*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
A few days after Thanksgiving I got back to work in New York City since we were staying in New York until after the holidays. I have been a bit distracted with the fact Cody has discovered Journey's phone number and has called her numerous times since Thanksgiving. I took her to get a new cell phone number so he can't contact her anymore but somehow he retrieved her new cell phone number too. He has not let her alone. He has made threats against her, against me and threats to get Zoey back. I have chosen to up her security as well as have background checks done on all my security staff. Someone somewhere working for me is leaking information to Cody and when I find out who they are there is going to be Hell to pay. I take Journey's and Zoey's safety very seriously. I will not allow anyone to harm either of them.
I'm sitting at my desk in my office going over a few things involving my new line of dolls that I am hoping to release by the start of summer and as long as everything goes according to plan then I will have them out by June maybe mid-June at the latest when there is a knock on my door. "Come in," I say. The door opens and my attorney walks in with the files I requested from him. "Good afternoon," I say. "How are you?"
"Good, how are you?" he asks.
"Just trying to work on this doll line, I have some things I need to get together for it," I say. "Did you get the information that I requested?" I ask.
"I checked into everyone that works for you. It took me a while but I checked into everyone that works on your security team and most of the people that work in this office. I haven't found anything. Everyone comes back clear and I have no reason to believe that anyone on your security team is a threat to you, Journey or Zoey. I think it's someone else," he says.
"Who could it possibly be?" I ask. "If it's not someone in this office or someone on my security staff who could it be?"
"I'm not sure at the moment but I am looking into everyone you know. Have you upset anyone lately that would have a grudge against you?"
"Is that supposed to be a trick question? Of course I have enemies. I have plenty of enemies you don't become a multi-million dollar business man with a multi-million dollar business without making some enemies along the way and pissing anyone off," I say. "I'm sure there's someone out there ready to take me down whether it personal or professional. The threat is always there."
"I guess that's true but have you looked into your friends?"
"Why would my friends go after my girlfriend and daughter? Why would they come after me and give information to Cody? What gain would they have? Are you trying to tell me I can't trust my best friends?"
"I'm not saying that, I'm just saying we need to look into everyone associated with you. An enemy wouldn't have Journey's cellphone number. It has to be someone you're acquainted with and someone that knows you outside of the business world. I would be careful around Seth and Roman until you know for sure you can trust both of them."
"I will but I don't think either of them are really capable of going after myself or Journey. It has to be someone else. There has to be a leak somewhere."
"I will find out for you," he says. "I promise I will get to the bottom of this. Has she received any more phone calls?"
"Just a couple days ago, it was the usual. He just threatened to find her and he will touch her when the time is right. He said he is going to take Zoey from her. I don't know how we are supposed to put Zoey into preschool with this clown running around threatening to take her from us. This whole situation is a mess."
"Oh, feel like you're in over your head with the whole Journey situation? Feel like you rushed into it too fast?"
"I don't regret a thing when it comes to Journey. I think the whole situation is a mess. I don't know who I can trust and who I can't trust. I don't like that."
"Ah, because you don't have any control am I right?"
"Yes you're right. You know I don't like when I have no control."
"I know," he says, "so you wanted to talk to me about something else?"
"Yes. Journey and I have been talking about marriage and getting married lately but as long as she's married to Cody it's nearly impossible and you already know I want to adopt Zoey. Even though Journey is married to Cody and we changed her name legally would there be an issue to us getting married? Would we not be able to?"
"You wouldn't be able to and here's why, when you apply for your marriage license it's going to ask for the mother's maiden name, the father's name and ask if she has had any other aliases besides Journey. You're going to have to answer yes and provide that information for the judge and when he runs the name Alexis it's going to come up that she is married to Cody. The judge will then deny your marriage license she needs to be divorced from Cody before you can apply for your marriage license and you can't get married without one."
"Can't you help me out with that?" I ask. "Can't you have it bypassed that we can get our license to get married?"
"That is beyond my control, Dean. My suggestion to you is try to serve Cody with divorce papers and hope that he signs them and delivers to me. That's the only way a marriage with you and Journey will ever work. There's no way around it I'm sorry."
"And what about Zoey? He's obviously not going to give up his rights to her so how do we go about terminating them?"
"You have to petition the court and have good reason as to why you want them terminated. In most cases the judge will terminate the rights if there is good reason but I don't know if the reason is strong enough to terminate his rights to Zoey at this time."
"But he has beaten up Journey several times he has to be seen as some type of threat to Zoey. If he beat Journey around what makes you think he wouldn't do that to Zoey?"
"That's speculation," he says. "There is a way to petition the courts to get divorced from Cody without actually sending Cody divorce papers."
"Oh yeah?"
"Journey will need to get all her medical records released to her and police reports released to her to present to the judge to prove that being in a marriage with Cody is endangering to her well-being and her life. The judge would be able to grant the divorce without Cody having to sign anything."
"I never thought of that," I say, "thank-you. I'm going to tell Journey to do all that to make sure we can at least get the divorce squared away then we'll worry about getting his rights to Zoey terminated. He'll fuck up and when he does I'll be waiting."
"I don't like the sound of that," he says. "So any idea when you plan on popping the question to Journey?"
"Christmas Eve or Christmas Day," I smile. "I want to make our first Christmas together special. I want to make it one she will never forget."
"That's a good plan but you don't have much time do you even have a ring picked out or bought for her?"
"That's what I was planning on doing after work with Seth today. I want to get his input on my choice."
"That sounds good," he says. "I hope it all goes the way you expect it to go."
"Me too," I say with a smile. "Me too."
Later that day after work Seth and I went out together to one of the most famous jewelry stores in the city. I want to get Journey the most perfect engagement ring I can find I don't care the cost. She deserves the best ring I can get her and since I have millions of dollars that's going to be a pretty big ring. "So Dean Ambrose is really doing this?" asks Seth as we walk into the jewelry store. "I always thought you would be the last one to get married you're so wild. I thought even Roman would be married before you."
"What can I say? She stole my heart and I'm going to give her my last name," I smile as we make our way over to the counter. "Hello, I'm here to look at engagement rings," I say to the man behind the counter. "I want to find the perfect one for my girlfriend. Is there a way that I can have one customized for her? I want something original and something no one else has."
"Of course," he says with a smile. "We can customize an engagement ring for your girlfriend. That will be no problem."
"And price doesn't matter," I say.
"I figured, Mr. Ambrose," he smiles at me. "A man like you would never want anything less than the best for his girlfriend. So what type of metal would you like?"
"14k white gold," I answer.
"And how many stones?" he asks after writing it down. "How many stones would you like?"
"Three," I answer, "I would like three stones."
"And what diamond shape would you like? Oval, round, Emerald, Princess Cut, Ascher?"
"I was thinking oval shape each with a halo of black and white diamonds around it. I would also like there to be white diamonds on the band. I want it to sparkle and shine," I say.
"Sounds beautiful," he says as he writes it down. "Is there anything else you would like? Carat size?"
"I want each of the oval shape diamonds to be 3 carats so 9 carats all together. I want her finger to bling out and I want the world to know she is going to be my wife," I demand.
"I got it. Let me put this into the computer and then I will show you what I come up with and see if that's what you were going for."
"Okay," I say with a smile.
The man works on the computer with the ring I am designing for Journey. I want it to be special and beautiful most importantly I don't want anyone to have a ring like that but Journey. "I don't know why you have to complicate things, Dean," says Seth. "Why can't you just buy a regular engagement ring like a normal person?"
"Because I'm not a normal person," I say. "What does it look like when one of the richest men in America has a fiancée with a plain ordinary ring? She deserves an original diamond ring and that's what she's going to get."
"It's definitely original. I have a question for you, have you heard from Roman lately?"
"Not really," I say. "I haven't heard much from him since I relocated to Connecticut. That can't be a good sign can it?"
"Not really," says Seth. "Maybe he's just really busy with work lately but he's not answering my calls or texts."
"That's weird but you're right maybe he's really busy. I'll call him tomorrow and see what's going on with him. Besides if I am getting married you know I need a bachelor party."
"Yeah you do," says Seth. "and we're going to make sure it's unforgettable. I just can't believe you're ready to settle down."
"Well, I am getting older," I say, "it has been inevitable. I'm ready to settle down, have a couple kids you know the usual life of a married man," I say with a smile.
"Sounds good," says Seth. "Maybe it's time I started to look for my future wife. Maybe I'll find my wife in a shelter too."
"That's not a joke, Man," I say. "I love Journey. I never really planned to fall in love with her but I did. I wanted to help her get back on her feet."
"You most certainly are," he says as he points to the computer screen to show me the ring the jeweler designed for Journey. "You most certainly are but are you sure she is who she says she is? I have some doubts about her."
"Trust me she is who she says she is, she wouldn't lie about stuff like this. She's a good person. How about you come over for dinner and get to know her maybe Roman can come too."
"No I'll pass that's kind of weird without a date. I wouldn't feel right. I'm sure I'll meet her and talk to her more at your Christmas party you have every year."
"Probably," I say looking at the ring. "That's one hot ring," I say. "That's perfect." He designed it just the way I asked. I just didn't think it would be that perfect and that beautiful. I am impressed.
"So that's the ring you want?" he asks.
"That's the ring," I say with a smile, "in a size 6."
"Okay," he says.
"And how much is it?"
"Well, it is about $25,000," he answers.
"I expected a little more but thank-you," I say handing him my card. "Will it be ready by Christmas Eve?"
"We can get it ready for you as soon as possible. Hopefully it will be ready by Christmas Eve."
"Add a little extra to speed up the process," I say with a smile.
"Okay, Mr. Ambrose," he says with a smile as he gives me paperwork to fill out before he charges my card for the ring. He hands the card back to me and just as Seth and I walk outside we are bombarded by the paparazzi.
"Mr. Ambrose, why are you in a jewelry store? Are you planning on getting married any time soon? Are you going to propose to your mystery woman? Who is the lucky woman?" they ask as Seth makes his way to his car and I make my way to mine. They follow me until I enter my car and my driver shuts the door. He rounds the car and climbs into the driver's seat before he takes off into the rush hour traffic taking me back to my penthouse so I can see my girls after a long day at work.
I walk into the penthouse and I smell something amazing coming from the kitchen. "Honey, I'm home," I call out.
"Hey," says Journey with a smile as she greets me at the door. "Shh, Zoey is sleeping."
"Already?" I ask looking at my watch. "It's only 7:30."
"She had a long busy day," she says with a smile.
"I see," I say with a smile as I wrap my arms around her waist as she wraps her arms around my neck. I greet her with a soft kiss. "I'm sorry I'm late. I had to run an errand before I came home."
"It's okay," she says taking my hand leading me to the living room. "I have something to show you."
"Okay," I say. "It smells good in here."
"That's our dinner," she says. "I waited to eat until you got home."
"Smells good what is it?"
"Mrs. Smith made us roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and green beans for dinner."
"Well, it smells good," I say, "so what did you want to show me?"
"This," she says as we walk into her office and I look around at all the drawings of little girl clothing outfits. "I've been working all day on these."
"You did all this?" I ask looking at the drawings. "Is this your clothing line?"
"Yes," she says. "This is just the start of my clothing line. I was feeling inspired today and this is what I came up with. It's a lot of tutus, dresses and skirts. What do you think?" she asks proudly.
"Wow, I'm impressed," I say as I look at her designs. "They are really good. You came up with all these?"
"Yes," she says proudly. "I thought about calling my clothing line Journey's Fashions. What do you think?"
"I love it. You did amazing, Baby," I say before surprising her with a kiss. "If you're ready to find someone to sew up these outfits I can find you someone and we can start to market them. What do you think?"
"Okay," she says with a smile.
"Great," I say, "we'll pitch the idea to my marketing team in a couple days and then we'll get a seamstress or a few in to start sewing the outfits. I think they will look great. I never thought about getting into the clothing business or the toy business. I think this is going to be good for all of us."
"I think so too," she says with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too," I say pulling her into my arms for a soft and passionate kiss, "but now I'm hungry and ready to have dinner with my favorite girl we can handle business later."
"Okay," she smiles before we head to the kitchen to get out our dinner that we enjoy together while Zoey is asleep.
*A/N: How do you think Cody is getting all the information on Journey? Do you think Seth and Roman can be trusted by Dean? Do you have doubts about Journey, do you trust her? What do you think of Dean's attorney's idea should Journey get her medical records and police reports to get a divorce from Cody? What do you think of Dean customizing an engagement ring for Journey? What do you think of Journey starting her clothing line? Please review and thank-you for reading.