Elara carried the coffee tray carefully into Kane's office. She walked a little slower this time, reminding herself not to rush. The rich smell of roasted beans filled the room as she placed the cup on his desk. Kane looked up from the file he was reading. His dark eyes studied her for a second, but his face remained calm.
"Your coffee, sir," she said softly, her voice steady.
Kane nodded, lifting the cup. He took a sip, then gave a small approving glance. There was no mistake today, no awkward accident like before. Elara let out a silent breath of relief. She turned to leave, but for a brief moment, Kane's gaze followed her, as if he was trying to figure her out.
Back home, the atmosphere was different. Emily was waiting for her mother by the door, her small hands holding a half-finished drawing. Her big brown eyes lit up the moment Elara stepped in.
"Mom!" Emily ran to her, wrapping her little arms tightly around her waist. Elara smiled and bent down to hug her daughter back. No matter how stressful her day was, coming home to Emily always melted away her worries.
"I missed you," Emily said with a pout.
"I missed you too, sweetheart," Elara whispered, brushing her daughter's hair gently.
As Elara took off her shoes and set her bag aside, Emily suddenly remembered something important. She tugged on her mother's sleeve and said quickly, "Uncle Sam came today."
Elara froze for a second. "Uncle Sam?" she repeated, straightening up.
"Yes," Emily nodded eagerly. "He asked about you. He said he hadn't seen you in a long time."
Elara sighed, her heart tightening. Sam had always been a good family friend, someone who cared for them after everything fell apart. But she had been avoiding people lately, burying herself in work and responsibilities.
Emily continued, her voice excited, "And guess what? Uncle Sam is getting married!"
Elara blinked in surprise. "Married?"
"Yes!" Emily's face was glowing with happiness. "He said he found someone really nice. And he looked so happy when he talked about her."
Elara smiled faintly, though something tugged at her chest. Sam deserved happiness—he had always been kind and supportive. Still, a strange emptiness grew inside her as she thought about him moving on with his life.
Emily, however, had other plans. She suddenly looked at her mother very seriously. "Mom, you should get married too."
Elara's eyes widened. "Me? Why do you say that, Emily?"
"Because I want you to be happy," Emily said simply. "Uncle Sam is happy now. And I want you to have a good life too. You work so hard all the time. You never smile like other moms. You should smile more."
Elara's throat tightened, her eyes stinging with tears. She pulled Emily close and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, my darling," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're the only reason I keep going. You're my happiness."
But deep inside, Elara knew Emily's words were true. Somewhere in her heart, she longed for the life her daughter wished for her—a life where she wasn't just surviving, but truly living.
__
The next day at the office, Elara walked in with her usual calmness. She carried her notepad and a few files she had to organize for Kane. Everything seemed normal until she stepped into the main corridor leading to Kane's office.
There, standing with her arms crossed and an unimpressed look on her face, was a tall woman with perfectly styled hair and bright red lipstick. She wore a fitted skirt and blouse that screamed confidence, but her eyes were sharp and filled with something close to dislike.
"You must be Elara," the woman said, her tone cool.
Elara offered a polite smile. "Yes. And you are?"
"Ana," she replied, lifting her chin. "I've been working here for two years. Everyone knows me." Her words carried a sting, as though she wanted Elara to feel small for being new.
"It's nice to meet you, Ana," Elara said softly, trying to keep things friendly.
But Ana's lips curved into a smirk. "So, you're the lucky one who managed to become Mr. Kane Willson's personal assistant. Quite the jump for someone who just walked in."
Elara blinked, caught off guard by the hostility. "I… I was offered the position," she said carefully.
Ana tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "Offered? You mean handed to you." She gave a little laugh that wasn't friendly at all. "I had my eye on that position for months. Everyone thought I would get it. But then you show up out of nowhere."
Elara felt her cheeks warm, but she kept her voice calm. "I didn't mean to upset anyone. I'm just here to do my job."
Ana stepped closer, lowering her voice but keeping her sharp tone. "You don't understand, do you? Mr. Willson isn't just any boss. He's… well, you've seen him. Handsome, powerful, respected. A man like that doesn't just choose someone without a reason. People will talk. They already are."
Elara's stomach twisted. She hated attention, and the last thing she wanted was gossip. "I assure you, I'm only here for work," she replied firmly, though her voice trembled slightly.
Ana's smirk deepened. "We'll see. But don't expect me to be friendly. You took something that should have been mine."
Before Elara could respond, Kane's office door opened. His deep voice called from inside, "Elara, I need those files."
Elara quickly turned and hurried toward the door, her heart racing. As she passed Ana, she could feel the woman's eyes burning into her back like daggers.
Inside the office, Kane barely looked up, already focused on the documents in front of him. But Elara couldn't shake off Ana's words. The encounter had left a bitter taste in her mouth.
She reminded herself to stay strong. This was her job, her chance to build a better life for Emily. No matter how rude Ana was, Elara would endure it. She had faced far worse in her life.
But as she sat at her desk, she couldn't ignore one truth—Ana despised her, and this was only the beginning of their conflict.