Chapter Eight

By the time i leave work, I don't have enough energy to deal with little chatterbox at home. I'm always late arriving at Sophie's house and my daughter already eaten dinner with her aunt and cousin. Clearly Khloe isn't happy with this situation.

"When can we eat together again?" asks my daughter when i pack up her lunch while she's finishing her cereal "You are always late"

"I know let's hope it will change soon"

"I don't like your new office, I like Dave's better"

I chuckle as I put her meal box, fruit and drinking bottle into her lunch bag "Of course you like my old company better because because Dave always bribed you with a box of candy everytime he needed me to work overtime"

Khloe grins showing her bunny front teeth "I have an idea why don't you call him to ask if you can work for him again?"

"Oh? why?"

Khloe shrugs "So that you can be home early, cook dinner and eat with me"

My heart clenches as a guilty feeling creeps in. Making a mental note that i will talk about this to Mr Lysander, I turn around to face her "I'm sorry for not having time lately sweetie, I promise I'll make it up when this is over"

"When will it be over?"

I bite the inner part of my cheek not sure what to answer. Today i will hear about the result of yesterday interview with the last drop of faith I have for my CEO I'm still hoping for a miracle that a candidate has been selected "It will be over as soon as they find someone who can do what im doing at work right now, then i can go back to my normal job again, I'm not sure when but i hope it will be next week"

Khloe knits her eyebrows "Normal job" her eyes twinkle as her smile grows bigger "Does it mean you're going to work for Dave's again"

"No" I shake my head thinking about how to explain this work stuff to a seven year old to understand "I can't go back to my old company sweetheart, I have to stay in my current office but at the moment I need to do a different job for my big big boss" I emphasize the word big "And when im done, I will go back to the same job I did at Dave's company which means I will have more time For us again"

"Okay" Khloe scrunches her face "I don't like your big big boss"

"Oh what is that?"

"He sounds mean because he makes you go home late and tired everyday" she drinks the rest of the milk directly from the bowl, before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. I feel a tug in my heart, if she only knew.

Lately the idea of Khloe being my CEO daughter is getting harder to ignore, I can't push the thought to the back of my mind anymore, especially after I did my research to check Axton Lysander's background, he was taking his doctoral program at the very university when the frat party took place. But still there is no solid proof that the guy i slept with was really him, did he even go to the party that night?. And even if he was the guy what would i do exactly? telling him about the daughter he never knew existed? would the news surprise him or scare? would he not want anything to do with Khloe once he found out?. Aarrgh my head is spinning every time i think of these scenarios, for now i will just look for some more evidence while focusing on my work transition.

"You know what? I have a terrific idea" I say as I wiggle my eyebrow " Let's go to the movies tomorrow after that we can go to your favorite arcade then w can drive to Sandra's house and eat pizza until we pass out, what do you say? "

Khloe eyes instantly go wider in excitement " Yes please and ice cream! "

I laugh" I will call Sandra she's been asking us to spend the weekend in her beach house "

Before Khloe can reply the honk of her school bus blares from the street, Khloe jumps out of her seat and grab her bags, after giving me a quick hug and kisses, she dashes to the door while squealing "I can't wait for Tomorrow! "

Leaning back against my headrest, I glance at the empty desk in front of Mr Tan office. Tanya left two hours ago because she has to work tomorrow, we have an important lunch meeting and she will be the one in charge of the documentation. I'm glad they didn't assign me because of my status as a temporary secretary otherwise Khloe would raise hell .

carefully massaging my shoulders, I close my eyes. Sitting behind the computer and straining my eyes for hours is definitely not the best idea to spend Friday afternoon, but I'm determined to get all these documents done before five and prepare for my exit on time. I need my weekend.

My mind jumps to the conversation I had with Khloe this morning and her bright eyes when she heard about our plan for tomorrow. I never knew how strong parents feeling for their kids were until i had my own, that's how i actually started to accept my parents flaws in raising me, they knew what they know but it didn't mean they loved me any less.

"At least somebody is ready for the weekend"

A deep voice pulls me back to the current moment, the scent that has become familiar invades her nostrils. I open my eyes and a pair of green eyes are staring at me, prompting me to straighten my sitting position.

"And who would that be Sir?"

"The very person who was just moaning and grinning in her seat" he replies before plopping down on my desk. I unconsciously lean back creating as far as space between us. While doing my job in the past two weeks having physical contact with him or staying dangerously proximity was inevitable and now it doesn't feel like one. The smirk on the corners of his lips and the mischievous glaze in his eyes are evidence

"I was just_"

"Thinking about the plan for the weekend I know" I open my mouth before closing it again then I shrug "You're right, I did think about it just now"

"Of course im right let me guess, a candle light dinner in a five star restaurant with a potential suitor who might propose during the dessert by hiding a diamond ring inside an overpriced chocolate mousse"

I chuckle "Tempting girls would kill to have that kind of proposal, but alas my weekend will be far from romantic sir"

He raises his eyebrow slightly "Too bad, anyways i have a good news for you I guarantee it's going to be better than a romantic proposal"

To be honest I don't trust his judgement about the so called good news but I play along " I'm intrigued"

"We have a new executive assistant"

"oh wow what excellent news!"

"Yes indeed but" he pauses causing me to hold my breath "he needs two weeks to resign from his current work '

" Oh"

" Yea oh" he nods " Thus you're needed for another two weeks "

" Oh" I shudder

" I thought you liked this job?" he raises his eyebrows " I still remember you said that it's such a valuable opportunity "

" I know but_" I rake my brain to find a smart line to wriggle myself out of the coming trap " It means i will be here for four weeks, what about my probation target? six months is barely enough and now i only have five months left "

" We're going going to make few adjustments to the contract "

Another two weeks of working in this hell makes me shiver " Can i refuse this generous offer? "

He purses his lips, a wicked smile glint flashing in his eyes " You can " he then bite his lower lip urging me to look away from the distracting view

" But I wouldn't if i were you "

I swallow, is he doing what i think he's doing now? is he finally playing the chilli sauce card to prolong my torment? he'd better not.

" Is that a threat sir? " my trembling voice betray my attempt to stay brave.

" Why would i do such a thing Ms Garnet? what do i have against you? " he asks with a dangerously low tone, his green eyes are fixed on mine, piercing the last layer of courage im holding for dear life. We lock our gaze for a while as the tension between us grows thicker.

" Axton! " The staring contest between Mr Lysander and me is disrupted by the voice of our CFOs. We both turn our heads to look at Mr Tan who is striding toward us with his phone in his hand. "We've got a little problem"

Mr Lysander props himself up from my desk "What problem?"

"I just got a call Tanya had an accident on her way home"

"What! is she alright? "

" Luckily yes, just a dislocated shoulder and some bruises. But she can't leave the hospital for twenty four hours for observation "

" Thank God " I mumble

Mr Tan nods " yes I'm so glad that it's nothing serious " he shifts his gaze to Mr Lysander " But then we need someone to handle the meeting prep and to take minutes tomorrow "

Just like a helpless antelope in the Sahara, I whimpers when the two slowly turn their gazes to me, I wish i could turn my desk into tall bushes where i can hide from their stares, I'm doomed.

"I - I can't, I have a plan for tomorrow, I promise my kid to bring her_"

"You have a kid?" Mr Lysander cuts me

"Yes I do"

"Can you ask her father to babysit her for an hour?" Mr Tan asks

"No he's not around"

"Can you ask someone else, your parents maybe? or your friends? it's only a forty five minutes meeting, we won't steal more than sixty minutes of your time tomorrow, Tanya has all the documents prepared and the lunch catering set"

I want to refuse but I somehow obligated to help, have I started having an emotional bond with this job? no capital no

" And we'll pay you extra for this doubled overtime rate? Mr Tan goes on earning a glare from Mr Lysander "Plus lunch allowance of course and transport money"

My CEO scrowls deeper a faint grunt escaping his throat

"I don't know what time is the meeting?" I ask beginning to consider it, yeah I am cheap like that sue me

"twelve thirty"

I purse my lips "I will try to see if someone can babysit my girl"

"How old is she?" asks Mr Tan

"Seven"

"Ah you can bring her along if you feel like, I'm sure Tanya ordered plenty for lunch, she can eat and wait in Axton room watching cartoons or something"

"My room isn't a playground" Mr Lysander says almost growling

"Oh it's clearly not, the girl won't like your dull room either at least you have a soft sofa for her to rest if she wants to nap".

My breath hitches in my throat when the thought of Khloe meeting Mr Lysander pops up in my head, it's not that im against it but will i be ready to answer all questions when Khloe picks up the similarities between her and my CEO physical appearance? maybe I'm reading too much into this maybe no one will even notice

"That can be arranged" I murmur Mr Lysander slips his hands into his pockets, the neverending frown on his face is evidence that he doesn't like the idea at all, but he finally sighs in defeat "Fine but no breaking stuffs and no littering also no leaking on the sofa or the carpet, make sure her diaper isn't full"

"She's a toilet trained sir" I seethe earning a laugh from Mr Tan

" Don't mind our CEO miss Garnet, he's clueless when it comes to children he hates them "

" I don't hate children, I just don't like them because they tend to make a mess" Mr Lysander grumbles

I smile sweetly " Believe me sir if my girl wants to make a mess, it's not going to be your room ".