She’s my mummy I can feel it
1111 Words
Kayla’s heart raced as Seth’s intense gaze bore into her. She struggled to find the right words, all too aware of the small boy watching them both with innocent curiosity.
“I—” Kayla began, her voice faltering under the heat of the moment. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Seth—your son—just wandered in here. He mistook me for someone else, that’s all.”
Asher’s expression didn’t soften. His gray eyes, so much like his son’s, remained locked on hers, analyzing every detail of her face. “Is that so?” he said coolly, his voice low and measured.
Kayla nodded quickly. “Yes. I assure you, I had no idea he’d come in here. I was just introducing myself.”
Before Asher could respond, Seth spoke up again, tugging at his father’s sleeve. “Daddy, I’m not wrong. She’s my mummy. I can feel it!”
Kayla’s breath caught, and she saw Asher’s jaw tighten ever so slightly. He turned to his son, crouching down to meet the boy’s determined gaze.
“Seth,” he said gently but firmly, “we’ve talked about this. You know your mummy is not here. Kayla is my assistant, not your mother.”
The boy pouted, his big gray eyes shimmering with confusion. “But, Daddy… she feels like my mummy.”
Kayla felt a pang in her chest at the boy’s innocent insistence. She had no idea why he was so sure of this connection, but it was clear his belief wasn’t something that could be easily shaken.
Asher straightened, his commanding presence returning as he turned back to Kayla. “Kayla,” he said, his tone clipped, “I apologize for the interruption. I’ll make sure my son doesn’t disturb you again.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble,” Kayla said quickly, though her nerves were still frayed. “He’s… a sweet boy.”
“Sweet,” Asher repeated, as if testing the word. He glanced down at his son, who was now clutching Kayla’s hand as if he never wanted to let go.
“Daddy, can she come with us?”Seth asked, his voice hopeful.
Kayla opened her mouth to respond, but Asher’s sharp gaze cut her off. “Seth,” he said firmly, “it’s time to go.”
Reluctantly, the boy released Kayla’s hand and shuffled toward his father. Asher placed a protective hand on his son’s shoulder, giving Kayla one last look—a mix of curiosity and something darker, something she couldn’t quite place.
“I expect you in my office in fifteen minutes, Kayla,” he said before walking away with his son in tow.
Kayla sank into her chair as soon as they were gone, her mind spinning.
Why had Asher’s son been so sure she was his mother? And why did she feel an inexplicable pull toward the boy, as if his innocent claim wasn’t entirely impossible?
She had just started her new job, but it seemed her past wasn’t going to let her go so easily.
Kayla gathered her thoughts as she walked toward Asher’s office. She couldn’t stop replaying Seth’s words in her mind. She’s my mummy. Why would he say that? Was it just the wild imagination of a child, or was there something more?
Reaching the door, she smoothed her blouse and knocked lightly.
“Come in,” Asher’s deep voice called from inside.
Kayla stepped in to find him seated behind a massive desk, reviewing a stack of documents. His son was nowhere in sight, and she let out a small breath of relief.
“You wanted to see me?” she asked, keeping her voice steady.
Asher didn’t look up immediately, taking his time to finish marking something on the paper in front of him. When he finally raised his gaze, his gray eyes were as unreadable as ever.
“Close the door,” he instructed.
Kayla obeyed, her heart thudding in her chest.
“I want to make something clear,” Asher began, his voice calm but firm. “My son doesn’t have a mother. She passed away shortly after he was born.”
Kayla blinked, her throat tightening with an unexpected pang of sympathy. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, though the words felt inadequate.
He waved it off, his expression unchanging. “That’s not why I called you in here. Seth is… imaginative, and he sometimes gets attached to people quickly. I don’t want his assumptions to cause any misunderstandings.”
“Of course,” Kayla replied quickly, wanting to ease his concerns. “I understand. I’ll be careful around him.”
Asher’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as though he were trying to read something in her that wasn’t there. “Good. I expect professionalism at all times. If Seth approaches you again, let me or his nanny handle it.”
Kayla nodded, though a part of her bristled at his tone. “Understood sir.”
For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Just as Kayla was about to excuse herself, Asher spoke again.
“One more thing,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful. “Seth doesn’t usually react like this. If he said something that upset you, it wasn’t intentional.”
Kayla hesitated, caught off guard by the hint of softness in his words. “He didn’t upset me,” she said honestly. “He’s a sweet little boy. I understand.”
Asher gave a small nod, but his expression remained distant. “That’s all. You can go.”
Kayla turned to leave, but as she reached the door, she couldn’t help but glance back. Asher was already back to his paperwork, but his shoulders seemed a little heavier now, as if the weight of something unseen had settled on him.
Later That Evening
Kayla collapsed onto her couch, exhausted from her first day. She tried to focus on the excitement on getting a new promotion, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Seth.
His wide gray eyes, so full of certainty, haunted her. Why did he call me mummy? she wondered.
And then there was Asher—aloof, demanding, and yet undeniably protective of his son. Despite his cold demeanor, there was something in the way he’d spoken about Seth that hinted at a deeper pain.
Kayla shook her head, forcing herself to focus. She had worked hard to build a new life, far away from the shadows of her past. The last thing she needed was to get tangled up in the complexities of her boss’s family.
- Writer
