Mr Kayetan

Chapter 2

Indiana

Knocking on Aleksander's office door, I waited until I heard him say enter. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. I don't know what it was but every time I go in his office, I always feel like I'm in trouble by his looks as he doesn't always give me a reaction or wanting him to take me on his dress.

Shaking my head from the thought, I waited patiently once I had shut the door, seeing him sitting down behind his desk engrossed with paperwork. He dropped his pen a few moments later before looking up.

"Indiana," he said before beckoning me to sit down, which I followed. "What brings you wanting to speak to me here?" He asked, his blue eyes burning into my green ones.

"Mr Kayetan," I began to speak, feeling my throat tense slightly. Coughing away the tenseness, I looked at him once again, "I was wondering if it were possible for me.. to take Maja to the zoo?" I asked, sputtering on some words.

Aleksander leaned back against his chair as he thought about what I had asked. It wasn't always a yes from him. With his job and what he does, he knows it can be very dangerous taking Maja out, but sometimes he knows it's better, especially with loads of people around. Someone is less likely to attack or harm her in case someone else gets hurt. Well, you hope at least.

"The zoo? With Maja?" He asked again before going back to thinking. He leaned forward, grabbing all the information he could.

I nodded, shifting awkwardly in the leather chair while I waited for his yes or no to my question. "Yes, Maja has been begging to go ever since she started having her fascination on big cats after watching the lion king a thousand times." I hoped me sort of begging will help.

"Alright," He said before sighing. "You can to Maja to the zoo," I knew there was a bit coming. There always was. "You need to take a few members of my security detail. So I'll get Arkadiusz and my right hand man Filip to go with you. I need Maja to be safe. Maja and you."

I didn't know why my heart fluttered the way it did when he sort of announced he cared about me. I mean, I have been in his and his daughters life for 5 and a half years. You'd think he would say it often, but he wasn't one to show much affection towards anyone but Maja. I could understand the amount of heartbreak he went through.

I've heard stories from him when he's drunk or just upset about how hurt he got from the two people he thought loved him. I was hoping he could see that I could be the one for him. I hope he can see that I've been the one sticking by him through his ups and downs and Maja's. I've given myself to him by always being by his side no matter what. I never left after we argued, I never ran away.

"Of course," I replied to Aleksander as my mind snapped out of its thought process. "But can I request to have Arkadiusz and Filip in normal clothes. I don't want to draw attention, and Maja doesn't always like being a centre of attention."

Aleksander's stern expression softened imperceptibly as he nodded in agreement. "Very well. Casual it is."

With a sigh of relief, I stood up from my seat and thanked him before leaving him in his office before I started to plan the zoo trip this weekend. Marking out what to do and where to go. I needed Maja to have a great weekend no matter what. The days leading up to the Zoo trip with Maja, I haven't been feeling all too well. My chest feels tight, and every time I cough, it feels like a crackle against my lunge. Not wanting to alarm anyone or Maja. I kept it to myself.

Aleksander is aware of my PTSD disorder and my Asthma as he did a background check on me before hiring me but I don't tell him when I have them only because he doesn't need to worry about me. I am here to do one thing, and that is to look after Maja and be there for her.

As I styled Maja's hair for the zoo trip, she loomed at herself in the mirror, admiring the cute butterfly dress I had put on for her and her white scandals to go with them. As soon as I finished doing Maja's hair, I sprayed it with some hairspray, making sure to cover her eyes before adding her favourite butterfly clips onto them. Maja has been super excited. She's been marking down the days since I told her that her Daddy approved of her zoo trip.

As Maja made her way down the stairs, I stopped for a few seconds to catch my breath. Coughing slightly into my arm before hearing a voice behind me. It was one of the Arkadiusz.

"You 'lright Indiana?" He asked as he had his hands in his pocket.

"Yes, Arkadiusz, I'm alright. It's just a small cough." I made sure not to look like I was exhausted from my coughing fit and that my chest didn't hurt and feel tight.

As we made our way to the car, Aleksander was waiting by one of the black SUV's where he knelt down and opened his arms, which of course Maja ran into before showing off her outfit for him.

"Well, Indy does have some very good fashion sense, doesn't she," Aleksander spoke before looking at me and giving me a small smile. Once, he had placed her in her seat. He walked up to me. "If you feel as if anyone is looking or you feel the hairs at the back of your head stand up to alert Arkadiusz or Filip. They will contact me. Be safe." He said before heading back inside the house after he had given Arkadiusz and Filip a firm handshake.

On our way to the zoo, Maja danced happily in her seat, singing to the radio, a small smile played on my lips. "Are you excited?' I asked.

Maja nodded without a second thought, "I can't wait to see the big cats." She expressed. "I can't wait to tell everyone at school that I went to the zoo."

Time seemed to pass by, and before I knew it, Filip had parked at the entrance to the Zoo. Stepping out, I helped Maja out of her booster seat and instantly made my way into the line. My chest was feeling a little worse as the cold breeze blew against me. I held everything in me to not react to it. As I paid for our tickets (yes, I also paid for Filip and Arkadiusz), we made our way inside, grabbing a map to see where every animal was.

We started out small, from the reptiles to the incest and, of course, multiple bathroom breaks for Maja. We stopped for a short 10-minute break so my breathing could catch up, I placed my hands on my knees and slowly began to breathe in and out.

"Indiana," Filip called out as he walked up to me, I could feel his hand on my back. "What's the matter? Have you brought your inhaler?" He asked.

"I'm fine, Filip," I said as I stood up. "I just didn't get much sleep last night." I replied. Filip sighed, not wanting to press on the matter, and walked over to Arkadiusz to whisper something to him. It's probably about me.

"You ready to see the big cats?" I turned to Maja changing the subject. Immediately, Maja jumped up from the bench and nodded her head so hard, I thought she was about to fly.

Maja instantly held my hand while I led her to the big cat enclosure once we were there. Maja's eyes widened as she leaned against the glass and watched as the tiger cubs played with each other. A small smile on her lips.

The cubs tumbled and rolled, their antics captivating Maja as she pressed against the glass, her laughter joining the chorus of delighted squeals around us. Even Arkadiusz and Filip couldn't help but crack smiles at her infectious joy. We continued through the zoo, visiting the monkeys, birds, and reptiles. Maja bounced from animal to animal, and her endless questions met with my patient responses and indulgent smiles from the guards trailing behind us.

As we approached the petting zoo, Maja's excitement reached a fever pitch. She fed and petted the animals with pure glee, the joy on her face evident as I snapped countless photos to show Aleksander later.

As the evening drew to a close, Maja cried when she said goodbye to the animals, Arkadiusz calmed her down, telling her they would come back another time. She fell asleep in the backseat on the way home, I rubbed my chest. I'm trying to hide my frequent coughing from them.

That evening, I presented Aleksander with the photos from our day at the zoo. To my surprise, his eyes softened as he flicked through them, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. For the first time, I saw him as more than the formidable man of cold steel and ruthless power; I saw the tenderness of a father who cherished his daughter's joy.

I coughed again, causing Aleksander to look at me, "What?" I asked.

"Don't what me, Indiana," He scolded before opening the top draw of his desk, pulling out one of my inhalers. "Don't think Filip and Arkadiusz didn't tell me about you coughing and wincing every few seconds and not to mention the countless times you had to catch your breath." He handed me the inhaler.

"I'm fine," I responded, causing Aleksander to frown at me before pulling me closer towards him. My eyes widened in surprise.

"You aren't fine," He growled before taking a closure look at my features, "Your face is red from coughing so much, and even from here, I can hear your chest crackling. So take your inhaler, or I will do it myself."

I folled my eyes, giving in before taking my inhaler, breathing in 3 times before handing it back to him.

"I don't say it that often, Indiana, but I do care about you and your wellbeing, which is why I keep an inhaler in my top draw for you. I know you hate taking care of yourself and rather care for Maja, but taking care of yourself is just as important."

****

After Aleksander and I talked in his office, I went back to my room, where I began to plan for activities for the next few days with Maja. It was still school holidays for her, she as a week left before she went back to school. As I check the weather forecast for tomorrow, I scratch the park off the list as it looks like it'll be too cold and mostly wet. Inside crafting and baking cookies, it is.

After finishing the list of what we are doing tomorrow and what I am making Maja for snacks and the big meals, I sent it to Aleksander. I know he wouldn't mind, but I always like checking to make sure as he doesn't always share if he has made plans with Maja or not.

Taking a sip of my somewhat hot coffee, I waited for a response from Aleksander, "Maybe we could make homemade slime... or paint a canvas together."

Suddenly, the sound of a clearing of a throat made me jump. As I looked over, I saw Aleksander looking at me with a smirk on his face. Walking inside my room, he takes a look at my journal.

"Probably not homemade slime as the maids will kill me, but painting sounds good, and Maja loves art." Aleksander spoke before looking into my mug. He rose an eyebrow before smirking once again. "Am I going to have to pry you off the walls tonight?"

I couldn't help but blush at his remark, shaking my head. I highlighted the art canvas painting, making sure to gather what I needed from around the mansion. Looking up at Aleksander, I knew he was waiting for me to reply back.

"No, Aleksander, you don't have to pry me off the walls tonight," I replied, causing Aleksander to chuckle lightly. "Plus, it's decaf. I always like playing you with coffee like that."

"Oh, I see how it is," Aleksander smirked. Moving closer towards me, his hot breath was on my lips before he traced them with his hand. "All I want to do is kiss those beautiful plump lips."

"Why don't you?"

"Because I'm afraid if I start, I won't be able to stop myself," Aleksander replied.

"What if I don't want you to?"

Aleksander placed his hand around my waist and pulled me close to him, just before our lips could touch. Screaming could hear down the hall and the cries of Maja as it woke her up. Aleksander and I quickly stood up, both of us heading to Maja's room.

As we arrived, Maja was rubbing her eyes and whimpered softly. Making my way over to her, I pulled her into a soft embrace and began singing a lullaby to her to get her back to sleep. Aleksander watched for a moment before kissing Maja on the head, he turned and headed out the room to find the commotion and whom decided to yell when they knew of Maja's bed time and to be quiet or go outside if they need to shout.

Once Maja was sound asleep again, Filip and Arkadiusz walked in, apologising for the screaming. They didn't mean to wake up Maja, but their voices got higher than they thought they would get