Chapter 6
915 Words
The peace didn’t last.
It never did.
At the Office
Emma had barely settled into her seat when his voice cut through the room.
“Emma.”
Her name.
Sharp. Direct.
She stood up immediately. “Yes, sir?”
“Come.”
No explanation.
No emotion.
Just that.
Inside his office, the air felt heavier than usual.
He dropped a file on the table.
“Explain this.”
Emma stepped closer, scanning through it.
Her heart skipped.
“This… this is my design, sir.”
“Yes,” he said coldly. “And this section?”
She looked again.
Her stomach dropped.
A small error.
Tiny.
But visible.
“I—I must have missed that,” she said quickly.
“You must have?” he repeated, his tone low and dangerous.
Emma swallowed.
“It won’t happen again, sir.”
“That’s what people say before they repeat mistakes,” he replied.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
“It was an oversight, sir. I’ll correct it immediately.”
He stared at her for a few seconds.
Too long.
Uncomfortable.
“You had time,” he said finally. “You had resources. And yet—you submitted incomplete work.”
“It won’t happen again,” she repeated, quieter this time.
Silence.
Then—
“Fix it.”
Relief barely had time to settle before—
“And Emma?”
She looked up.
“I don’t tolerate carelessness.”
Her chest tightened.
“Yes, sir.”
Back at her desk, she let out a slow breath.
“God…”
Before she could even process that—
“Ahh!”
A sudden movement—
Her hand hit her cup.
Coffee spilled.
Straight across her desk.
“Shoot!”
Papers. Notes. A bit of her system.
“Emma!” Esty rushed over.
“I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean—”
“Clean it up quickly,” Esty said, handing her tissues.
Emma nodded, flustered.
And then—
She felt it.
That presence again.
She looked up slowly.
He was standing there.
Watching.
Expression blank.
Judging.
Her embarrassment doubled instantly.
“I’ll handle it, sir,” she said quickly.
He didn’t respond.
Just looked at the mess for a second—
Then walked away.
That was worse.
Later That Evening
“I need ice cream,” Emma declared the
moment she stepped into her house.
“Say no more!” Kiki replied instantly. “Let’s go.”
Ice Cream Shop
The place was calm. Soft lights. Quiet music.
Exactly what Emma needed.
Kiki, on the other hand, was already scanning the room like she came for a different mission.
“Emma…” she whispered.
“I’m tired, Kiki.”
“No… look.”
“I said I’m—”
Emma turned.
And froze.
Him.
Standing right there.
Again.
This time in casual wear.
Even more… intimidating.
“Why is this man everywhere?” Emma whispered.
“Jesus…” Kiki breathed. “Fine man.”
Emma grabbed her cup quickly. “Let’s just go—”
Too late.
She turned—
And collided.
Everything happened at once.
The ice cream—
Slipped.
Spilled.
All over him.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Emma’s eyes widened in horror.
“No… no no no…”
She looked up slowly.
His face was unreadable.
Cold.
Again.
“Sir—I’m so sorry—”
He looked down at his shirt.
Then back at her.
“Did you get a degree in spilling?” he asked flatly.
Emma froze.
Kiki?
Useless.
Completely mesmerized.
Just staring at him like she forgot her own name.
“I didn’t mean to—”
“Clearly,” he cut in.
Then—
A small voice.
“Daddy…”
Emma blinked.
She looked down.
A little girl stood beside him.
About three years old.
Big eyes.
Cute.
And… she looked like him.
Exactly like him.
Emma’s heart skipped.
His… child?
No one said anything about this.
The little girl looked at Emma curiously.
Then smiled.
A soft, innocent smile.
“It’s okay,” she said gently.
Emma felt something melt inside her.
“I’m really sorry,” Emma said again, this time softer.
He didn’t respond.
Just took a napkin and wiped his shirt slightly.
“Be more careful,” he said coldly.
Then took the little girl’s hand.
“Let’s go.”
But as they turned—
The little girl looked back.
Her eyes stayed on Emma.
Later That Night
Emma and Kiki sat in silence for a few seconds after getting home.
Then—
Kiki screamed.
“EMMAAAAA!!!”
Emma groaned. “What?!”
“That man is fine! And he has a child! A CUTE CHILD!”
Emma covered her face. “I embarrassed myself… again.”
“Twice!” Kiki added dramatically. “Office and ice cream!”
“I know!” Emma snapped.
Then sighed.
“I don’t even understand my life anymore.”
Kiki flopped beside her.
“But that child eh…” she said dreamily. “So cute.”
Emma nodded slowly.
“Yeah…”
Meanwhile…
“Daddy,” the little girl said softly.
He looked down at her. “Hmm?”
“I like her.”
He didn’t respond.
“She’s pretty,” she added.
A pause.
Then—
“Can she be my mummy?”
He stopped walking.
Just for a second.
His expression didn’t change.
But something in his eyes shifted—
Very slightly.
“Let’s go,” he said.
But the little girl kept smiling.
Still thinking about Emma.
- Writer
