He wore a charcoal suit, silver tie, and the same unreadable expression that usually terrified investors on CNBC interviews.
Except today—
he was holding something pink.
Lily gasped dramatically.
“A backpack!”
It was small.
Bright pink.
Covered in tiny embroidered stars.
Alexander looked almost uncomfortable holding it.
“I was informed yesterday,” he said evenly, looking at me but speaking like every word had been carefully rehearsed, “that your daughter’s backpack strap broke.”
I blinked.
“What?”
Lily immediately pointed accusingly at me.
“I told you he likes me.”
I wanted to disappear into the marble floor.
“You… bought her a backpack?”
“It seemed practical.”
Practical.
The bag probably cost more than my rent.
One assistant nearby looked seconds away from fainting.
Another was openly pretending to reorganize papers just to listen.
Lily marched straight toward him without fear.
“You remembered my favorite color.”
Alexander glanced down at the bag.
“It’s pink.”
“Exactly.”
Then—
to my absolute horror—
she hugged his leg.
The entire office collectively stopped breathing.
Because nobody touched Alexander Hale.
Nobody.
Not even board members.
Not even executives.
People barely shook his hand without panicking.
But Lily hugged him like he belonged to her already.
And for one terrifying second—
Alexander froze completely.
His jaw tightened.
His hands flexed slightly.
Like he didn’t know what to do.
Then slowly…
very slowly…
he rested one hand on her tiny shoulder.
The reception desk assistant actually covered her mouth.
I realized then:
these people had probably never seen this man touch another human being voluntarily.
“Thank you,” Lily said proudly.
Alexander cleared his throat and stepped back almost immediately.
“You have ten minutes before your presentation,” he told me.
Professional again.
Cold again.
But not fully.
Never fully after Lily.
I grabbed her hand quickly.
“Say thank you to Mr. Hale.”
“Future Dad Hale,” she corrected.
I almost died.
One of the interns made a strangled coughing sound trying not to laugh.
Alexander looked directly at me.
And I swear—
