Chapter 3

Mike's voice was so loud; it echoed through the whole office.

I was so mortified I wanted to disappear into thin air.

I stood up and turned stiffly to Zack. "Mr. Stone, I'm really sorry. He's a kid and doesn't know any better.

"Sorry for causing you any trouble."

Zack leaned back on the couch, his legs crossed.

He glanced back and forth between Mike and me. "Is he your son?"

"Yes," I replied.

"How old is he?"

"Four."

"He's a clever kid."

"Thank you."

"He said he wants a dad?"

"Kids say whatever pops into their heads. Don't take it seriously."

"I didn't."

Zack stood up and walked over to me, looking down at me. "Tracy Thomas?"

"Do you know me?" I asked, surprised.

"No."

"Then how did you—"

"It's on your badge."

I looked down at my badge. I had forgotten to take it off.

Still embarrassed, I muttered, "Mr. Stone, I'll take my son home now."

"Okay," Zack replied.

I grabbed Mike's hand and headed out.

Mike turned back and waved at Zack. "Bye, Mr. Stone. Next time, I will get you a lollipop."

To my surprise, Zack actually smiled and nodded. "Okay."

Once we were outside the kindergarten, I crouched down and looked Mike in the eye. "Mike, how many times do I have to tell you? You can't call strangers 'Dad.'"

Mike replied, "But he didn't feel like a stranger. He seemed like a dad to me."

"You've never met your dad, so how do you know what he looks like?"

"I've seen him in a photo. The one you hid under your bed."

I froze. The photo hidden under my bed? That was a picture of Dash and me from years ago.

After the divorce, I got rid of everything related to him, except for that one photo.

It wasn't because I couldn't let go. I kept it to remind myself: this man wasn't worth it.

"When did you find it?" I asked.

"Last week, while you were at work. I was digging around for my dinosaur toy and happened to find it," Mike said.

"Mike, that man isn't your dad."

"Then where is Dad?"

"He is far away."

"Why doesn't he come to see me?"

"Because... because..." I couldn't finish.

Mike looked up at me, his eyes shining with tears. "Mommy, don't cry. I won't ask anymore."

He reached out his hand and gently wiped my tears away.

I was supposed to be the one comforting him, but somehow, he ended up comforting me.

Mike was way too understanding for his age. It honestly broke my heart.

*****

I thought what happened at the kindergarten was a one-time thing. But the very next day, another surprise came my way.

The company was holding a project meeting, and Zack was running the show.

I was there as the design department's representative.

I sat all the way in the corner of the conference table.

Zack sat at the head of the table, flipping through the slides and giving feedback on each one.

He was professional, no-nonsense, and hit the nail on the head every time.

I had to admit, he was the real deal.

He wasn't some trust fund baby riding on his family's coattails.

Midway through the meeting, Zack's assistant walked in and whispered something in his ear.

Zack frowned. "Have him wait."

The assistant added something, and Zack's frown grew deeper.

Then he glanced at me, just for a second, before quickly looking away.

But I kept feeling there was something in that look.

After the meeting, I bumped into Zack in the hallway.

"Tracy," he said.

"Hi, Mr. Stone," I replied.

"What's your son's name?"

"Mike Thomas."

"His last name is Thomas?"

"Yeah, same as mine."

He paused for a moment, then said, "He's such a cute kid."

"Thank you."

"What about his dad?"

"I'm divorced."

He nodded, didn't press further, and turned to leave.

I stood there; something didn't feel right.

Why was Zack so curious about my kid?

Maybe he was smitten with how cute Mike was? Could be.

After all, Mike had one of those faces everyone fell for. Guess he got it from me.

For the next week, Zack kept showing up in my life.

I'd run into him at the office, in the cafeteria, and even in the elevator.

Even when I went downstairs to grab a coffee, he was there.

Amy said, "Tracy, this isn't a coincidence. He's totally planning this."

I replied, "You're reading too much into it. He's the boss, and it's not like the company is huge."

Amy shook her head. "No, seriously, the way he looks at you is definitely not normal."

I brushed it off.