Chapter 9

Adrian

"Have you heard from Happy?" I ask Timothy.

I haven't seen her in almost a week, it was a good thing my Mom was here to watch the kids while I worked because they wouldn't allow anyone else other than Happy stay with them.

Ever since she dropped them off at the office for lunch and Adi found her phone on the floor, we haven't seen or heard from her. I didn't want to bother her, she was enough of a pain in my ass on most days.

Her phone's screen was shattered, glass falling out and leaving spaces in it. My employees said she received a call and then she left, they didn't notice her phone falling from her hand.

"No Sir, should I visit her house?" Timothy asks.

"Go ahead, you can go now if you prefer or later, I'd like to enjoy the few days without her annoying little comebacks" I answer causing him to chuckle.

"Are you sure it's not boyfriend issues?" he asks curiously.

My mind went back to when Happy was in my room showering and someone texted her, from the way the words were typed it was obvious they had something going on.

Seemed like a huge fight, he was begging her to talk to him.

"Maybe, just find out why she hasn't come in for work, those kids are losing it without her, especially Ari" I tell him, "she threatened me today, my sweet little girl threatened to slice my neck if I don't bring back her beloved" I say in the exact way Ari said it.

"She really has an impact on them" he replies with a smile.

"She does, annoyingly" I nod with an eye roll. "Anyway, I have a meeting in two minutes so you can go to lunch".

Inside the board room, I still found my mind going back to Happy. It was kind of weird not having her around the house, I don't know why but I've gotten quite accustomed to her being there all the time and the kids, they've been happier since I hired her.

I wouldn't want her to quit her job because of her personal disputes, but I could understand why she's taking days off. I take days off from work whenever I needed to get my head together, especially when I have to think about my kids missing their parents.

I noticed a familiar face among the ones that sat around the table, I didn't quite recognize it but I didn't try to. I knew every face here, that one was a little bit sketchy, and refusing the figure it out was the best thing I've done all day.

"The stock market is looking pretty good compared to last month" Mr Tenant says flipping his binder closed.

"Yes, good job Adrian, I hope you keep up the good work", adds Mr Dean with a nod of approval.

Not that I didn't know what I was doing, my father left me in charge with nothing more than books and files to do my own homework, I know what I'm doing.

Everyone was piling out of the boredom, chatting amongst one another. I gathered my papers and sat back into the chair with a sigh, pulling my eyes away from my tapping finger, I tend to do that when I'm nervous or worried, right now I don't know which one I was feeling.

The light sound of my finger tapping on the table was surprisingly comforting, considering the fact that I had no idea why I was tapping it. Maybe my subconscious mind was worrying about something and it has yet to make its way to my conscious state.

"Should I be concerned?", I turn my head slowly to look at the person who asked the question.

A former partner and friend of mine stood at by the door with a polite smile etched across her face. As per usual, she was dressed elegantly, I don't have much eye for fashion when it comes to woman but she was always dressed nicely.

"Anna" I say softly, "what're you doing here?" I ask standing up.

"I thought you heard" Anna chuckles, "I'm helping with the new project" she smiles proudly.

I knew there was a familiar face in here, Anna has always been a close friend of mine, we went to school together and even worked together for some time, I always admired her skills. Anna Clending, she was a smart and successful woman, always had a head strong personality.

"That's great, we could use another brain" I nod gathering my things so Timothy wouldn't have to worry about coming inside here to get them.

"I heard about your sister" Anna says causing me to look at her again, "I'm sorry" she sincerely says with a hand on her chest.

"Yeah", I clear my throat and there was a silence for a few seconds, "it's okay, we're getting by fine" I say again.

Anna opened her mouth to say something but Timothy walked in with Ari wrapped around his leg. It made him unable to walk but he still tried his best to take her over to me.

"What's going on?" I ask Timothy, "why is she here?" I ask again as he pryed Ari from his leg.

"She was here when I arrived, I don't see her siblings anywhere either" he answers out of breath.

I turn to look at Ari with a stern face, I was meant to come off as intimidating but her eyes started to water a little bit.

"Ari, what's the matter?" I worriedly ask.

"Happy doesn't want to see us anymore", and there goes he water works.

Ari started to cry loudly, tears streaming down her face, she hugged me and I picked her up, trying my best to hush her.

"Did you get to Happy?" I ask Timothy, who was cringing from all the crying.

"No Sir, I can't even get a hold of her house phone" he answers.

"We'll drive there" I say motioning for him to get the papers, "Anna, it was nice seeing you again, maybe we could continue this meeting tomorrow" I say before rushing out, not waiting for her answer.

Everyone was looking at us as I walked with Ari to the elevator, she was crying non-stop, loud cries as if she was in pain. The last time she cried like the was the day her parents were buried.

Darn it!.

Happy really stole my kids' hearts.

And disappeared, without a text or anything. I don't even know how Ari got here.