The billionaire's lost daughter

THE PROMISE

CHAPTER SIX

Something hit him.

"Be good for your mummy, okay? I'll come and get you after the boring meeting"

"Promise?"

"Promise"

Shit.

He set the glass down so hard it nearly cracked. He didn't call Mrs Smith.

Didn't text.

He just walked fast.

Because 4 years old don't understand

"Boring meeting"

Lana was trying not to panic.

Becky was sitting cross-legged on the floor, colouring again. This time on actual paper.

Mrs Smith had brought them.

But everytime footsteps passed the door, Lana's heart jumped. What if it was the board? What if it was security? What if Kane changed his mind and had them escorted out?

"Mummy, when is Mr Kane coming back?" Becky asked, not looking up.

"Soon, baby," Lana said. Her voice didn't sound sure.

She was replaying Davidson face. The way he looked at Becky.

They knew. Or they suspected.

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.

She almost didn't answer.

"Hello?"

"Miss Adele. It's Kane ", his voice was clipped.

Rushed.

"My meeting ended early. I'm coming up"

Lana stared at the phone.

Coming up. That was it ?

30 second later, the door opened.

Kane.

No jacket. Tie loosened. Hair messed like he'd run his hands through it 10 times.

He looked..... different. Less CEO,more human.

Becky face lit up "Mr Kane"

She dropped her crayon and ran.

And Kane did something he didn't done in 20years.

He crouched down and caught her.

Becky slammed into him and wrapped her little arms around her neck.

"You came back"she said into his shoulder,

"You kept your promise".

Kane froze.

Then, slowly, his hand came up and patted her back. Awkward. Stiff.

But he did it

"I promised", he said quietly. Into her hair.

"Didn't I?"

Lana was standing by the desk, frozen.

Watching. Her chest felt tight.

Kane stood up with Becky still in his arms.

Like it was normal. Like he'd done it a thousand times

He looked at lana

"You okay?"

Lana nodded. Couldn't speak.

The board knows something's up". Kane said,

Setting becky down, "Not what. But something. So new rules"

He started pacing. Thinking out loud.

"Starting now, you two don't leave this floor without me or Mrs Smith. We tell people Becky's my niece. We stick to that story"

He stopped and looked at lana"and you don't quit. Even if you want to"

Lana crossed her arms. "You don't get to tell me .."

"I do," Kane cut her off. But his voice wasn't cold. It was desperate. "Because if you quit now, they'll talk. And I can't... I can't have them near her".

Becky tugged his pant leg. "Mr Kane,are you sad again?"

Kane looked down at her. All that boardroom armor gone.

"Yeah,kid . A little ".

Becky thought about it. Then she held up her drawing. A new one. Two stick figures. One tall, one small. Holding hands. Under a purple sun.

"For you”, she said "so you're not sad"

Kane took it. His throat bobbed.

He looked at lana over Becky's head.

"I don't know how to do this" he admitted. Quiet. Just for her. "The dad thing, any of it".

Lana's anger melted a little

Neither do I, she whispered back

"But we can figure it out . Together. Until the results come"

Kane nodded once.

His phone buzzed. Mrs Smith

"Sir, Davidson is asking for you again "

"Tell him I'm with my niece,"Kane said.

Then he hung up.

He looked at Becky. Then lana.

"Come on, he said. " There's a lounge on this floor. With a TV. And snacks, real ones, not the boardroom kind"

Becky gasped "SNACKS!!"

As they walked out, Kane fell into step beside Lana. Not ahead. Beside.

"You did good today,"he said quietly.

Lana blinked. "What?"

"With her. In the garage. With the board. You didn't fall apart".

Lana looked at him. " I was falling apart"

"Didn't look like it, " Kane said

For a second, it felt almost normal.

A man, a woman and a little girl walking to get snacks.

Until the elevator dinged and Mrs. Celine was standing there.

Staring right at Becky in kane's arm.