That evening, the kitchen was in complete disarray. A thin layer of flour dusted the counters, pots and pans were piled high in the sink, and mysterious splatters of sauce decorated the walls. Bianca stood in the middle of the chaos, her sleeves rolled up, a spatula in one hand and a recipe book in the other.
"Uh…is the sauce supposed to boil this much?" she asked, eyeing the bubbling pot on the stove.
Jason glanced at the book in his hands, his brows furrowing as he scanned the steps. "Okay, don't freak out. But…I think we accidentally doubled the garlic."
Bianca stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. "It's fine! Garlic is good for you. We'll just double everything else too. Look at it this way—it's like bonus math practice."
"Aw, man," Mason groaned, holding up a measuring cup. "I thought cooking was supposed to be fun."
"It is fun! It's also messy, chaotic, and occasionally involves math. Welcome to the kitchen," Bianca said with a grin as she resumed chopping vegetables.
The boys got to work garnishing the plates, carefully arranging sprigs of parsley and sprinkling grated cheese. Jason leaned in too close and sneezed, sending a puff of cheese flying. Mason ducked, laughing as the shredded bits landed on his head.
"Focus, you two," Bianca said, trying not to laugh herself. "If we mess this up, your dad's birthday dinner is ruined."
Finally, the entrée was prepped and slid into the oven. All that was left to do was wait.
"Whew! I'm exhausted," Mason declared, dramatically flopping onto the couch.
"Yeah," Jason agreed, joining him. "Bianca, I don't know how you do this every day."
"I don't usually make three-course meals," she admitted, sitting down next to them. "But it is hard work."
"What time is Dad getting home?" Jason asked, sitting up. "Do we still have time to get ready?"
"Get ready?" Bianca looked at him, confused.
"Yeah! We always dress up fancy for Dad's birthday. Clip-on ties and everything!" Jason said, beaming.
"That's adorable," Bianca said, smiling. "You two go get dressed. I'll keep an eye on the food."
"What? No way!" Mason said, springing up. "If we have to dress up, so do you!"
Bianca blinked. "Me? What am I supposed to wear?"
"You'll figure it out!" Jason said cheerfully before dashing to his room.
Bianca groaned and made her way to her bedroom, grabbing the kitchen timer on the way. Standing in front of her closet, she stared at her options: a few casual tops, a couple of jeans, and one wrinkled sundress.
"What does one wear to her boss's birthday dinner?" she muttered.
Grabbing her phone, she typed quickly: "!! FASHION EMERGENCY!! Twins insist we all dress fancy. What do I wear?"
Roselyn replied instantly: "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life! SUPER ROSELYN TO THE RESCUE!"
"Rose, focus!" Bianca typed back. "I've got two minutes!"
"Relax, trust me. Check your closet (wink emoji). And I demand details later!"
"Check my closet?" Bianca frowned, pushing aside her clothes until she spotted a garment bag she didn't recognize. Her heart skipped a beat as she unzipped it.
Inside was a sleek black dress, bold and elegant. The fabric shimmered faintly under the light, with strategic cutouts at the shoulders, waist, and thighs. It hugged every curve without being over-the-top, striking the perfect balance between sultry and sophisticated.
"Oh my God, Roselyn…" Bianca whispered, running her fingers over the fabric.
The timer dinged, snapping her back to reality. She quickly slipped into the dress, twisting her hair into a loose updo before rushing back to the kitchen.
The boys were in the kitchen, peering into the oven. Mason wore a navy blazer over a crisp white shirt, complete with a bright red clip-on tie. Jason sported a dark green suit with a matching tie, his messy hair combed back for once.
"Beep beep, coming through!" Bianca said, grabbing oven mitts. She pulled the steaming dish from the oven, the rich aroma filling the room.
"Okay, everything's ready to plate. Who's setting the table?"
"And putting the finishing touches on dessert!" Mason said proudly, holding up a piping bag filled with frosting.
"And putting the finishing touches on—" Jason started, but the sound of the elevator dinging interrupted him.
"Is that your Dad?" Bianca asked, her heart skipping. "He's not supposed to be home yet!"
"You have to stall him!" Jason said, panicking. "If he sees everything now, the surprise is ruined!"
"Go, go, go!" Mason urged, pushing Bianca toward the hallway.
Bianca stumbled out of the kitchen just as the elevator doors opened. Ken stepped out, his sharp suit hugging his broad shoulders. He froze for a moment when he saw her, his eyes raking over her in surprise.
"Coming to greet me at the door now?" he teased, his voice warm.
"Ken! You're home early," Bianca said, her cheeks heating. "And you brought company."
Behind him was a tall, charismatic man with a mischievous grin. His tailored gray suit and perfectly styled hair made him look like he'd just stepped out of a magazine.
"My assistant, Robert Shelton," Ken said.
"Assistant?" Robert laughed, shaking his head. "Come on, Ken. We're practically brothers. And if you're going to introduce me to beautiful women, at least do it properly."
Bianca felt a flush creep up her neck as Robert's gaze lingered on her.
"Bianca is the boys' nanny," Ken said firmly. "And a woman of impeccable virtue."
Robert smirked. "Impeccable virtue, huh? That's one way to put it." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I bet it's hard to sleep with her down the hall."
Ken's jaw tightened. "Robert."
Robert held up his hands. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you to your family dinner."
As the elevator doors closed, Ken turned back to Bianca. "Let's go inside. I smell something amazing."
"Wait, Ken!" Bianca said quickly, but he was already heading into the kitchen.
---
"Dad!" Mason exclaimed, whipping around with wide eyes.
"We were just, uh…" Jason stammered, holding a bowl of frosting.
"Definitely not working on a surprise for your birthday!" Bianca blurted out.
Ken chuckled, rolling up his sleeves. "Looks like you could use some help. What are we making?"
---
Later, Ken sat at the table as the boys presented him with a perfectly plated appetizer of loaded nachos. The chips were topped with melted cheese, fresh salsa, guacamole, and a drizzle of sour cream.
"This is incredible," Ken said, taking a bite.
"We couldn't have done it without Bianca," Jason said proudly.
After the appetizers, Bianca helped the boys bring out the main course: perfectly cooked burgers with toasted buns, crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a side of golden fries.
Ken took one bite and let out an appreciative groan. "This is so good. I don't think anything could make this birthday better."
"We can!" Mason said, eyes sparkling.
"Don't move, Dad!" Jason added, and the boys raced off, leaving Bianca and Ken alone.
"Thank you, Bianca," Ken said, his voice soft. "You've done so much for us. I hope you know how much I appreciate you."
"It's my pleasure," Bianca said. "Especially when the boys are so excited. You should've seen their faces when we were shopping."
Ken smiled warmly. "I can imagine."
Bianca hesitated, then said, "I actually got you something too." She handed him a small package.
Ken opened it, revealing a lavender-scented bath bomb. He sniffed it and sighed.
"This is perfect," he said. "How did you know?"
Bianca smiled. "Sometimes it feels like I can look at you and know exactly what you need."
Ken's eyes locked onto hers, the air between them growing heavy.
"...And what is it I need, Bianca?" he asked, his voice low.
Bianca's breath hitched as she tried to find the right words.
"SURPRISE!" the boys yelled, bursting back into the room.
Ken turned to find a large, overwrapped box in their hands.
He laughed, pulling them into a hug as they presented him with their gifts: a stuffed dragon and a lion.
"You're our fierce protector!" Jason said.
"And sometimes you breathe fire like a dragon when you're mad," Mason added.
Ken laughed, shaking his head. "I love them. Thank you."
The elevator dinged again. Ken frowned, setting down the toys.
"I'll check," Bianca offered, heading to the hallway.
---
Standing by the elevator was a tall, elegant woman in a designer dress. Her diamond necklace sparkled under the dim lights, and her fur-trimmed coat hung loosely over her shoulders.
The woman glanced at Bianca and scoffed. "Oh, you must be the maid. Here, take this."
She tossed her coat at Bianca, who caught it awkwardly. The fur brushed her face, momentarily blocking her view.
But when she lowered it, her heart stopped and her eyes widened in recognition.
'Imelda...Ken's fiancée?' Bianca thought, her heart sinking.