Unexpectedly His

Annalyn’s Point Of View

“Mummy?”

The soft voice stopped me cold.

I turned from the counter to find a little boy, maybe three or four years old standing just tall enough to peek over the edge of the counter, he stared at me with wide, expectant eyes. His cheeks were flushed from the heat outside, his curly brown hair slightly tousled. But it was the excitement and certainty in his voice that truly shook me.

“I… I think you’ve made a mistake, sweetheart,” I said gently, kneeling a little to meet his gaze. “I’m not your…”

“Noo–you are my mummy!” he chirped, smiling proudly. “Daddy said you travelled, why is mummy here?”

My heart skipped. Something about his eyes, that smile, it all felt strangely familiar in a way I couldn’t name. Still, I forced a kind smile, trying to stay composed. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re a very sweet boy, but I can assure you I’m not…”

“Nolan!”

The voice hit us like a thunder storm.

The little boy… Nolan froze immediately and turned his head.

“Daddy, mummy’s back” Nolan said beaming

And the moment I looked up my eyes met a pair of dark brown eyes.

The stranger stood frozen at the doorway, he was tall and imposing in a dark tailored suit that clung to his broad frame like it had been made just for him. Sharp jaw, piercing eyes, and an energy that pulled the very air in the room toward him.

He stared at me like he’d seen something strange.

And I couldn’t look away. Then before I could hold myself back i muttered

Oh. My. Fucking. World

As if he heard me, he blinked immediately, then without as much as a word to me he walked briskly toward the obviously excited boy. “Nolan,” he said again, firmer this time, though his gaze briefly flicked back to me. “Let’s go.” He reached for Nolan’s hand but he turned to me and stretched out his free hand

“Mummy… mummy come with us!”

“Daddy, mummy’s not coming” he whined

“Nolan,” he said quietly… gently, but with finality. He took the boy’s hand again, this time firmer and began to lead him away.

I stood frozen, my thoughts swirling like a storm I couldn’t see through. In a minute they were out of the door but the boys crying voice vibrated in my ears.

Ari slid up beside me. “uhh… Okay… what was that?”

“I… I don’t know,” I breathed.

“Do you know that kid? That man?”

“Of course not Ari,” I said again, but the word didn’t sound convincing. Not even to me.

Before I could defend myself some more, the intercom buzzed, and Mr. Collins’s unmistakable voice grated through the speaker like nails on glass.

“Annalyn Smith. To my office. Now!.”

“What does that pervert want from you now?” Ari asked slamming her register shut.

I sighed slamming my own register shut “I wish I knew” then I turned to Ari. “Cover for me?”

She nodded, but her concern was written all over her face.

The walk down the hallway to Mr Collins’s office felt like the route to judgement, today had been a hand full I didn’t need more of Mr Collins’s hostility and advances.

I stood at the door wondering if I should just turn back and risk getting fired from the only job I could hold down, i exhaled before pushing the door open and walking in.

“You called for me, sir?” I asked as I stepped into Collins’s office, my voice steady even though my nerves weren’t.

“Come on in, Annalyn. I don’t bite,” he said, voice low and thick with suggestion.

I hesitated, then stepped in properly and shut the door behind me.

He stood up ,walked round his desk and stopped in front of it, leaned in, hands in his pockets as he tapped his feet on the floor in a rhythm. “Have you thought about what I asked?”

My stomach turned. I already knew what he meant. He’d been making advances for months, pressuring me under the guise of “professional opportunities.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I’ve already told you,” I said quietly. “I can’t be your mistress.”

His expression darkened.

“Can’t? Or won’t?” he asked, voice dipped in challenge.

I took a cautious step back. “Please, Mr. Collins. I just want to do my job…”

“And you think you’ll keep that job by continuing to say no to your boss?” he snapped. His voice lowered to a dangerous pitch. “You act like you’re irreplaceable. Like you didn’t beg for this position.”

I swallowed hard. Scared to utter a word because he was right, this job meant everything to me and I couldn’t risk losing it.

He sprang to his feet again and took another step forward, and his hand twitched, like he was going to reach for me.

“You should be thanking me, Annalyn,” he sneered. “Do you know how many girls would jump at the chance to be where you are? Throw themselves at me for half of what I’ve offered you?”

I still didn’t answer. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

He took one more step, this time becoming too close now. I wasn’t prepared for his next move as one of his hands went up in the air,

But

“MOMMY!”

The voice cut through the air like a gunshot.

We both froze.

A small thud followed, then the sound of hurried footsteps and then a mini knock rattled the office door.

“Daddy, I swo her! She went in! Mommy! come to Nolan”

Collins’s scowl deepened. “What the…”

But the door swung open before he could even reach it.

And there stood the little boy from earlier… Nolan…sprinting toward me.

“Mommy!” he cried, latching onto my legs like a lifeline.

Behind him, in the doorway, stood the man from before.

His sharp gaze scanned the room. His eyes locked briefly on me, then dropped to where Nolan clung to my skirt… and finally landed on Mr. Collins.. still standing far too close.

The silence was suffocating.

“I will need to borrow this lady briefly,” The boy’s father said coolly, stepping into the room.

Collins blinked, confused. “Uhh… Mr Grey.. but..”

“No buts..,” the man said firmly, not even sparing him a second glance.

I didn’t hesitate.

I peeled Nolan’s arms gently from my legs, then took his hand and followed the stranger out, leaving behind the tension, the threats, and whatever twisted intentions Mr. Collins had been trying to execute before the interruption.

I didn’t know where we were going.

But at that moment, anywhere was better than here.