Chapter 4 - The West Wing
Moving into the west wing of the Hale penthouse felt like stepping into an entirely different realm of existence.
The guest suite was larger than my entire previous apartment. High ceilings, panoramic views of Elliott Bay, plush white carpets, and a private bedroom designed specifically for Sadie, complete with custom wooden furniture, soft lighting, and wide windows overlooking the harbor.
When Sadie woke up the next morning and saw her new room, she gasped, clapping her small hands together.
"Mommy! Is this a castle?" she squeaked, running to the giant teddy bear that had been placed on the window seat.
"It's Mr. Hale's home, sweetie," I said, setting our small suitcase down on the closet floor. "We have to be very careful and very respectful while we stay here."
"Where is the sad man?" Sadie asked, clutching the teddy bear to her chest.
"His name is Mr. Hale, Sadie," I corrected gently, kneeling beside her. "And he's very busy. He runs big companies, so we shouldn't disturb him while he's working."
A soft knock at the open double doors made me look up.
Cameron was standing in the doorway. He was wearing a dark charcoal suit, crisp white shirt, and a silk tie, looking every bit the ruthless corporate executive. But his eyes were warm as he looked at Sadie playing on the floor.
"Good morning, Clara," he said politely. "Sadie."
"Good morning, Mr. Hale," I said, standing up quickly.
Sadie didn't hesitate. She scrambled off the window seat, dragged the massive teddy bear across the carpet, and stopped right in front of Cameron.
"Look!" she declared, holding the bear up toward his waist. "He has big ears!"
I opened my mouth to scold her, but Cameron surprised me again. He didn't step back. He didn't look annoyed. Instead, he reached down, took one of the bear's plush paws, and shook it formally.
"A pleasure to meet you," Cameron said solemnly to the bear. Then he looked down at Sadie. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes!" Sadie chirped. "The bed is like a cloud. But there are no pancakes."
"Pancakes?" Cameron frowned slightly, looking over at me.
"She usually gets pancakes on Saturday mornings," I explained, feeling my cheeks warm with embarrassment. "I haven't had a chance to go to the grocery store yet."
Cameron reached into his breast pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped the screen twice.
"Chef Marco is downstairs in the private kitchen," Cameron said. "He will be up in ten minutes with chocolate chip pancakes, berries, and fresh cream."
Sadie’s eyes went wide. "With sprinkles?"
Cameron allowed a tiny, rare smile to touch his lips. "I will instruct him to bring extra sprinkles."
"Yay!" Sadie cheered, turning in a circle. "I like you, Mr. Hale!"
Cameron stood still, the smile lingering on his face for a few seconds before he looked back at me. The cold, lifeless shadow that had defined him for ten years seemed to be fracturing further under the relentless sunshine of my daughter's presence.
"Clara," Cameron said, his tone turning businesslike. "My executive legal counsel, Arthur Vance, will be arriving at 10:00 AM. I want you to sit in on the meeting."
May you like
I frowned. "A legal meeting? Why?"
"Because," Cameron said, his voice hardening into something sharp and protective, "we are going to put an end to your ex-husband's custody lawsuit today."
