“COME HERE.”

ALAN

“Thank you for coming, Mr King.”

“You did a great job with the event. Well-done.” I say to Lincoln. He’d just launched a new business and unsurprisingly amassed a great number of attendees/supporters.

No surprise, because Lincoln is one of the friendliest, most supportive businessmen I know.

“Thank you, mate. Can’t wait to celebrate your launch with you, too.”

We shake hands on that, and I exchange half-assed greetings with a few more businessmen and acquaintances before calling it a night.

My phone rings as soon as I get into the front seat of my car. There’s no caller ID. I pick up regardless.

“Hi…” I recognize the voice instantly. I sit up straighter, my grip tightening on my steering.

“Reina?”

“Ethan wants fresh juice. There are no fruits in the fridge, and Thelma took the night off. We’re alone at home, so can you help us get some fruits? I’ll make the juice.”

I check the time, too stunned to respond at once. 9pm. Why’s my son still awake?

“Did you forget his bed time?” I ask, my voice calmer than I expected.

There’s a small pause.

“He’s not sleepy yet. I’ve tried. Look, I know it’s bad and he has to maintain a good sleeping schedule but it’s just for tonight. He’s been feeling a bit down—”

“That’s not a fucking excuse. Take my son to bed right now.”

Another pause.

“Okay, can you get the fruits though?”

I shut my eyes and try to catch my breath. This girl would really be the death of me. I’ve never had an employee send me on an errand. Ever. The first one to do it had to choose an ungodly hour of the night to do it, too.

Why the hell am I considering actually looking for a store this late?

“It’s late. He can have the fruit juice tomorrow.” I say.

I hear a whine in the background. Ethan. Since when did he love fruit juice so much?

“Please?”

“Reina.”

“Okay, okay. Sorry I asked, bye.” But her tone is bitter, leaning into anger. The call ends. I stare at my screen. Is she even supposed to speak that way to me?

For some reason, my mind flickers to how she might look right now. Her cheeks flushed with anger, her eyes shooting daggers at her screen. She’d still not look angry enough. She never looks angry enough.

I start my engine. Two minutes into the ride, I take a detour and shut off my mind. I don’t need a say from the voices in my head.

I step into the supermarket for the first time in years, getting as many fruits as I can collect.

“Fuck, I must have gotten too much.” I mutter to myself, checking the three full bags I packed.

Sighing, I start the drive home anyways.

“Welcome, boss.”

I nod at my security.

“Take out the bags in the car.” I say to one of them, walking inside. The chatter hits me before I even open the door. As soon as I open the door, someone bumps into me. Her fruity scent hits me before I can even try to guess whose soft body slammed against mine.

Reina scoots back at once. Her hair is all over the place and her uniform is shorter than usual. She’s been moving around a lot. I know because her ass moves the piece of clothing an inch whenever she takes as much as a step.

I knew I should’ve changed it the minute I’d noticed. Her creamy thighs stare up at me in mockery.

I reluctantly drag my gaze to her face.

“I’m so sorry, Sir.” She mutters, dramatically wiping at my suit. She’s struggling to catch her breath, sweaty under the cold air conditioner but still smiling wide at me.

I open my mouth to say something when my eyes meet Ethan’s, behind her. He looks as disoriented as she is, but instead of a smile on his face, his expression is blank as he watches me.

Anger stirs up within me and I face her again.

“What did I say when we spoke earlier, Reina?”

“He wasn’t—”

“What. Did. I. Say?”

She stubbornly stares blankly at me for seconds, before mumbling under her breath. “To tuck him into bed.”

“Talking to me or yourself?”

She huffs. “To tuck him into bed.” Her voice is only an octave louder. Her attitude pricks needles into my skin. I clench my jaw as I picture my hand around that slender throat, choking that attitude out of her.

This is what I get for trusting a child to take care of my my own child.

“And what are you doing?”

“I was trying! He’s not letting me catch him—”

“If you can’t get an eight year old to sleep at his appropriate bed time then you cannot be a nanny. What do you mean you’ve been chasing him around? Did I pay you to give me excuses, Reina?” I bark at her. She bites down on her bottom lip.

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care what you are. Take my son to his room right now and put him to bed. His bedtime is 8pm, it’s almost 10pm and he’s not still in bed. I will not tolerate this again. I pay you good money to follow my orders, the next time you do something else, I’ll make sure to do something drastic about it. I don’t work with emotions. I won’t listen to your pleas.”

She crossed her arms over her chest somewhere in the middle of my speech. Her eyes look glassy, but she says nothing other than nod. After a few more seconds of eye contact, she spins around and starts to walk away.

“Let’s go to bed, E.”

He turns around at once and follows her. I exhale a sharp breath. I haven’t spoken that fucking much to anyone in years. Damn, this girl’s going to unlock the worst in me.

After taking off my clothes, I decide to get a drink off the bar in the living room. I choose a Martini, filling my glass. I take a seat in front of the bar, my elbow set on the glass table.

I’ve just taken my second sip when I see her. Reina’s walking into the living room but takes a turn as soon as she sees me.

“Reina.” I call out. She stops, but doesn’t turn.

“Come here.” I order, dropping my glass.

She still doesn’t turn, “I already tucked him in bed, Sir.”

I frown. “Come here, Reina.”

I hear her inhale a deep breath, and then she swivels around with her signature smile on her face. She strides towards me, her steps almost perfectly composed. The slight shake of her fingers gives her away, though.

My legs bounce under the table as I wait. She stops in front of me, makes a show of dragging her uniform downwards. I refuse to look down.

“What’s the attitude for?”

“What attitude?” She shoots back without waiting a beat. Her tone is sassy, totally not businesslike. Does she even remember my role as her boss? Why don’t I mind it?

I want to punish her, but every suggestion that comes up in my head is also not businesslike at all.

“That attitude.” I point at her face. I manage to smoothen my tone. “Ethan has a bedtime, you’re aware of it.”

“Yes, but it was only today. And I was obviously trying to put him to sleep. He’s not automatically going to have a bad sleeping schedule because of one day.”

“Yes, but if it goes on, we can have a problem. I don’t want it to go on.”

Her expression finally softens. “Yeah, okay, I get you. I’m sorry. I’ll try to make sure he goes to bed at exactly his bed time from now on.”

I nod.

“Was he mad?”

She shakes her head no. “He said sorry.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

She smiles softly. “He said sorry to me, and to you too.”

A warm feeling spreads in my chest, and anything else I want to say hangs in my throat.

Reina chuckles softly. “He's asleep already, but you can go kiss him goodnight, if you want.”

And that’s exactly what I do.