The girl boss

The First Meeting

The next morning, I woke up at 5am with anxiety eating my stomach.

Today was the day.

Today Malik Ashford would meet his son.

Leo was already awake when I went to his room. He was wearing his little blue suit. The one he wore to church last Sunday. Hair brushed to the side. Holding my hand so tight his knuckles were white.

"Is this Daddy’s house?" he asked, looking up at me with Malik’s dark eyes.

"Yes, baby." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Remember what we practiced? We’re polite. We say please and thank you."

"I will, Mommy." He nodded seriously. "I promise."

The car ride to Ashford Tower was silent. Too silent.

Leo pressed his face to the window, watching Abuja wake up.

"Mommy, is Daddy nice?"

"I... I think so, baby."

The elevator was glass. 80 floors up. Abuja skyline spread below us like diamonds. Leo’s mouth fell open.

"Wow."

"Yeah," I whispered. "Wow."

The doors opened to the penthouse.

And there was Malik.

Not in a $3000 suit. Not with that billionaire mask on.

In dark jeans and a black t-shirt. Hair messy like he’d been running his hands through it. Looking nervous.

For the most powerful man in Abuja, he looked... human.

"Hey," he said softly to Leo. "I’m Malik."

Leo looked at me. I gave him a small nod.

"Hi," Leo said quietly. "Mommy says you’re my Daddy."

Malik’s face cracked. Just for a second. I saw it.

"Yeah," he said, voice rough. "I am. And you must be Leo."

The next 3 hours were a blur I never thought I’d see.

Lego scattered across the marble floor. Toy cars racing down the hallway. Paw Patrol blasting on the 85-inch TV.

I watched from the kitchen as Malik Ashford, CEO of Ashford Group, billionaire, let my 18-month-old son beat him at Mario Kart. Twice.

"Again!" Leo shouted, clapping and laughing.

Malik looked exhausted but there was something in his eyes I’d never seen. Joy.

"You’re good at this, little man."

"He gets it from me," I said before I could stop myself.

Malik glanced at me over Leo’s head and smirked. "Of course he does. He’s a Carter."

When Leo finally got sleepy, he yawned and crawled into Malik’s lap on the couch.

And fell asleep.

Just like that.

Like he’d always belonged there.

Like this was home.

Malik looked up at me. His eyes were glassy.

"Can I... can I put him to bed?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

I followed him to the guest room. Watched as the most feared man in business carried my son like he was made of glass. Laid him down. Pulled the blanket up to his chin.

"Thank you," Malik said quietly when we walked out. "For keeping him safe all this time."

"I was protecting him from you," I admitted. The truth finally.

"I know." He