*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you so much for your patience*
"How is work going?" asks Journey as I talk to her and Zoey on video chat while I am in New York. I have been in New York for a couple days now and I miss my two favorite girls more than anything but I have some work I need to take care of and things to get done. It won't be long before I am back home with my two favorite girls. I am counting down the days.
"It's good," I say with a smile. "I am going to pitch the idea for the doll line in a few minutes. I am sure they are going to wonder where that came from."
"From me!" says Zoey with excitement. "I miss you," she says.
"I miss you too, Zo," I say back with a smile. "Are you behaving for Mommy while I am gone?"
"Yes," she says with a smile. I miss seeing that smile when I first wake up in the morning with those dependent blue eyes. I miss tucking her into bed at night and reading her bedtime stories. "When are you coming home?"
"In a day or two," I answer.
"Okay," she says. "I colored you a lot of pictures."
"You did?" I ask as I smile as Journey holds her on her lap allowing Zoey to use our time to talk. "I can't wait to see them."
"You will love them," she says with a smile.
"I always love your pictures," I encourage her. "What did you color me?"
"Rainbows and Puppies!" she said with a smile. "Can we get a puppy?"
"I don't know," I say. "I have to think about that one and talk to mommy about it. Okay?"
"Okay," she says. "I'm going to play now. I love you," she says as she moves closer to the camera and blows me a kiss.
I smile and say, "I love you too," and blow a kiss back to her before she hurries off the screen leaving Journey and me alone. I think we are alone until my lawyer and good friend clears his throat at the door. "I'm sorry, Baby," I say to Journey. "My attorney is here. I have to go."
"It's okay," she smiles melting my heart. I love seeing her beautiful smile; she looks beautiful her curly brown hair is hanging down, she's wearing a baggy sweat shirt that's hanging off her shoulder and a pair of sweatpants. Her beautiful hazel eyes staring back at me. I could look into them forever, I could look at that face forever. I know I'm going to love her forever. "I will talk to you later, Baby."
"I look forward to it, kid free?" I ask with a smile.
"Yeah," she says with a smile before covering her mouth with her hand. "I have some texts for you to make your day go better."
I smile and say, "I look forward to them. I love you, Beautiful."
"I love you too," she says with a smile. "Talk to you soon."
"Yep," I say with a smile before the video chat ends and I motion for my attorney and good friend AJ to enter my office as I turn off the computer.
AJ walks into the office clapping his hands, "I'm impressed," he says. "I'm very impressed."
"For what?" I ask. "What impresses you?"
"That you're capable of loving someone," he says as he takes a seat. "I never thought I would see the day when Dean Ambrose fell in love. I don't know who the lucky girl is but I'm glad she made you happy."
"Yeah, yeah," I say, "what's up?"
"I got the paperwork you requested and I must say this is a risky move, Dean. Have you seen this guy's rap sheet? He's nothing but trouble. Are you sure you want to go through all this just to adopt that little girl?"
"I would walk through fire for that little girl and take a bullet for her. Of course I am willing to go through whatever I have to in order to adopt her."
"Does her mom know you're planning all this?"
"Not really, I was going to talk it over with her when I get back to Connecticut. I am better than what she has. You know that this guy is nothing but trouble. He doesn't deserve that little girl and doesn't deserve for her to call him daddy. He has Journey terrified."
"And she has every right to be. It's good you keep security on her at all times. You don't know what this guy is capable of the only problem is you need to have his permission and have him sign his rights away until you can adopt her."
"Shouldn't his rights have been stripped due to abandonment? He hasn't seen her since she was a baby. That's got to count for something."
"I could look into it but if Journey ran," he says, "she kidnapped the girl technically and he still has rights to her and you can't marry her until she is divorced from Cody. You know that right?"
"I'm aware Cody is just fucking up all my plans," he says. "So what's it going to take for a divorce and adoption to happen?"
"We'll try to get him for abandonment first but we might have to try to get him to sign his rights away and divorce Journey but I see that being unlikely."
"Maybe I should meet with him, talk with him, pay him off, do you think that could work?"
"I think it could work but do I think it is a smart decision to make or a good move? No because he's dangerous. You saw what he did to your shelter looking for her. It's best he doesn't know where Journey and Zoey are and it's better that you stay away from him. I know you're a negotiating businessman however I don't think Cody a negotiating man."
"I'll figure it out," I say. I plan to go against AJ's advice and meet up with Cody to talk to him. I want to adopt Zoey, give her a better life make her an heir to my business and my money. I want to marry Journey to give her security in my life and to make sure she's well taken care of but most importantly she's the only woman in the world that has made me fall in love and I want to spend the rest of my life loving her and being with her. I know it's a risky move but they are both worth the risk. "I have my eyes on him," I say.
"So you're watching him? Don't you think you should turn him into the cops?" asks AJ.
"I should but him sitting in jail only to be bailed out in a matter of hours isn't getting me what I want and it's not going to help me. I need him free. He'll fuck up eventually and when he does I will be there. I just need to keep eyes on him to make sure he stays away from Journey and Zoey. Their safety is my number one priority," I say. "If anything happens to them I am going to lose it but they are safe in Connecticut."
"As it should be," he says, "when will I get to meet Journey?"
"When she's ready to meet you," I say, "she's really timid around men but you will meet her eventually. She's the most beautiful woman I have ever met."
"I hope to meet her before the wedding," he smiles. "She must be special."
"She is," I smile. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go make a pitch to marketing about a doll line I am creating."
"A doll line? You? You're creating a doll line?" he asks with shock in his voice. "Who are you?"
I laugh and say, "it's business plus Zoey would love to have a doll that looks like her and is named after her. I'm doing it for Zoey. Journey is going to start a little girl clothing line too but we need to discuss those details."
"Well, that's something new," he says as I stand up and he stands with me. "I'm interested to see where this doll line goes."
"I may have some competition with a few other lines but I want my dolls to be different. I need marketing to come up with some good ideas. I want to market it for cheaper but still have the expensive look. I have been watching my new competition very carefully and I see what their consumer demands so I know to do everything they aren't doing."
"Sounds like a good idea," he says. "I hope it works out."
"Me too," I say. "I will look over everything and be in touch with you. I really have to get to this meeting."
"Okay," says AJ. "Take care, Man and don't do anything stupid," he says as if he knows me all too well. It's like he knows I plan to find out where Cody is and talk to him.
I go on to my meeting to tell marketing about my plans to release a doll line in the beginning of summer. I ask them to start coming up with advertising ideas and ways to market the dolls. Everyone is as shocked as AJ was when I mentioned the beginning of a new toy line and doll line. At first they laugh about it as if it is a joke but then the laughing stops as they realize I am serious about it. They quickly began to take it seriously and jot down notes on what the dolls will look like, the things they will do. I give them the freedom to come up with ideas and promise that I will hold another meeting when the doll is finished to see if their ideas match the doll and find out which is better. I'm pretty excited about the dolls. I think they will be a good money maker. I hope it's the best-selling doll by next Christmas. In fact I am sure that it is.
Following my meeting I finished up some last minute things at the office so that I can make it back to Connecticut by tomorrow afternoon. I have been away from Journey and Zoey far too long. I am ready to get home to them but I have one last stop to make before I go home. With my security close behind me I enter a bar I know Cody is having a few drinks at. I walk in and I look around the bar to see if I spot him anywhere. I see him sitting at the bar drinking a bottle of beer as I make my way over to the bar. I tell my security to only intervene if something occurs physically but to otherwise not to make a scene or make him suspicious. I walk over to the bar and sit down next to him. He looks at me and then goes back to drinking his beer. The bartender comes up to me and I say, "One bottle of beer." Cody looks over at me as he takes a swig of his beer. "Girlfriend troubles," I say as the bartender hands me my opened bottle of beer and I lift my bottle before taking a swig. He let out a grunt and took another swig.
"I know man, I have been having wife problems for over a year now," he says. "She left me with my daughter."
"Damn," I say. "That's crazy."
"She's fucking crazy," he says before taking a swig of his beer. "I haven't seen her in over a year. I heard she was here in New York and heard she had my daughter with her. I haven't seen my daughter since she was a baby that's how long my wife has been gone."
"That's a long time," I say trying to keep my temper down as he talks so poorly of Journey. "What happened between you two?" I ask.
"We had some problems. We were fighting a lot. We wanted two different things and she left me one night. She left me with a fucking note as she took my daughter with her. I have spent a couple years looking for them. I found them a couple times but every time I get close they run again."
"Damn."
"Tell me about it. I hope to run into them soon," he says. "I really want to see my little girl. I love her so much. She probably wouldn't even know who I am right now and I want to make things right with my wife. I want us to be a family again," he says, "but she's nuts. She thinks I'm not good enough for her. I am the best for her and my daughter."
"I'm sorry," I say. "That's tough."
"Yeah," he says before taking a swig of beer. "You wouldn't happen to know Alexis would you? That's my wife's name."
"I don't know anyone named Alexis," I say. "I'm sorry."
"Okay," he says, "I thought I had seen you with her before. If you know where she is please tell me. I just want to talk with her and make things right."
"I don't know her," I say, "but don't you think after all this time she probably started a new life, found someone new?"
"I doubt it," he says. "She loves me. I love her."
"Don't you think after all this time you should let her go maybe she is in love with someone else."
"I don't know, Man. I think I just want to try again with her. I want to do right by my daughter. I really want to see my baby girl," he shakes his head. "The only thing I remember about my daughter is her beautiful blue eyes. She got them from me but her Mama," he says shaking his head with a smile. "She has the most beautiful hazel eyes I have ever seen. She is beautiful, one of the most beautiful women I have met. I know I did some shit I shouldn't have done but damn what I wouldn't do to have them back."
"It sounds like you really love her," I say before taking a swig of beer.
"I do," he says. "I do it took me this long to figure it out but I do. I just want to see her one more time make everything right," he says but something in his words give me chills. I'm not sure how sincere he's being. "You from New York?"
"I'm originally from Ohio, what about you?"
"Nah, I'm far from home. I'm from Georgia," he says as I pick up on his southern accent. "Alexis and I went through some shit to be together but then she left. I just want to see her one more time."
"I see," I say.
"So what's up with you and your woman?"
"I work a lot, she stays home it takes a toll," I say keeping it short. "I haven't seen her for a few days. I'm ready to get home to her. I miss her but we had a fight over me being gone so much and for such a long time."
"I bet, I hope it all works out for you."
"Me too," I say before taking a swig of beer.
"I'm going to get out of here," he says as he stands up. "You take care."
"You too," I say and just as I think he's walking away he's behind me, his hand on my shoulder tightly.
"You think I don't know who you are? You think I don't know you're sleeping with my wife?" he asked in an angry whisper. "Tell Alexis I will see her soon and if you're smart you'll leave her before I find her and make sure you tell Zoey her real Daddy is coming home," he says. "Take care," he says straightening up my shirt, "oh and if you don't leave Alexis, well, let's just say I have been known to make people's lives hell till I get what I want, got it?" he asks with a smirk before I nod and watch him leave the bar. Now I know what I'm up against. I promise myself to double up on Journey's security as he saunters out of the bar as if nothing even happened. I finish my beer before I head back to my penthouse to spend the night before I head back to Connecticut in the morning.
My driver pulls the black SUV into the winding driveway and to the garage before parking the car. He gets out and walks around to open my door. I climb out of my SUV with a bouquet of a dozen roses for Journey in one hand and Zoey's surprise in my other arm. My driver shuts the door behind me and walks with me to the front door. He opens the door and I step into the foyer of the house and call out, "Honey, I'm home," with a smile on my face. I hear Zoey's footsteps running toward the door on the marble floor.
"You're home!" she yells as she sees me and I see the excitement on her face. I put her surprise down on the floor as she runs to me. I kneel down to her level. "I missed you," she says throwing her arms around me and I hug her back and kiss the top of her head.
"I missed you too," I say with a smile. "Your mommy told me you were a good girl while I was away so I stopped to get you something on the way home," I say with a smile.
"A PUPPY!" she squeals as she finally sees the little brown and white Akita puppy I bought for her but mainly for added protection after my run in with Cody. Akita's are good protectors and guard dogs.
"A puppy?" asks Journey as she appears in the foyer dressed in faded blue jeans with holes on them and a black cami with her curly hair up in a messy bun. "You got a puppy?"
"Look, Mommy!" says Zoey as the miniature dog attacks her with kisses making her giggle. "He likes me," she says through her giggles making me smile.
"I thought we were going to talk about a dog," she asks looking at me with a not so pleasant look on her face.
"Well," I say, "look at the little guy. He's just so cute you can't possibly say no to this face."
"Yeah, Mommy," says Zoey. "Can we keep him?" she asks before sticking her lip out. "Please, Mommy."
"Yeah, Mommy," I say with a smile. "What do you say? Can we keep him?" I ask and she puts her hands on her hips.
"Dogs are a big responsibility," she says. "I don't know," she says looking down at the dog.
"Woof, woof," I say as I hold up the dog making Zoey giggle, "Please keep me, I like to cuddle and give kisses. I will also keep your family safe. I'm loyal please keep me."
I watch Journey melt and say, "fine we can keep him."
"Yay!" squeals Zoey, "Thank-you, Mommy," she says jumping up to hug Journey, Journey hugs her back and then she comes to me, "Thank-you, Daddy!" she says shocking not only myself but Journey and her green eyes get big.
"You're welcome, Zo," I say with a smile as she plays with the dog. "what do you want to name him?"
"Apollo," she answers quickly.
"Sounds good," I say with a smile as her attention is on the dog and my attention turns to my beautiful girlfriend. "Hi," I say with a smile.
"Hi," she says smiling back. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," I say with a smile. "These are for you," I say handing her the roses.
"They're beautiful," she says. "I'm sorry she called you…." She starts to say but I stop her by placing my lips on hers, kissing her soft and deep as she moans into my kiss. I back her up against the wall, wrapping my arm around her waist as her arms come around my neck as she kisses me back. "I'm really sorry," she says in between our kisses.
"It's fine," I say, "I want to be daddy," I say making her smile and she kisses me hard and deep at my words.
"I fucking love you," she says with a smile.
"I love you too," I say with a smile.
*A/N: What did you think of Dean's talk with his lawyer, do you agree that Dean shouldn't do anything stupid? What do you think about Dean wanting to adopt Zoey? Do you think Cody will comply to sign his rights away and divorce Journey? What did you think of Dean going against his attorney and running into Cody at the bar? Do you think Cody does still love Journey? What did you think of Cody? What are your thoughts on Dean getting Zoey her dog only to use it as a guard dog? Were you as surprised as Dean and Journey when Zoey called him daddy? What do you think about his reaction? Please review and thank-you for reading.