Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Back home “Ma’am, I love our office space. It’s spc ious and very well-ventilated,” Lisa, Tessa’s assistant, remarked as she moved around the office space. She had decided to move to Ashford City together with Tessa.

Tessa nodded as she looked around the newly renovated place.

She had now settled in Ashford City. When she arrived, her best friend, Michelle, helped her look for an office space at the mall and a school for the children.

Tessa had to design a plan for the changes she wanted to make to the office. After all, being in a bigger City. she was optimistic she would have more clients, so she needed the place to look professional.

“It’s going to be fun working with you, Tessa,” Michelle chimed in.

After noticing how she had a hard time managing the company’s finances back in Whitpalm City. Tessa decided to hire an accountant so that she could concentrate more on her work.

The only difficulty she had was hiring a qualified accountant. Luckily, Michelle studied financial accounting in college.

Of course, she was more than willing to help out with little pay until the company began to make enough profits.

Tessa smiled at her. “I hope everything goes well.”

She then turned to face her children, calling out her eldest.

“Reagan, you can play with your sisters while your aunties and I fix up the place. Can you protect your sisters for me?”

It was because they were only able to purchase the children’s requirements for school today so they hadn’t started school yet.

Tessa wanted to leave them with Elena but they pleaded with her to let them follow her to work. Naturally, they wanted to see where their mother works.

Reagan blinked and nodded his little head seriously. “Ok, Mommy. Don’t worry. I’m a man and a man protects his family.”

He puffed out his little chest as if he was an adult, his face was serious with a cute pout on his lips.

Tessa thought he looked adorable so she ruffled his neatly styled hair but the little man frowned, pushing her hand away.

He didn’t like being untidy.

She then looked at her two daughters. Nia was mostly quiet and didn’t like being around people. Especially strangers.

Willa, on the other hand, was a sweet girl. To her, everyone was a friend. It was easier for someone to kidnap Willa with no problems than Nia.

“Girls, please behave. I’ll buy you ice cream later.”

Chapter 10 Back home Their eyes lit up when they heard that. Ice cream was their favorite! So yummy!

“Ok, Mommy.” they said in unison.

“I love you all.”

“We love you too, Mommy.”

Tessa went into her office to organise stuff while she told Lisa to keep an eye on her kids.

The place was designed in such a way that there would be a visitor’s lounge area and a reception at the entrance where Lisa will be stationed for a while.

Then two big rooms would be the actual offices with a toilet at the far end.

.When the kids were left alone, they looked at each other and Willa suddenly suggested. “Let’s play hide and seek.”

Since Willa was the youngest, they naturally did everything she wanted to make her happy.

Although Reagan was itching to play games on his tablet, he had to play with his sister before she began to cry.

He closed his eyes and started to count. “One, two, three-”

The two girls ran away to find a place to hide. Willa saw that the front door was open and decided she wanted to hide well so that her brother doesn’t find her easily.

Giggling, she walked out while Lisa was placing the framed Company certificates on the wall.

She saw some adults entering an elevator and she toddled toward it, walking inside.

The adults just thought she was with one of them so they didn’t pay much attention to her.

Ten minutes later, Willa was lost. She just wanted to find a place to hide but why were there so many shops and people?

She couldn’t find her way back anymore.

Feeling scared, she began to run aimlessly, her eyes a blur of tears.

“Mommy!” Her voice choked as if she was about to cry.

“Mo-” She suddenly slipped and fell on her face and a man paused in front of her because she was about to bump into him.

The man frowned and leaned over when she started to cry, lifting her up. For some reason, he was forced to carry her and the moment he held her, a sense of familiarity washed over him.

“Sir, I-”

His assistant wanted to take the child from him but the man stopped him by raising his hand.

The man was none other than Aaron Wentworth.

He had just bought the said mall and decided to inspect it today. He didn’t expect to bump into such an 2/6 adorable kid.

Willa was in a pink tutu, a white top with the writings, I love my Mommy and white pulling socks that were now torn around the knee after her fall.

She had a little pink bag on her and her hair was combed into a ponytail with a pink headband on her head.

Aaron didn’t know why, but as he looked at Willa, he thought she looked familiar.

Tears were streaming down Willa’s face and her bottom lip stuck out, quivering as she sobbed in the stranger’s arms.

“I want my Mommy.”

Aaron didn’t know why, but his heart ached to see the little girl like this, so he began to rock her like one would a baby, albeit awkwardly since he’s never done such a thing before.

“Sshh, little one. Don’t cry. I’ll find your Mommy,” Aaron cooed, then he turned to look at Enock whose mouth was reaching the floor, shocked to see his boss carrying a child.

“Buy her new pulling socks and find someone to treat her bruise.” Aaron instructed.

Enock was puzzled but he went to do as told.

‘Since when did the boss love kids?” He asked himself silently.

At the same time, Willa gradually calmed down. Her head was resting on Aaron’s shoulder and she thought his scent was comforting. His embrace was warm and she felt safe.

She was sucking on her thumb when Aaron gently grabbed her tiny chubby hand and pulled her thumb out of her mouth.

“Where’s your Mommy?” He inquired when he saw that she was calm now.

However, Willa didn’t remember where her mother’s office was so she just pointed at a random spot on the second floor.

Aaron turned to look and figured the child was lost because there was no one there.

Enock quickly returned with the socks and a lollipop which he gave to Willa.

They quickly went to the manager’s office and Aaron helped to clean Willa’s bruised knee. He then asked the female manager to help Willa put on the pulling socks. Aaron had no idea how to handle those.

Willa kept looking at the handsome man who had helped her. ‘This man looks like Reagan and Nia. Especially when he frowns.

Is he my daddy?”

“I’m done, Sir,” the manager said after she was done dressing Willa’s bruise.

Aaron nodded. “Good. Make an announcement about a lost kid. I need to return to work.”

When Willa realised the good gentleman was about to leave, she panicked. For some reason, she didn’t want him to go.

She noticed how he took care of her. She had smeared tears and sn ot on his suit but he didn’t despise her.

Back home ‘Uncle Harry has a scary look on his face when I cry on his clothes.’ She mused.

While the manager was making the announcement, she toddled toward Aaron and hugged his leg, looking up at him with doe eyes.

Her hands were sticky from messily eating the lollipop but Aaron didn’t mind. Instead, he smiled warmly at her and couldn’t help but stick out his hand and lightly pinched her cheek.

“Can you be my daddy?” Willa suddenly asked, her cute voice echoing in the room.

Aaron’s eyes widened at the little girl’s request but he chuckled and brushed her hair gently.

“What’s your name, little one?” He inquired instead.

“My name is Willa Hilton.”

Aaron’s smile froze. There are many Hiltons in this world, right? Yet this girl...

“What about you, Mr handsome? What’s your name?” Willa asked him back.

His eyes softened, thinking she was lovable. “Aaron.”

Willa nodded too many times and then she asked outright again. “Can you be my daddy?”

At first, Aaron thought she wasn’t serious but now that she asked it twice, he couldn’t help but frown.

‘Maybe it’s just kids being kids.’ He thought.

“How about I become your play Dad?”

Willa’s eyes lit up. He could act as her father and people won’t bully her or laugh at her mommy anymore. She liked that idea so she let go of his leg and opened her little bag.

She took out a kid’s tablet with a mic key mouse case and gave it to Aaron.

“Give me your number, Daddy. I’ll call you to play,” she uttered sweetly. Of course, she didn’t forget to confirm the agreement they just made. She just got herself and her siblings a daddy.

Aaron chuckled in amusement but he still got the tablet and typed in his number. He didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt the urge to indulge the little girl.

Willa dialled the number to check if it was the correct one and only when Aaron’s phone rang did she save his line.

Aaron was impressed. ‘Are kids these days that smart?’ He smiled warmly at her and pinched her cheek lightly again.

Meanwhile, Tessa happened to hear the announcement about a missing little girl and her heart jumped out of her chest.

She rushed to the lounge and found Reagan and Nia looking fidgety.

“Where’s Willa?”

4/6 Chapter 10 Back home Tessa’s heart was racing and her stomach was in a knot. Anxiety crept into her because she couldn’t see her third child.

“W-we were playing hide and seek but we can’t find her anywhere. We are sorry. Mommy.” Reagan said, his little heart racing because he knew he was in trouble.

Earlier when Reagan found Nia and began to search for Willa, he realised she wasn’t in the office so he informed Lisa who hurriedly went out to look for her.

Tessa’s heart sank. Her children were her world. She wouldn’t forgive herself if anything happened to any one of them.

She grabbed her two children’s hands and started to lead them in the direction of the manager’s office.

“I have to take a look and see if the missing child is mine.”

On the other hand, Lisa had heard the announcement and rushed to the manager’s office. She couldn’t believe Willa had gone missing under her watch and she felt guilty.

When she knocked and entered the office, Aaron frowned when he saw Willa rush towards her and jump into her arms.

Lisa started working for Tessa when the triplets were just two-years-old so they were quite fond of her.

However, Aaron misunderstood and thought she was the girl’s mother.

There was a surge of emotions within him that he couldn’t explain but one emotion stuck out. Disappointment.

Although he didn’t know why seeing the mother would disappoint him. He laughed at himself internally knowing what he was thinking after seeing the girl’s face that looked so familiar.

“What was I thinking?’ He scoffed. ‘She can’t be...”

He glanced at Lisa and said coldly. “Take care of your daughter well next time.”

He majestically strode out of the room without giving her a chance to clarify.

Just when he had disappeared around the corner, Tessa and the two little ones appeared from the other side.

When she found her daughter, Tessa went down on her knees and hugged her before scolding her.

“Willa, don’t ever do that again! Don’t run away from your brother and sister, do you hear me?”

Realising that her Mommy was upset, Willa could only nod and she decided to keep her new ‘friend’ a secret.

“I’m sorry, Mommy. I won’t run away again.”

Tessa smiled and nodded, her gaze turning soft. After all, she couldn’t stay upset at her daughter for too long.

She then thanked the manager and returned to the office but this time, she locked the front door as she immersed herself in work.

5/6