The Phone Call

The Phone Call
Mark's POV

Today Gray and I are attending the opening of the Ademia university. We have worked so hard to make this a huge success. We greeted the guests and those who are on our board. I walk up the steps of the stage and I stop behind the podium. Everyone has their attention on me.

"Good day. It is an honor to be standing here at Ademia university. My wife and I have decided to make this a success with the university and schools. Education has always been a part of Sternpoint's smaller branch called Sternpass in England. The Stern Foundation has always been a part of that too. I was not fully involved with it because that wasn't where my heart was at all. Other things were my main focus. It was one important meeting that I had to attend in England that made my heart grow more fond of education. It all started with a young woman who lived in London. She lost her parents in a tragic car accident. She was the only survivor. She did things on her own and she worked in a bar in order to save up for college tuition. I was glad that one of my friends invited me to that bar because when I got drunk and I could barely even walk, she helped me to get back to the hotel safely. She didn't take advantage of me as I know that other women would have done because of my attractiveness. I got to know her more and I took her as a daughter. I got to know what she wanted to pursue as a career and with my foundation, I gave her a bursary and it covered everything. She came back with me to Seattle and she attended her institution where she studied at. After that, my heart grew more open to help more students. They deserve to pursue a career that they would like and to become whatever they would want to be. My wife will be taking over from here. I am sure that she is as excited as I am." I look at Gray, smiling down at her as she gets up from her seat in the front row.

I walk down the steps and I hold my hand out to her, helping her walk up the steps. I take my seat, my full attention on her. "Ademia is a university that is open to anyone. We have a huge variety of studies to choose from. We built this university from the ground up, so that each department caters to what they are all about. We want to help as many students as possible but also to help them with affordable fees." She looks stunning up there, I am proud of her. "The Stern Foundation will be a huge help for those that need financial support and we are willing to help. We would like for education to grow. In the near future, we do not want only a university here in Seattle and schools. We will be building it around the world and we will be extending The Stern Foundation across the world to help more students. This is something to be proud of and I hope that this will be a bright future for us and the students. I couldn't have done this without my husband, the board and most of you. Thank you for giving us this opportunity." she smiles, the crowd applauded and then I stand up to help her down the steps.

"That was amazing. You are a natural." I say against her ear.

"Mark, I know that when you are this close, you want to f^ck me." she smiles at me.

"Please, don't tempt me." I say, letting out a breath. I cannot get hard here with all of the guests. Everyone is making their way out of to interact with each other and have some snacks.

As we walk down the hall, Gray is being called to one side. I feel someone hold onto my arm. "Mark?" I turn around and I am so surprised to see who it was.

"Katie?"

"Yes, it's me." she smiles. She looks radiant with makeup and she looks older. She doesn't look like the Katie that I first met.

"How have you been? Are you still pursuing your dream?" I ask.

"Yes, I am. In fact, I will be an assistant teacher here at Ademia university." she continues to smile.

"F^ck." I say.

"Well, how are you? I see some gray hairs, so I'm guessing you are much older." she chuckles.

"I am fifty-five, believe it or not. Gray and I have kids and number five is on its way." I say.

"Wow, you have been really busy." she says.

"Where are you living now?" I ask.

"I live around the corner from here." she says.

"In an expensive area, I'm guessing that you have got to pursue filming?"

"Yes and I am married, believe it or not." she smiles. " Everything is because of you. You helped me and I was so happy that I didn't turn your offer down. I wouldn't have done it. You saved my life and I don't regret it at all. Thank you so much for the opportunity and I hope to see the both of you again." she smiles at me.

"Come here." I hold my arms out and she steps closer to me. I wrap my arms around her, taking her in my embrace. She is still so tiny as when we met. At least she has gained more weight. She pulls away.

"I will see you around, I have to find my husband." she says.

"Take care and remember that we are still here for you when you need anything." I say to her.

"Thank you." she smiles before she walks away. Gosh, where has the time gone? Everyone is getting older and growing up. I am happy that I got to see her and to see that she is doing well. Her contact number changed years ago, so I had no way of contacting her to make sure that she was okay and Pedro couldn't trace her. That was after she graduated from the filming institution.

Now I know that she has been doing well and that makes me happy.


Gray's POV

As I walked towards Amber, I turned around to see where Mark was. He was talking to a young woman but she looked familiar. I turn my attention to my friend.

"Your speech was amazing and Mark's speech was just as amazing." Amber says. She looks pretty in a knee-length lilac dress and her blonde hair is curled, it falls over one shoulder.

"Thank you." I smile. "It was hard work and it paid off. We made a success out of this and we will continue to do that." I say.

"You both make me proud," she says with a wide smile.

"Sam is now one of the professors at Ademia. He will be doing web design." I say with excitement.

"No wonder he left Sternpoint without hesitation," she says. Amber has been a web design manager at Sternpoint since I left. She has been enjoying it because she still gets to work with Mariko.

"He must be here somewhere if he is going to teach at Ademia." I say. I scan the crowd, looking for Sam.

"How are the kids?" I turn my attention back to Amber.

"They are a handful and now with this one on the way," I place my hand against my stomach. "It will be harder." I say.

"I honestly don't know how you both do it. I could never," she says.

"We are exhausted and then Lana has her own things that she is going through. Jordan is all about football. Weston is a bit all to himself, but I feel that we are not giving him more of our attention and I feel really bad about that. He looks lonely most of the time and he plays with the dog. According to him, Rufus is his only friend that cares enough to play with him." I take in a deep breath and I exhale. "Scarlett is just in her own world in the house but she is even more happy to see Mark."

"Daddy's little girl." Amber nods.

"Exactly." I say.

"I told you that he has mighty sperm, so be careful." she warns me.

"I will do whatever it takes not to fall pregnant again." I say. "I just can't risk it."

"Hey, beautiful ladies." Sam says, and he takes me into his embrace. I smile because I'm so happy to see him. I pull away.

"Gosh, I missed you so much." I say.

"Hopefully you will get to see me more often." he returns the smile.

"I do hope so."

"Where is Alexis?" Amber asks.

"She went to the bathroom."

"Still no kids?" Amber asks.

"No, Alexis is too career driven to think about kids, but I respect that," he smiles.

"You are so lucky." I say.

He chuckles, "You gave Mark kids. It's what he wanted. Cherish every moment with them because they grow up fast and life is too short. I know that Mark always tells you that." he winks at me.

"And stop making babies." Amber chimes in.

"You are the one that spoke it into existence that Mark's sperm is mighty and look where we are. Baby number five." I say.

"What about my sperm?" I hear Mark ask from behind me. I turn around to look at him, he is smirking.

"It is mighty, you get me pregnant really quickly." I say.

"Well, we did struggle after Lana. We also waited between the others." he says in thought, and then he smiles at me.

"You need more protection," Amber suggests.

"I plan on that. I am getting too old for more kids." Mark says.

"Yes, I can see those gray hair starting to grow." Amber holds back her laugh but Mark ignores that.

"Sam will be teaching here at Ademia." I say.

"That is impressive." Mark says/ "Congratulations." he shakes Sam's hand.

"Thanks."

"No wonder you left me." Mark says as he places his hand at the small of my back.

"Yes, I wanted to do something different. When I found out about Ademia university, I applied." he says.

"Everyone has to succeed in life, it may not be sooner than others. Everyone has their own journey and own pace. This is why I want to help students." Mark says.

"You and Gray have opened so many doors. You both are an inspiration and I admire you. The strength that you both have despite the challenges over the years is mind-blowing. I wish that I had a strong bond like the two of you share." he says,

"You and Alexis share that in your own way. Life is like a test, an ongoing test. We fail and we succeed. It is up to you to make it work too. It hasn't been easy at all, we got through it all." I smile at Sam.

"A power couple, that's what you are with mighty kids." Amber winks at me. Mark's phone rings and he takes it out of his pocket.

"Sorry." he says and he walks behind me to talk on the phone.

"I really just want to be soaked in a bath right now." Amber says.

"What?" we all hear from Mark. "I will be right here." he says. I look at him and I'm worried because it could be one of the kids. We left them with Reggie.

"What is it?" I ask as panic start to rise and Mark doesn't look like himself as he is trying to take in what the phone call was about.

"My mother..she had a heart attack and she has been admitted to the hospital, so we have to go." he says as he looks at me. I see the fear in his eyes. I know that he is afraid of losing his only parent.