"So you and your boss had a thing?" Martha questioned, with one eyebrow raised. I just got back from the diner and I'm here in her house to get Avery. She and I was having tea in the dining room.

"A thing? No!" I protested immediately. "I just thought that it is very weird."

Martha raised an eyebrow. "Weird? He likes you, that's why."

I let out a scoffed "Don't jump into some conclusions, Martha. Maybe he is just being nice."

"And that is the problem. He is not nice. Only at you." She crossed her arms. "Did you flirt with him?"

"No." I frowned at her question. "I am a woman with dignity, Martha. I am not that desperate to flirt with my boss."

"There's nothing wrong with flirting the boss." She laughed, playfully slapping my arm. "What if he really does like you, yeah? That's so romantic!" She squealed.

I chuckled. "What's romantic in that situation? I have a daughter, Martha."

"So what? That is what makes you amazing, Eleina. You raised a great child on your own. I'm sure he will look up to you once he finds out that are a mother."

"The time that he finds out that I'm lying to him, he is gonna fire me." I reasoned out, letting out a deep sigh as I turn my eyes to my daughter who is watching cartoons quietly.

"But you cannot hide her forever." She stated. "You already said it. You and your boss are being mutual to each other meaning, the chances that he might discover you more as well as Avery. You have to very careful."

She's right. "If I let Zephyr and I become closer. He might accidentally find out about my daughter. And that will make me lose my job."

Martha let out a sigh and leaned back. "You know, it is actually a rubbish rule in that job of yours that you are not allowed to be married or have a child. That's nonsense."

I shrugged and chuckled. "Beats me." I mumbled before adding. "He even told me to call him by his first name."

"What?!" She gasped, with a shock face. "Oh my, that is one freaking not normal. He is into you, Eleina. Believe me!"

"Lower down your voice, damn it." I grunted at her, covering her mouth. I don't want Avery to know about this.

"Seriously, that means something, Eleina. He likes you." She urges.

"He doesn't even know me." I pointed out.

"That is why he is making a move on you. He wanted to know you more!" She clapped her hands like she is the one in my place. "Sweet heavens, you are one lucky girl. Zephyr Cloud is a billionaire! One of the most powerful Bachelor in the city and he is also one of the most dangerous one of you mess with him."
"I know about that one, but it's impossible that he likes me." I murmured, crossing my arms.

"But admit it, Eleina. You have a crush on your boss." She teased, pinching my sides. "Come on, tell me the truth!" She chanted, with a laugh.

I blocked her hand from pinching me and groaned. "He is good lucking. But I don't have a crush on him." I half lied. He really is handsome and I do have a little crush on that man

"Lies." She rolled her eyes. "You two might have a chance. How romantic does boss and employee love stories are."

"Shut up. Avery might hear you." I slapped her arm and stood up. I turn my attention to Avery and thankfully she is still watching cartoons with Lindsay. They are laughing at the show.

I sigh and ran my hands through my face. "Avery is growing up, she needs to know about this."

"No. She's only 5 years old. She is too young to be dragged with my problems." I replied, sighing and clearing my throat. "She doesn't have to endure like me. I would rather take all the problems and weight on my shoulders as long as she is living the life that every child deserves too."

Martha clapped her hands and smiled. "You know, you can win the best hero awards." She cracked a joke causing the both of a laugh. "How I wish that you will find your man. The right man for you."

I crinkled my nose and shook my head. "I guess that there is no right man for me anymore."

"You don't know." She chanted, smirking. "Someday, you will regret that you said that."

A loud laugh escaped from me. "Just because you have the perfect husband that doesn't mean that I can't have a perfect family. Because I will." I spoke with determination. "I will give all my love to Avery. It's us against the world."

"Yeah, yeah." She playfully messed my hair before standing up and walking somewhere. I as well head towards the kids who are laughing at what they are watching.

"Hey cutie." I kissed Avery's forehead and sat next to her.

She smiled as she leaned her body on mine as she continued watching with Lindsay. "How is school?" I questioned, combing Avery's hair with my fingers.

"Great, Momma." She replied. "Lindsay and I helped our teacher when her books fell."

I laughed "That's good. Lindsay, is Avery doing good in school?"

"Yes, Aunt Eleina. Someone gave her a flower today too." Lindsay spilled with a childish giggle.

I faked a gasp. "Really? What's his name?"

"Philip." Lindsay blurred out causing me to laugh even louder.

"Hey!" Avery pouted and glared at her friend.

"Where's the flower?" I asked, looking at my daughter. "You should have kept it."

"I threw it away." She mumbled, not looking at me.

"You threw it away? Why?!" I am getting excited at this goes on. This is the first time I heard that Avery had an admirer. Well, my daughter is very beautiful so I am not surprised.

"I don't need it, Momma." She whined. "Who needs a rose anyway from a guy?"

"Avery, that is not nice. When someone gives you something even if you don't like it, you have to accept it and say thank you." I lectured her.

Avery stood up on the couch we are sitting at faced me. "But Momma, when Ivan gave you a flower at home, you just threw it away as well."

Oh.

Jeez, I shouldn't have done it in front of her. Well, that did happened when Ivan came into our apartment and gave me a bouquet of roses but I just threw it away the second he left.

Now I don't know what to say to her. "Momma is different, Avery." I told her softly. "You shouldn't copy what Momma is doing. Okay?"

Avery nodded and went back to watching. I sigh and left the kids back to what they are doing. Somehow, my actions does leave something for Avery. I don't want her to grew up hating men and I know someday that she will really be curious about her Dad. That she will start longing for a man's love.

But there is no way I will let that happen. She will grew up like a normal kid without any longing. I will do everything for that.

-------

Later at the club, I didn't use the entrance at the back where Zephyr told me to enter. I don't want any special treatment anymore. I need to start to distance myself so he won't find out more about me.

I need this job so bad.

I am tired of looking for new jobs that won't even make me and Avery live.

And my salary here is just perfect.

Rose helped me with my makeup and the dress that I am wearing for the show. I already practiced what I will be singing later on as well.

I will be singing in stage in eight minutes so I am readying myself near the stage. I am actually avoiding Zephyr right now. But it seems that fate is cooperating with me and we still haven't bump to each other since the whole hour that I'm here. Well, I haven't left the staff room since I arrived and there is no way that he'll go there just to see me.

I am muttering some prayers every time I go walk through the pathways because there is a chance that he is there as well.

I was inhaling and exhaling deeply as I wait for my turn to sing. Ara is the one that is singing at the moment and there are people who are really admires her and listens when she is singing.

"You ready?"

"Oh!" I jumped in shock, hearing Kyle's voice beside me. "Shit. Do not do that again!" I groaned and punched his arm hardly.

Kyle laughed at my reaction and gave me a questioning look. "Why do you look so tensed right now?"

"I'm not!" I slapped his hand away from me. "Just don't scare me like that."

Kyle raised an eyebrow and seems like there is a huge question mark that is in his face. "I didn't scare you. I just asked if you are ready."

I cursed silently and took a deep breath once again. "What are you doing here anyway? You are not my partner tonight."

He shrugged and placed a hand in his pockets. "Nothing. Just want to check you out." He murmured. "And it seems like you are very quiet right now. The boss is even looking for you a while ago."

"He told you?"

"No." He chuckled. "I just assumed that he is looking for you."

I punched him again and harder this time. I am not in the mood to crack some jokes with him right now.

"Ouch! You can punch hard, lady." He winced, rubbing the area on his arm where I punched him. "Jeez, Zephyr is really looking for you, you know."

"Haha, lies." I faked laughed and looked away.

"Yeah, lies." He sigh in defeat, as he crinkle his nose.

But where is he anyway? "Where is the boss anyway?" I asked, out of curiosity.

"Upstairs in the VIP lounge. All of his best buds are here so he might call you later and assign you there to assist." Kyle mentioned. "And the best view to see your performance later is up there."

"Shut up." I hissed. "The boss doesn't like me."

"I'm not saying anything that he likes you though." He muttered quietly and that made me even punch him even harder than before.

"Ouch!" His body blended because my fist landed on his stomach. "Damn, why a hot headed? I am just joking! Jeez! That hurts!"

At somehow, I can't help but laugh as I see his crippled face. "Serves you rights." I sticker my tongue out at him and turned away.

"Sadist." He muttered but that made me just laugh more. "You're lucky your pretty tonight."

It was already my turn to sing.

"Good luck." Ara winked at me before passing the microphone to me.

I gripped the handle tightly before I could stepped on the stage.

The spotlight is on me now. I have to be ready. I don't know how but I am trying to make myself comfortable with people watching me and I have get used to it.

When I heard the music starts, I started going along with the rhythm and started humming.

Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

Blue moon
You knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
And when I looked to the moon it turned to gold

Inhale. Everyone is really watching me.

Blue moon
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
And when I looked the moon had turned to gold

Blue moon
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

Blue moon
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

When the song ended, everyone started to clap. I smiled slightly and bowed my head before leaving the stage. I should get ready for my next song. I ran down the stairs and there was Kyle clapping.

"You never fail to amaze me." He stated.

I groaned and shakes my head. "Shut up."

"Ouch, I'm here supporting you always but you always break my heart. " he dramatically stated.

Every time he is making such statements like that just made me automatically roll my eyes. "Fuck off, Kyle." I hissed but of course it's just a joke. I started walking off towards the staff room again. Since I will be singing again,  I don't have anything to change back to my waitressing uniform.

"Hey Eleina!" I turned to see Dianne running towards me. She just came from outside.

"Yeah?"

She stopped in front of me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Today is my birthday actually so I was wondering if you want to come with me and the girls to have a little night out after our shift? That would be four in the morning."

Four in the morning? I can't. Avery might go looking for me and she had class. I need some rest too.

"Um, I would really love to but I can't." I bit my lower lip and made a solemn look.  "I'm sorry. I have an important thing to do by morning. You girls have fun."

Dianne pouted in disappointment. "Come on, Eleina. It's just one time." She said in a very pleading voice.

I let out a weak laugh. "I really can't, honey. I will make it up to you. Happy birthday."

"You really sure?" She asked again.

I nodded this time. "Yeah. You girls have fun."

"Alright." She shrugged and then tapped my shoulder before leaving the room. Now I'm alone here. The others are doing their own jobs so I'm the only one at rest. Well, I'm fine with that. Since I'll be back up to that stage in a few minutes.

I just made time to arrange my makeup. I think I need to buy some nice lipsticks so I could look more presentable. I kept on looking at myself in front of the mirror and didn't noticed the newcomer.

"You should join them and have a little break from work."

I turned my attention quickly to the person who just spoke but it's kind of obvious who it was already.

"Mr. Cloud." I mumbled, trying to make myself comfortable but I'm feeling quite the opposite. His presence is making me conscious. I cleared my throat before I looked at him through the vanity mirror in front of me.

He was leaning his side at the doorframe as he looks at me. Those daring freaking eyes just makes me want to melt.

I cleared my throat and gather up all of my courage to talk. "Why are you here? Men is not allowed in here. You made the rules yourself. Don't go breaking it."

Zephyr stepped forward as he fully entered the staff room. Jeez, I'm lucky that the others are not here. He stood just a meter behind the chair that I'm sitting at and glance at me through the mirror as well.

"Are you just gonna stand there and look at me?" I raised an eyebrow and rolled my eyes.

"What's with the temper?" He spoke, huskily and cleared his throat.

I sigh and shook my head. "None of your business, Mr. Cloud. Please leave. I don't want any issues to happen when someone sees you in here with me."

His forehead frowned realising my temper. "Why? Is someone giving you a cold shoulder? Which one of them?"

"No one!" I can't help but drop my first on the desk causing to make a thud sound. "Seriously, why do you even care? You're just our boss."

Okay, temper Eleina. Yes, he is your boss respect him.

"Is something wrong, Eleina? It is really annoying that you are back on calling me 'Mr. Cloud' because I already told you to call me by my name. And you didn't enter using the entrance at the back where you don't have to line up outside and be checked by our bouncers."

"Nothing is wrong, Mr. Cloud." I tried to piss him off. "I am one of your employee so it's normal to use the place what the others use. I don't want to be treated like I'm special."

Zephyr frown deepened and doesn't look really happy at my kind of way I'm talking to him. "Who fed you up with these kinds of bullshits, Eleina? Is it Kyle? Or is the girls?"

"No one." I spat but lowering my tone. "Don't talk to me like you know me. You are my boss. It's just right that I will respect you and I am not allowed to talk to you unless it's about work. So please, Mr. Cloud...treat me like the others. Don't give me any special treatment."

Zephyr remained silent. He didn't even open his mouth to speak. All you can bear right now is our breathing. He was just watching my expression like he is reading me. I blinked a couple of times before I broke the silence. "I-I will go back to work now, Mr. Cloud." I bowed head and head out of staff room.

Jeez, what did I said back there? I don't want him to get angry at me but this is the only way so he won't come in my life. He might get curious at me and made me investigate. Many thing is possible to him so I want to be safe. And this is the safe way I know. Distance myself from him because...I'm sure he is very confused right now. We might be building up some friendship but we have to maintain it like that. Or not even. I have to stick it to my mind that he is my boss.

And having relationship with your co workers is forbidden in this club.

I have to maintain myself.

I got back to the club and just waited for my turn to sing. I didn't put my attention back to Zephyr and tried shrug everything off.

I have to do this for my daughter.

........

"Hey Momma, can I have the rainbow pancake?" Avery grabbed my attention while she points at the menu list. I removed my eyes from the newspaper that I was reading and told the waitress our orders. We are both having breakfast in a nearby restaurant. I'm not in a mood to cook something so I just took her here so we could bond a little.

Today is Sunday so me and Avery went out on a date. I brought her to the restaurant not too far from the apartment. And she loved it here anyway. 

It's been 2 weeks since the last conversation I had with Zephyr at the staff room. Too long, I know. But it's kind of obvious that I am avoiding him any possible way that I can. The others didn't noticed it yet but I'm not planning on telling them. Well, Kyle...being annoying as ever, he knows what is happening. He is bugging me on telling him what happened but I kept my mouth shut.

I don't want others to know about my decision.

Actually, he didn't really come at the club for almost a week now. He didn't show himself at all so I don't know what is going on. There are chance before that we could bump at the club but of course, I would change direction where I am going or I would act like I didn't even saw him. If this is a game, well...Zephyr is winning. He is really being cold and not just to me. Honestly, had fired so many people already in the past two weeks.

But it's better this way.

After our breakfast, Avery and I walked through the street first just strolling around. Kids are always excited at everything.

"Momma, do you think we should get a puppy?" Avery asked all of a sudden.

"A puppy?"

"Yes. I don't have anyone to play with at home so I wanted someone that I can play with." She told me, gripping my hand tighter.

"But taking care of a puppy is hard, Avery. It has to be fed but we can't be sure because I am barely at home." I told her. I don't think I can handle to take care of another one in the house.

"Okay." Her face saddened and pouted. "But you will think about it, right Momma?" Her cheerful aura came back in a snap.

I chuckled and nodded just not to disappoint her.

On our way home, I kind of glances across the street. I'm not sure but I think that it is Zephyr. He is standing near an entrance of a book store and it seems that he is waiting for someone. I hid behind a small post and watched him.

Avery looked at me weirdly and I just signalled her to be quiet.

Then when I returned my attention back to them, a brunette woman with amazing features came out of the shop then ran towards Zephyr when she saw him and gave him a huge hug.

Something inside my clenched as well as my chest. What is happening to me. Without any other glance, I started walking faster than usual. He might see me or notice me so I will leave first.

You pushed him away, Eleina. Don't act like you lose someone.

Jeez, I can be really stupid sometimes. I always make decision for others and never thought of myself. I always thought if would be any good to Avery or the others. But what is this feeling I had towards Zephyr I am feeling this something in my chest. Yes, I like him but I don't go to the point that I wanted him. Like there is boundaries between us.

He's the boss and I'm the employee. That's it.

I have a daughter to take care and my responsibility is to protect her.

But jeez, why is it so hard?

What is this feeling?