Chapter Two
1708 Words
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
Jason didn’t look up from the file he was flipping through. “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and Isabella stepped in cautiously.
Jason glanced up, noting her pale face and stiff posture. She looked ready to either faint or bolt.
“Sit.” His voice was cool, direct.
She hesitated for half a second before lowering herself into the chair across from him. Her hands gripped her scrubs tightly, and Jason could see the tension in her shoulders.
Not surprising. Employees rarely got summoned to his office unless it was serious.
He didn’t waste time. “Relax, Miss Winter. You’re not in trouble.”
She exhaled sharply, visibly unclenching. “Oh.” A small, nervous chuckle escaped her. “Okay. That’s… a relief.”
Jason nodded, leaned forward slightly. “I need your help.”
She blinked. “My help?”
“Yes.”
Silence stretched between them. Jason wasn’t the type to elaborate unless asked.
Isabella shifted. “Okay… What exactly do you need help with?”
He studied her for a moment, as if assessing how quickly she could grasp his request. “My daughter has a school event tomorrow. A Mommy & Me Tea Party. Her mother won’t be attending.”
“Oh.” Isabella’s brows furrowed. “I’m… I’m sorry to hear that.”
Jason ignored the sympathy. “Diane wants a mother there. She asked me to get her one.”
Isabella frowned slightly. “To get her one?”
“A fake mother.”
Her lips parted slightly in shock. “A… fake mother?”
Jason sighed, already impatient. “Yes. She’s five. She doesn’t care about technicalities, only that someone is there for her.”
Isabella blinked, absorbing his words. Then, hesitantly, she asked, “And… you want me to—?”
“Yes.”
Another silence.
Jason leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed by her obvious bewilderment. “I’ll pay you.”
Her mouth opened, then closed.
“I’ll cover any expenses necessary. Just show up, play the role, and make sure she doesn’t feel different from the other kids.”
Isabella sat frozen for a second. “This… is a lot to process.”
“It’s simple,” Jason countered. “Just say yes.”
Her eyes searched his, as if trying to gauge if he was actually serious.
“Mr. Parker,” she started carefully, “I’m just a nurse. Why would you want me?”
Jason exhaled sharply. He didn’t have time for long conversations. “You’re good with kids. Diane needs someone playful. You fit the profile.”
She blinked. “The… profile?”
“Yes. You’re warm, friendly, and my daughter will like you.” His tone was purely factual, as if he was talking about a business transaction.
Isabella huffed a small, incredulous laugh. “You make me sound like an adopted puppy.”
Jason ignored the remark. “So? Do you accept?”
Isabella bit her lip, clearly debating.
Then, softly, she asked, “Why are you doing this?”
Jason’s jaw ticked. He didn’t like personal questions.
“For Diane,” he said simply.
A pause. Then, Isabella nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Jason gave a curt nod. “Good. I’ll have my driver pick you up at eight tomorrow.”
Isabella stood. “Okay. Well… I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Jason was already looking back at his file. “Yes.”
She hesitated briefly, as if expecting more. When he offered nothing, she sighed and turned for the door.
Just before stepping out, she muttered under her breath, “You’re really as uptight as they say.”
Jason didn’t even glance up. “And you talk too much.”
She gasped softly, but when she turned to look at him, she swore she saw the ghost of a smirk on his lips.
—
As Isabella walked out of Jason Parker’s office, she released the breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.
Her footsteps echoed in the hallway as she made her way back to the pediatric ward. Her mind, however, was still stuck in that office.
Who even talks like that?
Jason Parker was the definition of uptight. Cold. Detached. The kind of man who could make a flower wilt just by looking at it too long.
You fit the profile.
She rolled her eyes at the memory. What was she, a job candidate for "Pretend Mother of the Year"?
And the way he barely reacted to anything? No amusement, no warmth. Just facts. Logic. Business.
She scoffed under her breath. “The man is as stiff as a hospital bed sheet.”
“What man?”
Isabella nearly jumped as Jane appeared beside her, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
She had barely set foot into the nurse’s lounge before Jane was on her like a detective interrogating a suspect.
“What happened? You were gone forever!” Jane nudged her excitedly. “And don’t even think about dodging, because I will find out.”
Isabella sighed, already regretting coming back here so soon. “It was nothing.”
Jane gasped dramatically. “Lies! No one gets summoned to the CEO’s office for nothing.” She narrowed her eyes. “Wait. Did he fire you?”
“No, Jane, I still have a job,” Isabella muttered, plopping down on the nearest chair.
Jane exhaled in relief. “Okay, good. So, if you’re not fired, what did he want?”
Isabella stared at her nails. “He sent me on an errand.”
Jane blinked. “An errand?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then—
“That’s the worst excuse I’ve ever heard.”
Isabella groaned, rubbing her temple. “Jane, can we not do this?”
Jane wiggled her fingers. “Oh, we’re doing this.”
Isabella shook her head firmly. “It’s personal.”
Jane gasped again. “Personal?” She grabbed Isabella’s shoulders. “Is he secretly in love with you? Are you his long-lost childhood sweetheart? Did he ask you to be his—”
“Jane!” Isabella clamped a hand over her mouth. “Stop watching telenovelas before bed.”
Jane grinned behind Isabella’s palm, clearly entertained.
Isabella sighed, dropping her hand. “Look, he just asked for a favor. That’s it.”
Jane’s eyes sparkled. “What kind of favor?”
“The kind I’m not discussing.”
“Isabella Winter, you are killing me.”
“You’ll survive.” Isabella grabbed her clipboard and stood. “I have patients to check on.”
Jane groaned dramatically. “Fine! But if this turns into some big, mysterious thing, I expect full details later.”
“No promises,” Isabella called over her shoulder, but she was smiling.
Still, as she left the lounge, her thoughts drifted back to Jason Parker.
Uptight, emotionless, and way too serious.
What had she just gotten herself into?
---
Diane’s eyes lit up at Jason’s words. “You did?”
Jason glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. “I did.”
Diane kicked her little legs excitedly. “Is she pretty?”
Jason hesitated. He hadn’t exactly thought about that. His mind had been focused on finding someone who could play the part. Not whether she looked like a fairytale princess.
“She’s… cool.”
Diane scrunched her nose. “Cool?”
Jason sighed. “You’ll like her.”
Diane studied him, then grinned. “I bet she’s pretty.”
Jason shook his head, amused. “What makes you so sure?”
Diane giggled, hugging her stuffed bunny. “Because I have good taste, Daddy.”
Jason chuckled under his breath. “Of course you do.”
They pulled into Sally’s Kids’ Salon, a small but exclusive place Jason trusted. He parked and stepped out, then opened the back door for Diane.
She hopped out, grabbing his hand. “Daddy?”
“Hm?”
“Can I get sparkly clips this time?”
Jason raised a brow. “Last time, you said you hated sparkly things.”
Diane grinned cheekily. “That was last time.”
Jason exhaled. His daughter changed her mind faster than stock market fluctuations.
“Fine.” He led her inside, where the familiar scent of lavender shampoo greeted them.
Sally, the owner, beamed as they entered. “Ah! My favorite client.”
Diane grinned. “Hi, Miss Sally!”
“Ready for a trim, princess?” Sally asked, patting the seat.
Diane climbed up eagerly. “Daddy said I can get sparkly clips.”
Jason smirked. “Apparently, she’s changed her views on them.”
Sally laughed. “Ah, kids.”
As she started working, Diane chattered about her day.
“…And then Leo spilled his juice, and Miss Mary said ‘Oh dear,’ but Leo just laughed.”
Jason nodded along. He loved listening to her talk, even if half of it was about things only a five-year-old found important.
Then, mid-sentence, Diane paused.
She turned her big hazel eyes on him, serious this time.
“Daddy?”
“Hm?”
“Is my fake mommy nice?”
Jason felt something in his chest tighten.
“Yes, peanut.”
She tilted her head. “Does she like bunnies?”
Jason hesitated. “I… didn’t ask.”
Diane huffed. “Daddy! That’s important.”
Jason bit back a laugh. “I’ll make sure to find out.”
Diane nodded approvingly, then faced the mirror again.
Jason leaned back, watching her.
He had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but he had made a promise to his daughter, and there was no turning back.
As they pulled into their driveway, Diane yawned, stretching her tiny arms. Jason smiled, stepping out of the car to open the door for her.
Just as he unbuckled her seatbelt, she rested her head against his shoulder and mumbled, "I can't wait to see my fake mommy tomorrow."
Jason froze.
Then, in the softest, sleepiest voice, she whispered, "Maybe if she loves me enough… she’ll stay forever."
Jason’s grip on her tightened.
His chest felt unbearably heavy.
What had he just set in motion?
- Writer
