally dropped the ice cream, Daddy." He said I stood him up and took some paper napkins to clean his shirt.

"Let's buy a new shirt, okay?" After cleaning his shirt, I carried him.

"Sorry girls, but we have to go now. See you next time." I waved at them and went out to the ice cream parlor. I put Dale in the backseat and put his seatbelt on. While driving, I can't help but think of Odette and what they are doing. I took a look in my rear mirror and saw Dalle sleeping in the back seat. I drove slowly, so he couldn't wake up from my driving.

As we reach the parking lot of the mall. I carefully tap Dalle's shoulder.

"Dalle, wake up; we are here." He slowly opened his eyes while rubbing them.

"Daddy, can we buy toys too?"

"Sure, but first, let's buy you a shirt and pants." He nodded and wrapped his hand around my neck.

When we get out of the car, people start surrounding us. Security came and surrounded us.

"No need for that; let them take pictures or videos." My fans are starting to take pictures with us. Smile everywhere. Dalle seems to like it; he smiles and waves wherever he looks.

I carried him while walking towards the mall. People are starting to murmur and look at us.

"Is that his child?"

"He cheated on his fiance, and now he has a child." We first went to the department store's kids' department.

"Wow!" His genuine reaction made everyone look at us. Flashes from the camera, and some are taking videos. I put down Dalle and held his hand.

"So what do you want to buy?" A sales lady came to us.

"Hi sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"What do you prefer as an outfit for this kid?" She suddenly looked down at Dalle. She took a green knit sweatshirt and khaki shorts, along with a coat jacket.

"This, sir, will be the same outfit for your son."

"Okay, and give me ten more pairs of outfits for him, same with shoes."

"Let's go, Dalle." We walked around the department store and bought everything he wanted.

"Is this okay, Daddy?" Mom will be mad if she knows I let you buy everything." I lowered myself and sat down to be level with him.

"Your mom works so hard to earn money for you. And without her, my girlfriend can keep having a lot of work. So I just repay her by doing this, okay? But I want you to be a good boy to your mom."

"I will." He hugged me tight and carried me to the cashier.

"That'll be $3600." I give her my credit card, and she swipes my car, grabs all the paper bags, and puts them in the shopping cart.

"Let's buy a toy," I said, and I put Dalle in the shopping cart. While pushing the shopping cart, Dalle raised his hand and gave a wave. I can see how much he enjoys shopping.

We buy so many toys in the toy shop that people keep looking at us while shopping.

"What game do you like to play in the arcade?"

"Basketball." We went straight to the arcade and played basketball for three rounds.

"I keep losing on you; you're such a great shooter."

"Is that your child?" A mid-40s lady comes to us.

"No, ma'am, he is the child of my fiance's secretary."

"Oh, I thought he was your child; you two have a resemblance; you seem to be his father." I take a close look at Dalle; he has the same blue eyes as me and pale skin.

"Sorry, ma'am, but he's not my son. I and my fiance were still planning and talking about that."

The old lady leaves us I look at Dalle, raising his shoulder. I mess up his hair and laugh.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Chicken!!!!!"  

"Let's go; we will eat chicken." I love seeing this kid's reaction. I ran while pushing the shopping cart. Dalle raises his hand and acts like he's flying. We are both enjoying this. We are finally at the chicken house.

"Good afternoon, sir. What is your order?"

"Two fried chickens with extra gravy, two juices, and fries."

"Two fried chickens with extra gravy, juice, and fries. Is that all, sir?"

I nodded and gave him my credit card while I was shipping it. I saw some crew and fans taking pictures of Dalle.

"How cute."  A girl said that while taking photos of Dalle, he just kept doing peaceful poses in front of the camera.

"Here is your card, sir." I nodded, and we went to the vacant seat. The manager came to our table.

"Good afternoon, sir Kiel. Is there anything you like? If you do not feel comfortable with the people, we can call security to come over for you."

"No need for that; just treat us like a normal customer." I wave at them and smile.

"Okay, sir, but still, if you need anything, just tell my staff." I nodded and took my phone out.

"Let's take a picture and send it to your mommy, Odette." He nodded, and I went to his chair and took a selfie with Dalle. I sent it to Odette immediately.

"While you are ignoring me, me and Dalle went out shopping."

"Daddy, is Mommy Odette coming here?"

"I don't know; just like your mom, she's also busy." The food was served,

"Let's wash our hands first before we eat." We went to the bathroom, washed our hands, and started eating. I look at Dalle; he has sauce on his lips. After eating, I wipe off the sauce and drink my juice.

"Do you enjoy it?" He nodded and hugged me.

"Next time, we will ask your mommy Odette to come with us." We stepped out of the chicken coop and asked Odette to come with us. We stepped out of the chicken house, and I decided to go back to Odette's company; it was already past six, and her mom might get worried.

I put Dale in the backseat and put his seatbelt on. And put all the shopping bags in the trunk. While driving, I noticed Dale was quiet. I look in my rearview mirror. He looked tired and fell asleep.

When we arrived at the company, I saw his mom standing outside the building. I rolled down the car window.

"Get in; I'll drive you guys home."

"No need, sir; I'll just call a cab."

"No, I will not wake up Dalle for that, so get in." She started realizing that Get in the backseat.

"Thank you, sir."

"No worries."