Chapter 301

Logan

Megan is keeping me at arm’s length. I don’t blame her, but it’s frustrating. Every time I come to see Ella, I tell myself I need to keep myself in check. That I’m here to visit Ella, it’s when we end up alone that I can’t help myself. She looks at me in a certain way, or something happens between us that makes me feel like it hasn’t been five years since I saw her. That we didn’t break up or that I never left. Like just now. Seeing her get so embarrassed and playful, it’s a part of her I don’t see anymore. It’s like she’s closed herself off to me, keeping her guard up all the time.

“What is it?” Megan asks, moving off her chair and walking towards Ella. Courtney walks towards us and places Ella in the chair Megan just vacated.

“Promise you won’t be mad at me,” Ella tearfully says to us both. I don’t want to brag, but I make cute as hell babies. People can call me biased, but looking at her, she’s the cutest little girl I’ve ever met. I nearly laughed when Megan told me she called her a bitch.

“Ella, I only get mad at you when you do something wrong,” she says to her. She sighs when Ella cries and hiccups. “Ok, I promise not to get mad at you,” Ella looks at me.

“I promise too,” I say.

“There are these girls at school, and they’re mean to me all the time. They say nasty things and make me do their homework and steal things. They made me take things from you, mommy, to give to them,” she sobs. “They’re the ones that cut my hair. I’m sorry, mommy,” she cries.

“Oh, sweetie,” Megan says, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her out of the chair into a hug. I watch as she comforts her the best she can.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I asked you if you were being bullied,” Megan says, and I can hear the hurt and anger in her.

“They said no one would believe me because I’m a baby,”

“I’ll always believe you,” she says and hugs her again.

“Please don’t make me go to school,” Ella cries into her shoulder.

“You’re not going back,” she says and looks at me.

“I’m sorry I called you a bitch, mommy,”

“We can talk about that later,” she looks at Courtney, “phone the school, set up a meeting for today,” she tells her and walks out of the kitchen with Ella. I frown and look at Courtney.

“She’s going to sing to her. It calms Ella,” she tells me as she takes her phone out of her pocket.

“Let me speak to them,” I say and hold my hand out. She frowns at me. “Ella is my daughter; I want to speak to them,”

“Fine,” She hands me the phone and the school secretary answers.

“Hi, this is Logan Peters, Ella Wrights father,” I start. She replies with some pleasantries. I look at Courtney. “Tell Ella to write down the names of all the girls that have been bullying her,” I turn my attention back to the phone. “I’d like a meeting with the Principal, please, regarding my daughter today,”

“Oh, I’m afraid she’s not free today. Can I ask what it’s regarding?” she asks.

“Yes, my 4-year-old daughter is getting bullied, your school has failed to notice it, she’s refusing to come to school and is crying her heart out right now, so I want to speak to her today, and the parents of the students,”

“Ok, sir,” she pauses, and I give her an out.

“I will get the names for you, and I’ll call you back in an hour,” I say and end the call. I put Courtney’s phone on the side and then send a quick text on my phone to my secretary and PA.

Megan walks back into the kitchen. She moves her hand through her hair and then shakes her head before folding her arms and pacing. I watch as she mutters to herself, checks her phone when it vibrates but ignores whoever it is. Standing up, I walk over to her and pull her into a hug. She tenses in my arms for a couple of seconds before finally relaxing.

“It’s ok,” I say to her.

“I asked her, I asked the school, what else was I supposed to do? I should have known.”

“How?” I ask.

“I should have noticed the signs,”

“You did, and you thought she would tell you,”

“She’s four. I shouldn’t have taken her out of kindergarten. At least those kids are close to her age, and she’d have friends,” she sighs before pulling away from me. “What did you say to the school?” she asks.

“That I want a meeting with the principal and the parents of the children that bullied her,” I state.

“Why? Haven’t you got work?” she asks.

“The beauty of being the boss of a company, you can get others to do some of your jobs. I’ve got no important meetings. I can stay or meet you at the school at the time of the meeting. It’s up to you.” I’d rather stay. I enjoy being with her and Ella. I love how curious Ella is. She asks any question that comes to her head.

“Must be nice,” she says. “It’s up to you; I didn’t have much planned today, just a run with Max and getting my nails done for work,”

“You’re working tonight?” I ask.

“Yeah, just in the Lounge, I’m singing tonight and tomorrow night we’ve all got the night off, so we’re going out. Ella is going to my dads,” she tells me.

“Well, you do that. I’ll look after Ella. We’ll be having this meeting today,” I say, and then I hear a door open and then Ella runs in. She holds a piece of paper up to me. I take it, and then she holds her arms up to Megan to get her to pick her up. The paper contains all the names of the kids that have bullied her.

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