Chapter 3: Two Boys, One Girl

Belle stood in front of the elevator, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. She adjusted her blazer one last time.

"You can do this, Belle. Just be professional. Just do your job," she whispered to herself.

The elevator dinged and opened. She stepped inside, pressing the button for the top floor, which is where the Executive Suite located.

When the doors opened, she was greeted by an office space. Her new supervisor, Ms. Hoffman, gave her a quick tour and briefed her on the tasks.

"Your main responsibility is to assist Mr. Draven Blackwood directly," Ms. Hoffman explained, her voice remains low yet serious.

"He is a very busy man. He values time above everything else. He doesn't like noise, he doesn't like mistakes, and he definitely doesn't like surprises."

"Understood," Belle nodded, her pen flyed across the notebook.

"Right now, he is in a meeting. He will be out in ten minutes. Prepare his coffee...black, two sugars. And Ms. Crawford...try not to stare. He is... intimidating."

Belle swallowed hard. "Got it!"

She busied herself with organizing files and arranging the desk. Ten minutes passed like ten seconds. Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the main office opened.

A group of men in suits walked out, looking serious and nervous. And then, he walked out.

The room seemed to drop in temperature. He walked with an aura of absolute authority, tall, broad-shouldered, his expression is cold. His grey eyes scanned the room like a hawk. Every step he took commanded respect and fear, and she will never forget that entire features.

Belle froze. Her heart stopped beating for a second, then started hammering against her ribs like a drum.

No way. It can't be...

That face, eyes. and that jawline. She would recognize that face anywhere, even after five years. It was the face that haunted her dreams, the face she saw every time she looked at her children.

It was him.

Draven Blackwood stopped in his tracks. His gaze landed on her. His eyes narrowed slightly, there's a flicker of confusion crossing his features, followed by recognition. He felt the same jolt, the same pull he felt five years ago.

"Ms. Crawford or better to call you by your full name, Aurelia Belle Crawford?" he asked, his voice is deep and gravelly.

"Y-yes, Mr. Blackwood," she managed to stammer, her face turned pale. "I... I am your new assistant."

Draven stared at her intensely. Aurelia Belle. The name echoed in his mind. The woman who ran away. The woman who left only a name behind. But he said nothing, just gave a sharp nod.

"Work," was all he said before turning and walking back into his office, the door is closing shut with a definitive click.

Belle let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her legs were shaking. Oh God! What have I done? How am I supposed to work here every day?

Three days passed in a blur of tension. Belle tried her best to be professional, keeping her head down and avoiding direct eye contact, but the chemistry and the history between them can't be erased. Every time their hands brushed, or their eyes met, sparks flew.

It was Friday. The nanny texted Belle saying she wasn't feeling well and had to leave early. Since it was almost quitting time, Belle decided to bring the kids to the office to wait with her until she finished.

"Okay, listen up," she said as she led the three children into the quiet reception area. "You have to be very quiet. This is a place of work. No running, and shouting."

"We promise, Mommy!" Luna whispered loudly.

The triplets looked adorable in their little outfits. They sat on the sofa, pulling out their tablets and books, looking like three miniature adults.

Belle knocked on the CEO's door. "Mr. Blackwood, I just need to file these final reports, then I will be done for the day."

"Come in," his voice came from inside. She went in and placed the files on his desk. Draven signs documents with a furrowed brow.

Suddenly, the door to the office wasn't fully closed. Curious, Leo, Aiden, and Luna decided to go find her. They pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside.

"Mommy?" Leo called out softly. Draven looked up from his papers. His eyes widened. The pen in his hand froze mid-air.

Standing there were three children. Two boys and one girl. They couldn't be more than four or five years old. But it wasn't just their presence that shocked him. It was their faces.

They had his eyes, hair, and nose. They looked exactly like him. Like mini copies.

Belle turned around, her face draining of all colors.

"Kids! What are you doing here?"

Draven stood up slowly, and his chair scraped loudly against the floor. He walked around the desk, and his eyes never left the children. His heart pounded violently against his chest.

Leo stepped forward, tilting his head up to look at the tall man. He frowned, looking intensely confused. He looked at Draven, then looked at his own hands, then back at Draven.

He pointed a small finger at him.

“Mommy?” Leo asked, his voice loud and clear in the silent room. “Why does this man look exactly like us?”

The question seemed to hang in the air, cutting through the stillness as all eyes shifted toward the man.

Luna gasped, clapping her hands. “Wow! He looks just like us! Are you a copy machine, sir?”

Her innocent excitement only deepened the tension, her words echoed in a room that had suddenly grown too quiet.

Aiden pushed his glasses up his nose, observing Draven with a serious expression. "Statistically speaking, the probability of such resemblance without blood relation is less than 0.001%."

Draven didn't hear the last part. His head snapped toward Belle, his grey eyes blazing with a mixture of shock, anger, and realization.

"Aurelia Belle..." he whispered, the name sounds dangerous now. "Are they...?"

Bells trembled, clutching her hands together. The secret was out. There was no hiding anymore.