Chapter 6

The words felt foreign on her tongue, a truth she wasn't quite sure of, yet she couldn't stop them from escaping her lips.

Startled, Biden sharply pivoted towards her, his hands momentarily pausing in their labor. "What are you saying?" He queried, his tone thick with confusion.

Collecting herself, Asa shook her head and expelled a long sigh, as though to physically remove the tension from her body.

"Who's Lev?" Biden pressed further, his eyebrows knitting together in a stern expression.

Dismissing the inquiry with a flick of her hand, Asa responded, "Nevermind, I... I just forgot I wasn't at home."

Biden studied her for a moment longer before turning back to his tasks. In his eyes, it seemed as though Asa was not herself. 

In the quiet solitude of the kitchen, where Biden had been busily preparing coffee, Asa found herself alone. Her eyes were drawn to the window, staring out with a sense of anticipation. It was past 2 pm, and Alfred was due to return, but the landscape beyond the window was devoid of his presence. With a sigh of resignation, she drew the curtains closed and retreated to her solitude.

Asa took a slow sip from her coffee cup, the bitterness of the brew causing a slight grimace. She allowed herself to sink into the memories of her father's last words and the heavy promise she bore. Just as she was slipping into a world of reminiscence, a loud car horn shattered the silence.

"Oh! Alfred must be back," Asa muttered, abandoning her coffee and rushing outside.

Alfred was escorted home in a luxurious car, courtesy of Biden. As soon as he exited the vehicle, he bolted towards his mother with boyish enthusiasm. 

A soft smile graced Asa's lips as she welcomed the warmth of her son's embrace. 

"Good afternoon, Mom," Alfred greeted.

Asa's voice was gentle as she asked, "My boy, was school alright?"

"No, Mom," Alfred responded, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Mom..." His voice suddenly turned somber. 

"What's wrong?" Asa's demeanor changed instantly, as she knelt to Alfred's level, her eyes filled with attentive concern.

"Mom! A boy bullied me today at school. He said I didn't have a father who could defend me," Alfred confessed sadly.

Asa paused, her heart aching at her son's words. She reached out, pulling Alfred into a comforting embrace. "Oh, sweetheart," she murmured. "I'm so sorry you had to hear such harsh words."

Alfred burrowed into his mother's comforting warmth, his small shoulders trembling. "But it's true, isn't it? Dad's never around. I have never seen him." 

Asa tightened her hold on Alfred, feeling the weight of his words. "It's true your father isn't here, Alfred," she conceded softly. "But remember, you have me. And I'll do everything I can to protect and defend you, okay?"

Alfred looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. "Okay, Mom," he whispered, nodding against her shoulder.

"We're only going to stay here for a little while, and I promise, everything is going to be okay," Asa reassured him, peppering his face with comforting kisses before pulling him into a tight hug.

"Alright, come in. I'll prepare your lunch," she said, guiding her son back towards the house.

Meanwhile, as Asa and Alfred shared their moment outside, Biden observed them from his bedroom window. The sight of them stirred something within him. His entire life, he had dreamt of a future with his childhood sweetheart. 

However, the sight of Asa alone was distasteful to him. He wanted nothing more than to distance himself from her, even if it meant resorting to drastic measures.

*

On a Monday morning, Asa awoke from her sleep, despite the fog of sleep still clinging to her vision, Asa heaved herself up and made her way to her son's room to rouse him.

"Mom, you're waking me up too early," Alfred groaned, squinting against the early morning light while struggling to sit up in bed.

"I know, sweetheart, but we need to be up and ready early today," Asa responded.

With a bit of coaxing, she managed to get Alfred out of bed.

"Hey," she called to him as he shuffled about sleepily.

"Grab your toothbrush, brush your teeth, and meet me in the kitchen," Asa instructed, before turning on her heels to head to the kitchen.

"Okay, Mom," Alfred responded reluctantly, ambling towards the bathroom.

In the kitchen, Asa set about preparing breakfast for them. After serving Alfred, she excused herself to freshen up and prepare for her day. This was how her usual morning routine looked like. 

Asa soon appeared back at the dinning, "Aren't you done with your food?" Asa asked, her eyebrows knitting together in mild annoyance. 

She had expected Alfred to finish his meal while she was in the bathroom, but to her disappointment, his plate was still half full. 

"Come on, let's go," she instructed, taking him by the hand.

They hailed a taxi, and Asa quickly dropped Alfred off at school before proceeding to her workplace.

"Late again today," Asa muttered under her breath as she hurried into the bustling office building. Once a CEO herself, she had the luxury of setting her own hours. But adjusting to this stricter work environment was proving to be a challenge.

A few minutes into her work, the door to her office creaked open. Her department head, a stern-looking woman, stepped in.

"Miss Asa, the CEO wishes to see you," she announced. Asa felt her stomach twist into knots of apprehension. Could this be because of her tardiness?

The woman seemed to sense the tension, and offered a slight smile. "I'm Priscilla, by the way," she added, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had filled the room.

"It's a pleasure, Priscilla," Asa replied, standing up and preparing to follow her to the CEO's office.

As they walked, Asa turned to her. "Could you tell me a bit about the CEO? I would like to ensure I'm on my best behavior during our meeting."

"He's calm, collected, and not one to tolerate errors. He's quick to dismiss anyone for the slightest mistake. Furthermore, he has no patience for flirtation. If you try to seduce him, he'll interpret that as you wanting to be fired. Just be careful, and don't make yourself a victim," she advised her, a playful wink punctuating her cautionary tale. 

The duo soon reached a sleek, polished door. "This is it," Priscilla announced. "Just be yourself, Asa."

Asa took a deep breath, pushing open the door to face her new challenge. 

As the door to the CEO's office slowly swung open, Asa felt her heartbeat stutter when she realized that the man behind the desk bore an uncanny resemblance to her husband. Her mind began to race, trying to reconcile the striking similarity.