Chapter ten

Elana has this all planned out. She picked the boys up from school and took them to a little restaurant. It's not a way to buy them over with food to accept her so that she can have a peaceful relationship with Jordan. She needs to talk to both of them.

"Boys, I think we need to talk," she finally says to them. They stop their chatter and look at her. Elana takes a deep breath and sits forward. "Things have changed a lot lately for me and Joe's dad. I don't know if he spoke to you two yet, but I'd like to do that now just so that we can get things clear."

"You're dating?" Joe asks with a big smile. Elana laughs and shakes her head.

"No darling, we're not dating," she says and looks down. She has to find the right words.

"Then what is it?" Liam ask. She looks at them and smiles peacefully.

"He did something that no other man could do after Liam's dad," she says and for the first time, she doesn't pull her nose up by mentioning Ralph. "Jordan taught me that true love does exist. We're not together, we want to give this some time. What I want to say is that I'm in love with him."

Admitting her mysterious feelings for this man shakes her heart.

"Since when?" Joe asks and raises an eyebrow. He's not fishing out details for his dad, that's a fact.

"Honestly, I think since that weekend by the river. I just... I was trying to avoid it by making his life hell here, but I can't. We watched movies and I decided that maybe I can put him to a test to see what he's in it for," she role her eyes and giggles at the silly chances she took. "He passed them all without even knowing. That's enough for me to know that this is something I want."

"I'm happy for you, mom," Liam smiles at his mother and take her hand. "Uncle Jordan is a good man. He will take the best care of you possible."

Elana nods her head in agreement and looks at her phone that rang. She recognizes the number from the office.

"Elana," she answers the phone. She sits up straight and looks at her boys. "Okay, just a second."

She put the phone down and look at the two boys. They give her an odd look that sat back.

"Mr. Peterson wants to see me," she says and looks at the time around her arm. "Will you boys come with? It's supposed to be my off day so I don't want to stay long."

"At your service, mom," Joe teases her. She giggles awkwardly and stands up from her seat.

Chatting and teasing each other, the boys follow Elana down the hallway. She shows them to be quiet before she knocks on the door.

"Come in," the voice calls out. She opens the door and enters it with the boys.

"Mr. Peterson," she greets him. "You got me on a very uncomfortable time. I have the boys with me now..."

"Elana, you're fired," he interrupts her rudely. Elana can feel her body getting cold.

"Fired? Why?" she ask and look at the boys then back at him.

"You attacked Ralph Gorden in public," he reply and raises from his desk. He's a skinny old man.

"Ralph Gorden approached me!" she defend herself. She should've thought this through before she took her revenge on him.

"All I wanted was a decent conversation," Ralph says and enters the office from behind her. She turn weak and look at him. The boys keeps a close eye on them. "I would've let you go, Elana, but soon this place will be mine. I can't allow you to walk around here. What if you attack one of the staff here?"

"Mr. Peterson, you know me. I had my reason," Elana say getting tears in her eyes. This job is all she has left besides her son. "If I was a danger to this place I would've shown it already!"

"Elana, you've done a lot for this company, but it's time you give it up," Ralph says and take a seat in front of the boss's desk.

"I'm not talking to you!" Elana yell at him and look at Mr. Peterson.

"Elana, that's enough!" he shout. She shake her head in disbelief. "You can empty your office anytime before Friday."

Elana look at Liam and Joe that looks horrified at her. They don't know how to react or what to do. Ralph stands up from his seat and walk to Elana. She look at him and stand back.

"This is nothing personal," he says and stop in front of her. She's not scared of him anymore. She's more angry than what she was at the shop when she 'attacked' him. "You should've known that I took your life before, I can do it again."

"No," she shake her head with a sarcastic smile. "You didn't take my life at all Ralph. You gave me one. Thank you for releasing me from this shithole and for teaching me that real men are out there, you're just not one of them."

She turn around to walk out, but he grab he wrist. She looks angrily at him that gives her a smug smile.

"I remember that night like it was yesterday," he whispers to her. "I'll do it over and over again. Hear you beg me to stop, feel you trying to fight me off and watch you cry."

"Don't worry, that won't happen again," she smile at him in revenge. "But this will."

Before he could react, she punch him in the throat. He grab his throat and cough trying to release the pressure her fist left. She push the boys out. She close the door and look at them.

"Should we run?" Liam ask. Elana take a deep breath in.

"I think so," she nod and start to walk quickly down to her office. The boys follows her nervously. To admit, every mother has a side that her children isn't aware of. "Help me pack up please."

Joe takes his bag off his back and open it. He's always walking around with a half empty bag pack. If it was Sam, Elana would be making all sorts of jokes like hiding a packet of cigarettes or something naughty and youngster would have. They throw a few things in there and some of the other stuff in her handbag. She grabs the box with all the paperwork in and throw it out on the floor to use the box.

"I've never seen your mom so mad," Joe says to Liam where they sit outside at the back. Liam agree and take a deep breath in. "What's the matter?"

"My mother lost her job, Joe," he says and look hopelessly at his friend. "We'll probably look out for another place to stay in if she doesn't find something soon. How will we be able to pay for college?"

"I'm sure there's a way," Liam say and rub Liam's back to comfort him.

Elana sits on her knees in front of the stove busy cleaning it. That's how she handles stress. Jordan enters the kitchen and gives her a strange look.

"Elana?"

She looks at him and sit back out of breath. He walks to her and go on his haunches next to her. She looks down and starts to sob. He put his arms around her and pull her into his embrace.

"What happened?" he ask and sit back. She folds her arms around his middle and rest her face in his neck. "Elana, talk to me."

"Ralph happened," she cries. For a second he got angry at why Ralph is always part of the picture, but this wouldn't upset her now all of a sudden if it's something from the past. "He approached me yesterday and said something that made me attack him. Now he's got me fired at work."

"What?" he ask horrified. She look at him and shake her head in disbelief.

"He said he'll do it again and again. Why now all of a sudden that things are finally falling into place, he has to be part of it?" she dries up her tears and look down.

"At least you're not shutting me out," he whispers and kiss her forehead. "Honey, you deserve better than this, okay? We will get through this together."

"Okay," she nod and rest her head on his shoulder. "How was your meeting?"

"Was okay. They want to adapt it into television series," he replies. She nods impressed at him.

"Congratulations," she giggles. He smiles and take a piece of her hair out of her face.

"So, since you're not working then, why don't we go to the shops tomorrow. I need to get a few things and then snacks for tomorrow night."

"Okay," she nods and look down. He touch her face and move closer to her lips. She look at him and smile softly leaning in to him. Just when they wanted to kiss, the door flew open. It's the boys entering the kitchen. They two immediately pull away and awkwardly continue cleaning the stove. Jordan grab the kitchen clothe and fold it up. There's nothing more awkward than being walked in when you share something deep with someone else.

"Is our game night still on tomorrow night?" Joe ask. Elana look at him and nod. "Cool. Can I sleep over."

"Of course you may," Elana reply and look at Jordan. "If you want, you may sleep over too."

"Okay," he chuckles nervously. She sends him a wink and look down at what she's doing to the stove.