Unexpected Meetings

**Angel:**

I watched the children sleep on Lowrence's bed.

After what happened, Antonia didn’t want to sleep in her own room, and knowing her mother would be in the infirmary, I didn’t stop the girl from doing what she wanted. It was her father who had a problem with me; I wasn’t going to let him get into my head to hurt the child.

I ran my fingers through my son’s hair, smiling as he slept peacefully next to Antonia.

Dimitri’s words ran through my head, and I couldn’t help but cry at the fact that he knew Lowrence was his legitimate son. He knew that we were married when I found out I was pregnant and still announced that he was a bastard. It was a stab to the gut. One that I couldn’t do anything about.

My phone rang, catching me off guard as it buzzed on the nightstand beside the children’s bed. My eyes widened, and I jumped to grab it, afraid it would wake one of them.

Fortunately, it didn’t happen.

I looked at the caller ID and was surprised when I saw it was the Petrov Alpha heir.

Locke.

Flashback:

“What brings you here, Angel?” he asked, looking at me with a smile on his face. I ran my fingers through my son’s hair, keeping my eyes on the man.

“I was enrolling my son in school. You know, I didn’t live here before, but now that I do, I believe it would be the best option for him.” I said, choosing to be honest. I knew tomorrow would be a big day for Lowrence and knew I would take the opportunity to find an office to work from. I couldn’t leave him at home with them alone. Not when I trusted none of them in that place. “And you? Do you have a child?”

“No,” he said, laughing as he shook his head. “My niece goes to this school. Tatiana. She’s my sister’s little one.”

“Interesting,” I said, and he smiled. “Doesn’t your sister usually pick her up?”

“Depends on whether she’s busy with her husband or not. You know, sometimes they tend to have things to take care of, and I’m a single man who doesn’t have a life in their eyes.” He said, and I laughed. He kneeled in front of Lowrence before extending his hand. “And you must be the champion going to this school.”

“Hi,” Lowrence said, and I smiled, taking my hand off my son’s head, giving him a chance to speak and move much more comfortably. He looked at me, and I winked at him, allowing him to talk to the man. Locke smiled at me and winked, making me blush before looking away from him.

Little did I know I would see the Alpha heir much more often than I believed I would.

“Hello, champ. Are you excited about your new school?” he asked, and Lowrence smiled, nodding excitedly. I smiled at the two of them, and Lowrence looked at me.

“The school is very big, and I like it,” he said, and Locke nodded.

“It is, and it gets even bigger as you grow up. You know, there are different places for older students. Even I got lost here when I picked up my younger brother.” He said, and Lowrence’s eyes widened with excitement. I shook my head and smiled before he extended his hand to shake his. “Do you promise to be good at school? A young man like you shouldn’t cause trouble for your mother when he’s at school.”

“I promise,” Lowrence said, and I smiled. His eyes met mine as he stood up to face me before handing me his phone.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” I asked, and he smiled.

“Add your number, of course.” He said, and I laughed. “Unless you want me to use my own methods to find you.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“A little.” He said, and I laughed. I dialed my number and handed him my phone before his rang, making me raise an eyebrow. “I was checking if it was your real number or if you opted to give me a fake.”

“Ha, ha,” I said, and he laughed. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Locke.”

“The pleasure is mine, Angel.” He said, extending his hand to Lowrence, “but the greatest pleasure goes to you, little one.”

“Thank you,” my son said, making Locke smile.

“I’ll call you,” he said, looking at me, making me blush. “You know, I doubt you think I only got your number to save it, huh, beautiful?”

End of Flashback.

“You really should stop calling me at this hour, Locke,” I said, and he laughed.

“Well, either you’re busy looking for an office or refusing to answer during the day because you’re busy with your son. I thought some time after bedtime might be the right option.” He said, and I smiled, shaking my head as I sat on the bed. I kept my eyes on the children while I spoke and couldn’t help but smile, feeling a bit relieved to be able to distract myself.

“So, why did you call me?” I asked, and the man laughed.

“I assume a simple hello won’t be an answer to your question, will it?” he asked, and I laughed.

“Not at all, especially since you don’t know who I am. You’ve been calling daily, which I find interesting, actually. But again, you don’t give me an explanation as to why you’re calling.” I said, and he laughed.

“Does there have to be a reason for me to call? You know, someone can call because they’re a friend?” he asked, and I shook my head while looking out the window. My heart ached knowing I was far from being where I wanted to be.

“You don’t know me well enough to call me a friend, do you?” I asked, and I could imagine him smiling.

“Well, the first step for us to be friends is for me to get to know you.” He said, and I laughed, shaking my head at the man. The idea of me making a friend, a guy friend to be exact, was an idea I never believed to be possible. With everything I went through and with Dimitri and my brother, I distanced myself from everything and everyone.

“And how do you intend to do that, Alpha?” I asked, glancing at the children for a second before walking toward my dresser to put medicine on my hand. The last thing I needed was for Lowrence to be hurt, and I knew it judging by the force Dimitri put into it.

“Well, we can start with a cup of coffee tomorrow after you drop your son off at school?” he suggested. “I also have an option for you as an office. If you’re willing to take it. I can make some arrangements. I have a feeling you might like it too. So, what do you say?”

“You’re really thinking of everything, aren’t you?” I asked, and he laughed.

“Well, if you’re willing to say yes; then I’ll be thinking of much more than just that.” He said, and I blushed.

“Sure,” I said, shaking my head at myself. “We can have coffee tomorrow and then we can see this office you’re talking about. We’ll decide what happens from there.”

“Great! I’ll be waiting for you at the school.” He said, and I hummed in response.

“Until then, Locke.”

“Good night, Angel.” He said, and I smiled, biting my lower lip.

“Good night.” I said, hanging up. I put the phone on the dresser while I looked at myself in the mirror for a second. Smiling like I was a teenager who had been asked out on a date for the first time in her life.

“Get a grip, Angel. Now is not the time to get excited about this. Especially not with the amount of things you have to do.” I said, expressing my own concern. “Not when you have a threat like Dimitri to deal with…”