" Thank you Canary.." She said.
—-
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting warm hues across the sky, Canary returned home earlier than usual.
The house was quiet, the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea wafting through the air.
Lucy was in the living room, arranging a vase of flowers, when she heard the door open.
"Canary, you're home early," she said, her voice carrying a pleasant surprise.
He smiled, dropping his keys on the table. "I thought I'd spend the evening with you. It's been a while since we had some time together."
Lucy's heart swelled with warmth. "That's sweet of you. Come, sit. I just made tea."
They settled on the couch, sharing stories about their day.
Canary spoke fondly of his visit to the orphanage and the joy of seeing the children's faces light up.
Lucy listened intently, her smile never faltering.
As the evening wore on, Lucy watched her son with a mixture of pride and sadness.
She cherished moments like these, knowing the secret she kept close to her heart: that she wasn't his biological mother.
After Canary excused himself to check on something in his study, Lucy sat alone, staring into the distance. She whispered to herself,
"You're my son in every way that matters, and I'll never let you know otherwise. You deserve a life without that burden."
She wiped a tear before Canary returned, her smile firmly in place.
Together, they continued their evening, the bond between them as strong as ever—unshaken by the truth only she knew.
***
Lisa walked into the Andersons Group her sneakers tapping softly against the marble floors.
She noticed something unusual almost every employee she passed greeted her with a smile, some even offering cheerful "Good mornings" and lingering glances.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. Normally, she was just another face among the staff, unnoticed by most. Today felt… different.
As she reached her desk, her friend Gladys leaned over from the adjacent cubicle, a mischievous smile on her face.
"Morning, Lisa," Gladys said, her tone teasing.
Lisa set her bag down, narrowing her eyes at her friend.
"Okay, what's going on? Why is everyone acting like they just known me ?"
Gladys chuckled. "Oh, you don't know? Everyone's talking about you."
Lisa's heart skipped a beat. "Me? Why?"
"Because," Gladys said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "the whole office knows you're dating Canary.."
Lisa froze, her mind racing. "What? How how does everyone know?"
Gladys shrugged, smirking. "Word spreads fast around here, and, well, someone must have seen you two together. Maybe at the party …"
" Besides , It's not exactly something people ignore, Lisa. The boss doesn't date just anyone."
Lisa sank into her chair, her cheeks burning. She'd worked so hard to keep their relationship private, knowing the scrutiny it would bring.
Now it felt like the walls of her carefully built anonymity were crumbling.
Gladys reached over and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, don't stress. Honestly, most people are thrilled. It's not every day someone like Canary falls for one of us regular folks."
Lisa managed a small smile, though her mind was already racing with thoughts of how this might affect her work and her relationship.
"Thanks, Gladys," she said quietly. "I just… wasn't ready for this."
"Well, ready or not," Gladys said with a wink, "you've got the whole office rooting for you."
Canary , Joel and the other board members were from a meeting when Joel saw Camilla and approached her.
" Impressive insights back there, Camilla," he said casually, his tone smooth.
Camilla turned to him with a polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Rivers."
Joel's expression faltered for the briefest moment, his usual confidence slipping.
"You can just call me Joel," he corrected, trying to sound nonchalant.
Camilla raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Well, you prefer to keep things professional, don't you, Mr. Rivers?"
" Hahaha, I would say so. Do you mind having coffee in my office ?" He asked.
Camilla paused, considering the offer. There was something in Joel's eyes an invitation not just for business, but for something a little more personal.
Joel led her to his office, opening the door and gesturing for her to enter.
Once inside, he made his way to the coffee machine, setting the atmosphere more informal than it had been during the meeting.
"I'm sure you've noticed, things around here aren't exactly dull," Joel remarked as he poured the coffee.
"Understatement of the year," Camilla replied, her tone light but her eyes scanning the office, trying to gauge Joel's true intentions.
Joel handed her a cup and settled into his chair, looking at her with a knowing smile.
"You know, you're one of the few people who really challenges me in these meetings. I admire that."
Camilla raised an eyebrow. "You're not so bad yourself, Joel. But let's not pretend this is just about the meeting. What's really on your mind?"
Joel's expression hardened as he leaned forward, his voice low and intense.
"Camilla, you've seen it. The rivalry between me and Canary. It's been simmering and now I think it's time to make a move. I need you to help me take him down."
Camilla's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued but cautious.
"Why do you ask me do that ?" Camilla asked
Joel's eyes locked onto Camilla's, his voice steady but laced with determination.
"Camilla, you know as well as I do that Canary doesn't respect you. He used you, then discarded you when it suited him. He's always been selfish that way thinking he can just move on without consequences."
Camilla's eyes flickered, the memory of her past relationship with Canary still sharp in her mind.
She took a breath, holding her composure. "And what does that have to do with helping you?"
Joel leaned in slightly, his tone more insistent. "It's simple. You've got a score to settle with him. And so do I. I've been overlooked for too long, and you've been replaced. It's not just about power it's about making Canary pay for how he treated both of us. We help each other, and when the dust settles, we'll both be in a much stronger position."
Camilla's fingers tightened around her coffee cup, but she didn't flinch.
She had long since buried her feelings for Canary, but Joel's words struck a chord.
"You're right about one thing. He never valued what we had." Camilla said and got up.
" But I can't do that Mr. Rivers..I am sorry." Camilla declared and left the office.
Joel was left disappointed.