Alexander’s POV
My gaze shifts between my children, overwhelmed with love and gratitude. “Absolutely, Daisy. We’ll make sure she knows just how much she means to us, but you also have to help Daddy win mommy’s heart, OK?”
Daisy looks surprised and clueless as she asks her brother, “Win mommy’s heart. What does that mean?”
She seems genuinely curious, making me laugh and I notice her brother laughing too. He knicks her on the head and clicks his tongue, “To make her like Daddy, of course. You’re a baby so you wouldn’t know all that. Dummy!”
“You… Daddy, Daniel called me dummy!” Daisy scowled and retaliated by knocking him on the head too.
He however doesn’t stop laughing at her and stuck his tongue at her as he chanted, “Dummy… dummy… you’re a dummy…”
His words only infuriates the girl as she continues to insist. “Take that back, I’m not a dummy!” She seems really offended.
They launched into a playful banter, chasing each other around the room. I don’t stop them knowing they are only playing around. Moroever, it is rare to see Daniel so active which only happens whenever he is with his sister. He doesn’t interact much other kids which initially used to worry me but not anymore. I’ve come to recognize his resemblance to me.
“Stop there, Daniel. Let me beat you up once and I’ll let you go,” I hear Daisy exclaim in exasperation, bringing me back to the present.
Daniel laughs, “Do I look that foolish? Moroeever, can you even beat me up aline, shortie.”
He stuck his tongue at her and I can’t help but watch them with a rare smile on my face, my heart warming at the sight of Daisy, the shorter of the two, chasing after her taller brother, Daniel. Daisy’s little legs prevent her from catching up to him, and she eventually gives up, sinking down onto the floor in tears. Her eyes well up, and her drooped head makes her look incredibly adorable and cute. I can’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Once the laughter subsides, Daisy comes over to me, tears still streaming down her face, to complain about Daniel bullying her. I try to console her, still chuckling at their antics. But Daisy persists, claiming that Daniel called her a dummy and clearly hoping for me to intervene and scold her brother.
Instead, I playfully scold Daniel for his supposed misbehavior, reminding him not to bully his sister. Then I turn to Daisy, jokingly telling her not to cry anymore now that I have punished Daniel on her behalf. To our surprise, Daisy immediately stops crying, revealing that her tears were nothing more than an act. Daniel and I exchange a glance behind Daisy’s back, sharing a silent laugh.
I sit in my office, deep in thought. The events of the day weigh heavily on my mind as I contemplate how to approach Sophia and explain everything that happened. Despite the passage of time, she still hasn’t sought me out for an explanation, leaving me to wonder when she will confront me.
Feeling restless, I rise from my chair and make my way to the door. My intention is clear-to determine whether those two guys have left or if they are still inside. It’s an uncomfortable and uneasy feeling knowing they are in the same room with her. I’m aware that they are her roommates, and they’ve been living together long before I entered the picture. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve never been a fan of those two.
All I want is to separate them from her, especially considering their identities as hunters-a looming danger to me and my children. However, I know better than to act on that impulse. They are Sophia’s friends, and I can’t risk offending her by attempting to tear them away from her life.
As I resolutely wait for Sophia’s approach, my office becomes a haven for the suffocating silence that mirrors my troubled thoughts. Just as I sink back into my chair, my tranquil solitude is abruptly shattered by the shrill ring of my phone, jolting me from my reverie. I grab the receiver and bring it to my ear, recognizing Ethan’s voice on the other end.
“Ethan,” I greet him with a tinge of weariness, my voice tinged with urgency. “What’s the latest?”
There’s a brief pause before Ethan launches into a rapid-fire account of the troubling events that have unfolded within our company. He paints a grim picture of a rival company gaining an unfair advantage by capitalizing on our product before we even had a chance to submit it to the National Research Council (NRC).
“That’s unacceptable,” I reply tersely, my tone laced with a mix of concern and indignation. “We can’t let them get away with this.”
Ethan’s voice crackles with a sense of urgency as he continues, hinting at the unsettling possibility of a mole within our own organization. My jaw tightens, my resolve hardening as I absorb this new layer of betrayal.
“I want to know who’s responsible for this,” I assert firmly, my voice sharpening. “Start gathering more information, and I need a list of all the employees directly involved in these projects. We need to find out who’s been leaking our plans.”
There’s a palpable pause on the line as Ethan absorbs my instructions. “Understood,” he responds, his voice steady and determined. “I’ll get right on it. We’ll find them, Alexander.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Good. Keep me updated, Ethan. This is crucial.”
After Ethan hangs up the call, a knock resounds on the door, drawing my attention. “Come in,” I call out, expecting another interruption in the midst of my turbulent thoughts. To my surprise, it’s Daniel.
“What is it, Daniel?” I inquire, my concern evident in my voice.