Mommy, Where's Daddy? The Forsaken Daughter's Return

Chapter 13: The Favor

Ethan's other assistant, Joel, aided Mr. and Mrs. Song out of the conference room and down to the building lobby.

The great CEO of the company, however, was left with two little kids, claiming him to be their "Daddy."

Despite making him an instant father, he had the kids to thank for the pleasant parting between him and the Songs. So he turned to the little girl who remained in his arms and said, "Thank you for the help. For that, you get anything you want."

Kenzie, with her little arms, embraced Ethan and said, "You are welcome, daddy!" She put a finger on her chin before asking, "I want creamy donuts!"

"Daddy, I put a checkmark on the checklist here. These are characteristics of our daddy. All of which you possess. Therefore, we conclude, you are our daddy," Kyle suddenly spoke, showing Ethan his tablet.

Curiosity got to him that Ethan accepted the tablet to have a look.

1. Looks like me. Check!

2. Handsome. Check!

3. In Braeton City. Check!

4. Taller than Mommy. Check!

5. Wears nice clothes. Check!

6. Rich. Check!

7. Intelligent. Check! He should be. He is the CEO! Check! Check! Check!

He nearly gagged on the list of qualities the young boy was looking for as his daddy, especially at the latter two.

"Some qualifications you have here, boy," remarked Ethan.

Ethan Wright was not fond of children, but for some bizarre reasons, he was not irritated by Kenzie, nor was he offended by young Kyle's odd autocratic presence.

He did not know how long he stared at Kyle, but Ethan ended up hissing.

It was no wonder his executive assistant mistook Kyle for his son. Ethan himself, could not deny the similarities! He even wound up glancing sideways at the glass wall divider, stealing glances at their reflection.

'This is just a coincidence,' Ethan silently convinced himself.

After giving back the boy's tablet, Kyle said to him, "So Daddy, let's start by answering... Why have you not come to see us all these years?"

That practically made Ethan choke. It resulted in him coughing so hard, Kenzie had to pat his back, offering aid.

"Are you okay, Daddy?" Kenzie earnestly asked, showing concern for Ethan.

Clearing his throat, he answered, "Yes. Yes, Kenzie."

Ethan offered his hand to Kyle and said, "Let's go find your Mommy. I need... to have a talk with her."

***

Reaching the twentieth floor, Ethan could easily make out the panic coming from John and Samantha. He understood that Samantha had lost her children.

While being held in his arms, Kenzie called for her mother. "Mommy! We found Daddy!"

Ethan saw the same woman with golden hair turn in his direction. He was immediately reminded of what first caught his attention back at the four-star hotel in Monroe City.

It was as though time had stopped, and he recalled the reason why he offered this woman a job at The First Diamond Hotel.

Despite turning pale, he could not deny how Samantha Davis looked utterly... well crafted. Her hair was soft, shining as it waved down to her shoulders. Her small face was her best feature, next to her striking blue eyes.

As his thoughts were drifting away into undeniable praise, he quickly dismissed his views and focused on the situation at hand. Besides, he was not one to express any admiration, especially to women.

"Miss Davis, how did your children reach the eighteenth floor without an adult accompanying them?" Ethan Wright asked before raising his chin. He could tell his words made Samantha even more nervous.

Ethan was about to suggest they resume the discussion in his office when Kenzie cut off his thoughts.

"Daddy, please don't get mad at mommy. It was our fault! We ran away. We wanted to find you!" Kenzie explained before she hugged Ethan around his neck.

The entire twentieth floor went ultra-silent, seeing the CEO of The Wright Diamond Corporation being affectionate with a child. Moreover, call him "Daddy."

Samantha's face turned a shade whiter, while John Garcia's jaws dropped. Of course, it had been that way the second he saw Ethan carry the little girl in his arms.

"Let's take this inside my office, shall we?" Ethan said, pointing to his office.

Turning to his assistant, Ethan instructed, "John, accompany the children while I speak to Miss Davis personally. Have one of the staff buy Kenzie, her creamy donuts."

"Yes, sir! Yes!" Confirmed John.

After putting Kenzie down on the floor, Ethan let Samantha leave a brief instruction for the kids before going into the CEO's office with her. From his office desk, he probed about her children's circumstances.

"Please take a seat, Miss Davis," Ethan instructed.

While settling herself on the chair, Samantha said, "Mr. Wright. I am really sorry for what my children did. I hope they did not ruin your meeting."

"Relax, Miss Davis. I do not bite," said Ethan. "On the contrary, your kids helped me with my meeting."

"While I do not approve of children going around the office, I appreciate the unexpected benefit, especially from Kenzie," Ethan revealed while leaning back in his chair.

After admitting that no damage was done, Ethan finally noticed how the color of Samantha's face returned. He could tell she was relieved, and he ended up appreciating the blush on her cheeks.

"They helped?" Samantha clarified.

"Yes, they did. Apparently, the couple whom I had a meeting with liked kids!" Confirmed Ethan.

"Oh! I bet Kenzie - won - them with her charms." Samantha smiled and looked down at her hands before she explained, "She is very amiable."

"She is! The couple who I wanted to join ventures with, adored her," added Ethan. "They also had equal admiration for Kyle."

"There is just one problem, Miss Davis." Ethan shifted his position, leaning forward to Samantha. He told, "When your kids found me, they immediately called me their daddy."

"So it created a misunderstanding, something that I could not deny. It was either... I acknowledge it or admit that my office building lacked security, allowing children to go around my office," Ethan described.

With his jaws slightly clenched, he added, "I also... do not know how to break to the children... How... I am not their father."

"Tell me, Miss Davis. How is it that they think I am their father?" From his last probing, Ethan saw how Samantha paled again. He recognized it was a sensitive topic that she may not be willing to share.

Taking back his words, he suggested, "It's fine. I guess. It's something you need to talk to your kids about -"

"I - I told them their father is working here in Braeton," Samantha replied before biting her lip. "I think I might have told them that their father looked like Kyle."

With a frown, she reasoned, "Who would ever think?"

Ethan literally saw how Samantha studied his face. He easily understood what was going through her mind. Yes, it was indeed a coincidence that he looked like Kyle.

Chuckling at her words, Samantha said, "Who would ever think that the great Ethan Wright would look like my son?"

"Do they not know their father?" Ethan probed. While he had Samantha investigated, there was no harm in trying to get the information from Samantha herself.

Samantha's mouth parted, but no words came out of her mouth. She said, "I'm sorry - "

"It's fine. I'm sure you had your reasons," Ethan cut off her words, sending her reluctance. "But given the situation, I'm afraid I needed to ask you a favor."

"Anything. Anything at all, Mr. Wright," Samantha answered.

"Mr. and Mrs. Song, the same couple that Kenzie and Kyle met at the main conference room, already believe that your children are mine. Rather, they think I am married."

"Before they would leave Braeton City, they want to have dinner with me... together with the kids and, of course... You have to be there," Ethan closed the proposition.

With her brows furrowed, Samantha asked, "Are you suggesting that we - "

"Yes, just for one occasion, we will let them believe that we are, in fact... a real family." Raising his hands, he told, "After the dinner, they will leave Braeton and will communicate only with me and my assistant."

"But." Samantha raised a brow, fearing the worst. "What if they will find out? "

"For now, they won't. My records are sealed. No one knows anything about me except for close friends, family and John," told Ethan. "By the time they would find out, our contract has already been signed."

"We could say... it was a secret marriage," added Ethan.

"I... don't know about this, Mr. Wright," Samantha tried to object, but what Ethan said next made her feel accountable.

"Remember, Miss Davis. It was because your children came to the conference room and called me their daddy that the Songs now had that perception of me," reminded Ethan.

Seconds passed, Samantha defined, "Just once?"

"One dinner," said Ethan.