Boss's Order

Everyone had the same opinion. Anyone who saw the baby boy would think he was incredibly handsome and adorable.

Not only that, for a baby born at 28 weeks, he was incredibly large, healthy, and perfect.

After being in a coma for three days after giving birth, Noreen suddenly woke up screaming, startling everyone who had been anxiously waiting for her. However, Noreen was fine, which brought them relief.

Then, Noreen saw her son for the first time and cried loudly with emotion. She named her son Jonathan Luke Winchester.

Jonathan had soft, buttery-white skin, jet-black hair that was slightly wavy, thick, and silky. Every aspect of his little face was exquisite and nearly perfect.

Thin red lips, a high nose, thick eyebrows and eyelashes, crowning almond-shaped eyes with caramel-colored pupils that shimmered golden in the light. He was truly handsome.

"Noreen, I think you're only getting a silver lining from this process," Lisbeth said, stroking Jonathan's sleeping cheek. "He doesn't look like you at all. But I'm sure whoever his father is, is incredibly handsome, right?"

Noreen grimaced. She remembered the man who had made her thrash about repeatedly in ecstasy.  Even though she wasn't fully conscious at the time and there was still some alcohol in her brain, her eyes saw clearly, and yes, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life.

And now, his handsomeness was imprinted clearly, in miniature, on her baby.

"Well, while I have to admit your baby is very handsome, it still doesn't negate the fact that he doesn't know his father," Veronica said, visiting Jonathan two weeks after he was born.

Thomas touched Veronica's arm and shook his head. He glanced at Noreen, who looked calm and simply smiled in response to his wife's words.

"It's okay," Noreen said lightly. "He has a mother, grandparents, a wonderful aunt—not you, of course, but Lisbeth, and that's enough."

"What if he asks about his father someday?" Veronica asked sneeringly. "How unfortunate."

"Oh, Veronica, you should start thinking about yourself," Noreen said. "You haven't gotten pregnant yet, have you? Is it because you had an abortion before, making it difficult to get pregnant now?"

Veronica's face paled. "W-what are you saying? Noreen, are you slandering me?"

Noreen smiled softly. "Slander? For what? What do you have that I don't? A husband? Tsk! If only a husband like yours could be mine, I'd rather be single for life. I don't like keeping trash in my life."

Now, Thomas's face was bright red. "Noreen, what do you mean?"

"Nothing," Noreen said with a shrug. "Ah, it's my son's nap time. Can you guys please leave? I'm starting to feel like my house smells awful now."

Noreen grabbed an air freshener and began spraying it around her.

Veronica and Thomas quickly left, grumbling. Noreen closed the door after spraying the air freshener on them once they were on the porch. She laughed loudly after the couple left, making sure they heard her laughter.

Jonathan was growing up fast, surrounded by a huge circle of love.  He was a very healthy and strong baby, rarely sick, and his motor skills were very advanced for his age.

A few days after Jonathan's fourth birthday, Daniel called Noreen into his office. His face was very serious.

"Noreen, Mr. Trevor called me. They asked me to send an interior designer who can also design furniture to the Ontario branch," Daniel said.

"You mean Mr. Trevor Bradley, the owner?" Noreen asked, surprised. "Is there a problem at the Ontario branch?"

"Yes. Two weeks ago, a senior designer, who had just won a major project from noble society there, renovating 12 mansions and 16 private villas, suddenly had a heart attack. The problem is, Mr. Trevor himself appointed him to lead the project," Daniel said, rubbing his forehead. "So now, the team that had been so solidly assembled for the project has lost its leader, the person who played the most important role in it."

"Uh, that's bad," Noreen muttered. "Then why did you call me, Daniel? Don't tell me you're asking me to replace that senior designer? There's no way I can do it!"

"You do tend to belittle yourself sometimes, Noreen," Daniel said with a laugh. "Just listen to me. The project will be taken over, led directly by Mr. Thiery Bradley. He needs an assistant, and a few days ago, after going through a selection process, he chose your design, out of hundreds submitted by designers across our company."

"Mr. Thiery Bradley? The mysterious heir?" Noreen asked, her eyes wide. "Does he really exist?"

Daniel laughed softly. "Don't talk nonsense, you naughty girl! Of course he does. He's just been operating behind the scenes all this time because the Bradley family tradition doesn't allow a sole heir to appear in public until he's officially inaugurated."

"Uh, does that mean I have to move to Ontario?" Noreen asked again.

"Of course. You'll immediately assume the position of executive manager, reporting directly to Mr. Thiery. Your job will be to be his right-hand man throughout the project," Daniel said.

"Is that another word for secretary?" Noreen said with a grimace.

"Of course not. Mr. Thiery has two dedicated secretaries who have been with him since ninth grade. Your job is more project-specific. You'll create the designs he wants, refine them, or he might even ask you to oversee the design process until completion. You really enjoy being in the field, don't you?"

"Oh, that's interesting," Noreen said. "But what does this heir look like? I've only heard his name, but no one really knows what he looks like, right?"

Daniel laughed at Noreen's remark. "You'll have to start being more careful with what you say, Noreen, or you might get in trouble. Rumor has it that Mr. Thiery experienced several kidnapping attempts as a child, so his extended family agreed to keep his identity a secret until he ascended the throne."

"Ugh, it must be tough being the heir of a wealthy family," Noreen murmured pityingly.

"That's not just Mr. Thiery. Some of the people above him are, too, especially if there's only one heir in his generation," Daniel said. "Mr. Thiery is his parents' only child. Regardless, I heard there are specific criteria that make him the only worthy heir."

"Uh, too complicated," Noreen said, disinterested. "So, what's the technical side of things? I'll be moving to London, for how long?"

"Your first contract will be according to the project plan, one year. After that, anything can happen. Maybe Mr. Thiery likes your work and wants you to be his Beta," Daniel said.

"His... What? His Beta?" Noreen asked, confused.

"Like in werewolf stories. Ms. Thiery is clearly an Alpha, and his confidante is usually a Beta," Daniel said with a laugh. "Don't you like reading werewolf stories?"

"I didn't know you were into such fantasy stuff, Daniel," Noreen frowned.

"My daughter. She loves reading online novels and is especially fond of werewolf ones," Daniel chuckled. "Get ready, Noreen. I'll contact HR immediately about your move."

"But, I need some time to sort things out first," Noreen said nervously. "This is too sudden. I have a son now, Daniel, and he'll be nearing school age soon. I need to make sure this move doesn't affect him too much."

"You don't need to worry about that. The company provides a three-bedroom apartment, child support, including school fees or daycare, and a certified nanny. Jonathan will be fine," Daniel said reassuringly. "I think it's me and your other colleagues here who aren't doing well after you moved."

"Huh? Why?" Noreen asked, confused.

"Why? Because we can't play with Jonathan anymore!" Daniel said gloomily.

Noreen's heart melted at her boss's words. She sometimes brought Jonathan to the office when Maria or Theodore had morning classes. Usually, five minutes after arriving in her office, Jonathan would disappear, "kidnapped" by another staff member.

Noreen was grateful because not only was he physically attractive, but Jonathan also had good manners, as a child. He was friendly and polite, not a crybaby, and intelligent, so no one could help but fall in love with him.

Coming home from work, Noreen found her son eating pudding.  Sitting in his chair, he neatly spooned pudding into his pink mouth. Maria was making something on the stove, which smelled like caramel.

"Hi, baby Jon," Noreen said, kissing the top of Jonathan's head. "Chocolate pudding?"

Jonathan smiled and lifted his spoon, trying to feed Noreen the remaining pudding on the spoon. Noreen laughed and took the spoon, making Jonathan smile broadly.

"Hi, mom," Noreen said to Maria. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making grilled bananas with caramel sauce. I took Jonathan to school this afternoon, and one of the teachers gave him some. He really liked it, so I asked my colleague for the recipe and am trying to make it now," Maria replied seriously.

"Nana is going to burn the bananas," Jonathan said suddenly.

Maria looked at the bananas in the pan and sighed. "Ugh, you distracted me, Noreen, so they're a little burnt."

Noreen sat on the counter, enjoying the warmth of her family's kitchen, which had been a part of her life since she was born.  Moving meant leaving all of this behind, and who knew when they would be able to enjoy it again.

That evening after dinner, Noreen looked at her parents seriously.

"Mom, Dad, I'm moving to Ontario."