Chapter 2 - The Reason Behind the Cereal

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Mia looked up at the towering billionaire, clutching Gerald the Elephant tightly against her yellow sundress.
“Because Mommy cries in the kitchen when she thinks I’m sleeping,” Mia whispered into the dead quiet of the hallway. “She works all night on her computer so we can buy groceries, and yesterday she skipped dinner so I could have the extra strawberry yogurt. If you’re my daddy, you can make sure Mommy eats dinner too.”
The silence that followed was so heavy it felt like the floor had fallen out from beneath the building.
The two junior associates standing near the water cooler looked away awkwardly. My throat constricted so violently I couldn't draw air into my lungs. A burning wave of humiliation and maternal vulnerability rushed to my face.
I stepped between Mia and Adrian, my hands trembling as I smoothed down her soft curls.
“Mr. Kane, I am so sorry,” I stammered, keeping my chin raised purely by force of will. “My childcare fell through at the last minute. This was completely unprofessional. I will take Mia home immediately and submit my presentation deck remotely before the deadline.”
I bent down to pick up Mia, ready to flee to the elevators and pack my desk.
“Elena,” Adrian’s voice commanded softly.
It was the first time in two years he had ever called me by my first name.
I froze, looking up at him.
Adrian wasn't scowling. He wasn't reaching for his security badge or writing a termination notice. There was an unfamiliar, intensely focused stillness in his eyes—a gaze that stripped away the corporate armor I had worn for years.
“Did you skip dinner last night?” Adrian asked, his voice low and level.
“That is personal and completely irrelevant to the luxury branding deck, Mr. Kane,” I replied defensively, pulling Mia closer.
Adrian looked down at Mia, offering her a soft, conspiratorial wink. “Mia, has Gerald had breakfast today?”
Mia shook her head solemnly. “Gerald only likes blueberry pancakes, but we didn't have any mix left.”
Adrian turned toward his executive assistant, Rebecca. “Rebecca, order three full breakfast platters from the Carlyle kitchen—Belgian waffles, fresh fruit, double eggs, and blueberry pancakes. Have it brought to my private office immediately.”
“Right away, Mr. Kane,” Rebecca answered, her eyes wide with shock as she practically sprinted toward her desk.
“Mr. Kane, you don't need to do that—” I started.
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“I didn't order it for you, Ms. Hayes,” Adrian interrupted smoothly, stepping back to hold the heavy frosted door of his corner suite open. “I ordered it for Gerald. And since Gerald cannot eat alone, you and Mia are required to supervise. Bring your laptop. We will review your presentation slides while the waffles are warm.”
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