Why was he so trusting?
907 Words
Kayla adjusted Seth in her arms as she followed Asher through the dimly lit hallway, her heart pounding with a mixture of nervousness and uncertainty. She could feel Elaine’s eyes boring into her back, but she didn’t look back.
The elevator ride down to the parking lot was quiet, save for the faint hum of the machinery and the occasional soft sigh from Seth, still nestled against her shoulder.
Asher pressed the button for the underground parking and glanced at her. His expression was unreadable, though his gaze lingered briefly on the boy in her arms.
“You handled him well,” he said after a pause, his voice low.
Kayla looked up at him, surprised. “Thank you, Boss,” she replied, her grip tightening slightly on Seth. “I just… did what felt right.”
He nodded but didn’t respond further. The elevator doors opened with a chime, and they stepped into the parking lot.
His black car was parked in a reserved space near the elevator. He opened the back door and gestured for her to place Seth inside the car seat.
Kayla hesitated, reluctant to let go of the little boy who had clung to her so tightly. But she gently lowered him into the seat, careful not to wake him up.
As she secured the straps, Seth stirred slightly, his small hand reaching out to grab hers. “Don’t go…” he mumbled, his eyes still closed.
Kayla froze, her chest tightening. She didn’t know how to respond, but she gently patted his hand, whispering, “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Asher observed silently from the driver’s side, his expression thoughtful but guarded. “You seem to have a way with him,” he said quietly.
Kayla straightened and closed the door, turning to face him. “I don’t know why he’s so attached to me, sir,” she admitted. “But I’ll do my best to handle it professionally.”
His gaze flickered with something unreadable. “It’s not something you can fake. He trusts you, and that’s rare for Seth, he’s not one to trust people easily.”
She nodded, unsure of how to respond. Asher opened the passenger door for her, and she climbed inside, the soft hum of the engine breaking the silence.
The drive back was quiet. Kayla kept sneaking glances at Seth, still asleep in his car seat, his head leaning slightly to one side. She felt an odd mixture of emotions—protectiveness toward the boy and an overwhelming sense of confusion about the entire situation.
Asher cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Where do you live?”
Kayla blinked, startled out of her thoughts. “Maplewood Apartments,” she answered, giving him the address.
Asher nodded, the tension in his jaw easing slightly. “I’ll drop you off first.”
Kayla hesitated. “But what about Seth? It’s late, and he should be home. I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
Asher’s expression softened, though his tone remained firm. “You’ve already had a long day, and Seth will stay asleep during the ride. Dropping you off is no trouble.”
Kayla didn’t argue further, letting the quiet hum of the car fill the space between them. When they arrived at her apartment building, Asher parked and glanced at her.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said, already unbuckling his seatbelt.
“That’s not necessary, Boss,” Kayla said quickly, but his determined look silenced her.
“It’s late,” he replied simply, stepping out of the car.
Kayla sighed and climbed out as well, leading the way to her building’s entrance. She fumbled with her keys, suddenly hyperaware of Asher’s presence behind her. When the door finally opened, she turned to face him, her hand resting on the doorknob.
“Thank you for bringing me home sir” she said softly, meeting his gaze.
Asher’s eyes held hers for a moment longer than necessary before he gave a curt nod. “Get some rest. See you at work tomorrow, 7am sharp.”
Kayla hesitated. “Yes sir… and thank you for believing me earlier. I know it wasn’t easy with everything that happened.”
His expression softened slightly. “I trust what I see. You didn’t hurt Seth, Kayla. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.”
Her heart tightened at his words, and she nodded. “Yes sir, goodnight, Boss.”
“Goodnight..” he replied, his voice low and steady.
Asher waited until she had safely stepped inside and locked the door before he returned to the car. Once behind the wheel, he glanced in the rearview mirror at Seth, still fast asleep.
His lips pressed into a thin line as he started the engine. Something about Kayla made him uneasy—not in a bad way, but in a way he couldn’t quite place. The way Seth clung to her, the way she spoke to him, and even the way she had handled the accusations earlier… none of it added up.
As he drove back to his own home, a single thought nagged at the back of his mind:
Why did Seth trust her so completely? And on their first meeting?
Sighing, Asher sped to Maple estate, his and Kayla’s home’s were close-by because she was part of the company’s internal team and they were required to live in the same radius as the CEO.
- Writer
