It has been a week of torture. I don't know what to do with the newfound fact that Ashton Knight is actually the guy in that frat party. It's hard to think clearly since he has been hovering around my space lately, physically and mentally. And no, it's nothing romantic. This freaking temporary work is an absolute moron since it's more a job for two instead of one! That stingy asshole. I have to make sure Chloe doesn't inherit that trait.

"With all due respect, sir. How will I get all these reports, confirmation emails, and meeting preparation done in forty minutes?" I frown when my boss tells me about the internal meeting being moved to the morning slot. "The last time I checked, I still had two hands and ten fingers."

"By stop counting your body parts and do your job of course," Ashton Knight answers with his stoic face, eyes still on the paper in his hand.

I let out a deep breath, feeling defeated. With the pile of papers I need to shred by the end of the day, I trudge out of the room. Then his voice stops me.

"And Charlotte, can you stay back a bit this evening? The meeting with Mr. Remington starts a bit later today, and I'd like you to be around in case I need something.""

"I'm sorry but I can't today."

"Why not?"

"I promised Chloe I would be home on time tonight. For once."

Ashton raises his eyebrow. "Doesn't she have a nanny?"

I would snort if I didn't remember he was my boss. That kind of thing does not exist in my family. My mom will make sure Chloe is taken care of by a family member or a family friend she can trust while I'm away. She's always so nervous about how the world has become and how pedophiles are lurking around to target kids. Sophie and I even had to argue with Mom when we decided to send our kids to a public school.

"Unfortunately, no. Since I always got home late in the past few weeks, she had to stay with my sister until her bedtime. But today I need to pick her up on time." I hug the files against my chest while biting the inner part of my cheek. "I will make sure you will have all the files ready. The ones that you possibly need, too, to be on the safe side."

This is the first time I say no straight to his face. For a brief moment, I'm sure he's going to pull the ghost chili card again, but the man just stares at me for a few seconds, and then he nods. "Very well. That'll work."

Okay, I'm not expecting that. How does he give up that easily? Isn't he the infamous Knight who is good at pushing his staff members to the edge of their sanity? Or did he get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

Or maybe, just maybe, he is becoming soft because I've mentioned Chloe? Does Chloe have effects on him already? Does he even suspect anything? No, there is no way he knows that he has a daughter. I'm reading too much into this.

I know I need to tell him eventually. He has a right to know. Chloe has a right to know. But how do I approach this situation? How do I even begin? Maybe when I bring in his 10 A.M coffee next time, I can say, "Your coffee, sir. And oh, did you know that today's fun fact is about a broken condom?" Or maybe something like, "Your expresso, sir. I hope it's strong enough for you to carry on with the rest of your day after you hear this."

And what about Chloe? How will I bring the news that will change her life forever? She grew up believing that her father was my college sweetheart, Ethan Watkins. How does it change to Ashton Knight in one night? And now that her ghost father has come back from the dead, it might complicate things even more. Especially after I agreed to have another lunch with him, again.

Yes, I'm meeting Ethan today. And yes, I still remember that he's married. It's just a friendly lunch considering we're just two friends who share our past and try to reconnect —again, as friends, especially after the bitter state we had when we parted. Or maybe I just need closure even though I'm not sure if it's still relevant to our current situation. We both have moved on, right?

"Hey, Char, a little change for today's plan. Meet me at the Mexican restaurant instead of at the coffee shop. I have everything set up; the reservation is under my name. And, I will be tied up in a client meeting in the next few hours. I might not be able to answer a text or a phone call. See you there at lunch," Ethan's voice message plays on my phone, and I sigh. I know why he didn't tell me sooner about the change of venue; he wants to make sure I don't have room to wriggle myself out of the arrangement. Yep, definitely the same Ethan.

Once I'm done with my list-to-do before lunchtime, I grab my bag and head to that old stucco building at the corner end of this business district. It stands out against those tall buildings yet the city decided to keep it for some reason. I've been told that the restaurant has been there even before this area was turned into a business center, way before I was born into this world.

Ethan hugs me and gives me a peck once I arrive. It was innocent, but his scent throws me back to the old days when he was still the center of my universe. It feels so foreign now, yet it awakens something in me that has been buried for so long. The familiarity. The nostalgia.

After we order our meals, we start with a light convo about our weeks. Talking to him is always easy, something I missed the most from us. We jump from one topic to another effortlessly, and once he starts asking about my daughter, the devil is out of its lease. I will never get enough of telling people about my girl. What can I say? I'm a proud mother.

"I'd love to meet Chloe someday," Ethan says, his eyes twinkling as the words escape his lips.

"You would?" I ask, a bit taken by surprise. I mean, he's married and we used to be lovers. Meeting his ex's daughter will be a little bit scandalous, won't it? Because it means we need to make another appointment to meet up. What will his wife think about this? Or will he bring her along? Ugh, I don't even want to think about how awkward it will be.

"Of course. She's your daughter; she's important to you."

"Okay," I reply, trying hard not to read too much into his answer. He's just being nice, right?

Ethan is still not wearing the ring, and my curiosity is through the roof right now, but asking him again isn't an option. The last time we met, he sent the message loud and clear that he didn't want to talk about it. And since he's been avoiding the very topic today, I know enough to shut up and swallow the lump of curiosity that is stuck in my throat.

Our next topic revolves around how he started his career after graduation. His mother, sadly, passed away in the same year of his graduation and it was when he started his new life in this city, met his wife, and got married. But the way he keeps dodging my questions about his wife is killing me. It urges me to keep glancing at his left ring finger now and then. I swear I don't do it deliberately because I don't want to make things weird, but I just can't help myself.

And of course, Ethan notices that. He rubs his ring finger with his thumb as he purses his lips. "We're going through a divorce right now."

The fork slips off my fingers, creating a sharp clinking sound when it hits the plate. "Sorry. What did you say?"

Ethan sighs, the hurt now visible in his eyes. "Our marriage has been rough since we lost our son a few years ago. We agreed that it's time to call it a day."

"Oh, Ethan..." 

"The death of our child drifted us apart. After a series of marriage counseling, we just can't go back to where we started it. Maybe we both just can't get past the mourning state." His jaws clench as he explains further, and I know it's uncomfortable for him to share this.

My mouth opens and closes a few times but I can't muster any words. If anything, Ethan deserves to be happy after what life has thrown at him in the last several years. My heart aches for him, feeling his pain. No parents should see their children die. In silence, I extend my hand and wrap my fingers around his, answered by him squeezing them back.

"Thanks, Char. We did try. Very hard. But it's just... not there anymore," he mumbles. "And it's a good thing that we bumped into each other again. It's something they call divine intervention, maybe?"

I smile at him as an answer.

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