Our Little Matchmaker

CHAPTER 10: THE BOY WITH THE SECRET

The elevator doors closed.

Neither of them spoke for a few moments as it descended toward the lobby.

Ethan stood beside Isabella, his backpack almost brushing the floor. Every few seconds he reached up to pat the front pocket, as though making sure something was still inside.

Isabella noticed.

"Checking your secret?"

His eyes grew wide.

"You know?"

"I know you're checking your bag."

"Oh."

He let out a relieved breath.

"I thought maybe mums had secret powers."

She smiled.

"We do."

He stared at her.

"...Really?"

"We always know when our children are hiding chocolate."

"I wasn't hiding chocolate."

"So you've hidden chocolate before?"

He gasped.

"That was a trick."

"It was."

"You tricked me."

"I did."

He folded his arms with exaggerated seriousness.

"I need to be more careful."

The elevator chimed as the doors opened into the lobby.

Samuel looked up from the security desk and smiled.

"Good morning, Miss Laurent."

"Morning, Samuel."

Ethan waved enthusiastically.

"Hi!"

Samuel waved back.

"Good morning, young man."

"I lost another tooth."

"I can see."

"The Tooth Fairy gave me money."

Samuel leaned closer.

"Don't spend it all in one place."

"I won't."

"I'm buying dinosaur stickers."

"A wise investment."

Ethan nodded proudly.

"I think so too."

Outside, the morning air was cool, carrying the scent of fresh rain from the night before.

Their driver, Marcus, stepped out and opened the rear door.

"Good morning."

"Morning, Marcus," Isabella replied.

Ethan climbed in first.

"Morning!"

Marcus chuckled.

"Someone's in a good mood."

"I'm always in a good mood."

"I've noticed."

The drive to Bright Horizons Academy took just under twenty minutes.

As they stopped outside the school gates, children were already spilling onto the playground.

Some raced toward their classrooms.

Others clung stubbornly to their parents.

Ethan remained seated for a moment.

He patted his backpack again.

"You remembered your secret," Isabella observed.

"I almost forgot it."

She laughed softly.

"That sounds complicated."

"It is."

He climbed out of the car and took her hand.

The familiar voices of teachers greeting students filled the courtyard.

Mrs. Palmer spotted them first.

"Good morning, Ethan."

"Good morning!"

"And good morning, Miss Laurent."

"Good morning."

Mrs. Palmer smiled warmly.

"We're all looking forward to tomorrow."

"So am I," Isabella replied.

Ethan tugged gently at his teacher's sleeve.

"I've got something."

Mrs. Palmer leaned down.

"What is it?"

"It's a secret."

"Oh."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"Then I suppose I shouldn't ask."

"You can ask."

"But I can't tell you."

She smiled.

"That seems fair."

Ethan looked very pleased with this arrangement.

A bell rang across the playground.

Children began making their way toward the classrooms.

Ethan hugged Isabella around the waist.

"Bye, Mummy."

"Have a wonderful day."

"I will."

He took three running steps before stopping abruptly.

"Oh!"

He hurried back.

She crouched to his height.

"What did you forget this time?"

He planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

"That."

Before she could answer, he raced away again, disappearing into the stream of children.

Mrs. Palmer laughed.

"He keeps us all on our toes."

"I don't think he knows any other way."

"He brightens every classroom he walks into."

Isabella watched until Ethan disappeared through the school doors.

Only then did she turn back toward the waiting car.

Maison Laurent was already alive with activity when she arrived.

The lobby buzzed with conversations.

Assistants hurried toward elevators carrying garment bags.

Large mood boards were being wheeled across the marble floor.

Mrs. Alvarez looked up from arranging fresh orchids.

"Good morning."

"They're orchids today."

"They arrived at dawn."

"They're beautiful."

"I thought you'd approve."

"I certainly do."

As Isabella stepped into the elevator, Olivia slipped inside just before the doors closed.

"Perfect timing."

"That depends."

"On?"

"Whether you're carrying good news."

Olivia held up her tablet.

"Mostly."

"I'll take mostly."

They rode upward together.

"The Milan launch is ahead of schedule."

"Excellent."

"The Seoul negotiations have been finalized."

"Even better."

Olivia hesitated.

"And..."

Isabella glanced sideways.

"And?"

"The Future Founders Foundation called."

"They've confirmed your attendance."

"I expected they would."

"They also asked whether you'd be willing to present one of the scholarships."

Isabella looked thoughtful.

"They didn't mention that in the invitation."

"They wanted to ask you personally."

The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor.

As they walked toward Isabella's office, Olivia continued.

"They said many of the young founders see you as proof that success doesn't require privilege."

Isabella was quiet for a moment.

Then she smiled faintly.

"I remember what it felt like to need someone to believe in me."

"So?"

"So tell them yes."

Olivia smiled.

"I already knew you would."

"You seem very confident today."

"I've worked with you for six years."

"I've learned the pattern."

Isabella laughed.

"I'm becoming predictable."

"Only in the best ways."

Before entering her office, Isabella looked through the glass wall overlooking the design studio below.

Dozens of young designers were laughing around a table covered with sketches and fabric samples.

She remembered being that age.

Dreaming much bigger than her bank account allowed.

Believing hard work could somehow outrun impossible odds.

She smiled to herself.

Some dreams really did.

She opened the door to her office, unaware that in another part of the city, another founder was beginning a morning that would slowly, quietly, draw one day closer to the same charity event.