The billionaire's lost daughter

TALK

CHAPTER THREE

CEO OFFICE. 12:06pm

The room felt too big and small at the same time.

Becky was now sitting on the rug by the window, "colouring" on the back of a k- car X1 blueprint with her purple crayon. She hummed quietly, completely unaware that the entire fate of her life was being decided 10 feet away.

Kane hadn't sat down yet. He was leaning against the front of his desk, arms crossed. His eyes kept cutting to Becky. Then snapping back to Lana like he didn't trust himself to look too long.

Lana stood near the door, ready to beg.

" Mr Kane ," she started, voice hoary. " I know how this looks. I can explain _"

" Then explain," Kane said. Quiet. Dangerous.

Lana swallowed. " I came back here from my hometown because I needed work . My mum watches becky but she had to go for surgery last week. Daycare fell through this morning. I didn't have anyone else. I thought I could keep her quiet for one day and......"

" I don't care about the daycare,"

Kane cut in . He pushed off the desk and started pacing . 3 steps one way, 3 steps back.

"I care about August 17th"

" I care about grey eyes",

" I care about that 4 years ago I spent one night with a woman named Lana and I never got her last name".

Lana flinched.

Kane stopped pacing "was it you?"

The question hung in the air.

Becky kept humming.

Lana looked down at her hands. They were shaking. " I..... didn't know who you were that night. You didn't tell me your last name either."

Kane laughed once. No humor on it . "Right"_ he dragged a hand down his face " God ".

"Mr Kane, please," Lana said. " I never wanted anything from you. I didn't even know how to find you. I raised her by myself. I was doing fine until...."

" Until the money ran out " Kane finished for her.

" Yeah . I can see that ".

His eyes dropped to her shoes. Scuffed, to her blazer . One button missing .

He hated that he noticed.

"You think I'm here for your money?" Lana's voice cracked. " I'm not. I just needed a job. Becky needed food , I swear to you, I wasn't planning this ".

Kane walked to the window. Back to her. " Then why did you apply to my company ".

" Because it was the only PA position hiring this week that paid enough for rent and daycrey", Lana said honestly. " I didn't know you owned it until I saw the name on the building".

Silence.

Becky looked up from her drawing.

"Mummy, are you in trouble? ( With a cute face).

" No baby" Lana said quickly, forcing a smile.

" We're just talking ".

Kane turned around. His mask was back on. Cold. CEO looking.

" Here's what's going to happen. Miss Adele." He used her last name like a weapon.

One : you are not fired. You need thr job and I need someone who isn't an i***t to clear this backlog.

Two : Becky stays with you during work hours. In a room down the hall with a nanny. Not in my office.

Three: we do the paternity test. Today, if she's mine, we figure out custody.buf she's not, you still keep the job but you find daycare by Monday.

Lana blinked, " that's.... that's it ?,

" That's it, Kane replied. But his voice softened on the last word. He walked over to Becky and crouched again. This time slower

"Becky," he say. " Do you want to see the car lab? The one with the real cars?"

Becky's eyes went wide. " The REAL ONE'S?!

" Yeah. The real one, no crayons allowed though.

"I promise!" She scrambled up and grabbed Lana's hand. " Can mummy come too?

Kane looked at lana. For the first time, he didn't look angry. He looked.... uncertain. "Come, he said.

45th floor. Prototype garage.

It was all glass and steel and million dollars machines. 3 concept cars sat under spotlights.

Sleek. Silent.

Becky gasped and ran to the red one .

"It's so shiny!"

Kane watched her instead of the car.

"You like red"

"It's my favorite!" Becky say.

She pressed her face to the glass.

Lana hung back. "Mr Kane, I really am sorry _"

"Stop apologizing," kane said without looking at her". It's making me feel guilty and I hate that."

Lana stared at him. "Guilty? About what?

"About this, "he gestured between them.

"About 4years ago. About not knowing"

He finally looked at her. "Did you........ did you ever try to find me ?"

Lana shook her head. "No....I was angry and scared. And then Becky got sick when she was 1 and I had to work 2 jobs and ..there was no time to be angry anymore."

Kane nodded slowly. Like that made sense to him.

"My mother died when I was 8, he said out of nowhere. "My dad worked 18 hours a day. I was raised by nannies and board meetings".

He kicked the tire of the red car lightly

" I told myself I'd never do that to a kid."

Lana's chest hurt. "You're not . You didn't even know ",

" Doesn't matter," he said. " If she's mine, I should've known".

Becky ran back to them, out of breath. " Mr Kane, can I sit in it ?"

Kane looked at the security guard. "Open it"

The guard hesitated. "Sir, that's the $2M prototype _"

"Open it," kane repeated.

The door lifted up like wings.

Becky climbed in and grabbed the steering wheel.

"Vroom vroom!"

For a second, Kane almost smiled.

Lana saw it. And it terrified her

Because it looked like the man from the bar.

Kane turned to Lana. Lowered his voice so Becky couldn't hear.

"Lana", he said her name for the first time. " I'm not a good man. I'm not a good father. But I'm not going to disappear on her.

Lana meet his eyes. Grey. Honest.

" I'm not asking you to be a dad, she said quietly.

"I'm just asking you to let me keep my job".

Kane studied her for a long time.

" Keep the job," he said. "And keep her safe. That's all I'm asking".

His phone buzzed. Mrs smith

"Sir, the doctor is here for the test. In the medical room in 46"

Kane exhaled." Alright. Let's get it over with."

He looked at the Becky in the car. Then at lana. " After this no more secrets. Okay?!

Lana nodded. Even though her heart was screaming that secrets were all she had left. Becky was still in the red prototype, making "vroom", noises and pretending the steering wheel was real.

Kane's phone buzzed again. "Mrs Smith.

He answered, eyes never leaving Lana .

"What?"

"Sir," Mrs Smith voice was tight. " The board just landed. " Mr Davidson, Mrs Celine and 3 others . They're in the lobby. They said it's "urgent" and they are coming up".

Kane's jaw clenched. "How urgent?"

"Urgent enough that they took thr executive elevator. They'll be on 47 in 3 minutes "

Lana went pale. "The board? Here? Now?

Kane hung up. "Change of plans. Test is on hold".

He turned to the security guard. " Get her out of the car. Now""

"

Wait whst_" Lana started.

"Becky", kane crouched by the car door. His voice was gentle but firm. "Sweetheart, we have to go . Right now.

Can you be super fast for me?"

Becky blinked" are we in trouble?"

" No," Kane said too quickly. A quiet game.

Can you do that?"