Chapter 20: Where Jealousy Softens

Just before Thaddeus reached the hotel where Lena was staying, he glanced at the rearview mirror and spoke to the driver.

"What time are you picking Kayden up from school today?"

The driver glanced briefly at him through the mirror, slightly taken aback by the question.

"Usually around 4:45 p.m., sir."

Thaddeus gave a firm nod. "Alright. I'll wrap things up quickly and join you. We'll pick him up together."

Even the driver couldn't hide his surprise. Thaddeus was never one to adjust his busy schedule for anyone, yet here he was, planning his day around someone like Kayden.

Thaddeus headed straight to the rooftop lounge where Lena had requested to meet. The view was breathtaking, but the conversation was strictly professional.

She looked effortlessly poised, dressed in a soft cream blouse tucked into tailored pants, her presence calm and composed. There was no awkwardness between them; they had already established that this wasn't a romantic meeting.

Lena greeted him with her usual confident smile. "Thanks for making time, Thaddeus.

He nodded, already loosening his tie a little. "Let's talk business then."

They sat across from each other, reviewing proposals, pitching creative angles, and identifying gaps in the current market. Lena's mind was sharp, her ideas refreshing. Thaddeus couldn't help but admire her, not just her looks, but her drive.

"I think we can build something unique," she said, showing him her vision laid out on her tablet. "It's a risk, yes, but the kind of risk that pays off."

"I agree," Thaddeus said, leaning forward, intrigued. "Your angle is clean. Smart. And you already have the network. I'd be wrong not to consider it."

They continued like that for a while focused, intentional, nothing flirtatious. Business was the priority. But that didn't stop the occasional glance or brief silence charged with something unspoken. There was a flicker of interest between them, subtle but undeniable.

As they neared the end of their discussion, Lena checked the time and smiled. "There's still a little time before sunset. Want to grab something light to eat nearby? Just a quick evening snack."

Thaddeus stood, buttoning his suit jacket again. "Another time, Lena. I have somewhere else I need to be."

She tilted her head, her smile knowing but not bitter. "Let me guess. Someone special?"

He didn't answer directly.

"Absolutely," Thaddeus replied, his tone smooth but distant. "This was productive. I'll go over everything again and get back to you by tomorrow."

After he left, Lena sat back in her seat, exhaling quietly.

She couldn't deny it, she liked him. There was something about Thaddeus that intrigued her beyond just partnership.

Lena might've had his attention for a moment.

But Kayden clearly had his heart.

The black luxury car pulled into the school's wide-open lot like it didn't belong. Sleek, polished, and out of place, just like the man who stepped out of the back seat.

Thaddeus Marcos adjusted the cuff of his navy shirt, the sunlight grazing the sharp edge of his jaw. At thirty-nine, he looked like time had only refined him. His salt-and-ink hair framed his face like a crafted masterpiece, his clean scent of oud and leather already trailing past the parked cars.

Girls turned.

No, everyone turned.

Some whispered. Some nudged each other. A few tried to hide their giggles behind notebooks and phone screens, blushing like middle-schoolers.

"Who is that?" A girl mumbled from a bench.

"Is he a professor?"

"He's way hotter than that. Too clean to teach here."

"I think he's here to pick someone up," another whispered.

"I hope it's me."

Thaddeus didn't seem to notice. Or maybe he did, but ignored it the way only someone completely used to attention could.

Across the lot, still walking out of the academic block, Kayden was joking around with his usual crew, Ariz, on one side, Darren flanking the other. They were laughing over something dumb, lost in their own world.

"You see those girls eyeing you, Ariz?" Kayden smirked. "Bet they all think you're single and available."

"Correction," Ariz said, flipping his backpack over one shoulder with an exaggerated flair. "They know I'm hot. I just play hard to get."

Kayden chuckled, eyes glinting. "Keep talking. You love the attention."

"Oh, I could make it stop instantly."

"How?" Kayden tilted his head.

"I'll kiss you on the cheek. That'll send the message real fast."

Kayden laughed and elbowed him. "You dare not."

But Ariz leaned in anyway and gave a quick peck on Kayden's cheek.

Kayden stumbled back, laughing. "Hey! You're crazy!"

They were too caught up in the moment to notice Darren had gone silent.

Darren's eyes had flicked forward. He'd seen him.

Standing there.

Waiting beside the car.

The man with one hand in his pocket, the other now resting casually on the roof of the car, watching.

Thaddeus.

"Kayden…" Darren tapped his friend's arm.

Still grinning, Kayden turned. "What?"

"Kayden," Darren said again, more urgently this time, "your uncle."

Kayden blinked, confused. "My uncle? What are you saying... Have you ever seen my uncle at school before?"

But instead of turning to look back at Darren, Kayden looked ahead.

And saw him.

His laughter vanished. One hand still resting lightly on Ariz's arm, he dropped it instantly like he'd touched fire.

There was no hiding now. Not from that gaze.

Kayden walked forward, slowly at first, like trying to figure out if he was in trouble or just flustered. His face flushed with heat as the moment replayed itself in his head.

He reached the car and stood awkwardly at the door, his eyes avoiding Thaddeus's face. He wasn't sure what to call him. Daddy? Too soft in public. Uncle Thad? Too formal. Nothing felt right anymore.

So he just muttered it under his breath, barely audible.

"…Daddy."

Thaddeus's expression didn't shift, but he opened the car door for him anyway.

Then he glanced at Ariz and Darren behind Kayden and gave them a short, polite wave.

Darren quickly bowed his head in greeting, instinctively respectful.

Kayden climbed into the car in silence, still trying to steady his breathing.

As the car drove away, Ariz turned to Darren with a confused frown. "Who was that guy?"

Correction: He's not a guy? A man.

Darren adjusted his collar, watching the car disappear down the road.

"That's Kayden's second father," he said simply, then walked away, leaving Ariz standing there with a stunned face and a thousand questions.

The silence in the car was louder than anything. Kayden sat quietly, knowing Thaddeus wouldn't appreciate a conversation right now, especially not in front of the driver. He turned slightly, wanting to say something, anything, but no words came. He didn't even know what to say.

To his surprise, Thaddeus broke the silence first. He turned to him calmly and asked, "How was school today?"

Kayden blinked, caught off guard. "It was fine," he replied quietly.

"Do you want anything? Maybe a snack or something on the way home?" Thaddeus added, his tone neutral but kind.

Kayden shook his head. "No, thank you."

All he really wanted was to get home. To be in their space. To talk just the two of them.

When they finally arrived home, Thaddeus didn't act cold or upset. He moved with the same quiet maturity, disappearing into his room without a word. Kayden lingered in the hallway, hesitating. He wanted to talk but didn't want to appear too eager or have Thaddeus misread his intentions.

Still, after a minute, he knocked gently on the bedroom door.

"Come in," Thaddeus said.

Kayden stepped inside, eyes downcast, fingers curling nervously.

"You seemed like you weren't happy to see me at your school today," Thaddeus said softly. "If you didn't like it, I won't come again."

Kayden's head snapped up. "No, no, I was just playing. I'm sorry."

Thaddeus looked at him, his expression calm. "Why are you apologizing? That's part of school life. I understand. They're your friends, Kayden. It's okay."

Kayden took a small breath. "You won't think wrong of me, right?"

A warm smile tugged at Thaddeus' lips. "Not at all."

"Kay," he said gently, "cheer up, okay? Just be careful about the kind of jokes you play with your friends, especially in public."

Kayden nodded quickly, then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Thaddeus, holding him in a quiet hug.

Even though Thaddeus felt a slight pang of jealousy, he didn't let it show. The last thing he wanted was to make Kayden feel uncomfortable or guilty. He understood Kayden was still young, and it was only natural for him to laugh, play, and be close with his friends.

That was part of growing up, and Thaddeus didn't want to be the reason he held back.

Just then, a call came through, Lena. Kayden saw the name flash on the screen.