Sebastian Ashford's POV
There are a lot of things I've been called in my life—ruthless, dangerous, untouchable.
But never in my most violent years did I think I'd one day be woken up by a sixteen-year-old girl jumping onto my back, chanting, "Seb. Seb. Seb. Breakfast. Seb."
I groaned. "Sky…"
"You didn't eat dinner last night," she huffed, tugging at my arm like she was dragging me to war. "I saw. You came home, kissed my forehead, and passed out on the couch like an overworked Victorian widow. You need protein. And sunlight."
"You're giving me medical advice now?"
"I Googled it."
"Of course you did."
She finally succeeded in pulling me into a sitting position. My hair was a mess. I hadn't even opened both eyes.
She sat next to me, crossed her legs on the bed, and shoved a tray in my lap with a proud little grin. "I made toast."
I looked at the toast. Then back at her. "This is one slice of bread with Nutella on it."
"Which I spread, thank you very much."
"…with a butterknife."
"You're welcome."
I sighed. Ate the toast.
She beamed like I'd just crowned her queen.
"Also," she added sweetly, "you're not allowed to go into work today."
"Says who?"
"Me. Your daughter. Your boss. The girl who made you breakfast. You're overworked. You need a break."
"I run an empire, Sky."
"Take a nap. Watch a movie. Paint your nails. I don't care. No empire today."
"And if I say no?"
She looked at me with those eyes—wide, shiny, pure evil. "I'll cry."
Damn it.
"You're evil."
"I know. Now drink water."
---
I somehow found myself lying on the sofa ten minutes later, my daughter curled up on my chest like a human koala, both of us under a ridiculous blanket that had tiny yellow ducks on it. I don't know where she got it. I didn't ask.
She kept talking. Rambling. About school, some guy named Luca who gave her his sandwich, and how Kai made the best pancakes of all time but might secretly be a vampire.
I said nothing.
I just listened.
Her hair smelled like strawberries. She was warm. Happy. Alive.
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in weeks, I felt peace.