Friday arrived faster than Alex would have liked.
The entire week had been exhausting client presentations, endless revisions, and Yujiro's increasingly difficult-to-ignore curiosity about her life outside the office.
Fortunately, today was supposed to be simple.
Finish the quarterly reports.
Submit them.
Go home to Yuto.
Unfortunately, life rarely followed plans.
---
"Ms. Bolivar."
Alex looked up from her computer.
Yujiro stood beside her desk.
"We have an emergency."
Her stomach dropped.
"What happened?"
"The Henderson clients moved up the meeting."
"...To when?"
"Tonight."
Alex blinked.
"Tonight?"
"They're flying overseas tomorrow morning."
She checked the time.
4:15 p.m.
No.
No, no, no.
"Sir..."
Yujiro immediately noticed the hesitation.
"You have somewhere to be."
It wasn't a question.
Alex lowered her gaze.
"...Yes."
The room seemed unusually quiet.
Finally, Yujiro spoke.
"Bring him."
Her head snapped up.
"What?"
"Your son."
He sounded as calm as if discussing weather forecasts.
"You can't miss the meeting."
"I can't bring a child into a client negotiation."
"You mentioned your childcare support is limited."
Alex stared at him.
"You remembered that?"
His expression remained unreadable.
"You said Asha had plans this evening."
She had mentioned it in passing two days ago.
He remembered.
"...I don't know if that's appropriate."
Yujiro adjusted his cufflinks.
"The meeting will be held in the executive lounge."
"There are private rooms."
"He'll only be there temporarily."
Alex hesitated.
The professional in her screamed no.
The mother in her had no other choice.
"...Okay."
---
Forty minutes later, Alex arrived at the office holding Yuto's tiny hand.
The little boy looked around with wide eyes.
"So big," he whispered.
Alex crouched beside him.
"You have to be on your best behavior."
"I know."
"No running."
"Okay."
"No touching things that don't belong to you."
"...Okay."
"No negotiating."
Yuto gasped.
"Mama!"
Alex sighed.
"We'll work on that one."
The sound of quiet footsteps interrupted them.
Yuto looked up first.
A tall man stood a few feet away.
Dressed in a dark suit.
Sharp features.
Serious expression.
Yuto blinked.
Then whispered loudly:
"Mama."
Alex closed her eyes.
"...Yes?"
"He's really tall."
Yujiro stared at the child.
The child stared back.
Silence.
Then...
"Hello."
Yujiro had addressed CEOs, investors, and politicians.
Yet greeting a three-year-old somehow felt more intimidating.
Yuto tightened his grip on Alex's hand.
"Hi."
Yujiro's gaze lowered slightly.
The boy had dark eyes.
Bright and expressive.
He stood close to Alex without fear.
Protective of her.
Trusting.
"Mama says I shouldn't talk to strangers."
Alex wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
"Yuto--"
Yujiro interrupted.
"That's wise advice."
Yuto considered him.
"Are you Mama's boss?"
"...Yes."
"You make her stay late."
Alex nearly choked.
"Yuto!"
The little boy frowned.
"You do."
Yujiro looked at Alex.
Then back at Yuto.
"...Occasionally."
"You shouldn't."
Alex covered her face.
"I am so sorry."
But to her shock...
The corner of Yujiro's mouth lifted.
Barely.
"You have strong opinions."
Yuto nodded seriously.
"Mama works hard."
Something shifted in Yujiro's expression.
A strange warmth settled in his chest.
"I know."
---
The meeting lasted nearly an hour.
True to his word, Yujiro had arranged for Yuto to stay in a private lounge beside the conference room.
When Alex returned, she stopped in the doorway.
Yuto sat cross-legged on the floor.
Coloring.
Yujiro sat across from him.
Watching.
"...What are you doing?" Alex asked.
Yuto looked up excitedly.
"Mama!"
He held up a piece of paper.
"Look!"
Alex blinked.
It was a dinosaur.
A very lopsided dinosaur.
"Mr. Tall Boss helped me."
Alex slowly turned toward Yujiro.
"You drew with him?"
Yujiro glanced at the crayon still in his hand.
"...Apparently."
Yuto nodded enthusiastically.
"He can't color inside the lines."
Silence.
Then...
Alex laughed.
Actually laughed.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
Yujiro found himself staring.
He had heard her laugh before.
Soft.
Controlled.
Nothing like this.
For a moment...
he forgot how to breathe.
Yuto tilted his head.
"Mama?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you smiling weird?"
Alex immediately stopped laughing.
"I'm not smiling weird."
"You are."
Yujiro looked away.
"...I should return to work."
---
As Alex gathered Yuto's things, she noticed him tugging on Yujiro's sleeve.
"Mister?"
Yujiro paused.
"Yes?"
Yuto held up another crayon drawing.
"This is for you."
It showed three stick figures.
One small.
One with long hair.
One very tall.
All holding hands.
Yujiro stared at it.
"You forgot the tie," Yuto informed him.
"...I see."
"You can keep it."
Alex's heart nearly stopped.
"Yuto..."
"It's okay."
Yujiro accepted the drawing carefully.
"...Thank you."
Yuto grinned.
"You're welcome, Mr. Tall Boss."
Alex apologized again as they headed toward the elevator.
"I really am sorry."
"For what?"
"He talks too much."
Yujiro glanced down at the drawing in his hand.
"...I didn't mind."
The elevator doors opened.
Yuto waved enthusiastically.
"Bye-bye!"
Yujiro lifted a hand.
"Goodbye."
As the doors closed, Yuto looked up at Alex.
"Mama?"
"Yes?"
"I like your boss."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Do you?"
"He's scary."
"...That's not usually a compliment."
"But..."
Yuto yawned.
"He's nice too."
Alex's breath caught.
She looked down at her son.
He had no idea.
No idea who he'd just met.
No idea that the man who helped him color dinosaurs...
was the father he'd asked about.
Meanwhile, Yujiro stood alone in the executive lounge.
His gaze dropped to the crayon drawing.
Three stick figures holding hands beneath an oversized sun.
One very tall.
One very small.
One with long hair.
Something tightened painfully in his chest.
He had known Yuto for less than two hours.
And yet...
The boy's laughter echoed in his mind.
The innocent trust in his eyes.
The fierce way he'd defended his mother.
Yujiro carefully folded the drawing and slipped it into his briefcase.
A gesture he couldn't explain.
He stared out at the city skyline.
For the first time in years, the thought of going home to an empty penthouse felt unbearably lonely.
And somewhere in the city, a little boy fell asleep clutching his stuffed toy.
Completely unaware that fate had finally introduced him to the man who had unknowingly left an empty space in both of their lives.
Neither father nor son recognized the truth.
But destiny had a peculiar way of bringing people back to where they belonged.
And this time...
it had finally brought them face to face.
— End of Chapter 8 —