Chapter 5
The morning sun shone through the penthouse windows, flooding the kitchen with a bright, golden warmth. I flipped pancakes onto a plate as the sweet aroma of batter and syrup filled the air.
Just as I finished drizzling a whipped cream smiley face onto the top pancake, Sophia burst into the room like a tiny storm.
Her curls bounced wildly and her bunny slippers slapped against the floor, bringing an energy so full of sunshine that it instantly chased away the lingering tension from yesterday. I couldn't help but smile at her happy spirit.
"Elena! Elena!" she chirped, sliding to a stop right beside me.
She pressed her hands together as if she were about to unveil a grand, dramatic plan.
"Can we go to the pool today? Please? It is going to be so hot, and I really want to swim!
" Her hazel eyes were wide and gleaming with excitement, her small body practically shaking with eagerness.
I paused, spatula in hand, as a stray drop of batter fell onto the counter.
I hesitated as I thought it over. After how badly things had gone at the park, I wasn't sure how Alexander would feel about another trip outside the penthouse.
But Sophia's excitement was a force of nature, and I couldn't bring myself to crush it.
"We will have to ask your dad," I said with a wink, handing her the plate of pancakes. The whipped cream was already melting into a gooey smile. "But I am ready if he is. It sounds like fun!"
Her face lit up like a firework. She scrambled onto a stool and immediately started planning aloud between bites.
"I will wear my purple swimsuit the one with the sparkles.
And I will bring my unicorn floaty, and maybe my goggles.
Oh, and the squirty fish!" Her words tumbled out in a giddy rush.
With syrup smearing her chin, she waved her fork around like a miniature orchestra conductor.
The kitchen door swung open and Alexander walked in, looking sharp in a tailored navy suit with his dark hair brushed neatly back. A slight frown creased his forehead as he scrolled intently on his phone.
Sophia didn't miss a beat. She jumped off her stool and darted straight toward him, tugging at his sleeve with sticky fingers.
"Daddy, Daddy, please can we go to the pool today?
Pretty please with whipped cream on top?
" she begged, bouncing on her toes in a singing plea.
Alexander raised an eyebrow, his gaze moving from her syrup-covered grin to me.
A silent question hung in the air. "The pool?" he asked. His tone was dry, but a distinct spark of amusement showed in his gray eyes.
I nodded and leaned back against the counter, shrugging casually as I tried to read his expression.
"Sophia has her heart set on it," I said, wiping my hands on a towel while the faint scent of vanilla lingered on my fingers.
"I think it would be good for her. A little fun in the sun. After, you know, everything."
He looked at the two of us for a long moment, his face calm and thoughtful. Then, to my surprise, his lips curved into a rare, uneven grin. "Alright," he said, ruffling Sophia's hair while she squealed in victory. "But I am coming along. No arguments."
The private pool club felt like a hidden paradise a bright oasis tucked away behind ivy-covered gates. Under the midday sun, the water sparkled a brilliant blue, surrounded by plush cabanas with flowing white curtains and cushions piled high in shades of orange and teal.
Palm trees swayed gently overhead, and the staff, dressed in crisp white shirts, greeted Alexander by name with polite nods as they carried trays of cold drinks and fruit skewers.
I stared around, completely amazed by the luxury. My sneakers squeaked softly on the pristine tiled deck as I adjusted the heavy tote bag on my shoulder, which was packed with towels and sunscreen.
Sophia, though, wasn't fazed by the opulence at all. She ran toward the pool like a rocket, her purple sparkly swimsuit glittering in the light and her floaties already blown up and secure on her arms.
"Come on, Elena!" she yelled, waving both hands to call me over. Her voice echoed beautifully off the water as she splashed in up to her knees. "Let us swim. It is going to be amazing!"
I laughed, kicking off my sandals and removing my cover-up to reveal a simple teal one-piece that fit me perfectly. "Hold your horses, water bug, I am coming!" I called back.
I dove into the water after her, sending up a massive splash. Her giggles rang out as we bobbed to the surface together, the cool water acting as a shocking, wonderful relief against the midday heat.
I glanced back toward the shaded cabanas. Alexander was sitting at a table beneath a large umbrella, his crisp white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark sunglasses hiding his eyes as he scrolled through his phone.
He looked entirely out of place like a powerful boss surrounded by sharp edges and deep thoughts, standing in stark contrast to the children splashing nearby and the laughter bouncing off the tiles.
I smirked to myself. Mr. CEO in paradise. He stood out like a three-piece suit at a beach party.
But Sophia had no intention of letting him sit on the sidelines. "Daddy, come swim!" she yelled, splashing water in his general direction. Her floaties flapped as she paddled hard toward the edge. "Please, you have to play with us!"
He let out a dramatic puff of air that didn't quite hide the sudden twitch of his lips. Setting his phone down with a firm thud, he rose with a theatrical groan, making Sophia cheer loudly.
He took off his sunglasses to reveal his sharp gray eyes, unbuttoned his shirt, and tossed it over a chair. My breath caught slightly at the sight of his lean, muscular chest. Okay, maybe he wasn't all business after all.
He walked into the water until it reached his knees, and Sophia immediately launched herself at him with a shriek of delight. He lifted her easily onto his shoulders.
"Daddy is in!" she cheered, throwing her arms wide as he spun her around. Water sprayed in glittering arcs, and her wild, joyful laughter echoed off the cabanas.
I watched them, a genuine grin pulling at my lips, amazed by the transformation. Alexander, the man who had stormed into my life like a dark cloud, was now soaked, laughing, and completely relaxed. His usually stern face had cracked, utterly broken by Sophia's relentless sunshine.
"Elena, come play!" Sophia called, waving me over as Alexander dipped her gently into the water, her giggles bubbling up to the surface.
I hesitated for a second, looking up at him. He met my eyes, a spark of pure mischief flickering in his gaze as he gave me a small, inviting nod. The look sent a sudden thrill straight through me.
"Alright, here I come!" I shouted, diving toward them and creating a splash that thoroughly soaked all three of us, prompting another happy shriek from Sophia.
From that moment on, the three of us turned the pool into a complete battleground.
We raced across the shallow end, my proper strokes easily beating Sophia's wild paddling, which led to loud accusations of cheating. We tossed a neon beach ball back and forth, and Alexander played with a fierce, competitive desire to win.
During the splash wars, Sophia teamed up with me to drench him entirely, and his deep, rare laugh rumbled over the chaos. He fought back by sending a huge wave our way, leaving us both sputtering and howling with laughter.
For a long, beautiful stretch of time, the heavy weight of secrets and tension melted away, completely drowned out by the splashes and the glittering joy of the afternoon.
Sophia's happiness was like a sparkler that lit us all up. Even Alexander lost his dark mood entirely; his grin was relaxed and open, like a young boy's, as he chased her around the pool with water dripping from his dark hair.
Later that afternoon, Sophia fell fast asleep on a lounge chair beneath the shade of the umbrella. Her floaties lay deflated beside her, and her small chest rose and fell with slow, sleepy breaths.
Alexander and I relaxed nearby, sipping icy lemonades as the melting cubes clinked against our glasses.
As the sun dipped lower, turning the water into a sheet of shimmering gold, a comfortable silence settled between us, broken only by the distant chatter of a few remaining swimmers.
"She needed this," he said quietly, his voice a low murmur as he gazed at his daughter. His sunglasses were perched on top of his head, and his eyes had softened with a rare, profound peace. "Thank you, Elena."
I nodded, twirling the straw in my glass as the condensation ran slick against my fingers.
"She is a lot of fun," I said, smiling as I watched her sleep with her damp curls spread across the cushion.
"And she just wants you to share in that fun.
You should see how much she lights up whenever you are around. "
He sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair, sending a few droplets catching the light as they fell.
"I know," he said, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his tone.
"It is just complicated. There is a lot I am managing right now, and I never want her caught in the crossfire.
But days like this..." He turned to look at me, a sudden flicker of warmth breaking through his usual serious defense. "They make it all worth it."
Taking a breath, I leaned a bit closer, the sour sweetness of the lemonade still lingering on my tongue.
"You do not have to handle everything entirely alone, you know," I said, my voice soft but steady.
"She needs you. She needs to feel safe and loved, but she wants you to be happy, too.
We all do better when you aren't trying to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. "
His head snapped toward me, his gaze locking onto mine. For a tense second, I worried I had pushed too far, and the air between us crackled with a sudden intensity.
But then his lips curved into a slow, brilliant grin that lit up his entire face like a sunrise, crinkling the corners of his eyes and taking my breath away.
"Maybe you are right," he said, his voice dropping into a playful, rough growl. "But you are trouble, you know that? Dragging me into pool fights until I am completely soaked. I am blaming you for this."
I laughed, the sound bubbling up naturally as I flicked a stray drop of water at him from my glass.
I grinned as he flinched, pretending to be utterly shocked by the gesture.
"You loved every second of it," I shot back, made bold by the warmth in his eyes.
"Admit it, you are just a big kid at heart, Sterling. "
He chuckled a deep, rich sound that seemed to dance over the water and leaned back against his chair. As he did, his arm brushed against mine. It was a casual, fleeting touch, but it sent a sharp jolt of electricity straight through me.
"Maybe," he said softly. His tone remained light, but his gaze lingered on me, entirely warm and open. "Just do not tell anyone. It ruins my reputation."
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