His Conditions

~~~CAT'S POV~~~

I still can't believe that I am sitting in the most comfortable office chair I've ever had and wearing the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn when I originally planned on resigning this morning. I still have my job because my boss refused to accept my resignation for the most bizarre reason I've ever heard. And I haven't moved on to that by the way. Especially to the part where he took off my heels to replace them with these amazingly comfortable shoes just because he doesn't want to see me in pain again.

I mean, seriously, what kind of reasoning is that coming from an employer to his employee?

But in all honesty, my heart beats hard in my chest when he says that, and still can't erase the smile on my face which I tried so hard to hide but I know that I failed based on the teasing grin on my boss's devilish gorgeous face.

I was about to say something if it weren't for Daisy who suddenly came to his office. And I swear, I had that urge to wring that girl's neck when he looked at my boss coyly.

Right, Daisy, my assistant. When did an assistant get an assistant? I thought my boss was just fooling around when he said those conditions. And up until now, he is yet to fail in proving that he was not messing around with me with those conditions.

First, the heels that he threw into the trash can.

Second, Daisy, a.k.a my assistant who had taken most of my job leaving me with almost nothing to do except give her orders. Though I am not used to giving orders, she insists that I give her orders. Apparently, if our boss finds out that she is not doing her job right, and leaves me with all the work, he would fire her, which she cannot afford to happen because she badly needed the job.

Third, my boss checks me now and then if I am doing fine or if I am hurt or anything. Then he would remind me not to sit longer or stand for long. And he is doing that every fifteen minutes which is kind of freaky.

Fourth, he takes me out to my favorite keto-friendly restaurant for lunch.

I am now wondering if he is going to do this every day and until when because I am afraid that I might get used to this kind of attention that he is giving me though it still confuses me.

I looked at my wristwatch and realized that it was time for me to pick up the girls from school. I gave Daisy instructions of what though we've already finished today's work.

I gathered my things and put them inside my satchel bag and walked toward my boss's office to inform him that I am about to leave.

I knocked on the door and heard his crisp voice but what made my breath hitch was when he knew that it was I who was knocking.

"Come in, Catherine." How did he know that it was I? And for the record, this is the twelfth time that he called me by my name today.

I am completely puzzled but still, I opened the door and ignored the questions in my mind.

"Mr. Vann, it is time for me to pick up your daughters from school. May I take my leave now?" I asked while trying to calm down my nerves. He looked up at me and my face immediately heated up from his gaze.

He studied my face for a couple of seconds making me uncomfortable. "Are you sure you can still pick them up at school? Aren't you tired or in pain?" He asked for the millionth time and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him.

"I am good, Mr. Vann. I can pick them up at school." I replied.

He stared at me again as if finding out if I am telling the truth. "Okay, wait for me."

"Huh?" And for the millionth time, I am puzzled. "Y-you mean?"

"Yes, I am coming with you." He said while putting everything in his desk inside his drawer then he put on his coat. "Let's go."

My jaw dropped. What on Earth is happening?

I was startled when I felt his subtle touch on my lower back. I felt the electricity shoot all over my body and I am sure my face has now turned crimson.

He smirked at my reaction.

The nerve!

He leads me out of the office to the elevator. When we reached his car in the basement parking lot, he opened the door for me and helped me get in like a true gentleman. As if the surprise was not enough, I saw him walk around towards the driver's side. When he gets in and sits behind the wheel, I look at him quizzically and I can't help but raise a brow at him.

"You...are driving?" I asked because I have never seen him drive before. Usually, it is Stan who drives for us.

"What? Are you doubting my driving skills?" He asked with a smirk. He is enjoying my puzzlement.

I immediately shook my head. "No! It's just that...I've never seen you drive."

He didn't reply and just smiled at me with amusement. "Buckle up," he said, then he reached out for his seatbelt. I did the same.

"Are you comfortable? Do you want me to adjust your seat?" He asked again and this time, I did not resist my urge to roll my eyes.

"I am very comfortable, thank you, Mr. Vann," I said with a little irritation and I didn't bother to hide it from him. But it looks like he is enjoying it further.

"How about your back, do you want me to recline it?"

I sighed as a reply and did not look at him. Now I am certain that he is playing tricks with me.

He started driving and I just can't wait to reach the kid's school because the whole trip with him glancing at me now and then instead of focusing on the road is making me extremely conscious.

"If your feet are aching, you can take off your shoes. You can just put it back later." I heard him speak and I lost it.

I turn my head at him with a frown. Yes, I don't care if he is my boss, I am really frowning at him. "Why are you doing this, Mr. Vann?" I asked, sounding a little edgy.

His face turned solemn. "I thought I already told you the reason." He gave me a vague reply.

Yes, he did and he said that he just doesn't want to see me in pain again. Which made me more confused. So I asked him, "Why?"

His face remained solemn and his eyes focused on the road. "I don't think you are mentally prepared to hear my answer." He replied and then he turned to look at me.

Why should I be ready to hear the answer? I ask myself internally.

For a moment there, we just stared at each other. I was so drowned in his gaze that I didn't notice that he had already stopped the car and we were already outside Aenid and Faye's school.

"We're here," I snapped back when I noticed that he opened his mouth to speak.

"What?" I was confused.

He chuckled and just pointed behind me. I turned around and found that we were outside the school and saw Aenid and Faye running towards the car.

"Oh, we are here," I mumbled and without looking back at him, I opened the door and got out of the car to meet the kids.

"Mommy!" I heard Faye call out to me.

Wait, what? Did she just call me Mommy? I felt my heart skip a beat against my chest. God! I'm crazy for thinking that I loved how Faye called me Mommy. But then I saw Aenid and Faye's jaws drop while their gazes fell behind me and I swear all the blood on my face was drained out of me.

"D-daddy?"

Oh no! Did he hear Faye call me Mommy?

Wait, is it me that she was calling Mommy?

Well, there could be no one else, right? And she is looking at me.

Damn! Stop speculating Catherine! I reprimanded myself.

I saw the kids kissing their father on his cheeks awkwardly. He is already standing beside me and I noticed the adoring look coming from other parents who are picking up their children. They were adoring us?

I shook my head and felt Faye grab my hand and Aenid on my other hand. I leaned down so that they could hug and kiss me. I sort of got used to their gestures every time we would see each other. And I felt more awkward knowing that my boss, their father, is just standing beside me watching us.

I refuse to turn to look at him out of embarrassment. I am sure he is already thinking that I am assuming things. And I am sure he will eventually change his mind about me taking his daughters to school as well as picking them up. What's worse, he might be thinking of forbidding me to ever see his kids again. Why does the thought of not seeing the girls again hurt me?

We are already driving home. The girls were in the backseat and it was awkwardly silent. Fortunately, Aenid broke the silence.

"Uhm...Daddy? Are you mad?" She asked worriedly.

I looked in the corner of my eyes and saw my boss smile faintly and looked at the rearview mirror.

"Of course not, sweetheart, why would I be mad?" He replied and asked gently.

Aenid hesitated at first. I wanted to turn and look at them and comfort them, especially Faye. "Because Faye called Cat 'Mommy'. Our classmates and their parents thought that Cat is our Mommy. I was about to correct them but Faye said that she liked it. And besides, it will keep the bullies away from us. So I tolerated it."

"Bullies?" My boss and I said at once. I don't know why but the thought that someone is bullying them makes my blood boil. And I immediately felt embarrassed when I saw my boss look at me with surprise. I immediately dropped my head. I may be overstepping the line.

"Are you being bullied?" I heard my boss ask in a grave tone.

"No, we are not. But there is a kid in school who doesn't have a father that is being bullied. I am afraid that if they find out that we don't have a mother, they will start to bully us too."

My heart aches because of Aenid's words. She is just a child but she is thinking that way. I wanted to hug them but I am afraid that my boss would get mad at me. I watched him out of the corner of my eyes and noticed his grip on the wheel tightened.

After a moment, I heard him speak. "It is alright with me if you call Catherine 'Mommy'." He said and my eyes widened at him. He is already looking at me, pleadingly. "As long as it is alright with her." He continued and I felt like my heart was about to explode.

"I...I guess that's alright with me as well." I said while still looking at him and I saw him smile.

The girls in the back seat screamed in happiness. "Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, Cat!" They said and they each hugged us.

What have I got myself into?