Chapter 2 - The Proclamation in Pink and Black
The busy midday hum of the thirty-eighth floor was interrupted by the sudden, heavy vibration of the main conference room doors sliding open. Adrian Kane stepped out, followed by a wake of relieved executives. He stopped immediately, his powerful frame dominant in the hallway, as his gray-blue eyes instantly located his son.
Noah, recognizing the sound of the doors, dropped his blue crayon. He didn't just walk; he ran with focused, determined energy. He didn't run toward his father, however. He ran straight up to the obsidian secretary’s desk, stopping abruptly in front of Julianne.
In his right hand, Noah tightly clutched a gray stuffed elephant, its fabric well-worn and loved—a striking contrast to his pristine miniature suit.
Noah raised his free left hand and pointed his small index finger directly at Julianne’s heart. He was very serious. He took a deep breath, ensuring everyone nearby could hear his proclamation.
“You’re very beautiful.”
The hallway fell dead silent. Julianne immediately froze, her fingers hovering over her keyboard, a flush rising rapidly from her neck. The phrase “Very beautiful” was not one commonly spoken on this floor, especially to the boss's secretary.
Adrian, standing ten feet behind his son, remained completely motionless. His powerful frame was outlined against the glass doors of the conference room, his gray-blue eyes widening just a fraction. He looked at Julianne’s light pink business suit, a detail he noticed daily, and then back at the small, sharp boy pointing at her.
Several nearby employees, including a massive security detail by the elevators, stopped pretended to work and turned their heads. Julianne was intelligent, respected, and stunning, yes, but acknowledging that out loud was a political risk no adult would take.
Noah, entirely unbaffected by the silence, shifted his gaze over his shoulder to look at his father. Then he turned back to Julianne, who was still frozen in shock.
Noah raised his voice slightly.
“And Dad looks at you a lot. A lot a lot.”
Adrian stood completely still. His flawless, cold composure did not break, but those closest to him would notice his jaw tighten. Julianne’s face turned bright red, surpassing the color of any emergency exit light. She tried to say something, but only a small, sharp intake of breath came out.
Noah hugged the stuffed elephant against his gray vest with both hands, looking into Julianne’s panic-stricken eyes.
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“So I think you should be my mommy.”
The hallway didn’t just go silent; it seemed to lose oxygen. The rhythmic hum of the HVAC system became overwhelmingly loud.
