Chapter One - Two Years Later

Eleanor's POV

"Mummy!" My two year-old, youngest son Peyton squealed just as I was about to leave the apartment for my job at Starbucks as a barista. 

I turned around, always hating that I spent more time at my two jobs than with my two beautiful sons. I crouched down, and Peyton came stumbling towards me on his two stubby legs. I smiled at my son, amazed at how much he looked like me. The only thing different was his hair which he inherited from his father. Short, wavy light brown hair mopped the top of his head, and his crystal blue eyes shone brightly as he walked towards me. He grew up so fast!

"Hi sweetheart," I cooed kissing his pale, chubby cheek. Peyton threw his arms around my neck, not quite reaching the back of my neck. I chuckled lightly and bounced him in my arms. "Mum has to go to work now. I'll see you tonight, alright?" 

He shook his head as if he understood my words and held onto me tighter. It pained my heart every single day to have to leave my sons. "Summer!" I shouted to my best friend who was probably in their room attending to Luke, Peyton's older brother. She came rushing in knowing what my problem was already. Peyton always didn't want me to leave his side even if it was just for a few minutes.

"Come here, sweet boy," Summer said softly to the son in my arms. Peyton unwillingly left my arms to my best friend's, which she so kindly offered to babysit them while I was at work. "Go on, Elle. I've got him. Shoo."

I hurried out of there and closed the door behind me gently, hearing the cries of my youngest son through the door. I sighed and walked down bumping into someone who I had no desire to see that day. The landlord of the building I was renting from.

"Miss Edeson," she snapped at me sharply. "I'm glad to see I don't have to knock on your door several times like I've been doing for the past week!"

I flinched and took a step back not wanting to face my landlord's wrath. "Mrs. Hollis, I don't have the money to-"

"Ha!" She threw an arm up in the air. "Finally, you admit it! I need last month's and this month's rent by the end of this week or else you have to evacuate this place, and I can finally get some new lodgers who can actually pay. Good day!" She dismissed me harshly and continued walking possibly picking up rent from other renters in the building.

I rolled my eyes and continued my way to my work. I looked down at my watch while walking to the bus stop and saw that I only had five minutes to clock in or else I'll be late. I sighed and waited patiently for the next bus to arrive. I wanted to cry seeing as where my life was at now. I never realized I would ever be in this situation. Ever since Riley left, he's been sending monthly checks to me for our sons. Although it stopped after a year, and I couldn't do anything about it, since I didn't know where he was.

I climbed onto the bus and sat at the first available seat I spotted with my eyes. I tried thinking of ways where I could get the money to pay back Mrs. Hollis. I used to always pay her on time working over time, but ever since my poor baby, Luke, had a high fever I had to take him to the hospital and the bills were high. I still owed debt to the hospital for that. 

Finally, thirty minutes later I reached the Starbucks I worked at. I was already late and wished that my boss wouldn't be too angry with me. 

"Eleanor!" My co-worker James exclaimed. I waved at him and rushed through the many customers and got behind the bar putting my apron on in the process. "Where have you been?" He whispered to me as he passed me with a drink. 

"Sorry," I replied taking another customer's order. "My son held me up, and I missed the early bus."

"Good thing Frederick called in sick," James said talking about our boss. "It's only the two of us now with another worker coming in later to help out."

I nodded and soon got busy due to the amount of customers in the morning. My only break was during lunch. I used that time to eat the sandwich I made at home and also checked in with Summer to see how well Luke was holding up.

"He's doing fine, Eleanor," Summer assured me. "Luke's wide-awake playing with his toys, and I made Peyton take an early nap since he got cranky ever since you left." 

I smiled. "Good, that's good." I looked up when I heard the bell ring signalling a new customer came in. I watched as two handsome men in expensive-looking clothes paraded to the counter as if they owned the place. No doubt they were big shot around here. 

"Momma!" I remembered I was on the phone, and instantly my day brightened hearing Luke's voice. "When are you coming home?"

"Hi baby," I said smiling. "I miss you. I'll be home tonight, okay?"

"Can you bring some of those yummy cookies you always bring home?" Luke asked excitedly, and I laughed at his enthusiasm.

"Where in bloody hell are the workers?" I turned and saw one of the men who walked in earlier remarked angrily. 

I stood up and looked around for James. He was suppose to be working the counter, while I was on break! "I'll be there shortly!" I told the men and quickly gathered up my half-eaten sandwich and decided to save it for later. 

"Luke, honey," I said into the phone. "I have to go now. I love you!" I hung up the phone and dropped it into my purse and went behind the counter. "Sorry for the wait, sirs," I nodded my head at them getting ready to take their order. "What would you like?"

They gave me their orders and I turned around hurrying to make their drinks. Gah! Where was James when I needed him? I was done with the first drink when I got a remark from one of them. "Chivvy along now, and do not cock up with our drinks!" 

Oh, the gall of the man! I chose to make his drink slower and 'forget' to add sugar. I hope he likes his drink bitter! I walked around the counter and turned to walk to their table with an overly-sweet smile. Although, I slammed their drinks onto their table and the some of the liquid spilled over the rims. "Enjoy." I said too sweetly and walked away briskly irked by the man's insolent behavior! 

James, thankfully, was back when I got behind the cash register attending to another customer. I'd let him deal with the bugger over there. I couldn't help but wander my eyes towards them. They seem to be in a deep conversation. I studied the man who made the rude remarks to me. He had such full head of brown hair with blonde specks. His striking green eyes seemed to have glower in anger whenever his friend said something he did not like. His defined jawline moved up and down as he chewed on the pastry he ordered from James. I refused to have served him again.

I didn't realize I was staring at him for too long. He looked up and smirked at me, winking while doing so. I blushed a deep scarlet red and quickly turned away taking my apron off. It was nearing one o' clock, the time my shift started at the hotel down the street where I still worked as a concierge. 

"James, I'm off now," I told him smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's your day off, is it not?" James asked confused. 

I shook my head. "It was. I asked Frederick to put in some over time for me. I'm in need of money due to taking Luke to the hospital."

James nodded, understanding my situation. He was such a good man to me. He was older than me, in his thirties, and treated me as if I was family. His wife was truly lucky with him. "Goodbye, Eleanor. Stay safe out on the streets." I nodded and waved goodbye one last time. I walked past the bugger I served earlier, purposefully ignoring them, and walked out into the cold weather. Thank goodness, it wasn't raining. I forgot to bring my umbrella with me today,

The hotel wasn't far from the cafe, which I was extremely thankful for. I didn't want to spend money on the bus which I could be using for my sons and I's needs. I enjoyed the short walk, needing the fresh air. Although, I wished it could be a bit warmer. 

I reached the hotel and clocked in bumping into the hotel's manager who had a grave facade on. I touched his shoulder gently and asked, "What's wrong sir?"

He looked up at me and smiled solemnly. "Ah, Eleanor. The person I wanted to see. Please come into my office."

I nodded and followed him to his office. Somehow, I knew he wasn't happy about what he was about to tell me. I was quite nervous myself wringing my hands together.

"Sit down," he motioned to the empty chair, and I sat in it wondering what he wanted to tell me. "I'm not going to beat around the bush. I have bad news." My heart sunk in my chest and waited for him to continue. Oh, please don't fire me! I need this job more than ever! "The property this hotel's on has been bought. We're closing down." 

Well I wasn't being fired, but I still lost my job anyways.

--

Parker's POV

"She's the one man," I told my friend, Caleb, grinning from ear to ear. We were in my beloved Maserati I got as a twenty-eighth birthday present from my parents this year. 

"The one? She?" Caleb asked confused and turning up the volume. 

"That barista at Starbucks," I told him annoyed. "She's the one I'm marrying."

Caleb busted out into fits of laughter, then quickly stopped when he saw I wasn't kidding around. "You're serious?" I nodded pressing on the accelerator increasing the speed of where we were going. "That's cobblers! You can't possibly have fallen in love that quickly! You've barely met the lady."

"Oh belt up! I told you I would never fall in love. My two years is up. I have to marry someone in order to please my dad and take over the company. You know that."

He nodded slowly and relaxed in his seat, his playful demeanor making a return. "Are you sure you'll be able to get her to agree with you?"

I gave him a deadpanned look. "What girl has ever resisted my charm? She'll be mine in no time." 

"Didn't you hear her on the phone?" He asked me. I shook my head as a response. "She's already married to a guy named Luke."

I shrugged. "I didn't see a wedding ring. Besides, if she does have a beau it'll make things more interesting."

"You're unbelievable." 

I grinned and stopped at a traffic light. "Besides, Dad would despise her. He hates nothing more than someone defying his wishes and standing up to him. Did you see how that barista stood up to us?"

"Why don't you try to find a decent girl that your parents would approve? I don't see why you have to be so rebellious all the time."

"You know Agatha loves every girl I bring home," I referred to my step mother. "I just love messing with the big ole man."

"You don't know anything about her."

"And that my bloke, is what I need you to do for me," I said seriously grinning at him. "I want you to find anything about her for me. Her family, jobs, anything. I want a report first thing tomorrow morning."

"Why do I get the feeling that you treat me like I'm your personal assistant rather than a best mate?" Caleb whined.

"Don't be a baby," I smirked and pressed on the pedal on our way to my dad's office.

After dropping off Caleb at his condo downtown, I made it to my dad's office in the late afternoon. I greeted his young secretary flirting with her shamelessly. 

"So how would you like to work for me when I take over my dad's job?" I gave her a charming smile sitting on the top of her desk. 

She giggled and blushed a light hue of pink. Nodding shyly, she said, "I'd love to."

The door quickly opened and there stood my dear, dear father. "Sharon! I called for you five times to send my son in!"

Sharon tensed and stood up bowing her head down as if my dad was the king. "I'm-I'm so-sorry sir. It won't happen again." It always infuriates me how everyone's intimidated by my father. They bow down to him as if he was Queen Elizabeth!

I smirked and tilted her chin up and looked into her flushed face. "I'll see you later, Sharon." I followed my dad into his office and once again filled a glass with wine. "Dad, I have great news for you." 

My dad grunted. "It better be. I'm still not too happy with your scandal from last weekend and what in the world are you doing flirting with my secretary?"

"It won't happen again," I boasted. "I found the lady I'm going to marry. Soon, I'll be settled down and can take over the company a married man."

My dad's face lit up. "That's great! When will I meet her?" 

"You won't," I replied with a glint in my eyes. "I want it to be a ...surprise. You'll love her." 

"You better be serious about this, Parker," he told me seriously sitting down in his office chair. "Marriage isn't a joke. I gave you two years to find a woman, but you didn't use that time to stick to one and get to know her. I do not approve of divorces. You stick to her, you hear?"

Anger boiled inside of me. "You hypocrite! You don't do divorces? Then tell me, Father, why you divorced my mother? I'd like to know myself."

"Do not use that tone with me, young man!" My dad bellowed. "Just make sure you two don't divorce."

"Why?" I stood up angrily. "So it wouldn't ruin the company's image? Is that it? Well, I'm afraid to inform you that you so ruined the entire company yourself, and I'm going to be the one who has to fix the pieces the way I did in this family." With that, I stormed off ignoring Sharon's call for me and stepped into the elevator angrily pressing the ground floor button.

--A/N

Picture of Parker to the side!