While August and his secretary walked outside, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement of the four storey building.
The secretary, holding a cup of tea August had just handed back to her, glanced over at him and said, "Your car is just outside, sir."
August nodded, taking a final sip from the free hot tea before returning the glass to her.
As they reached the white jeep car in front, something caught his eye—a woman sitting in the driver's seat. A smile crept across his face as he recognized her immediately.
It was Celine, his friend, someone who stuck her hand inside of his hole four years ago to pull out his son. He couldn't afford the hospital even then!
Celine met August's gaze, then casually looked over at the secretary. Without a word, she tapped on her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen with practiced ease.
After a moment, she said, "I've transferred the money to your account. You can go now and find another job."
The secretary blinked, clearly taken aback. She opened her mouth to respond but quickly shut it, looking to August for direction.
He frowned, keeping a nonnegotiable face. "You got any problem with the amount?"
The secretary swallowed hard and shook her head negatively, a forced smile on her lips. "Nice working with you, sir." She hesitated for a second before walking away, leaving August standing by the car.
August rolled his eyes as she left. "Clingy ladies who do not understand they wouldn't last over a week with me. Hmph!"
With a sigh, August opened the car door and slid inside the back seat.
No sooner had he sat down than he felt small, tiny hands wrap around him in a warm hug. He smiled, patting the child's head. "How are you, Little Candy?" he asked softly.
The little boy snuggled closer, and August reached into the console to grab another phone, glancing briefly at the rearview mirror.
The woman, Celine, was watching him with a knowing smile. "That lady was who you wanted me to transfer the four thousand to? Don't tell you fired another secretary yet again." she teased.
"Yeah," August admitted, leaning back in his seat. "I can't keep them for more than a week. You know why."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Where to next?"
"Home," August replied, running a hand through his hair. "I need to change. I'm all red."
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Really? Funny enough, it's my time of the month too." She gave him a good look, admiring his looks. It took the grace of God for her not to fall for this intersexual man.
August rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "It's not funny. I need to soak myself in a hot tub."
She giggled, reaching back and over to ruffle the little man, Reed's hair. "Well, let's get you home then, before you turn any redder."
August shook his head, but he couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him. Despite the chaos of the day, at least he had moments like this to keep him grounded.
He closed his eyes, relaxing on the seat.
The car purred to life as Celine started the engine, pulling away from the curb.
Reed, still nestled against August's side, was already half-asleep, lulled by the gentle motion of the car and the comfort of his father's presence.
August glanced down at him. His earlier bad mood and frustration easily melted away as he looked at the handsome charmer boy who looked almost exactly as 'his past'.
It was moments like these that made everything else seem insignificant. Moments like watching his son fall asleep beside him.
"So, what's the plan for the rest of the day?" Celine asked, eyes focused on the road ahead.
August leaned back into the seat, feeling the weight of the day's events settle in his bones. "Honestly? Just survive until I can get home, sink into that tub, and forget the world exists for a while."
She smirked, keeping her eyes on the road but clearly enjoying his misery a bit too much. "You sound like you're prepping for battle. Are we talking about a bath bomb or a full-on war with bubbles?"
"Definitely the full arsenal," August replied with mock seriousness yet sounding so playful and charming. "I'm thinking candles, the whole works. Gotta treat myself after dealing with... whatever today was."
She shot him a sideways glance, eyebrow raised. Though, she didn't even catch a glance of him because he was sitting right behind her. "You know, this thing with the secretaries can't keep going on forever. Maybe you're just too picky."
"Picky?" August huffed, keeping his tone low so as not to awaken his little man. "I'm just trying to find someone who can last more than a week without running for the hills when they hear about my life problem. Tsk, tsk! Is that too much to ask?"
"Maybe if you stopped scaring them off with your hotness…" she teased, the corner of her mouth twitching up in a playful smile.
"Scaring them off? I'm a joy, delight and pleasure to work with!"
"Sure, sure," she said, not even trying to hide her laughter now. "Let's just say the revolving door to your invisible office is getting quite the workout."
They drove in comfortable silence for a while, the city slowly giving way to quieter suburbs.
Reed stirred slightly in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible before settling back down. Seeing that, August patted his head, saying, "Yeah, Daddy heard that."
Celine glanced at the rearview mirror, her expression softening as she watched the duo. She was definitely accustomed to this right from country Z.
Reed always spoke in his sleep, though barely spoke when awake. He was autistic and was easily taken to be dull but, when he was alone with his Dad, August, Reed was a whole new livelier version of himself.
So, even when he spoke in his sleep, his daddy accompanied him as well. Those two were besties for life.
"You're a good dad, you know."