The Unexpected Offer

Emma's POV

Jake opened his mouth as if to say something more, and my heart hammered against my ribs.

This was it. This was the moment he would remember me. This was when eight years of careful hiding would finally come to an end.

He said "Are you okay?"

Those three simple words hit me like a punch to the stomach. Jake was looking down at me with polite concern, the same way he might look at any stranger who seemed upset. There was no recognition in his voice, no warmth, no hint that he remembered the girl who used to make his heart race.

I thought desperately "Are you kidding me? This guy really does not recognize me."

Had I changed that much? Sure, eight years of struggling as a single mother had taken their toll. I was thinner now, my face more tired from stress and poor eating habits. My hair was darker and shorter, hidden under this awful cleaning cap. But my eyes were the same. My voice was the same. How could he look at me and feel nothing?

Maybe eight years really was enough time to forget everything. Maybe I had been fooling myself all these years, thinking what we had was special. Maybe Jake Sullivan had moved on so completely that Emma Chen was just a distant memory, if she was a memory at all.

I managed to whisper "I am fine."

Jake said "Good. Just be more careful next time, alright? These floors can be slippery when they are wet."

He was talking to me like I was a child who needed basic safety instructions. The boy who used to whisper sweet promises in my ear was now giving me cleaning tips. The irony was so painful I almost laughed.

Before I could respond, Linda pushed past me roughly, making me stumble backward.

Linda snapped "That is enough!" Her voice was sharp with irritation. "I already told you to get out of the building. Stop causing problems! This is our VIP client, and we do not want you embarrassing our company any further. Take your lazy attitude and get out. You are fired, remember? You do not work here anymore!"

The reminder hit me like a slap. Right. I was fired. I had no job, no income, no way to pay rent or buy food for Alex. Panic started rising in my chest again.

Jake said suddenly "Hold on."

Both Linda and I turned to look at him in surprise. Linda immediately switched from angry to flirty, her whole attitude changing like she had flipped a switch.

Jake continued "Actually, I was going to mention that I need some help. I am new to the city, and I could use someone to help me run errands and handle things I need done. You know, like a personal assistant."

Linda's eyes lit up like Christmas morning. She started giggling and playing with her hair, suddenly all sweetness and charm. She said "Oh, I could be your PA if you need one! I would love to help you with anything you need. I am very good at organizing and I know this city really well and—"

Jake interrupted, holding up his hand. He said "No, no. You are handling a lot already. I do not want to give you extra work when you have your own responsibilities here. I would not want you to miss out on what you are doing."

Linda's face fell slightly, but she kept smiling. She said "Oh, but I really would not mind—"

Jake said "Since this young woman is already leaving anyway, maybe she would be interested in the position."

My heart stopped. Was Jake Sullivan offering me a job? The same Jake Sullivan who had just been treating me like a stranger? The same man whose baby I had been hiding for eight years?

Jake turned his attention back to me. His blue eyes studied my face. He said "Can you work for me? Would you like to become my personal assistant? The pay would be good, and the work would not be too demanding. What do you think? Do you want the job, or would you prefer to look for work somewhere else?"

I stood there with my mouth hanging open, completely speechless. This was impossible. This was insane. Just five minutes ago, I was scrubbing floors and getting fired. Now the father of my secret child was offering me a job as his personal assistant, and he had no idea who I was.

My mind raced with a million thoughts at once. Working for Jake would be dangerous. Being around him every day, keeping Alex a secret, pretending we had never met – it would be torture. But I needed the money desperately. Alex needed food, clothes, hockey equipment. We needed to keep our apartment.

And then there was the selfish part of me, the part I tried to ignore. The part that had never stopped loving Jake Sullivan, even after eight years of telling myself I was over him. The part that wanted to be near him again, even if he did not remember me.

Linda was staring at me with pure hatred, probably furious that I was getting an opportunity she wanted. Jake was waiting patiently for my answer, looking professional and detached.

The smart thing would be to say no. To walk away and find another cleaning job somewhere far from Jake Sullivan. To protect the life I had built for Alex and myself.

But smart decisions had never been my strong point where Jake was concerned.

I said "I do not know what to say."

My voice was shaking.

Jake tilted his head slightly, studying me with those piercing blue eyes that had once looked at me with so much love. Now they were just curious, maybe a little concerned about my obvious distress.

He said "Take your time. It is a big decision."

A big decision. He had no idea how big. He was offering me a chance to step back into his life, to be close to him every day, to maybe – just maybe – figure out if there was any part of him that still remembered what we had shared.

But he was also offering me a chance to complicate everything beyond repair. What would happen when he met Alex? What would happen if he ever remembered who I was? What would happen if his mother found out I was back in his life?

Linda cleared her throat impatiently. She said "Well? Mr. Sullivan does not have all day to wait for you to make up your mind. Either take the job or leave so the rest of us can get back to work."

Jake ignored her, keeping his focus on me. He said "What do you say? Are you interested?"

I looked up at him – this man who had once been my whole world, who had given me the most precious gift in my life without even knowing it, who was now offering me a lifeline when I needed it most.

My heart was pounding so hard I could barely think straight. Everything logical in my brain was screaming at me to run, to protect myself and Alex from the chaos that would surely follow.

But when I opened my mouth to speak, only one word came out.

I whispered "Yes."

Jake smiled – that same devastating smile that had made me fall in love with him eight years ago – and stretched out his hand.

He said "Welcome to the team, Emma Reed."

As I reached out to shake his hand, one terrifying thought consumed me.

I had just agreed to work for the man I had never stopped loving, while hiding the existence of his son.

What had I just gotten myself into?