Chapter Two

Bianca

"Well, I can see why he's gone through so many assistants," I say to Ronnie with a loud scoff. Even I can hear the bitterness in my voice, but I'm too frustrated to care at this point. It's the end of my first week and I just need to vent. I'm sitting in Ronnie's café, sipping from the glass of fresh strawberry lemonade she just handed me.

"Thanks," I continue, "I needed this."

Ronnie chuckles and flips her shiny, dark curls over her shoulders as she leans forward in her seat to take a sip from the cup of iced coffee in front of her. I'm so proud of her for how far she's come in the last four years, buying the café we're sitting in and doing it all with her husband, and love of her life, Hanson, by her side. She's living her dream, and it gives me great joy to see her so content in life.

But, as happy as I am for her, I sometimes can't help the little pangs of envy in my chest. Ronnie seems to have everything figured out—love, success, and fulfillment. And on days like this when it seems like life is throwing punches at me from all sides, I wonder… What if? Just what if my life didn't turn upside down four years ago? Where would I be right now?

Of course, I don't regret taking Oliver in, he's the center of my world and I would choose him over and over again.

"It must be tough working for Ellsworth. It's so unlike you to complain," Ronnie says, interrupting my thoughts.

"He frustrates me to no end, Ron," I say with an exasperated sigh. "It's like he intentionally does things to grate on my nerves, like he wants to see me come undone for some reason."

"Maybe you should have continued working with David Armitage," Ronnie says with a sympathetic smile. "He seems like the best CEO you've worked with. I don't see why you didn't stay with him."

"I couldn't," I reply, my voice tinged with a bit of nostalgia. "The office was too far from Oliver's school. I always felt bad about not being able to pick him up after school every day."

"You've got this, Bee," Ronnie says, reaching out to take my hand in hers. She gives me an encouraging squeeze, smiling bigger when I give her a weak smile. "You've worked with all sorts of people over the years, and you've always known how to handle even the toughest of them. I'm sure with time, you'll figure out a way to handle Ellsworth."

I nod in agreement but deep down, I'm not so confident in my abilities this time. Jason Ellsworth is unlike any other boss I've worked for. He's irritable and demanding, but what irks me the most is his unpredictability. One minute he's cold, the other he's raging hot. I'm usually a cool-headed person but Jason tests my patience in ways that I can't even explain.

But I'm determined not to let him get the best of me. It's why I've worked my butt off going above and beyond with every single one of his tasks in the past few days. But for some reason, he always seems to be annoyed anytime I successfully complete the unreasonable tasks he gives to me. It kind of makes me feel good to see that reluctant annoyance slip into his usually inscrutable features.

After a few more minutes of catching up with Ronnie, where she asks to take Oliver over the weekend and I happily oblige, my phone buzzes. It's Jason. My heart rate picks up as I open the message. The words are short and crisp: Be in my office in five minutes.

I shoot out of my seat with a soft gasp, hurriedly grabbing my bag from the table. "I need to go."

"What's wrong?" Ronnie asks, blinking up at me in surprise.

"Jason wants me in the office in five minutes," I say, the pitch of my voice rising with each word.

I gather my stuff and run out the door, dropping a quick kiss on Ronnie's cheek as I go, hoping I can make it back to the office in record time.

I race the three blocks back and have enough time to stop in the hall and straighten my clothes before heading into Jason's office.

He's standing by the window when I walk in, tall and commanding. His broad shoulders seem to fill the room, giving him an aura of authority. I can't help but notice the way the sunlight plays off his dark blond hair, and as he turns around, I feel a flutter of nerves in my stomach. Jason Ellsworth is a damn handsome man. There's no denying that. His chiseled jawline seems carved from marble, accentuated by a hint of stubble that only adds to his rugged allure. It's like the gods took their precious time to sculpt his face, inch by inch, to perfection.

His piercing blue eyes bore into mine, causing my heartbeat to accelerate. Beads of sweat trickle down the side of my face but I don't dare wipe them off.

His gaze lingers on me for a moment longer before he turns away and goes to sit in his chair. "I need you to compile a comprehensive report on the recent decline in the viewership ratings for Daily Spark. I need it on my desk by the end of the day."

I nod, already mentally preparing myself for the task ahead. "Understood, sir. I'll get started right away."

"You may leave," Jason says with a curt nod.

I turn around and walk away as fast as my legs can carry me. Outside, I let out a soft breath of relief as I pulled the door close behind me.

I walk over to my desk and immediately get to work, gathering the necessary data for my report. After what feels like hours, I look up from my computer to flex my shoulders and my gaze suddenly clashes with Jason's steely ones through the glass walls of his office. He doesn't flinch or look away. His eyes burn into mine with an intensity that has my heart freezing in my chest. Despite the distance that separates us, I can almost feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me, sending electrified chills through my body.

Why does Jason Ellsworth have this effect on me? A look from him is all it takes to send my whole system into disarray.

Suddenly, he smirks, a slow, knowing curl of his full, sensual lips, almost as if he could read my mind. I drop my gaze quickly, my cheeks flaring up with embarrassment. I'm not one to blush easily, but it seems like I've been acting out of character since I met Jason Ellsworth.

I try to focus on my work, but every time I glance up, his gaze is still fixed on me. It's like he's playing a game, one in which only he knows the rules. I can almost see the amusement in those endless blue eyes each time my gaze meets his…

I wish he'd pull the blinds so I can get my work done but I know he wouldn't. He's enjoying my discomfort too much.

Just when I decide to ignore Jason and restart my work, my phone starts to vibrate. I glance at the phone and my heart suddenly skips when I see it's Clark Thompson, my family law attorney, calling me. I am immediately on edge, knowing this call can only lead to bad news about Oliver.

Reluctantly, I answer. "Hi, Clark."

"Hey, Bianca! It's been a minute. How've you been and how's my little champ?"

Despite his cheery tone, there's an underlying tension in his voice that instantly has my guts in a twist.

"We're doing fine, thanks for asking," I reply, barely forcing the words past the lump in my throat. "What's going on?"

Clark remains silent for a while, causing my heart to be even faster. When he finally spoke, his voice was grave. "I received a letter from a lawyer today. He's representing Daniel Graham."

Daniel. My heart sinks at the sound of the name. "W-what does he want?" I ask, hating the slight stammer in my voice.

"He's contesting the adoption," Clark explains, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. "His lawyer claims they have grounds to reopen the case."

"B-but that's not possible… Right?" I ask hesitantly, wishing desperately for Clark to reassure me. "His parental rights were terminated four years ago. You assured me it was permanent."

Clark sighs. "I'm sorry but Washington state law permits a biological parent to reopen an adoption case and while this might not seem like a big deal, we can't afford to ignore it. If Daniel is pushing, we also have to be prepared to fight back with everything we have."

My mind starts to race as I struggle to process the implications of Clark's words. A familiar feeling of fear and isolation washes over me and just like four years ago, I find myself sinking into a pit of despair.

"But how?" I murmur, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "How could he possibly have any grounds to challenge the adoption of a child he never wanted?"

"According to the lawyer that I spoke with, there were irregularities in the termination process," Clark explains, his voice tinged with frustration. "But that can't be true, I did a thorough job four years ago, it's impossible to find any loopholes. Nevertheless, I plan to start a reevaluation process and prepare a counterattack. Don't worry, Bianca. Everything will be fine."

"What do we do now?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, as the weight of the situation settles heavily on my chest.

"For now, we wait things out," Clark says firmly, his tone unwavering. "And if push comes to shove, we fight. I'll give this all I've got, I promise you."

After we hangup, I slide down the wall, no longer able to hold myself upright. How can this be happening?