Celine POV

“Miky, please, baby. Come back here. You need to wear your socks. It’s already late.” I was a little anxious as I looked at the clock.

I will be late again today.

“No, Mommy, I don’t like going to kindergarten. Not today!”

He was running and hopping around like a little bunny. I grabbed him when he was about to jump from the sofa onto the couch. He struggled, and I tickled him. “You wanna play, huh?”

He laughed so hard, and I put him down. “How about I give you one slice of strawberry cheesecake, huh?”

His big blue eyes twinkled like they were filled with sparkling stars. “Two slices for me? This afternoon when you get off work?”

I could see how reluctant he was. I had to use this trick because he wanted me to spend more time with him, but I had to work for a living.

I nodded and gently snapped my fingers against his forehead. “Two slices today. The deal is made.” I brought his socks over. “Now be a good boy and wear them.”

“Fine!” He was still pouting when he stretched out his leg.

I quickly gathered his scattered mess and climbed the stairs, putting his toys in his room and grabbing my bag.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Lena’s number and begged, “Lena, are you there? I need help. I might be late again. Can you cover for me? I swear I’ll return the favor.”

“Alright, don’t be too late. I’ve got to go.”

She was my colleague. Being a secretary required discipline, which I lacked most of the time. Fortunately, my boss was a good and understanding person.

I checked Miky’s backpack for the last time: lunchbox, water bottle, and God! He was smuggling Bumblebee again. But if I took it away from him, there was no way to make him listen to me. I hated how I was raising him.

Zipping up the bag, I helped him with his shoelaces, and then we rushed to my car. I drove to the kindergarten.

He was sitting in the back seat, scowling as I pulled over in front of the door.

Getting out, I opened the door for him. He carried his backpack with so much dismay that I thought he’d drop it.

“Wait, baby!”

The zipper of his bag was still mid-open!? I zipped it up, didn’t I?

As I was about to pull the zipper, I saw something stuck in it! Taking it out, my heart stopped for a moment, and I forgot how to breathe.

It was a photograph.

However, it wasn’t a regular one. A man who clenched my heart was in the image. But how on earth did my son find this picture?

“Miky, what is this? Where did you get it?”

My heartbeat was throbbing in my ears. Did somebody tell him about his father?

I felt stuck between heaven and earth. My brain was so numb that I wasn’t sure what to do. I was so nervous to hear his answer.

“Mommy, are you alright? Your voice is shaking.”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah, it’s nothing. Just tell me, what is this doing in your bag?”

“This handsome guy is going to be my dad.”

What the heck?

He went on to add, "Everybody in our class has a daddy. I want him to be mine.”

I screamed internally. My heart skipped beats that could have given me a heart attack. It was hard to stand, but I had to keep a casual expression.

What was I hearing?

I let out a hysterical, sheepish laugh. “Oh, my sweet bun!” I kneeled and kissed his chubby cheeks. “We are good like this, are we not? You, me, and Granny, huh?”

I know!

I looked immensely desperate! I didn’t need anybody to mention how awkward I seemed in front of my son.

Stuffing the photo back into the schoolbag, I took him to his teacher and left immediately. My reeling mind wasn’t in this world at all, and neither was my soul, I guess. It escaped right after seeing his handsome face. The face I had avoided for four damn years.

Suppressing the dull pain in my heart, I took a deep breath to focus. I was heading to work. I needed money to raise my kid, and the older he became, the higher his expenses would rise.

I started the engine when my phone rang. It was Lena, so I picked it up instantly. A range of chaotic noises came from the other side of the line.

Lena was shouting to make sure her voice would reach me. “Oh, God! Sis, come as soon as possible. Something vital is happening over here! They called us all to the entrance gate.”

“What is that vital matter, Lena? What are all these noises for?” I panicked too.

“The company has been acquired by someone else. Mr. Holmes suddenly decided to cash out and enjoy the world in his old age. The new CEO will be here soon. Get your ass here immediately.”

It took me a few seconds to process what I had just heard.

Fuck!

“I’ll be right there. Thank you for telling me.”

“Good girl, just hurry up.”

Beep, beep!

The sound filled my car. What a day!

***

Dean POV

I was sitting in the back seat of the car. The employee background files were on my lap.

I drummed my forefinger on the image of one person only. Her pretty face was under my touch.

Celine Harper.

My ex-ruthless wife. I gritted my jaw.

How was your life without me, Celine?

At nine o’clock, we arrived at JIJO Group. All the employees were at the entrance door. The car glided to a stop and pulled over. My eyes searched for only one person, but I couldn’t see her. I frowned. My good temper depleted to zero.

Putting down the files, I looked at my lawyer. “You go first, Tim.”

He nodded and opened the door. A wave of buzzes reached me.

‘Who is he?’

An employee asked another. That was supposed to be a whisper, but I heard it clearly. However, nothing could surpass my perfect hearing.

‘I’m sure he’s one of the tycoons who bought some of the companies nearby.’

Oh, I guess this one was right. I bought all those companies to make sure I wouldn’t have disturbing rivals buzzing around my ears.

But the whisper that caught my attention wasn’t about me.

‘Where is Celine, God!’

One of the panicked secretaries asked another. They all lined up to greet and meet the new CEO. They were so tense and stiff that choked themselves on it.

Timothy had such an intense aura that made some to look away. They didn't expect us to be young. After his regal appearance, I stepped out. We strode into the luminous lobby, and everybody kept peering at us like we were some sort of alien.

“Tim, she is not around!” I murmured under my breath.

“Maybe she is late!” He answered calmly.

“Or maybe she realized and resigned before I came.”

He shook his head. “That’s not possible! Mr. Holmes kept it a secret.”

As we marched closer to the medal in the middle of the lobby floor, the vice president greeted us with a wide smile, bending a bit more than usual. Man, what was this flattery for?

“Mr. Harper, welcome to your new house.”

Well, I liked that. But I hoped this house wouldn’t treat their work as an absolute mess.

I was so busy searching among the crowd that I remained indifferent toward them. My mood soured. I furrowed my brows and shifted my eyes back to him.

“I’ll be holding a meeting in ten minutes. All directors, HR staff, supervisors, and managers are required to attend, including my secretaries. If someone fails to attend, they might bear the punishment.”

These were just casual remarks, but they all seemed startled. I gave them a cold glare and headed toward the private elevator, seeing them run to theirs.

The supervisors scattered instantly, running frantically upstairs as if their lives depended on it.

The elevator doors were about to close when it finally happened.

“Wait a minute!”

The female voice tickled my ears.

She jumped between the doors like a breeze and tripped over her heels, swaying between the air and the floor.

My heart almost stopped!

Before I knew what was happening, I grabbed her waist and pulled her tightly against my chest. That familiar vanilla scent caused heat to spread throughout my body, but I maintained my composure and looked her in the eyes.

“Let me arrive first, then throw yourself at me again.”

Hello, wifey! Long time no see!