Upon reaching the restaurant, they were ushered to a VIP lounge and a VIP pa.s.sage. Ingrid is amazed of the structure of the place because it is very private and no one could bother the diners. Each of them will have their own private and intimate s.p.a.ce to enjoy and dine.Their room was already prepared and they were served with some Korean foods. Clifford could not take his eyes off from the mother and son. How he was overjoyed earlier when Ingrid and he said I love you to their child.
"Dad, Mom, our teacher gave us an invitation for next week"s event. It"s on my bag, wait I"ll get it." The child took the invitation from his bag and then handed it to his mom.
Ingrid eagerly took the letter but her eagerness slowly fades and replaced by dismay. Clifford noticed her sudden change of expression. So he nonchalantly took the letter from her hands and read the content.
The invitation is for the students" families informing that they will have a whole day affair next week. Fun and game activities are prepared for children and for the parents and more. The letter encourages the parents to join the said event because it will help to boost the child"s self-esteem and as well as to cultivate a positive relationship with their child.
"This will be fun!" Clifford remarked "...should I come?" Ingrid did not answer.
"Oh dear! Here we go again." she groaned.
"I think we"ll win the prize this time mom."
"Huh? And may I know why?"
"Because we already had daddy as an ally, isn"t it great?" Clark grinned. Ingrid blinked, she could not protest in front of the child but she just smiled half heartedly.
"Clark, I think your mom and I should talk about it first, okay?" the child"s smile and excitement slowly fades.
"But why? My teacher said that our dad and mom should go together and partic.i.p.ate. Mommy, please? I wanna show to my cla.s.smate that I have a dad, too." Clark"s eyes started to be filled with emotion.
Clifford and Ingrid stared at each other. Clifford knew that it won"t be an easy task and this will be hard for Ingrid, too, but Clark will be the one to be broken hearted in the end.
"Ugh! What am I gonna do?" Ingrid is battling deep within. She wanted to give Clark that feeling of being secured and supported which his father could also give but she feared that her decision might cause another issue to arise.
But as she looked at her son, her heart squeezed with sadness, she could not let her son feel down just because of her fears. Clark needs his father, the heck with the press.
"Okay! Okay! So much with the drama your daddy can go with us." She surrendered to both of them.
Clark was so pleased that makes the child jumped up and down and kissed her mother deeply on her cheeks. Clifford could not believe what Ingrid just said.
"Are you sure with this, Ingrid? I won"t insist if you"re not comfortable with this."
"Oh daddy, stop it, please? It will make mommy to change her mind." The child snapped and Ingrid could only discreetly smile.
"Yes, I am sure, Cliff. You can go with us. I can"t prevent you to bond with your son forever, might as well I"ll start it now to get used to it.." Clifford squeezed her hands gently.
"You never knew how important it is to me, Ingrid. You made me the happiest man today."
After they finished eating, they drove Clark back to Ingrid"s house. And on their way back, Clifford remembered Paul Keller.
"By the way, do you remember Vanessa Reiley? She went to my office earlier together with this certain man who happens to know you. His name is Paul Keller, do you know him by chance?"
"PAUL KELLER? WHAT THE HECK IS HE DOING HERE??"
.....
Vanessa Reiley felt very uneasy and bothered while she is eating with Paul Keller. Since Clifford turned down her offer, she and Paul decided to have lunch together instead. She"s so annoyed at the thought of Clifford going personally to Ingrid Howard"s office.
"Hey! What"s bothering you? You seemed so p.i.s.sed off." Paul nonchalantly commented.
Vanessa frowned. "I can"t believe that Clifford would personally go to that woman"s office! Who is she by the way?"
"Who is she? Well, you"ll know later who she is..." he grinned. The woman was puzzled and observed him intensely.
"Oh wait... are you up to something??" Vanessa could not contain her excitement.
But Paul just shrugged and continued eating.
"My, my, my... seems I found myself an ally..."