"Okay!" Dorothy half expected Everett to just say a quick hello and then hang up, but his face stayed on the screen.
She propped her phone on a stand, adjusted the angle, and kept her eyes glued to the display.
Soon, Everett used his key card to enter the hotel room, and the playful sounds of Abigail and Langston followed.
"Mommy wants to FaceTime with you guys." On the other side of the call, Everett propped his phone on a table and then stepped out of the frame.
Abigail's face squeezed into view, waving at Dorothy. "Mommy! | miss you!" Dorothy quickly responded. "Mommy misses you too!" "Do you miss Langston?" "Of course! | miss both of you!" Abigail's big eyes blinked, and she continued, "Do you miss Daddy too?" Dorothy paused for a moment before answering, "I miss him too." Abigail giggled. "You gotta finish your work fast, Mommy, and come pick us up!" "Okay, dear." Dorothy nodded, her gaze falling on Langston, who was silent.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Langston, why aren't you talking to Mommy?" "| feel like something's off between you and Dad." Langston raised an eyebrow, then seemed to look up at Everett. "You guys used to be so lovey-dovey, always sneaking kisses.
Why's Daddy so far away during the call now?" "Daddy's busy with work." Dorothy didn't want to burden the kids with the news of their parents’ separation. It wasn't good for their growth.
Besides, whatever beef she had with Everett's mother, she didn't want it to spill over to Everett.
"But Daddy's just sitting there, not working." Everett, apparently hearing his son's comment, got up and walked into the frame.
"Daddy's thinking." "Oh!" Langston's confusion seemed to clear up. Kids bounce back quick, and a smile spread across his face.
Dorothy chatted with them for a while until Abigail started to nod off, and then she ended the call.
Putting her phone away, she settled back in front of her computer, and a small smile played on her lips.
Crashing that meeting might have been a bit reckless, but today was a good day. Everything went smoothly; she got to chat with her kids, and she could look at Everett's face openly without having to hide. It was a fulfilling day indeed.
On Everett's end, he tucked the kids into bed in the outer room before returning to his suite.
Just as he sat down, he saw a message from Kevin.
A resignation letter from Dorothy.
[Mr. Lopez, this... do we approve it? Should we try to stall a bit longer?] As the CEO's secretary, Kevin had plenty of ways to keep Dorothy from leaving if that was what Mr. Lopez wanted.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt all hinged on Everett's decision.
Everett's fingers hesitated on the keyboard, then he typed a few words and sent them.
[No need. Approve her resignation.] [Right away?] If Everett gave the go-ahead, Dorothy wouldn't even have to wait the typical six months; she could sever ties with the Lopez Corporation the very next day.
[Yeah] Everett sent the word.
Kevin's side showed "typing..." several times, but in the end, no further message came.
And then Everett retracted the "Yeah" and sent a new message.
[Put her on a six-month notice period starting tomorrow.]