1 I’ll never forget that absurd night. I was young, naive, and buzzing with a restless energy back then. My boss, Alan Treadwell, had been drugged at a company event, his mind a haze. As his assistant, I made a terrible mistake, and we ended up… together. Afterward, I was terrified. I snuck away, thinking no one would ever know. Alan went ballistic, tearing the company apart trying to find the culprit, but he never traced it back to me. I secretly congratulated myself for hiding so well. Days turned into weeks, and I slowly pushed the whole incident out of my mind. But then, just a few months later, my body started to change. My belly began to swell. … “Still no sign of them, Morgan?” Alan Treadwell leaned back in his office chair, crossing one leg over the other, his face a thundercloud. I nervously reported, “Mr. Treadwell, still no leads. The person was highly cautious, avoiding all surveillance.” Alan pulled out a lighter and lit a cigarette. “I’m giving you three more days. If you still haven’t found them, don’t bother showing up for work.” I nodded frantically. “Understood, Mr. Treadwell.” As I turned to leave, I bravely asked, “Mr. Treadwell, if you find them, what do you plan to do?” He flicked his ash, narrowing his eyes. “Dare to climb into my bed, and I’ll make sure they vanish without a trace.” I swallowed hard. Walking out of his office, a chill ran down my spine. Back at my desk, I found a cushion for my chair. Slowly, carefully, I sat down, then reached up to rub my aching lower back. Damn it! Oh, how I regretted it. How could I have fallen for Alan’s charm? Why didn't I push his hand away when it brushed my waist? A night of pleasure, a lifetime of trouble. Two nights ago, I’d accompanied Alan to a corporate mixer. It was a chaotic affair, and somehow, he ended up ingesting something illicit. As I helped him back to his suite, the drug started to kick in. I was reaching for my phone to call for help when I felt a warm hand on my waist. “Morgan, you always look good in a suit.” “Your waist… it’s so slender.” “And your backside… very nice.” Alan was burning up. In a few quick movements, he shed his suit jacket. Beneath his white shirt, muscles rippled, threatening to burst through the fabric. Such beauty, it was hard to resist. I didn’t run. In a daze, I found myself tangled with Alan. We burned through half the night like wildfire. It wasn't until every inch of my body ached that I fully sobered up. Damn it! What had I done? While Alan was still deep in sleep, I hastily dressed and fled the scene. 2 By morning, Alan had called an emergency meeting. He furiously demanded that the person who’d been in his bed be found. I tentatively asked, “Mr. Treadwell, was it a man or a woman?” Alan snapped, “A woman.” A few seconds later, he corrected himself, “It was a man.” The surveillance manager’s face went ashen, and he shot me a helpless look. Internally, I was thanking my lucky stars. Alan not only didn’t know it was me, but he also hadn't discovered my secret of being intersex. I cautiously asked, “Mr. Treadwell, can we confirm the gender? It would make the search easier.” Alan scowled. “Man or woman, I want them found.” That same afternoon, the person who’d drugged him was found. It was an old rival of Alan’s. Alan ground the man’s hand under his heel, eliciting a guttural scream. I sat there on pins and needles, silently praying: Please, don’t let Alan ever find out it was me that night. Now, Alan had given me only three days. If I failed again, I was out of a job. Between a mysterious, gruesome death and losing my job, I'd obviously choose the latter. These past few days, the entire executive office had been shrouded in a dark cloud. Alan was in a foul mood, lashing out at anyone for the slightest misstep. Colleagues walked on eggshells. I began preparing my work handover. When the three days were up, I submitted my resignation to Alan. “Mr. Treadwell, I apologize. I failed to complete the task you assigned.” He took the resignation letter, pondered for a moment, then finally tore it up, annoyance etched on his face. “Forget it.” “They were too cunning. You’ve worked hard these past few days. Take two days off.” Holy cow! Not only did I keep my job, but I also got two days off. A silver lining indeed! My smile was practically splitting my face. “Thank you, Mr. Treadwell!” Alan’s gaze lingered on me for a long moment, his eyes complex. “Morgan, was it really not you who brought me back to my room that night? I remember…” He trailed off mid-sentence. I quickly replied, “No, it really wasn’t me. I had too much to drink that night too. It was hotel staff who helped you back. You probably just dreamed of me, Mr. Treadwell.” I added playfully, “How honored I am to appear in your dreams.” Alan’s expression immediately turned peculiar. He cleared his throat and waved his hand. “Alright, you’re dismissed.” 3 Two months passed uneventfully. Until, that is, I once again found myself excusing myself to the restroom to throw up during a meeting with Alan. Alan finished signing, handed me the documents, and in a rare moment of concern, said, “If you’re not feeling well, go to the doctor. Don’t push yourself.” “You don’t need to come in this afternoon.” I took my paid leave and went to the hospital for a check-up. I’d been experiencing persistent nausea and loss of appetite, so I figured it was a stomach issue. To my utter shock, the doctor delivered news that made my jaw drop. “Congratulations, you’re pregnant.” Damn it! One shot, and I hit the jackpot? Should I be praising Alan or myself? I walked out of the doctor's office, my steps unsteady. Abortion? I hesitated. Because of my unique biological makeup, I was an abandoned child. I grew up in an orphanage and received sponsorship throughout my education. Since starting work, I'd accumulated some savings. Many times, I'd considered having a child of my own. I'd even consulted a sperm bank. But I never acted on it. Now, by a twist of fate… Alan was handsome, rich, brilliant, and highly educated. You probably couldn’t find his kind even in a sperm bank. I didn’t hesitate much before deciding to keep the baby. I immediately thought about resigning. The secret of that night would eventually come out. For instance, Alan’s gaze had grown increasingly strange lately. He kept asking me odd questions. “Morgan, do you have a mole on your lower back?” I quickly denied it. If he found out I was pregnant, he’d eventually connect the dots. In his office, Alan frowned, looking at my resignation letter. “Too busy lately?” “Perhaps I should hire another assistant, and give you a raise while I’m at it.” Holy hell! So tempting. Typical capitalist, only offering these things when I’m trying to quit? I tearfully declined. “Mr. Treadwell, you’re great, but I want a change of pace.” Alan hesitated for a long time before signing the resignation letter. He handed it back to me, his gaze sincere: “Treadwell Enterprises will always welcome you back.” 4 Opening the door after work, a little bundle of joy, a tiny human, launched itself at me. His voice, soft and sweet, chimed, “Daddy!” “I haven’t seen you in nine hours, and I missed you so, so much.” I quickly knelt, catching him in my arms, and peppered his chubby cheeks with kisses. “Daddy missed you too, Finn.” Four years after resigning, I moved to a different city. I found a new job. Here, I rented an apartment and hired a nanny to look after Finn Morgan. Life was peaceful and happy. “Daddy, today Ms. Wendy took me out to play, and Lily and Rose fought over who got to hold my hand.” I chuckled, listening to him. Gazing at my son’s adorable, handsome face, I couldn’t help but marvel at the power of genetics. His looks were undeniable; he could easily be a child model. And in other ways, he perfectly inherited the best of both Alan and me. His intelligence had been astounding since he was small. He walked and talked earlier than other kids his age. Now, at only three, he already recognized many letters and numbers. Basic math was a breeze, and he was even learning English from TV. Just as I was swelling with pride, Finn suddenly blurted out, “Daddy, I need to check the cards!” “Shine my shoes!” My eyes rolled back, and a headache bloomed. This kid, he just couldn't handle a compliment. “Who taught you that?” Finn blinked. “Jake and the others were all saying it.” No sooner had he spoken than he gave me the middle finger. “Daddy, this is a gesture I learned today. What does it mean?” I pulled him onto my lap, my voice serious. “Finn, you can’t make that gesture anymore. It means disrespect.” Finn nestled into my arms and nodded. “Daddy, I know. Don’t be mad.” I said gently, “Daddy’s not mad.” A child’s environment is crucial. I’d rented this place because it was close to work and affordable. Now, Finn was nearing school age. I planned to buy a house in a better neighborhood. The next morning, I awoke to Finn’s little foot, draped over me, burning hot. My heart clenched as I quickly felt his forehead. A high fever. I rushed him to the emergency room for IV fluids. Afterward, Finn’s spirits lifted considerably. When we left the hospital, he walked on his own, holding my hand, no longer needing to be carried. “Watch out, don’t bump into anyone.” No sooner had I spoken than Finn collided with someone’s leg. I was about to apologize when I recognized the person. It was Alan Treadwell. He wore a long trench coat, and the familiar scent of his old cologne wafted from him. What was this? Four years later, he seemed even more handsome. 5 Finn looked up, politely saying, “Excuse me, sir.” Alan looked at me, then at Finn. “Morgan, long time no see.” He glanced at Finn, a question in his eyes. “Is this yours?” I smiled. “Mr. Treadwell, this is my son. He had a fever this morning, so I brought him to the hospital for an IV.” Alan’s brows furrowed, an incredulous expression on his face. “You’re married?” I awkwardly nodded. I was about to ask him why he was at the hospital when a little girl came up behind him. “I told you to slow down!” The girl, held by a woman who seemed to be her nanny, curiously looked at Finn and me. Alan knelt, scooping up the little girl. “Not everyone has short legs like you, you know.” The girl pouted, sticking her tongue out at him. Alan chuckled, dotingly smoothing her hair. He then introduced her to me. “This is my little niece. I brought her for a follow-up.” The girl smiled at me, revealing two adorable dimples. “Hello, sir.” Alan and I didn’t chat for long before parting ways. Remembering the gentle, doting expression on his face when he spoke to the little girl, I realized it was the first time I’d ever seen that side of him. He’d probably be even softer with his own child someday. I pushed away the strange feeling stirring inside me and led Finn to the parking lot. Finn, in the back seat, craned his neck to ask, “Daddy, was that man your friend? I’ve never seen him before.” “He was my old boss.” Finn nodded. “Oh. He’s really handsome.” I laughed. “Well, who’s more handsome, Daddy or him?” Without a moment’s hesitation, he declared loudly, “Daddy! Daddy’s the most handsome in the whole world!” I couldn’t stop smiling. My chance encounter with Alan at the hospital didn’t give me any sense of alarm. After all, four years had passed. Alan surely wasn’t pursuing the matter anymore. A man couldn’t get pregnant, so he'd never suspect Finn was his. 6 I took two days off to care for Finn. When I returned to the office, a colleague sidled up to me, whispering that things had changed. The company had been acquired. A new CEO from headquarters would be coming in to temporarily manage the company. I didn’t feel much about it; there had been rumors of this for a while. As long as my salary didn’t decrease, I was fine. Then, I saw Alan Treadwell walk into the conference room, impeccably dressed in a suit. Damn it! Now I felt something. What kind of bizarre cosmic connection was this? Alan’s meeting was as concise and efficient as ever. But when his gaze swept over me, a clear flash of surprise appeared in his eyes. After the meeting, his assistant, Lin – my former colleague – called me into the CEO’s office. Alan looked at me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Morgan, what a coincidence. We’re working together again.” I replied, “Mr. Treadwell, what incredible serendipity. I can’t believe I’m still working at Treadwell Enterprises after all this time.” Alan said, “In that case, you can be my executive assistant again. You’re already familiar with the business here.” I remained silent. Alan raised an eyebrow. “Not willing?” Of course, I wasn't. The more I interacted with him, the greater the risk of my secret being exposed. He added, “I’ll give you a raise.” “I’m in!” Alan let out an exasperated chuckle. After I left his office, Lin excitedly told me, “Oh my gosh, Morgan, I can’t believe we’re reunited!” She whispered a complaint, “Ever since you left, Mr. Treadwell has been so moody, always getting inexplicably angry. He’s called me ‘Morgan, assistant’ so many times!” “This is great! You’re his assistant again. I finally won’t have to walk on eggshells.” I forced a dry laugh. It seemed I’d been such a dedicated worker that my boss couldn’t forget me. A new CEO meant a celebratory dinner. During the meal, I stepped outside to take a video call from Finn. “Daddy, when are you coming home? I want you to tuck me in.” I promised him, “Daddy will definitely be home before you go to sleep.” Finn’s gaze suddenly shifted behind me, and he excitedly exclaimed, “Wow, it’s the handsome man from the hospital!” I turned to see Alan Treadwell standing behind me. I hadn’t noticed him approach. He offered Finn a gentle smile. “Hello, little one.” Alan’s voice was warm and deep. The words “little one” were soft and low. I saw Finn in the video blush, uncharacteristically shy, and hide behind the sofa cushion. Tsk, such a little heartthrob.
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