The Rule Zephyr Made

By the end of her third day at Veyron Enterprises, Seraphina had learned that working for Caelric Veyron required more than organizational skills.

It required patience.

A lot of it.

Especially when his five-year-old son had decided she was the most important person in the building.

“Seraphina.”

She looked up from her laptop.

Zephyr stood beside her desk, holding a small notebook against his chest.

“Yes?”

“I have a question.”

“You always have a question.”

He smiled.

“Do you like my daddy?”

Seraphina nearly dropped her pen.

Again.

She looked around the quiet executive floor.

“Where did you learn to ask questions like that?”

“From television.”

“That is not an acceptable answer.”

“It is.”

She sighed.

“Your father is my boss.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

Before she could respond, the door behind her opened.

Caelric stepped out.

“What question?”

Zephyr immediately turned around.

“Nothing.”

Caelric looked at Seraphina.

She gave him a helpless expression.

“Your son is interrogating me again.”

Caelric's gaze moved to Zephyr.

“About?”

“Important things.”

“Zephyr.”

The boy smiled innocently.

Caelric walked toward them.

He was wearing a dark shirt with his suit jacket draped over one arm. His tie was loosened, making him look less like the untouchable billionaire who controlled one of the country's largest corporations.

Seraphina quickly returned her attention to her screen.

She didn't know why she suddenly felt nervous.

Caelric stopped beside her desk.

“I need you in my office.”

She looked up.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Zephyr's eyes widened.

“Are you in trouble?”

Seraphina smiled.

“I don't think so.”

Caelric looked at his son.

“She isn't.”

“Then why does she need to go into your office?”

“Because I have work for her.”

Zephyr narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Work?”

“Yes.”

“Just work?”

Caelric's expression hardened.

“Just work.”

Zephyr looked at Seraphina.

Then at his father.

“Okay.”

Seraphina followed Caelric into his office.

The door closed behind them.

She waited.

Caelric placed his jacket over a chair.

“I need you to accompany me tomorrow evening.”

“To a meeting?”

“A charity dinner.”

Seraphina opened her notebook.

“What time?”

“Seven.”

“Location?”

“I'll send the details.”

She wrote it down.

“Anything else?”

“You'll be representing the company beside me.”

Her pen stopped.

“Beside you?”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn't that usually be handled by someone from public relations?”

“It could.”

“But you want me there?”

“I do.”

She looked at him.

“Why?”

Caelric's eyes remained on hers.

“Because I trust you.”

The answer caught her off guard.

She slowly lowered her notebook.

“After three days?”

“I pay attention.”

“So I've noticed.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“You're becoming comfortable around me.”

“I think I'm becoming comfortable around your son.”

“That explains it.”

She smiled.

“Maybe.”

Caelric walked toward the window.

For a moment, he was silent.

Then he said, “There's another reason.”

Seraphina waited.

“My investors will be there.”

“I understand.”

“They'll expect me to bring someone.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“A business partner?”

“No.”

“A family member?”

He turned.

“No.”

Their eyes met.

Seraphina suddenly understood.

“A date?”

Caelric didn't answer immediately.

Her heart began beating faster.

“Mr. Veyron…”

“Caelric.”

She blinked.

“What?”

“If we're going to spend the evening together, you can call me Caelric.”

She wasn't sure why hearing his first name felt so intimate.

“All right.”

“Seraphina.”

“Yes?”

“I don't want you to misunderstand.”

She waited.

“This isn't an attempt to pressure you into anything.”

Her expression softened.

“I know.”

“Good.”

The door suddenly opened.

Zephyr walked in.

Caelric sighed.

“We were having a private conversation.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“I waited.”

Seraphina tried not to laugh.

Zephyr walked directly toward her.

“Are you going somewhere with Daddy?”

“Yes.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

His face lit up.

“It's working!”

Caelric closed his eyes.

“What's working?”

“My plan.”

Seraphina looked at him.

“What plan?”

Zephyr placed his notebook on the desk.

“I made rules.”

Caelric frowned.

“For what?”

“For you and Daddy.”

Seraphina's curiosity won.

“What kind of rules?”

Zephyr opened the notebook.

“Rule one: Daddy must smile at least three times a day.”

Caelric stared at him.

“No.”

“Rule two: Daddy can't work during dinner.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Rule three: Daddy must stop pretending he doesn't like you.”

Seraphina's face heated.

Caelric went completely silent.

Zephyr looked pleased with himself.

“And rule four…”

He paused dramatically.

“You have to stay.”

Seraphina's smile faded slightly.

“Stay where?”

“With us.”

Caelric's expression changed.

“Zephyr.”

The boy looked at his father.

“What?”

“Some things aren't your decision.”

“But I want her.”

The words were innocent.

Yet they landed heavily.

Seraphina looked at Caelric.

He looked back at her.

Something in his eyes made her chest tighten.

Not desire.

Not yet.

Something more dangerous.

Possibility.

Caelric crouched in front of his son.

“You don't get to decide who stays in someone's life.”

Zephyr's smile disappeared.

“Why?”

“Because people have choices.”

The little boy looked at Seraphina.

“Do you want to leave?”

She hesitated.

Caelric watched her carefully.

Seraphina knelt beside Zephyr.

“No.”

His face brightened.

“You don't?”

She smiled.

“I like working here.”

“That isn't what I asked.”

She glanced at Caelric.

He was watching her.

Very closely.

Seraphina took a slow breath.

“I don't want to leave.”

Zephyr smiled.

Caelric didn't.

Instead, something unreadable crossed his face.

He stood.

“Thank you for being honest.”

Seraphina rose.

Their eyes met again.

Neither looked away.

Then Zephyr suddenly grabbed both their hands.

“Good.”

He joined their hands together.

Seraphina's fingers touched Caelric's.

Neither moved.

Zephyr looked delighted.

“Now you're a team.”

Caelric looked down at their joined hands.

Then at Seraphina.

Slowly, he turned his palm and his fingers closed around hers.

Her breath caught.

It lasted only a second.

Then he released her.

“Zephyr, go to your room.”

“But—”

“Now.”

The boy sighed and walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he turned around.

“Daddy?”

“What?”

“You should smile more.”

The door closed.

Silence filled the room.

Seraphina laughed softly.

“He's very determined.”

Caelric looked at the closed door.

“He always gets what he wants.”

She smiled.

“Does he?”

Caelric turned toward her.

“Usually.”

“And what does he want now?”

His gaze settled on her.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then his voice dropped.

“You.”

Seraphina's smile disappeared.

Caelric looked almost surprised by his own answer.

Neither of them spoke.

Then his phone rang.

The moment shattered.

Caelric glanced at the screen.

“It's my assistant.”

He answered.

Seraphina stepped toward the door.

She needed air.

She needed distance.

Most of all, she needed to remember that Caelric Veyron was her employer.

But just before she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

“Seraphina.”

She turned.

He was still holding the phone.

His eyes were fixed on her.

“Tomorrow night…”

He paused.

“Don't come as my secretary.”

Her heart skipped.

“Then who should I come as?”

Caelric's gaze didn't leave hers.

“My choice.”

And suddenly, tomorrow's dinner no longer felt like a business event.