Chapter Eighteen

"Mira!" Joy called hopping out of the still moving car.

She could see mirabelle wandering around probably searching for her. For a moment she felt guilty for being late. She was always right on time when picking her daughter.

"Mummy!" Mirabelle came running towards her mother.

"Sorry babygirl, mummy was a little bit late today." Joy apologized as she took her daughter into her arms in a hug

"It's okay mum, besides am sure you were busy and probably lost track of time" the little girl replied. She was super intelligent for her age.

"You are such a darling baby" Joy commended her

"And you are a super mummy" the little girl smiled.

Joy turn to head home when her eyes met with JJ's. She had completely forgotten about them. Her life rotated around her little girl whenever they were together everything else cease to exist. She walked up to them, JJ and his bodyguards. What amazed her is that nobody seemed to be bothered by his presence not like in the previous hotel. She put her little girl to her feet as they neared them.

"Am so sorry I almost left without saying goodbye and thanks for the ride." She began.

"How about you introduce me to the gorgeous little princess here first." JJ stooped to face mirabelle.

Joy was a little bit embarrassed. So JJ went ahead.

"Hey there little princess. My name is JJ, what's yours?" He asked with a smile

"My name is mirabelle." she replied.

"An amazing name perfect for the princess you are" he complimented her

"Thank you. Are you a friend of my mother?" She asked.

"Oh yes we are very good friends" he replied

"How comes you have never visited our house. She usually has only one friend, Auntie Ann" she questioned.

This got him off guard. The girl was really smart. He thought.

"It's because I am a very busy person. I run a huge company that needs my attention" he tried.

"Super huge like this? " She asked indicating measurements using her hands.

"It is more huge than that" he told her.

"Can mummy and I go to see it someday!" She enquired.

"Of course you will see it soon." He replied.

"You two just met and am already feeling like an outsider" Joy complained.

JJ turned to look at her and smiled sweetly. Joy swoon over him.

"She is amazing. I should see her often. In fact I won't be going home without saying hi to her whenever I pick my nephew." He winked at her.

Joy blushed so hard she turned away. However not without mirabelle noticing.

"Mummy, you just blushed!" She exclaimed with her eyes on her mother.

"What? Me? No way." She tried to defend herself.

"I saw it too" JJ joined in.

"No you didn't. You saw nothing" she said with a straight face.

JJ shrugged involuntarily. He liked the fact that the three of them looked like a family. He just met them for the first time and they feel like home to him. Mirabelle's reception was good. She was friendly, funny and very observant besides being intelligent and beautiful. He couldn't ask for more. He wondered though who her father was. He didn't want to ask so soon until he got to know more about them. She could tell her willingly when he finally wins her heart and trust.

"Hey, you didn't even introduce us to your nephew. Where is he?" Joy asked

"Sorry for that. He should be in the car. Come" He stretched out his hand for her.

Joy didn't move. She was looking at the outstretched hand. In another life, she would have been happy to hold it. Just a bad timing. She instead took mirabelle's hand on the left and walked ahead. Mirabelle stretched the other hand to join with JJ making her be in the middle. JJ was relieved and as the three walked towards the back of the car, they got noticed and soon cameras began clicking again.

Joy noticed that and turned dark in fear. She hated limelight. She hated being a person of interest in the social media. JJ noticed the change and turned to see what caused it. He noted the clicking of cameras and ordered them to stop immediately. They paparazzi walked away in shame.

Joy was relieved. She looked at JJ and smiled with satisfaction. "Thank you!" She whispered. He just shrugged.

"Hey lil' man. Come down for a minute." He called out his nephew.

"What is it uncle. Aren't we going home yet?" The little lad asked as soon as he alighted.

"Of course we are. I wanted you to meet someone." He explained

"Meet mirabelle and her mother Joy" he introduced them. "Joy, mirabelle, meet Liam my nephew"

"Come on uncle, mirabelle and I are in the same class." Liam whined.

"Really? That's nice. But am sure you have never met her mum." JJ said and Liam nodded turning to Joy.

"Nice to meet you ma'am" he bowed in greeting.

"The pleasure is all mine Liam." She smiled at him.

"You are so beautiful. I guess Bella took after you." he complimented her.

"Wait, did you just call her Bella?" Joy asked

"That's what he calls me in school. I have told him to stop but he doesn't want to listen." Mirabelle complained.

"But that name is used to refer to princesses and cute girls like you." Liam defended himself

"Hmm now I know" mirabelle smiled.

"Problem solved." Joy muttered.

"Now you two can be friends an look out for each other right?" JJ told them and they noded.

"Well, we gotta go now. We are the only ones remaining in the school premises." Joy noticed

"Hope in I will take you home." JJ told them.

"You have done extremely too much today. So just go home we'll get a cab" Joy reasoned

"I don't think I have complained. Have I?" He asked

"Come on mum. Let's ride with them" mirabelle urged.

They hoped in without another word. Joy was already feeling tired