Days go by and I'm still clueless about what to do with Chloe and her undisclosed father. I told Sandy about my discovery during our visit to her beach house two weekends ago. She was as dumbfounded as I was, but Sandy was Sandy. She quickly got back to her rational mind. 

"Talk to him, tell him whatever it is. It's nothing like eight years ago when you were a scared kitten, looking for support from someone who knocked you up," she said. "You will just offer him the fact that Chloe is his child. He doesn't have to be involved with his daughter's life. He doesn't even have to worry about child support because look at you, you're doing just fine raising her alone. The bottom line is, you don't keep this important fact from him."

We had moved Chloe to the guest room so that Sandy and I could catch up in the living room without having to whisper all the time. "But he's my big big boss. Don't you think it will be super awkward?"

"I bet."

"Maybe I should search for another job before dropping the bomb. Because if things get weird, or even worse, he denies Chloe and creates a drama out of it, my career is on the line."

"Do you think he will deny Chloe?"

"I don't know, Sand." I sighed. "He doesn't want kids, let alone a daughter. He might not take this news well, or get panicked, or whatever. I really don't know how he will react to this. So, having another job for a backup if things get ugly sounds reasonable at the moment."

Sandy never said she agreed or disagreed with my idea, but knowing me, she understood why I wanted to deal with this at my own pace. I know I've improved a lot in these past years, but I'm still that girl who jumps from one impulsive decision to another impulsive one. Thus, I've decided to wait until I'm done with the temporary position. Not seeing him on a daily basis will probably help me think more clearly.

And the big day has arrived; today is my last day working on the executive floor.

The new guy, Andy, has finished his speedy employment training and starts his journey as Ashton Knight's assistant. Andy is around my age and looks enthusiastic about his new job, and I will not, at any cost, crush his spirit on his first day.

"Glad you made it to this floor today," greets Mr. Knight when he's back from a business event. "I'm sure Ms. Garnett has explained how things work in general. Feel free to ask me if you have further questions. And" —he shifts his gaze to me— "I've got something for you."

I raise my eyebrows, intrigued by his sudden friendliness. Something doesn't feel right. "Oh?"

After rummaging through the business event bag he's been carrying, he takes a galileo doll out and puts it on the assistant desk, next to the computer. "Well, it's more for Chloe. I heard she's into the solar system. The event was all about it and I thought she would love to have one." Seeing me speechless and gaping at him, he continues, "And it's also a part of my apology for making her mom stay later at work in these past few weeks."

"Oh, wow," I gasp when I can find my voice again. "She will definitely love this. She adores him. Thank you so much, sir." I beam at him. I have no idea he paid attention to my random chatter about Chloe lately, and the fact that he did makes me feel somehow happy. 

He nods and looks back at Andy. "I will be in my room for the rest of the day. I believe it's going to be an easy day for all of us. While Ms. Garnett begins packing up, you can start digging into your work." With that, he strides away and disappears behind his door.

"Wow!" Andy blinks as he brushes back his jet-black hair, his dark eyes shining in amazement. "We're so lucky to have a charismatic, generous, and thoughtful boss!"

I almost choke but I muffle it with a fake cough. "Yeah. You're so blessed to get this job, you know. He's definitely one of a kind."

I grin from ear to ear on my way home knowing I don't have to go back to the thirteenth floor on Monday. Andy might hate me one day when he learns about Ashton Knight's true character, but I will worry about it another time. For now, I will just enjoy being lazy with Chloe in our matched pajamas for the whole weekend, except for a couple of hours when I'm meeting Ethan for lunch.

I know I wasn't in the right mind when I agreed to this. When he asked to meet me for dinner, I said no, but I couldn't turn him down completely. Then we settled on having lunch. At least, it feels less intimate. Ethan lives alone and when he's not working, he'd rather go outside to meet friends, or just drive somewhere, anywhere but home. It's sad to see him like this and it feels like I should be there for him in his time of need. I guess I still care for him.

We meet up on Saturday afternoon at the busiest cafe in my town square since Ethan doesn't want me to drive all the way to the city. Just like at our other lunch meet-up, we keep everything light and easy, staying away from depressing topics while enjoying our coffee and pastries.

When our plates and cups are almost empty, my phone rings. I hold my breath when I see the name flashing on my phone screen.

"Soph, is everything okay?" I ask once I pick up the phone.

"We're here!" Sophie squeaks loudly, matching the blaring music in the background, making me wince and slightly distance the phone from my ear. "I gave up. Diana wouldn't stop nagging me until I brought her to the bookstore. Chloe didn't want to stay in, too. So, here we are." She chuckles, sounding a bit too giggly.

"Gosh, Soph, for a second I thought there was something wrong with Chloe." I let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, no. Chloe is absolutely fine. Are you still at Maura's Cafe? Listen, we're going to pop up there. The girls want to grab some bubble tea and then we're out of your hair."

"Yeah, I'm still here," I reply, glancing at Ethan who is frowning at his phone screen. A realization dawns on me like a brick hitting my skull. "What? You guys are coming? No–"

"Why not?"

Seeing Ethan's head snap and his eyes now on me with curiosity, I gulp. "It's..." Shit. Ethan can't hear me saying that Chloe shouldn't be here, meeting his ghost daddy. "It's busy here. Very busy. I think you guys better grab the tea somewhere else."

Granted, my answer prompts Ethan to look at our surroundings. He frowns as he sees the cafe is half empty since lunchtime is over.

"Umm, Char. We are here," Sophie replies.

"What? Oh–" I stop abruptly before turning around in horror just to find the trio entering the cafe, a paper bag hanging on each hand as they grin widely at me.

"Mama!" Chloe squeals and throws herself at me.

Once her warm body snuggles in my arms, her scent soothes me, but not enough to calm my nerves at this very moment. It's when a paper bag hits my calf. I glance down and frown. "Now, what did Aunt Sophie get you?" I ask.

Chloe and I go to the bookstore once a month so that she can pick what she likes. And the last one was just a week ago.

Sophie waves her hand in a dismissive gesture, probably feeling guilty for breaking our deal to not over-pamper our kids. "Just a Disney magazine and some do-books. No biggie."

"Soph–"

"Oh, gosh. Ethan?" Sophie gasps, glancing at me in surprise. "I didn't know Char was meeting you for lunch."

"Sophie." Ethan stands up. Instead of shaking my sister's hand, he hugs her and gives her friendly pecks on the cheeks. "Long time no see."

"Damn right! It's been seven years...no, eight years!" Sophie replies, unaware of my eyes boring into her head. Doesn't she realize what is going on right now? I'm so close to spilling my drink onto her dress when she goes on, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you. What about you?"

"Can't complain. Well, my husband is still working offshore, so it's just me with the girls for now. This is" —Sophie pulls Diana to her side— "my daughter, Diana. She was still a toddler the last time you saw her. And this is" —Sophie's other hand holds Chloe by the shoulders— "Chloe–" Sophie stops abruptly. Her eyes widen as a strangled noise escapes her throat.

"My daughter," I finish Sophie's line. "Girls, what do you do when you meet new people?"

Diana and Chloe take turns to come forward and shake Ethan's hand while murmuring, "Nice to meet you." 

"I...uh...we're not staying. We're just going to grab our drinks and go," Sophie says with an overly wide smile plastered on her face. "Let's go, girls. Bubble tea time!" With that, Sophie walks to the counter with Diana hot on her heels, but Chloe doesn't budge from her spot.

When I turn my eyes to her, my daughter is taking the seat next to me, eyes fixed on the man in front of her. Something she always does to my potential date or boyfriend. If Ethan feels uncomfortable with her scrutinizing glare, he doesn't show it. Mimicking Chloe's gesture, he folds his arms and rests them on the table while staring back at her, smiling.

"You have beautiful eyes, Chloe," Ethan starts.

"Thank you. Mama said I have them from my dad."

"I see." Ethan nods, still smiling but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"So, Ethan, how did you meet my mama?"

Ethan raises his eyebrows in amusement. "We were friends back in university."

"Were you her college sweetheart?"

My breath hitches in my throat. Oh, shit!

Ethan chuckles before answering. "Yes, you can say that."

Shit, shit, shit! I haven't warned Ethan about this. "Chl–"

"So, you're Ethan Watkins. You're my dad."

"What?" 

Ethan's eyes widen, caught by surprise as I bury my face in my hands, hoping the ground to open up and swallow me whole right now.

"Mama said my father is Ethan Watkins, her college sweetheart, who left her heartbroken and pregnant."

The only time I saw Ethan speechless was when I told him I was carrying a random guy's child in my belly. And right now, I'm witnessing it once again. His mouth hangs open and his eyebrows are knitted together as if he is trying to make sense of what Chloe just told him, scratch that, what the girl just accused him of.

"Chloe, you're barking at the wrong tree, sweetheart," I say, my voice squeaking like a mama duck. "This isn't Ethan Watkins, my ex-boyfriend."

The pair shift their gaze to me. Ethan raises his eyebrow, looking intrigued, while Chloe frowns in confusion.

"He is Ethanol...lan. Yes! Ethan Nolan." I shoot a glare at Ethan who almost snorts from laughing before shifting my eyes back to Chloe. "So, I dated two Ethans, Ethan Watkins and Ethan Nolan. And this Ethan is not your father."

"Ow." Chloe bites her lower lip, sheepishly turning her head back to Ethan. "I'm sorry. I'm mistake for someone else."

I would correct her grammar if we weren't in this awkward situation. So, I bite my inner cheek and let the conversation roll.

"No problem. That happens," Ethan replies.

Chloe doesn't take her eyes off him. "Now I understand why your eyes aren't green."

"Yeah, I wish I had them."

⭐⭐⭐