69

"That was emotional. I'm so happy for you guys." Madiana told her Boss with a sad smile on her face.

She had accompanied him to the board meeting at his father's company. Lawrence was a partner there so his presence was required and he took Maddie along.

After their meeting in the conference room, Liam, Lawrence's father had invited Lawrence into his office while Maddie waited for him outside the office.

Both father and son resolved their differences. Not like they actually fought, but Lawrence was very close to every member of his family. They all felt it during the past few days when he distanced himself from them.

Lawrence explained the whole situation to his father. Liam comforted his son and gave him the advice he needed and also made it known that he was looking forward to meeting his grandson.

And Lawrence promised that he and Luis would be there at the next family dinner.

Madiana did not mean to eavesdrop. The two men were just loud enough and she could hear what they were saying as she sat on a chair just outside Lawrence's father's office.

They were now on their way back to Lawrence's company. Dominic was driving while Lawrence and Maddie were seated in the back seat.

"And I'm so sorry about Luis's mom." She whispered.

Lawrence nodded slowly.

He took a glance at his wristwatch, then turned to Maddie.

"Do you mind if we branch somewhere before heading to the office?"

"No, I don't." She replied honestly.

Then Lawrence told Dominic to head to Lucas, his younger brother's school.

Dominic drove into Lucas's school and Maddie was in awe as she took in the surroundings. Lucas's school was a private school and she had no doubt it was expensive. The environment told it all.

Dominic Parked on the parking space set aside for visitors. Lawrence got down from the car after which he urged Maddie to come down too. They walked towards the garden where they took their seats.

As soon as they settled down, they heard footsteps of someone running in their direction, Lawrence rose to his feet and engulfed his younger brother in a hug.

"I missed you, Lawrence," Lucas whispered.

"I miss you too, young man." He replied as he ruffled Lucas's hair.

"Stop....." Lucas groaned as removed his elder brother's hand away from his hair and looked around.

Lawrence smirked, "Are you worried your crush would see me ruffling your hair?"

"Something like that." He replied with a grin.

"Is she your new girlfriend?" Lucas asked as he looked towards Maddie.

"Oh, This is Madiana. My friend and my Secretary."

"Hi. I'm Lucas. The most handsome last born." He introduced himself as he extended his hand to Maddie for a shake.

"Hi. I'm Madiana. Nice to meet you." She replied with her sweet voice.

Maddie could tell Lucas was Lawrence's younger brother because of the resemblance.

"Sorry I didn't bring anything for you. I'm just coming from a meeting at Dad's office." Lawrence said as he took a seat beside Madiana on the bench and Lucas sat on his brother's lap.

"It's fine. I'm so happy to see you. Mom said you have a son. How is he?" He asked with a genuine smile on his face.

"He's fine. His name is Luis."

"I can imagine how cute he is. Do you have his pictures on your phone?" Lucas asked.

Lawrence began to search his jacket pocket for his phone.

"I guess I left my phone in the car." He said as he could not find the phone in his pocket.

"I have some of his pictures on my phone," Maddie said as she handed over her phone to Lawrence.

Lawrence and Lucas looked at the pictures together and Lawrence could see that she took those pictures yesterday when she had volunteered to take care of Luis.

"He's so beautiful. Please, can you bring him over to the house?" Lucas pleaded.

"Sure, we will be coming on Saturday for dinner."

"That will be nice." Lucas smiled. He had a surprise for Luis. His mother, Abigail, has bought so many things for Luis too.

"Do you know Lenora is pregnant?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, she came over to my apartment yesterday and she told me."

"You know what Lawrence, when I told Mariam and Ashley that I'm an uncle of two and many more in the future, they looked at me as if I had grown horns on my head," Lucas said as the trio burst into laughter.

Mariam and Ashley were Lucas's close friends.

"Don't mind them. They find it hard to believe me. Just because I'm 15, they think I'm not old enough to be an uncle." Lucas said in between chuckles.

Lawrence and Madiana stayed with Lucas for a while before they took their leave.

.............

LATER

It was 5:30 pm already and Lawrence was getting ready to go home. He missed Luis. This was the first time he had been apart from Luis for so long. He couldn't wait to have his baby boy wrapped in his arms.

Dominic came into Lawrence's office and took his briefcase to the car. Lawrence picked up his phone and walked out of his office.

He then decided to say hi to Maddy before he left. Lawrence did not know why but he found himself attracted to her and wanting to be around her all the time.

He entered her office after he had knocked and she told him to come in.

"Do you need anything, Sir?" She asked politely.

"No," he replied and took a seat opposite her.

"I didn't get to tell you this morning. But thanks for taking care of Luis yesterday. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, Mr. Williams. I had fun watching him." She replied with a smile.

Lawrence was about to stand up when he sat back and looked at Maddie.

"How come you have my picture on your phone?" he asked with a smirk.

Maddie blushed really hard as she looked everywhere else except Lawrence's face.

Lawrence chuckled at her reaction. She was shy and he found it very cute.

"I thought you didn't see it." She whispered as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"But I saw it." He shrugged.

When Maddie gave her phone to Lawrence and Lucas to see Luis's pictures, Lawrence also came across two of his pictures.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to stalk you or anything. I was just testing my camera." She lied.

"Really? You want me to believe that." He chuckled and Maddie groaned.

She had taken the pictures yesterday. She was in her office when she looked towards his office and found him extremely breathtaking as he focused on his work. She couldn't help it so she reached for her phone and took a few shots.

When she got home, she deleted all but left the two finest ones. And when she gave out her phone for them to look at Luis's pictures, she had totally forgotten that Lawrence's picture was there. It was later that she remembered but since Lawrence did not raise the issue, she assumed he didn't see it.

Lawrence took out his phone from his pocket.

"What are you doing?" Madiana whispered with a creased brow.

"Taking your pictures." He shrugged with a smile.

"Please don't. I'm not photogenic." She said and covered her face with her hands.

"Come on Madiana, it's only fair if I take yours too." He said.

The way he pronounced her name sent shivers down her spine.

"But I don't like taking pictures. Besides who takes pictures in the evening." She grumbled.

Lawrence rose to his feet and walked to where she was seated. He turned her chair towards him.

"You are very beautiful, never doubt that, and sorry if I made you so uncomfortable. I just found it so adorable when I saw my picture on your phone. So I take it that you like me." He completed his last sentence with a grin.

Madiana groaned.

"Anyways, I came to ask you if you would like to go with Luis and me to my parents' family dinner. Be our date, please." He pleaded.

"Are you sure?" She frowned. "I mean, is the dinner not meant for family members only?" She asked.

"Yeah, But please just come with us. Besides, I think Luis will be very happy to see you."

"I will think about it." She whispered.

He nodded.

"I will be on my way now. I miss my son already. Today is the furthest I've been away from him."

"Give a kiss to him for me," Maddie smiled.

He said his goodbye, then exited her office.