When Fate Decided to Play its Part

Chapter seventy-one:
Tyler's friend
--
"What's wrong?" Tyler asked Kai.
Kai looke up at him and answered after a moment of silence. "Nothing."
"Hm..." Tyler hummed, unconvinced.
Kai noticed that Tyler did not believe his words but he did not bother telling the truth. He instead, looked away and tightened his
grip of the other's hand. The boy was silent since they went out of the company's building. Tyler know that the boy is silent and a
man of few words, but his silence this time is not like the silence he is used to.
It was clear that something is bothering him.
Tyler thought about what it is for a bit, and after pondering, he reached into a conclusion. He stopped on his tracks. Since the
boy was walking slightly ahead of him, he was pulled back. The boy looked up at him, his aquamarine eyes is filled with
confusion. It remided him of Althea'a confused eyes wheneve he tells her a joke that is hard for her to comprehend.
This made him chuckle. Hearing his chuckle, Sharon who was steps behind the two looked a her boss's back in confusion.
But before she can voice out her confusion, the other kneeled and held both of the child's arms.
Sharon was shock once again. It was the very fist time she saw him showing affection. Tyler is not even like this to his own
mother.
Tyler looked at Kai with fresh and warm eyes that is similar to the early spring where plants and flowers that were frozen and
shed their leaves begun to get their lives back as the sun peeks above the clouds.
It was different from the eyes he showed earlier to the lady.
Kai relaxed and his tightly pursed lips slightly trembled.

"Are you feelin guilty?" Tyler asked. Kai answered him with silence. He laughed. He held his hands and both of his thumbs
caressed his small fingers. His hands were warm. "Why are you guilty? There's nothing to be guilty about."
".... But..." The little by bowed his head.
She lost her job. She said she has children. She works for her children. For their foods, shelter and clothing, just like his mother.
But even though his mother will not work hard enough, his father is there.
But he knows nothing about the situation on Ana's end. What if she is the only one her children has? What if she has no partner
to shoulder the responsibility with her?
She lost the job that gives them money, and the vause of it is more likely him. Since she personally told him earlier at the office...
Even not knowing Kai that long, Tyler was able to understand what he was thinking. he patted his head. "Sigh, stop thinking like
that. It's ot your fault. I did not fired her because of you."
"Really?" Kai asked reluctantly.
Tyler smiled.
Well, it was one of the reasons.
"Really." Kneeling is making his knee hurt, so he stood up and hauled him. Kai was startled but quickly held on his neck. "That
lady did many, many bad things and those things can damage the reputation of the company, so I have no other choice but to fire
her."
Kai was still reluctant. "Really?"
Well, I fired her earlier because of what she did to you.
Tyler gave him a big, warm smile. A smile of a kind hearted Tyler. "Really!"
The child was convinced. He smiled and his furrowed brows loosen. "Okay!"
Tyler was smiling but he was shock inside. Kai's smile was genuine and bright, it was not like his reserved and rehearsed smile,
like how his mother smile.

He was shocked by the sight but his smile soothed him. He did not even notice that he's tired. Maybe because he stayed up late
last night and woke up early.
Since he already cleared his doubt, he asked him. "Let's go?'
.
They arrived at a fancy restaurant.
Together with Kai and Sharon, they entered it and he made Kai dit next to his table. He made Sharon sit with him. It didn't took
long before his meeting partner to arrive.
He stood up, but before he can greet him, he saw someone behind him. Tyler furrowed his brows at first, but when he met that
dark eyes and familiar stoic face.
He raised a brow.
"Mr. Barns!" A rather fat old man called out. "Look who I found!"
"A rather difficult catch, indeed." Tyler said. He addressed the taller man. "I thought you're out of the country with your wife?"
Before he can answer, his eyes wondered to the next table. His eyes met a familiar blue eyes and a familiar face. After seeing
the kid, his expression did not even changed and he looked away like he saw nothing. Kai continued to stare.
"Something came up," his usual cold and flat voice vibrated. "We have to go home earlier than expected."
Tyler oh'ed and nodded his head. He didn't asked further.
After that, he offered them a seat and they started their meeting.
.
"You're still efficient as ever, Mr. Barns." The older man said in satisfaction, file picking up the files that are scattered on the table
and putting them back in his suitcase."I am very satisfied with the outcome."
Tyler nodded, his usual indifferent face was up. "It's nothing."

"Well then," he stood up, straightening his coat. "I have to go first. I have a meeting for the next hour. Have a nice day, Mr.
Barns."
Tyler wished the other to have a nice day too. After bidding goodbye, only two of them were left.
"Why aren't you leaving yet?" He asked.
The other was drinking tea. "You haven't either."
Tyler gave a low laugh, then they spent the next few second in silence. The other gentleman was drinking his tea when his eyes
landed on the other table again.
This time, the woman and the child was already eating their lunch. Both were emerse with their food.
He opened his mouth. "Is that your kid?"
Tyler paused. He looked at the other and followed his line of sight. He laughed and shook his head.
"No, no." He paused again. "But... How I wish."
The man who was sitting across him raised a brow. "Oh. So who's child is that?"
He answered after a momentary silence. "... Althea's."
The man is now raising both of his eyebrows and puts down his cup. "Althea. That Althea?"
Hearing his sound of confirmation, his originally dull eyes showed a hint of amusement. "So you two met again? And you even
has her child?"
Tyler once again laughed. He was laughing more often after seeing this man, Sharon noticed. "I know, crazy right?"
"... So, are you two together again?" He was replied by silence. The man understood, so he asked a different question. "Who's
the father?"
Tyler glared at him and his face contorted. "Shut up. Don't mention him."
"You hate him?"

Tyler pursed his lips. "I don't know. I haven't meet him yet. But I don't want to meet him."
"Really?" For some reason, his voice carries amusement.
Tyler frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing."
Tyler sighed, then looked at the other table. He beckoned Kai. "Kai, come here."
The kid was taken a back. He looked at Tyler's hand before looking at his guest. The man was looking at him. Kai gulped and his
expressionless face was back. He jumped down from his chair and went to him.
He stood next to Tyler's chair.
"This is Kai, Althea's son." He gestured to Kai then the other. "This is Augustine, he is my-"
"Friend." Augustine cut in. "I am Tyler's friend."
Tyler. "?"
Augustine stood up, circled the table and stop in front of Kai. Kai looked up at him. Augustine stretched out his hand. "Hello Kai,
I'm Augustine. Your future father's friend."