Page 25 of The CEO Alpha’s Substitute Mate

He looks up at me, chewing. “I did. But I was still hungry. I wrote sentences today and a lot of math, and the teacher said my brain was good at it.”

“Did she now?” I smile at him. “What else did you do?”

He tries to think. “One of my classes is learning a language. I’m way behind, but my teacher gave me homework. She said I will catch up with the class.”

“What language?”

He shrugs with the carelessness only a six-year-old can summon.

“When we get home, you’re going to take a shower,” I tell him. “Then we’ll have lunch, a real one, this doesn’t count, and after that, we’ll do your homework.”

“He has a tutor for that.” Callum doesn’t look up. “He’ll be at the house from four.”

I forgot about that.

“What’s a tutor?” Luca looks between the two of us with pork sauce on his chin.

“He’s like a teacher, but he’ll help you focus on your homework and teach you some things.”

“I can’t play?”

“Yes, you can. Once you’re done with your homework.”

He wipes his chin with the back of his wrist and turns in his seat. “Can I go to the park on Saturday?”

“On Saturday you’ll be coming with me to the office,” Callum informs him.

I turn my head fast enough to pull something in my neck. “What?”

“He’s my heir.” Callum finally puts the tablet down. “He needs to start understanding the environment he’ll be in.”

“For how long?”

“All day.”

Concerned, I protest, “He’s six. He’ll get bored.”

“I will not budge on this.” Callum gives me a firm look.

“I can’t be away from him for that long,” I mutter, and he glances at me.

“Then you can come with him.”

A Saturday in a glass tower with no windows that open, watching my son learn what a shareholder is. I’m drawing breath to argue my way out of it when a small hand takes hold of two of my fingers.

“Come with us,” Luca requests. “I don’t want to go alone.”

I let the breath out instead. “Fine.” I look out my own window so that neither of them can see my face. “Saturdays. I’m bringing a book.”

Reid opens the front door when we arrive, his eyes on Callum.

“Miss Isabella is here.”

Who? My eyes flicker toward Callum, who nods. He doesn’t get to say anything because just then, a woman appears in the doorway. She has ash-blond hair and pale blue eyes, and she is simply beautiful. There’s a crease pressed down the front of her gray slacks. I don’t have to ask to know that she is from Callum’s tax bracket.

“Callum. I came the minute you called.”

Four steps take her to his side, where she threads her arm through his and tucks in against his shoulder. Irritation floods me for some reason. I’ve known this man all of two days. There’s no claim I have on his arm or his shoulder or any other part of him, yet here I am staring at her hand.