This uncertainty wears me off more and more every day. By the time I leave work, I don't have enough energy to deal with my little chatterbox at home. I'm always late arriving at Sophie's house and my daughter's already eaten dinner with her aunt and cousin. Clearly, Chloe 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're always late now."

"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. Dave always bribed you with a box of candy every time he needed me to work overtime."

Chloe grins, showing her bunny front teeth and a missing tooth next to them. "I have an idea. Why don't you call him to ask if you can work for him again?"

"Oh? Why?" 

Chloe 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. Knight, I turn around to face her. My hands clutch the edge of the granite countertop while I lean on it. "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 more about the result of yesterday's 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 I'm 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."

Chloe knits her eyebrow. "Normal job?" Her eyes twinkle as her smile grows bigger. "Does it mean you're going to work for Dave again?" 

"No." I shake my head, thinking about how to explain this work stuff for 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 it's done, I will go back to the same job I did at Dave's company. Only, my new boss's name is going to be Max. And it means, I will have more time for us again." 

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

"Oh? Why is that?"

"He sounds mean because he makes you go home late and tired every day." 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 Chloe being my CEO's daughter is getting harder to ignore. I can't push the thought to the back of my mind anymore. Especially after I did my homework to check Ashton Knight'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 him shitless? Would he not want to have anything to do with Chloe once he found out? Or would he demand shared custody? Aarrgh. My head is spinning every time I think of all 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, we can drive to Sandy's house and eat pizza until we pass out. What do you say?"

Chloe's eyes instantly go wider in excitement. "Yes, please! And ice cream!"

I laugh and bob my head. "I'll call Sandy. She's been asking us to spend the weekend in her beach house."

Before Chloe can reply, the honk of her school bus blares from the street. Chloe jumps out of her seat and grabs 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 seat headrest, I glance at the empty desk in front of Mr. Tan's room. Tanya left two hours ago because she has to work tomorrow. We have an important lunch meeting, and she will be the one who is in charge of the documentation. I'm glad they didn't assign me because of my status as a temporary secretary, otherwise, Chloe would raise hell.

Carefully massaging my shoulder, I close my eyes. A moan escapes my lips as the tension gradually leaves my muscle. 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 Chloe this morning and her bright eyes when she heard about our plan for tomorrow. The thing about being a mom is that when you see your child happy, it directly affects your own mood. I never knew how strong parents' feelings 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 my 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 again, creating as far as space between us. While doing my job in the past two weeks, having physical contact with him or staying in dangerous proximity was inevitable, but it was all under professional circumstances. 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 I'm right. Let me guess. A candlelight dinner in a five-star restaurant with a potential suitor, who might propose during the dessert by hiding a huge 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 good news for you. I guarantee it's going to be better than a romantic proposal."

To be honest, I don't trust his judgment 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."

"Yep. Oh." He nods. "Thus, you'll be needed for another two weeks."

"Oh." I shudder. 

"I thought you liked this role." 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 to make a few adjustments to the contract."

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

He purses his lips, a wicked glint flashing in his eyes. "You can." He then bites his lower lip, urging me to look away from the distracting view.  "But I wouldn't do it if I were you."

I swallow. Is he doing what I think he is doing now? Is he finally playing the ghost chili card to prolong my torment? He'd better not. 

"Is this a threat, sir?" My trembling voice betrays my attempt to stay brave.

"Why would I do such a thing, Ms. Garnett? What do I have against you?" he asks with a dangerously low tone. His green orbs are fixed on mine, piercing the last layer of courage I'm holding for dear life.

We lock our gaze for a while as the tension between us grows thicker.

"Ashton!" The staring contest between Mr. Knight and me is disrupted by the voice of our CFO's. 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. Knight props himself up from my desk. "What problem?"

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

"What?" I shriek. "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 also glad that it's nothing serious." He shifts his gaze to Mr. Knight. "But then we need someone to handle the meeting prep and to take minutes tomorrow."

Just like a helpless antelope in the Sahara, I whimper when the two lions slowly turn their gazes to me. I wish I could turn my desk into tall bushes where I can hide from their scrutinizing 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. Knight 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-minute 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 open and close my mouth like a clownfish gasping for water. I want to refuse but I feel 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. Knight. "Plus lunch allowance, of course. And transport money." 

My CEO scowls deeper, a faint grunt escaping his throat.

"I don't know. What time is the meeting?" I ask, beginning to consider it. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. Sue me.

"Twelve thirty."

I purse my lips. "I'll try to call around, to see if someone can babysit my girl."

"How old is she?" asks Mr. Tan.

"Seven."

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

"My room isn't a playground," Mr. Knight says, almost growling.

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

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

"That can be arranged," I murmur.

Mr. Knight slips his hands into his pockets. The never-ending 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 stuff and no littering. Also, no leaking on the sofa or the carpet. Make sure her diaper isn't full."

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

"Don't mind our CEO, Miss Garnett. 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. Knight grumbles.

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

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