Stay awake from Seth
1522 Words
Kayla stood in Asher’s office, Seth still peacefully sleeping in her arms, her mind racing with thoughts of what had just transpired.
The whole situation was overwhelming—first, the accusation, then the apology, and now this… strange connection that seemed to be forming between her and Seth.
She had only been here for a short time, yet it felt like there was so much more to their dynamic than met the eye.
As she stood there, her phone buzzed in her pocket, startling her from her thoughts. Gently, she shifted Seth to one arm, taking the phone out of her pocket with her free hand.
The screen showed a message from an unknown number:
Unknown Number: Can you please meet me in the hallway? I need to talk to you.
Kayla frowned, her thumb hovering over the screen. How had this number gotten her contact information? The only people who should have had her number were Asher and the office staff.
She hesitated for a moment, glancing down at the sleeping boy in her arms.
She didn’t want to leave him, but the message from this unknown person felt important. She passed Seth to Asher and sighed softly quietly making her way to the door.
When she stepped into the hallway, Elaine was waiting a few feet away, arms crossed and an expression that didn’t quite match the warm smile she usually wore.
“Kayla,” she greeted her coldly. “I wanted to have a word about today.”
Kayla stood a little straighter, prepared for whatever might come. “Elaine, if you’re concerned about the incident earlier, I assure you—Seth tripped on his own. I wasn’t the one to cause him any harm.”
Elaine’s eyes narrowed for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m not here to talk about that,” she said, her voice low.
“But we both know Seth can be a little… difficult. He’s very attached to you already, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
Kayla felt her stomach drop. “What do you mean?”
Elaine’s smile faded slightly as she leaned in, speaking in a quiet but firm tone.
“He has a tendency to get attached to people quickly, and when that happens, things can get… messy. You may be Asher’s assistant, but I’ve been Seth nanny for a lot longer. I don’t appreciate seeing him get so attached to you so fast.”
Kayla took a breath, trying to keep her composure. “Elaine, I’m not trying to replace you or cause any problems. I’m just doing my job but who are you to tell me to stay away from Seth? Are you his mother? Or are you CEO Coleman’s wife?.”
“….”
Elaine’s gaze hardened. “Well I might not be, but let’s just hope you don’t do anything that might make things harder for him. Or for you.”
Before Kayla could respond, Elaine turned on her heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, stunned and uncertain.
Kayla returned to the office, her thoughts swirling. What was Elaine trying to imply? Why was she so insistent on Seth not becoming too attached to her? And why did it all feel so… wrong?
As she reentered the office, she found Asher standing by the window, his back turned. He didn’t seem to notice her at first, so she took the moment to study him. There was something guarded in the way he carried himself, as if he was holding something back.
When he turned around and saw her standing in the doorway, he raised an eyebrow. “Everything alright?”
Kayla nodded, though her nerves were still on edge.
“Yes. Just had a quick word with Elaine.”
Asher’s expression shifted slightly, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.
“Elaine can be… protective of Seth. Sometimes, maybe too much. She’s been with him since he was a baby. I think she sees anyone who comes near him as a potential threat.”
“She made it clear that she didn’t want Seth getting too attached to me,” Kayla said quietly, her voice betraying her confusion.
Asher’s eyes darkened for a moment, and he looked away, his hand gripping the back of a chair.
“I don’t like how she’s been behaving lately. But that’s a conversation for another time.
“He paused, then added, “You’re doing fine, Kayla. Just keep doing your job.”
Kayla wasn’t sure if that was meant to reassure her or not, but she nodded anyway. “Thank you, sir.”
Asher’s eyes softened briefly as he glanced at Seth, still asleep in her arms. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m starting to get the feeling something is off. I’ll be watching”
Kayla swallowed, her chest tightening. She was already in deeper than she had anticipated. She had no intention of doing anything to hurt Seth, but with every passing moment, the web around her seemed to grow more tangled.
As she looked at Asher, she noticed something—there was a flicker of something in his eyes. It wasn’t just concern for his son. It was something more… something that left her feeling uneasy and yet, inexplicably drawn to him.
“Thank you sir,” she said again, her voice quieter now.
Asher gave a small nod, his gaze lingering on her for a beat longer before he turned back to the window, his posture stiff again.
The hours had already passed, and everyone else had left. Kayla sat at her desk, Seth still cradled in her arms. The peaceful little boy was deep in sleep, his tiny breaths soft against her chest.
Kayla glanced up at the clock. It was late—closing time, in fact—and she wondered if she should wake Seth, knowing that Asher had probably already left for the day. She was about to stand when the office door opened, and Asher stepped inside.
His eyes softened for a moment as he saw Seth in her arms, but then his gaze shifted to the clock and back to her. “It’s late. We should get going,” he said, his tone surprisingly gentle.
Kayla opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, Seth stirred slightly in her arms. His little hands gripped tighter onto her sleeve, and he blinked his eyes open, still half-asleep.
“Mommy…” Seth mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Kayla froze, her heart skipping a beat. She had never intended for him to call her that, but there was no denying the little connection that had developed between them. As if sensing her surprise, Seth clung tighter, his little arms wrapping around her legs.
“I’m not leaving…” he murmured, his voice trembling with the vulnerability that only a child could show.
Kayla’s heart melted, and she looked up at Asher, unsure what to do. She couldn’t just leave him like this, not when he was so attached to her at that moment.
Asher paused, his lips pressing into a thin line as he watched the scene unfold. Seth’s grip on Kayla’s leg tightened even further, his small face now buried in her lap.
“Kayla,” Asher began, his tone carrying a mix of resignation and quiet understanding, “I think it’s clear he wants you to come with us.”
Kayla glanced down at Seth, who looked up at her with wide, trusting eyes. “I… I can’t just leave him like this,” she murmured, her voice soft.
Asher sighed, his gaze flickering between Kayla and the boy in her arms. “Alright,” he said after a pause. “It’s closing time anyway. You’re welcome to accompany us. I’ll ask Elaine to go on her own.”
Kayla nodded, trying to hide the uncertainty in her heart. As much as she had grown to care for Seth in such a short time, the last thing she wanted was to overstep her role. But the situation felt out of her control now.
Asher gave a small, reassuring nod. “Come on, let’s get going.” He motioned for Kayla to follow, then called out to the hallway where Elaine had been waiting.
Elaine entered the office moments later, her eyes immediately narrowing as she took in the sight of Seth still in Kayla’s arms. There was something cold in the way she observed them.
Asher didn’t waste any time. “Elaine,” he said calmly, “It’s getting late, so I’ll need you to head back on your own. I’m taking Kayla and Seth with me for now.”
Elaine’s eyes flashed with something unreadable before she forced a tight smile. “Of course,” she replied, though there was an edge to her voice. “I’ll take care of the rest tomorrow.”
Asher didn’t respond. He turned and motioned for Kayla to follow him, stepping out into the hallway, the soft sound of Seth’s breathing the only noise filling the silence.
- Writer
