The Question I Couldn't Answer

Seraphina arrived at Veyron Enterprises twenty minutes earlier than usual.

She told herself it was because she wanted to catch up on work.

It had nothing to do with Caelric.

Absolutely nothing.

Yet the moment she stepped off the elevator, her eyes went straight toward his office.

The door was closed.

She exhaled slowly.

Last night had changed something.

She could still hear his voice.

If you weren't my employee, I would already be asking you out.

She had barely slept.

And now she had to spend the entire day sitting outside his office pretending those words hadn't affected her.

“Good morning.”

She jumped.

Zephyr stood beside her desk.

She placed a hand over her chest.

“You scared me.”

He smiled.

“Why?”

“Because you appeared out of nowhere.”

“I was waiting for you.”

“Why?”

He looked around before lowering his voice.

“I need to ask you something.”

Seraphina sighed.

“Why do I feel like I'm going to regret answering?”

“Do you like Daddy?”

She closed her eyes.

“You really don't give up.”

“No.”

“Why is this so important to you?”

“Because I want you to stay.”

Her expression softened.

“I like your father.”

Zephyr's eyes widened.

“You do?”

“As my boss.”

He frowned.

“That doesn't count.”

She laughed.

“That's all you're getting.”

He crossed his arms.

“Okay.”

“You're not going to argue?”

“No.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You're planning something.”

“I never plan.”

“That is the biggest lie I've heard all week.”

He grinned.

Before she could say anything else, the door to Caelric's office opened.

He stepped out.

His eyes immediately found hers.

Something passed between them.

Something neither acknowledged.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Good morning.”

Zephyr looked between them.

“Good morning, Daddy.”

Caelric nodded.

“Good morning.”

He looked at Seraphina.

“Come inside.”

She followed him.

Caelric closed the door.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then he walked toward the desk.

“I owe you an apology.”

She frowned.

“For what?”

“Last night.”

Her heart tightened.

“Why?”

“I shouldn't have said what I said.”

She stared at him.

“You didn't say anything wrong.”

“I crossed a line.”

“You didn't.”

“I almost did.”

Seraphina slowly sat in the chair opposite him.

“Caelric…”

He looked at her.

Hearing his first name again made something inside him shift.

“I don't want your position here to become uncomfortable.”

“It isn't.”

“You're certain?”

“Yes.”

“Even after last night?”

She nodded.

“Especially after last night.”

His expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

She hesitated.

“It means I enjoyed being with you.”

Silence.

Caelric leaned against his desk.

“So did I.”

Her heart skipped.

“But…”

She waited.

“I can't ask you out while you're my employee.”

She understood.

It was probably the most reasonable thing he could have said.

Yet somehow, it disappointed her.

She stood.

“I appreciate that.”

Caelric looked at her.

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Even though you look disappointed?”

Her eyes widened.

“I don't.”

“You do.”

She smiled faintly.

“You're very observant.”

“It's part of my job.”

“Being a CEO isn't a job that requires reading people's faces.”

“It should.”

A soft knock interrupted them.

The door opened.

Zephyr walked in carrying two sheets of paper.

“Daddy.”

Caelric sighed.

“What now?”

“I made something.”

He handed him the first paper.

Caelric looked at it.

Then froze.

It was a drawing.

Three people stood beneath a large red heart.

Caelric.

Zephyr.

Seraphina.

Caelric looked at his son.

“What is this?”

“Our family.”

Seraphina's breath caught.

Caelric slowly lowered the paper.

“Zephyr…”

“You said family means people who choose each other.”

Caelric went silent.

The boy turned toward Seraphina.

“She chose us.”

Seraphina didn't know what to say.

Zephyr handed her the second sheet.

It was another drawing.

This one showed a house.

Three people stood in front of it.

At the top, in crooked handwriting, were the words:

MY FAMILY.

Seraphina felt her throat tighten.

“Zephyr…”

He smiled.

“I knew you'd like it.”

She crouched in front of him.

“It's beautiful.”

“Will you stay?”

The question was innocent.

But this time, she couldn't laugh it away.

She looked at Caelric.

He wasn't smiling.

He wasn't pressuring her.

He was simply waiting.

Giving her the choice.

Seraphina looked back at Zephyr.

“I can't promise forever.”

His face fell.

“But…”

She gently touched his shoulder.

“I can promise I won't leave just because things get complicated.”

His smile returned.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Zephyr threw his arms around her.

She hugged him.

Over his shoulder, she saw Caelric watching them.

His expression was impossible to read.

But his eyes were warm.

Very warm.

Later that morning, Seraphina returned to her desk.

She had barely opened her laptop when Caelric walked out of his office.

“Seraphina.”

“Yes?”

“I need to change your schedule.”

She frowned.

“Why?”

He handed her a document.

She read it.

Then looked up.

“You're promoting me?”

“I want you to become my executive secretary permanently.”

She stared at him.

“You're serious?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you're good at your job.”

She smiled.

“That's all?”

His gaze held hers.

“No.”

Her smile faded.

He lowered his voice.

“Because I want you beside me.”

Her heart pounded.

“Caelric…”

“I know what I said.”

He stepped closer.

“And I meant it.”

She looked down at the document.

Then back at him.

Before she could answer, Zephyr appeared at the end of the hallway.

“Did she say yes?”

Caelric looked at him.

“No.”

Zephyr frowned.

“Why not?”

Seraphina laughed despite herself.

Caelric shook his head.

“Go play.”

Zephyr crossed his arms.

“No.”

“Zephyr.”

“I need to know.”

Seraphina looked at the little boy.

Then at Caelric.

She had come to Veyron Enterprises for a career.

She had expected an intimidating boss.

She had not expected a little boy who wanted her to stay.

And she definitely hadn't expected to want the same thing.

She looked at Caelric.

“I'll accept.”

Zephyr cheered.

Caelric's expression softened.

“Good.”

Then he leaned slightly closer.

“But there's one condition.”

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

His eyes held hers.

“From now on, when we're alone, stop calling me Mr. Veyron.”

Her heart fluttered.

“What should I call you?”

His smile was slow.

“Caelric.”

Zephyr grinned from across the hallway.

“That's what I call him when I'm in trouble.”

Seraphina laughed.

Caelric sighed.

And somehow, for the first time, the three of them looked less like a CEO, his secretary, and his son.

They looked like the beginning of something neither Caelric nor Seraphina was ready to name.