LOGINAs soon as the elevator door closed, a hand landed on my shoulder causing me to half scream. I turned around only to see the lady from before staring at me with a confused look.
"Are you okay?" She asked and I nodded. I lied. She nearly gave me a heart attack with that surprise approach. "I'm sorry I left you standing, something urgent came up... please, come with me to see the boss" she turned and we both walked back into the office. We got in and I carefully closed the door behind. There he was, the boss sitting behind his desk looking so dull and moody. "Sir!" She greeted and said nothing after what. His eyes fell on me and I shivered in fear. I understand what I first encountered wasn't the best but I've done nothing to deserve such a glare. "What's your name?" I heard him ask but I was too lost in my head and scared to talk, I just stood there and stared back at him. "Are you deaf or something little man?" He growled and I snapped out of my head. "Brian Carter!" Then, I remember I told him my name earlier. Does he have memory lost or is he getting old? He turned to the girl and nodded, without a word, she excused herself leaving only me and the moody boss in the room. I stood there, unmoved and just watched him stare back at me. "Sit!" I moved and sat on the sofa, steady with manly posture as I tried to keep a face. He threw a closed file at me all of a sudden, I wasn't ready but I acted fast as my instinct could lead me but no matter how much I tried to catch it, I couldn't. It ended up falling on the floor and the papers scattered everywhere on the floor. "You have to be fast, act like a vibrant man that you are" He roared, certainly displeased I couldn't handle such a small task "I'm sorry,sir!" I quickly apologized and began picking up the papers one after the other. I went back to my seat, I did my best to arrange the file as it was. "Go, give that to the Manager of human resources and when coming back, get me a cup of coffee" He ordered. I got off my seat and left immediately. I didn't know who the manager of human resources was but I have to try. As soon as the elevator door opened, I spotted one of two of the ladies chitchatting again in a corner and I wondered if they really had no work to do or they were just being paid to gossip. I approached them and cleared my throat, they turned to me with a forced smile on their faces. "Sorry to interrupt you.. discussion but I'm looking for the office of the manager of human resources" I waited for them to speak. "Right...just the door at the end of the room" one of them pointed, I followed the direction of her hand and saw the door. "Thank you" I turn and leave. I'm pretty sure I will be the next person they'll start talking about but I don't care. After I handed the document to the HR manager, I went ahead to make the coffee. Then realization hit me that I don't know how the boss likes his coffee and I never bothered asking. I grunt in frustration, the urge to run my hand through my hair was there but I held myself back, I can't dare to spoil what I spent hours fixing. I grabbed the tea cup, walked to the coffee machine and began making the coffee. I'll just go with black coffee with moderate sugar. That's the basic and most common way people like their coffee, especially old people. Even though my boss wasn't old, he acts like an old man and what's the difference? Nothing, he can be compatible with my grandpa when it comes to character. I carried the coffee back to the elevator. It was hot, and the small tea tray wasn't helping. I sighed when the elevator door opened and I could walk out. As I stepped out of the elevator, I was so focused on holding the coffee well that I didn't notice my step and I bumped into the elevator door and the coffee poured all on me, straining my shirt And just like that, I ruined everything. I stood there, frozen, the burn of the coffee on me together with the fact I stained my office suit weighing down on me. I wanted to cry, that's the best of what I do but I can't. Without a word, I walked back to the boss's office. His eyes landed on me the moment the door opened and he asked "Where is my coffee?" I beat my inner lips so as not to say anything bad, I walked and placed the cup with less than half of the coffee in it. "I'm sorry, but it fell on me on the way" He frowned, his eyes a dagger on my flesh. "And the file?" I snapped, my head cleared instantly of everything that was disturbing me. "I handed it to the HR manager " my voice was faint, almost like it wasn't there. He growled in frustration and anger, “Do you even listen when I talk, or are you just pretending to have a brain in that head of yours?” My brows furrowed at him, "sir?" I don't understand what he's on and off about. "I asked you to take the file to the HR manager so he can sign and you bring it back to me" he emphasized in his words. Wait! Did he say that? I am certain he didn't say this part. All he said was I should get the file to the HR and get him a coffee on my way back. "I'm sorry, sir, but I guess I didn't get that part" I mumbled, twisting my fingers. "Are you stupid or something?" He asked and I gritted my teeth. I couldn't just stand and watch him call me stupid when obviously I'm not. "I'm new sir, not stupid " I muttered before I could stop myself. His brow arched, and for a second he smiled...I swear, I saw it. "You've got the nerve " he nodded and leaned back on his seat, "what's your name again, little man?" I trembled, afraid he would fire me. But still, I didn't waver, I held his gaze, hard and steady like my Grandpa's daughter. He asked for my name? Well I wish I could tell him my real name. The name that comes with status, pride and wealth. The name many girls wish they had and my position, unmatched and unbeatable in this city and world at large. BIANCA MCKENZIE, the one and only most beloved and dotted granddaughter of JOSH MCKENZIE, the king and ruler of the business world and most feared and respected. I'm prideful, have lots of ego and my sense of respect is poor but standing here, I have to put everything aside and be the person I've made myself to be. I have to forget about who I am, turn my back to the bigger me and go back to ground level if I want to earn my new life. I don't want to be a girl who got her name thanks to her grandpa and is now living off the wealth she never worked for. I want to know how it feels to work, to earn money genuinely and not be favoured because of who I am. And in doing so, I need to put myself on the floor and be everyone's shoe wipe. I lowered my head, realizing it was not Bianca Mckenzie that was standing before Mr Justin Miller, it was the ordinary Brian Carter, the person I created. And this Brian can't survive if he lets Bianca's pride get to him. "Brian Carter, sir" I murmured and he nodded. "I will choose you because you are new" he pulled open the drawer and threw a clean shirt in a sealed plastic bag at me. And I quickly caught it. It seems like he's so used to throwing things. Is this the way he treated his previous PAs or is it just me he's been mean to? But his next words made me wonder if his hate for me has vanished or is it just in my head? “You’ve got five minutes to fix yourself and act like my assistant. Fail again, and I’ll replace you faster than my cold coffee.”He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo—something fruity and childish, like strawberries and sunshine.Kiara nodded against his chest, and Justin could feel the small movement—could feel her body slowly relaxing, the tension draining out of her little shoulders. She believed him. She felt the sincerity in his words, the genuineness in his tone. Children always knew. They could always tell when an adult meant what they said.And in that moment, Justin realized something else. Kiara's fear—her desperate need for reassurance, her anxiety about being abandoned—wasn't just about today. It was about the hospital. It was about the day he had promised to help her talk to her momma and then walked away with Mrs. Miller. He had bailed on her. He had broken his word. And even though she had forgiven him, even though she had welcomed him back with open arms, the little girl found it hard to believe him now. Every promise came with a shadow of doubt. E
Bianca and Kiara walked out of the school hall, swallowed almost immediately by the sea of chattering parents and excited children that flooded the corridor. The annual midterm celebration had drawn a massive crowd—mothers in elegant dresses, fathers in crisp shirts, grandparents clutching cameras, and children everywhere, bouncing with uncontainable energy. Some families huddled together for photographs, posing in front of colorful banners and balloon arches. Others stood in small clusters, chatting heartily about grades and summer plans and whose child had won which award. The air was thick with perfume, laughter, and the distinct electric hum of anticipation.Bianca kept one hand on Kiara's shoulder, guiding her through the crowd, while her other hand clutched her small purse. Her eyes scanned the hallway every few seconds, unconsciously searching for a familiar face—then catching herself, looking away, forcing herself to stop. She wasn't supposed to be looking for him. She wasn't
"Here's your ice cream, Mister!" she announced proudly. She opened her small backpack—a glittery purple thing covered in cartoon unicorns—and pulled out a small bowl with exaggerated care. It was vanilla, topped with rainbow sprinkles and a single pink gummy bear. "I picked the best one for you. Because you're my favorite."Justin's heart clenched painfully. He took the bowl from her small hands, his fingers brushing against hers, and felt an overwhelming rush of emotion he couldn't name. "Thank you, sweetheart," he said, his voice rougher than he intended.After handing it to him, Kiara carried the remaining bowls—two more—to Bianca's desk. With considerable effort, she climbed onto the chair, then onto the desk itself, arranging herself like a queen holding court. "This one is for Momma," she said, pushing one bowl toward Bianca, "and this one is for me. See? I got us all the same kind so nobody feels sad."Bianca glanced at Monica, who stood by the door with an apologetic shrug. He
Of all the things Bianca was expecting in her life—late nights at the office, temper tantrums from Kiara, awkward family dinners with Grandpa Josh, maybe even an unexpected merger or a hostile takeover attempt—Justin meeting Kiara was the absolute last of them. It wasn't even on the radar. It wasn't in the realm of possibility. And yet, here she was, watching the impossible unfold right before her very eyes.How did they meet? When?From the look of things, they had met a couple of times already. The easy familiarity between them was undeniable—the way Kiara leaned into him without hesitation, the way Justin knew exactly how to hold her, how to make her laugh. Or perhaps it wasn't multiple meetings at all. Perhaps it was something deeper, something inexplicable. Could it be the special bond between them—the invisible thread of blood and DNA—that had drawn them together across a crowded hospital corridor, across a busy corporate building? Did fate have a sick sense of humor, or was it
He didn't get to complete his sentence. Kiara scrambled off the floor in the blink of an eye, her earlier pain completely forgotten, and launched herself at him. Her small arms wrapped around his neck with the strength of a vice, and her legs hooked around his waist like a tiny koala."Don't let her take me, please!" Kiara begged, her face buried in his shoulder. Her voice was muffled but urgent.Justin blinked, utterly bewildered. "Kiara?" Monica called out, her voice carrying a note of stern disapproval. A frown settled on her face. "What has Momma told you about hanging on people you don't know?" She stepped forward, reaching for the little girl.But Kiara only tightened her grip on Justin's neck, her small fingers digging into his collar. Her body tensed, and she shook her head defiantly. "He's no stranger!" she retorted, her voice surprisingly firm for someone so small. "He's my friend! He promised to help me, and he said sorry for leaving!"For the first time since Monica had st
"Kiara, be careful—you might fall! Stop running this instant!" Monica called out, her voice echoing through the vast, polished hallway of the corporate building. Her feet pounded against the marble floor as she chased after the little girl, who was darting ahead like a tiny, joyful firefly.Lately, Monica had been doing some serious weight loss in the name of nannying this energetic little human. She seemed more energetic than before, yes, but her lungs were beginning to disagree. Her feet seemed to be challenging the speed of light with every stride, and yet Kiara remained frustratingly out of reach. And with every sprint, every sharp turn, every desperate lunge, Monica was silently convinced that her life span was reducing exponentially. Because why, in the name of all that is holy, did she find it so impossibly hard to run nowadays? She used to be athletic. Now, she was just... tired.While Monica wheezed and stumbled behind her, Kiara giggled endlessly—a high, melodic sound that b
By the time I was done and all dressed up, Justin had already prepared dinner for us. The sight made me smile, for some inexplicable reason. To think that I got to eat healthy and he was the one making sure I actually did—it was oddly comforting.I wasted no time and scrambled into the seat at the
I quickly moved, standing right in front as though my body could shield it, desperately trying to block his view, preventing him from seeing any further. My lips were at the mercy of my teeth, caught and stuck, betraying the nervousness that burned in me.“Don’t… don’t look!” I half-shouted, my voi
I don't know how long I spent inside, lost in my thoughts, but when I finally stepped back into the room, Arian was gone. The sudden emptiness made the silence feel heavier than before, pressing against my chest in a way that made my heart flutter nervously.Justin was leaning back on his seat, his
Justin served the steaming porridge in the small dining section of the room. The soft aroma curled in the air, teasing my empty stomach. I went ahead and sat down, folding my hands in my lap as I waited. He moved with quiet precision in the kitchen, finishing up whatever last touches he had in mind







