Nadine
Oh, my world-never in my life did I think I’d be caught in a moment like this. I’ve always prided myself on keeping my son from ever seeing something he shouldn’t, but today, I failed.
The moment the door swings open, I practically leap away from Logan as if I’ve been burned, moving at the speed of light.
My heart pounds in my chest as I turn to see Shawn standing there, his small face scrunched in confusion.
He furrows his brows, clearly puzzled. Seeing his father here at this time of day must seem odd to him.
But then his innocent little voice breaks the silence.
“Is something in Mum’s mouth? And Mummy, what’s wrong with Daddy?”
I freeze. My breath catches, and I feel a nervous laugh bubble up before I can stop it. I glance at Logan, silently pleading for his help.
Logan quickly clears his throat, recovering faster than I do.
“Hey, buddy! I thought I’d surprise you guys,” he says, forcing a casual smile and motioning for Shawn to come closer.
But Shawn isn’t entirely convinced. His sharp little eyes flick back and forth between us, sensing that something isn’t quite right.
“Are you okay, Mum?” he asks again, his small voice laced with concern.
He gives me one of his sweet, innocent smiles, the kind that makes my heart melt.
I sigh internally. Gosh, this boy is just too pure for this world.
Finally, I reach out to him, forcing a reassuring smile. “Come here,” I say softly.
I turn to Logan with a small smile. “So, Daddy thought he could surprise us, huh? And now we’re having guests over?”
Logan nods slowly, with a steady gaze. “That’s right.”
Shawn’s eyes widened with excitement. “Who’s coming?”
Logan crouches down to his level, his voice warm. “Your grandma will be here, and Aunt Nathalie too. There will be other people I’d love for you to meet.”
At the mention of Nathalie, Shawn’s face lights up with a big smile. “Aunt Nathalie? Really? I’d love that!”
Logan chuckles. “I thought you might.”
I ruffle Shawn’s hair gently. “Well, buddy, that means you need to get ready. You don’t want everyone seeing you like this, do you?”
Shawn gasps dramatically, looking down at his slightly rumpled clothes. “No way! I need to look good.”
Logan stands and stretches out a hand. “Come on, buddy. I’ll take you to your room so you can freshen up.”
Shawn grabs Logan’s hand eagerly, his excitement clear. As they walk off together, I watch them with a soft smile. It’s not every day Mr. West is around to do this, and I want them to have this moment together.
Today is already turning out to be special.
Once they were out the door, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
“Gosh, that was close,” I mutter to myself, shaking my head as I make my way to the bathroom to freshen up.
With my stomach already full, there’s no need to go downstairs, so I decide to stay in my room, lounging around and going through some work on my laptop. I focus on reviewing a contract I brought home, losing track of time. Surprisingly, no one disturbs me, and for that, I’m grateful.
Just as I’m about to wrap up my work, a knock on my door interrupts my concentration.
“Come in,” I call out, pushing my glasses up onto my head.
The door opens, and Nathalie steps inside.
“Nathalie,” I say, moving my glasses away from my face. Over time, we’ve grown closer and made progress. Maturity has shaped us both, and we now understand each other in ways we never did before.
She’s carrying a dress bag in her hand.
“What’s that for?” I ask, pointing toward it.
She exhales softly, then smiles. “There’s a gala tonight, and it’s specifically for people in your field of business. I thought you should go, so I got this dress for you.”
My mouth forms an ‘O’ shape as I stare at her in surprise. I wasn’t expecting this kind of generosity from her.
She shifts awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. “The thing is, the event starts in the next two hours, so I need you to start getting ready. I already spoke to Rosa, and she agreed to help with your makeup. Oh, and here-” she hands me a box, “-this is the shoe and the accessories to go with the dress.”
I take the dress bag from her, my heart warming at the gesture.
“Oh, Nathalie, this is so thoughtful of you,” I say, genuinely touched.
As much as I would love to just curl up in bed all day, I can’t bring myself to let Nathalie’s effort go to waste.
“Perfect then!” she says excitedly, unzipping the dress bag and pulling out the dress.
My eyes widen in admiration. “Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous,” I breathe. It’s a short white dress, shimmering under the light with intricate details that make it look even more elegant.
I’m not great at describing dresses, but I can already tell this will look stunning on me.
Before I can say anything else, a knock sounds at the door, followed by a familiar voice.
“Can I come in?”
“That must be Rosa,” Nathalie says as she walks over to open the door.
Rosa steps inside, carrying her makeup kit, looking every bit like the expert she is.
I notice the subtle exchange of looks between her and Nathalie, their silent communication speaking volumes.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“No,” Nathalie responds quickly. “Just telling her the right shade of color to use.”
Before I know it, Rosa gets to work, her skilled hands moving across my face with precision. I trust her completely, knowing she always brings out the best in me.
Minutes pass, and soon, she steps back, satisfied with her work.
“All done,” Rosa announces.
I take a glance in the mirror and gasp softly. My makeup is flawless, enhancing my features without looking overdone.
Now, it’s time for the dress. I slip into it carefully, making sure to pair it with the matching accessories.
When I turn back to face Nathalie, she beams in approval.
“Perfect,” she says, giving me an appreciative once-over. Then she smirks. “Are you sure Logan will let you leave the house looking this hot?”
I roll my eyes playfully at Nathalie’s teasing. “Oh, please,” I say, smoothing my hands down the shimmering fabric of my dress. “Logan is not my father. He doesn’t get to decide what I wear.”
Nathalie chuckles. “True, but let’s be honest-he’s going to have a hard time letting you out of his sight tonight.”
Oh, please, he has no choice,” I say with a playful smile as I spray perfume over my body, letting the sweet scent settle on my skin.
I turn to Nathalie and Rosa, gratitude filling my heart. “Thank you, Nathalie. Thank you, Rosa. This means a lot to me.”
Nathalie beams at me, then exchanges a glance with Rosa, who gives her a subtle nod.
Something about the way they’re acting seems… off. Like they’re hiding something.
Before I can ask, Nathalie speaks. “Let me get you the address,” she says, quickly stepping out of the room.
I shrug it off and decide to head downstairs.
As I step out of my room, my heels click softly against the wooden floor. But the moment I reach the top of the staircase, my breath catches in my throat.
The living room-my living room-has been completely transformed.
Soft golden lights cast a warm glow over the space, reflecting off elegant decorations.
The furniture has been rearranged and replaced with beautifully set tables draped in fine linens.
Delicate flower arrangements sit in the center of each one, their fresh fragrance mixing with the scent of something delicious wafting from the kitchen.
My heart pounds loudly in my chest as I take it all in. This isn’t just a simple gathering-it looks like an event. A grand, intimate celebration.
I grip the staircase railing, my mind racing.
What is going on?