Jules was back at work the following month and she had gotten lots of stares the minutes she walked into the company building that Monday morning with ivy in her arms. She had ignored them and gone about her routine. She wasn't going to care about what they all thought she did or didn't do. She and the people closest to her knew what happened and that was all she cared about.

Jules wasn't avoiding Ceaser but she was careful not to run into him, big difference. She was last to leave the building that day being her first day back. She waited for the elevator and when it opened, her hypothetical tyres came to a screeching halt. In the elevator stood the man she wanted to kiss but at the same time run away crying from. He stood in there staring at her like he had seen a ghost. He probably didn't expect her to be back at work. Jules looked at the other men in the elevator.

Xavier and Alex probably knew what had happened.

Oh damn.
She wasn't prepared for this but it was bound to happen sooner or later. Better get it over with.

Jules gave a little smile to Xavier and Alex as she stepped into the elevator and they returned it. The elevator shut close and Jules held her breath when she got of a whiff of his perfume.

Oh goodness.
She exhaled.

Xavier and Alex went on about some project they were working on with Ceaser but Ceaser was busy staring at the back of her head to hear anything they were saying. He wanted to reach for her and pull her into a hug and stay that way forever.

He missed her smell. He missed the feel of her in his arms. He missed her soft touch. He missed the feel of her lips on his skin. He missed her. Period.

Jules could feel his eyes on her and she shut her eyes trying to ward off the feeling that was seeping through her skin. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be near him and being this near and unable to touch him was torture. She bit her lip and inflicted pain on herself to distract her from what she actually wanted to do. Moments later when the elevator opened, she stepped out as fast as she could releasing her lip and walking briskly to her car, Ceaser, Xavier and Alex right behind her.

As she unlocked her car, she looked up in their direction to find him still watching her and she pulled her door open and got in, driving out of the parking lot as fast as she could. She needed to get away from him.

That had been the first time she had seen him since he told her the truth and she was certain it wasn't going to be her last. She still didn't know if she wanted to talk to him.

Days went by and Jules hadn't seen Ceaser anywhere at the office for a few weeks and even though she was glad she didn't bump into him again, she wondered where he was.

That evening, she had to meet Sofi and Andy for dinner and they had texted her the address. When she arrived, she pulled out the chair and sat down.
"How did you guys get a reservation here?" She asked as she took Ivy from Sofi.

"Mama." Ivy smiled at her when she got into her arms and Jules kissed her cheek and Ivy who had picked up a few things gave her an open-mouthed kiss on her cheek which made her smile widen.

"We'd been trying to get a seat for a few weeks now." Andy said

"Yeah." Sofi said, "They called yesterday and told us if we were still interested, there was an empty table for today."

"That's amazing." Jules said

"Not really." Andy said, "I feel like a sloppy second."

Sofi and Jules laughed at her.

"So, what's good here?" Jules asked as she reached for the menu which Ivy grabbed from her.

They were done with dinner and were talking about Ivy's birthday the following week when Jules' smile fell from her face as her gaze followed someone behind them.

"What is it?" Andy asked as she and Sofi looked behind them to find Xavier, Alex and Ceaser following the maître d' to their table. They hadn't seen them yet.

The three of them watched as they took their seats and then Alex caught Andy's gaze which made her snatch her gaze from him and Xavier caught Alex smirking and followed his gaze to their table seeing Alex before he did a double-take on Sofi who looked away with pink stained cheeks. Xavier and Alex looked at Jules and she gave them a polite smile before she looked away not wanting to be caught by the third person.

Ceaser's eyes were glued to his phone the entire time until he turned to Xavier and Alex who hadn't said anything.

"What's wrong with you guys?" He asked them.

"Alex's got a crush." Xavier said

"Says the idiot who can't stop staring at Jules' friend." Alex said

"At least I don't look like a fool while doing it." Xavier said

Ceaser followed their gaze and almost snapped out of the chair but the best he could do was sit upright as his gaze landed on her. She looked so beautiful. His gaze fell to Ivy in her arms and he couldn't help smiling as his little girl watched her mother talk to her friends then smiled down at her which made her smile, putting her dimple on full display.

Jules couldn't help it, she leaned into Ivy and placed kisses on her entire face till Ivy was laughing as hard as she could. It was like she knew they were talking about her.

"So, we're having a party then." Andy said

"A small gathering. Just you guys and Selene and Eric." Jules corrected.

"But where?" Sofi asked.

Jules thought for a second.
"I'm not sure yet."

"Why don't we talk to Selene about it, she might know somewhere nice." Sofi said

"That's right." Jules said, "So, till then, we just do other things like pick out her dress, order a cake."

"We'll take care of that." Andy said, "You've still got loads to do at work."

"No, it's ok." Jules said "I can take time off for this. We could all do it together."

Andy and Sofi smiled at her.

Jules looked down at Ivy.
"You're growing up so fast." She kissed her head

"We should get going then." Andy seemed to be getting uncomfortable, Jules noticed and she couldn't help wondering.

Jules turned her gaze to their table to find Alex's gaze on her friend and she couldn't help smiling.

Uh-Oh.

Jules shifted her gaze only for it to be caught by Ceaser and her smile fell. Her lips parted slightly as she let the air out unable to pull away. The look he had on his face seemed familiar to what she was feeling and probably the same expression she had on her face.

She missed him but she wasn't sure if she was ready to talk. Talking meant she had either forgiven him and was ready to get back together with him or she had forgiven him and was ready to move on with her life.

She understood why he did what he did but she hadn't made a decision yet. Her heart still ached from his betrayal.

"Jules," Andy called which snapped her gaze from his. "Let's get going."

"Right." She said as they all got up, Sofi and Andy helped her with Ivy's bag and they walked out of the restaurant together having to go to the same place as Jules was staying over at their place.