Chapter 7.

Jaxson

I stumble in with three huge boxes full of important files. As soon as I sit the boxes down and close the door Bella runs up to me, instantly hugging me.

"Hi Jaxson!" Her excited voice cheers. I chuckle "hi Bella" I say. I can't even lie I'm starting to really like the kid.

She grabs my hand and pulls me into the kitchen. "I want a cookie but mommy says no, can you help me?" She gives me an adorable pouty face.

"Of course I can" I tell her reaching into the top cabinet and pulling out the bag of cookies. I hand her one and she beams at me.

"BELLA!" Ava yells causing Bella to jump. "I told you no more." Ava tells her sounding stressed out.

"I'm sorry mommy." Bella says pouting. If she doesn't forgive the adorable kid she has absolutely no heart.

She sighs "it's okay... but you have to listen to me" Bella nods "can I keep it?" she asks. Ava smiles "okayyyy but just this once" and Bella jumps up and down excitedly.

Definitely spoiling the girl but it makes me happy seeing her this happy. "Go get ready for bed" she says and watches Bella leave the kitchen.

Finally looking at me she says "there's food on the stove" and she turns to walk away. "Wait!"

She looks at me. Shit I didn't think this through. "Can I talk to you?" I ask her gesturing to chairs at the counter. She nods and takes a seat.

"I-..." I don't know how to start. How do you tell someone you want to be in your daughters life who you abandoned for four years?

"Look! If this is about Bella, I know she's great but she's not just something you can take pride in Jaxson. Bella has feelings and even though she's so little she's smart as hell. You can't hurt her she'll resent you forever." Ava says never losing eye contact with me.

"I know and I don't want to hurt her more than I already have by leaving her Ava. I love the kid and I've only known her for a few days. I want to be in her life more than anything, but you won't let me" I say begging for a chance to be in my daughters life.

She sighs "... you have to start off slow. We won't even tell her you're her father at first, just in case" she says.

Ava

He gives me the biggest smile I have ever seen on him. "Really?" Jaxson says excitedly and I nod my head.

"But if you hurt my daughter so help me god Jaxson I will ruin you." I tell him sternly. Bella is all I have and as her mother it is my job to protect her.

"I won't... there's something else." "We're not leaving Jaxson, Bella loves it here." He holds his finger up making me stop mid sentence.

"It's not that, and do you really think I'd kick my daughter out?" He says sounding disgusted. I shrug "I don't know you" I tell him and he sarcastically rolls his eyes.

"What is it?" I ask him. I have so much that needs to be finished by 3am. My father gave me that time exact.

"I heard that you and my father were kind of like friends." He tells me and I nod. Micheal was great. I really miss him sometimes.

"Thought so, I really hate to ask you this especially after everything I've done... but I really need help." Jaxson says and I crease me eyebrows.

"With what?" "I kind of made my dads company get close to bankruptcy and I don't know how to fix it."

My eyes widen. MICHEALS COMPANY IS ABOUT TO BE BANKRUPT. I swear I almost hit him.

"What the hell? Jaxson your dad loved his company. How could you do that?" I ask him in shock.

He frowns "I didn't mean to, I don't even know how to run a company. But I have to fix it. My fathers legacy's on the line."

Micheal had the biggest company in New York at one point. He worked so hard to build his company up.

"How are you going to fix it with no experience Jaxson? You could destroy everything Micheal worked so hard for." I tell him truly annoyed at how careless he is.

"I know and that's why I need your help. You know what you're doing Ava. I can't let my dads hard work go down in flames, please!"

He is literally begging for me to help him. I can't even say no, Michaels company is on the line. I have to help.

Micheal was so nice to me from the moment he met me. There is no way I can't help him.

"Fine, but what's in it for me?" I ask knowing I'll help him regardless of if I get something out of it or not.

"If you successfully help bring my fathers company out of debt you can have anything you want."

"Alright, when are we starting?" I ask him. "Tonight?" I shake my head no "I can't, I have a bunch of work that needs to be typed up by 3am, sorry" I tell him.

"I'll help you" he says. I'm not sure I want someone who's company is going bankrupt to help me with my work, but I have no choice.

There's no way I'll be able to finish all of this work by 3am and the long conversation we just had doesn't help.