12 MEETING AN OLD FRIEND

During Mia's high school days, Eric was well-known as the School's hottest freshman.

He was talented and handsome at the same time and also very good at playing the piano. Everyone loved him and his songs.

Probably for that same reason, Mia took a liking to him, but because she was still with James then, so she didn't think of taking it anywhere.

While Eric and Mia were talking, Isabella took her iPad and called her daddy.

In Eden's office, he was busy handling some files with the help of Uncle Joe before they were interrupted by a ringing tone.

Hearing the tone made a smile spread across his lips.

He had a phone just for Isabella, lest she needed anything or wanted to talk to him. The phone was always with him.

Taking out the phone, Eden saw it was a video call and answered.

"Daddy, how are you doing?" Isabella's cute voice sounded out from the pad.

"I'm good, what about you? Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, daddy. It's just that I miss you a lot. Please come join us."

"Awww, my sunshine, daddy is very busy. We can go together next time, ok."

"Ok!" Isabella sighed with disappointment though she wasn't done with her plans yet.

After saying that, Isabella tapped on the camera switch button to flip the camera view to the rear view.

Once the view turned, she positioned the iPad in a way she could get Mia and Eric, who were still talking within the frame.

Eden, who could not understand what was happening, saw Mia and a man sitting together, and a sudden uneasy feeling rose in his chest.

Flipping the camera back to her innocent face, Isabella said, "Sorry, daddy, I mistakenly switched the camera."

"It's ok, sunshine. Ummm… can you please tell daddy who is that man sitting beside your mommy?" Eden inquired out of curiosity.

"Oh, he is just one of mommy's old friends. I think she mentioned having a crush on him.

Daddy, what's a crush?" Isabella enquired, batting her innocent blue eyes.

"It's nothing, sunshine. Just a word people use to say 'you are amazing'"

"Ok, daddy, anyways, it's ok if you can't come since Eric is here to keep us company. There is no need for you to stress yourself, and anyways, Eric will take us to the cinema after we are done eating. But I think it might rain, so he might take us to his house."

Eden smiled awkwardly. Confusion was evident on his face as he stared at his daughter, listening to every word that came out of her mouth.

"Anyway, daddy, we will talk later, bye," Isabella continued, with a smile, before ending the call.

Seeing the wide grin on Isabella's face made Mia question her, "Is everything alright, baby?"

"Yes, everything is just right," Isabella said, her blue eyes sparkling brightly.

************

As soon as Isabella ended the call, Eden's mind went over what she had said.

Was that man really going to take his wife and daughter to the movies and then to his house?

Thinking about his innocent daughter, he knew that she would never tell a lie.

With that thought in mind, Eden took his car keys and said to Uncle Joe, "Uuumm, bring the documents to my house. I will continue with them later. I have to go now." saying that Eden left in a hurry.

***********

Finally, their food arrived after some minutes, they had already spent twenty minutes there waiting, and Eden was yet to come.

They were just about to dig in when Mia heard the voice she had been wanting to hear all day.

Walking towards them, Eden inquired, "When is my food going to get here?" He moved closer to Mia, pulled her towards him, away from Eric, and added, "My wife."

Mia, who was confused about why he was acting this way, didn't know when Eric stood up with his eyes bulging out from its socket, "Your wife? Y-you are the Almighty Evil CEO… I mean Eden Parker. What do you mean by your wife?"

Listening to his words, a smirk appeared on Eden's face as he turned his head towards Mia and said, "So you didn't tell your old friend that your husband is the richest CEO in all of Graceland."

Realizing what this was all about, Mia looked at Isabella and Eden.

Not having any other choice but to follow the plan of the father and daughter, she said, "W-well I didn't get the chance to because he didn't ask."

Saying that she turned towards Eric and added, "Eric meet Eden Parker, my husband. Honey, meet my old school friend back then in high school."

"Ooh," formed on Eden's lips as he extended his hand for a handshake.

On the other hand, Eric had no other choice but to accept the handshake with a shocked look still plain on his face.

Turning around, Eden said, "Are you all done eating, because I'm really hungry."

"No, we were just getting started. Do you want to join us?" Mia urged Eden to sit. But before he sat down, he said, "Well, great, then Mr Eric are you done or are you still.....?"

Eric quickly jumped to his feet and chuckled awkwardly, "No sir, I'm done. You see, I was just on my way out. Please enjoy yourself. It was nice seeing you Mia... bye." After saying that, Eric left without looking back.

He couldn't believe that he ran into the 'Evil CEO' today.

 Sitting down beside Isabella, Eden patted her head and said, "Hey sunshine, daddy is here now. Are you happy?"

"Of course, I'm happy, but I'm sad that Uncle Eric left. He was very nice, right Mia," Isabella smiled playfully.

Hearing what his daughter said, Eden turned towards Mia, and with a raised brow, he questioned, "Right Mia, wasn't he nice?"

Feeling like the father and daughter were interrogating her, Mia said, "Stop that, both of you. Eric was just one of my seniors in high school, and you chased him away."

"I didn't chase him away. He was the one who said he had somewhere to be," Eden responded coolly.

"Of course, he would say that, when he saw your face, who would want to stay a second..... Enough, let's eat and go home, it's already past 7:00 PM, and I have to call my manager when we get back home."

After saying that, Mia started eating her food, leaving the father and daughter stunned.

In their whole life, they have never been scolded before, especially by a woman. It felt a little weird to them.

After eating, they paid the bill and Left. While walking towards the car, Isabella strolled beside her father while Mia was in front of them. Looking at her dad, Isabella said, "Daddy, Mia scolded us today."

"Yes, she did, sunshine," Eden breathed out.

"Hmm… but instead of feeling sad, I feel happy. It is the first time anyone except Aunt Mary has scolded me. I have just been scolded by my mommy and you have just been scolded by your wife," Isabella smiled, exposing her white teeth.

Hearing that, a tender smile appeared on Eden's face, "Yes, we have just been scolded by the only special woman in our life, but don't you think it's time we apologized."

"Yes, we do, but it won't be fun if we apologize here," Isabella said, agreeing with her Father.

Putting her hand on her chin, Isabella pondered about it for a brief moment before she got an idea.

Motioning her father to come closer, Isabella whispered something in his ear.

Listening to his daughter's idea, a cunning smile formed on Eden's face. He patted his daughter's head and said, "You really take after me when it comes to scheming."

They both had huge grins across their lips as they envisioned how their plan would pan out.

While the father and daughter pair were busy with their plans, Mia turned around, questioning them with a puzzled look, "Why are you two smiling now? Come on, let's go."

Mia, who was the first to arrive at the side of the car, entered with Eden and Isabella following behind.

*************

They finally arrived at the Viria Villa not long after. They got down and went inside.

The instant they walked in through the door, they were welcomed by Aunt Mary, "Welcome back! How was your day?"

Mia was the first to respond to her greeting, "It was ok, Aunt Mary. How was yours?"

Smiling, Aunt Mary said, "It was also ok."

"Great to hear. Umm, there is no need for you to make dinner tonight, we already ate."

"Ok then, in that case, let's call it a day. Have a good night's rest," Aunt Mary said and left the family of three alone.

Urging Isabella to come towards her, Mia said, "Come on baby, let's go get ready for bed."

After having said that, Mia and Isabella left Eden to stand there by himself. "But I'm also your baby," Eden cried out in an almost inaudible aggrieved tone as he scratched the back of his head.

************

Mia got Isabella ready for bed and kissed her goodnight before leaving the room. It was already 8:30, and she was already very tired, and just wanted to shower and go to bed.

Entering her room, Mia went to the bathroom, got ready, and came out wearing a blue robe.

She walked to her dressing table and saw a small and beautiful box.

Curious, she took it and opened it. Her eyes widened, shocked by what she saw inside it.

A beautiful yet delicate ring sparkled on the soft pad inside the box. What was a ring doing there? Just as she was about to move, she was captured by a big pair of hands.

Eden wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. He placed his hands on her tiny waist, leaned forward, and breathed in her wonderful scent while Mia stood as stiff as a rock.

She didn't move her body, not knowing what was happening. All she could feel was his hot breath on her neck, making her hairs stand on her skin.

She also noticed something else. He wasn't wearing any shirt, only a towel wrapped around the waist and nothing else.

Now she could see his broad chest and huge muscles. Subconsciously, Mia traced her hands down his chest. Feeling his well-built muscles underneath her palms made her drool.

Finally coming to her senses, she quickly removed her hands and was about to move when she was tugged down by him, making them mistakenly fall on the bed.

Looking at Eden on top of her without any decent piece of clothing on his body made her gulp. Mia almost gave in to the urge of wanting to be completely one with him right now.

The two of them gazed at one another with desires in their eyes. However, it quickly doused out when they heard a tiny voice.

"Mommy, daddy. What are you two doing?"