Gabriel had barely managed to sink into his swivel chair after attending many etings since the morning ever since he joined the work. Just as he felt himself drifting into a weary stupor, the event of his mate hit his nostrils.
His eyes snapped open. Alie was gliding through the door of the office. Tucked securely against her chest in a baby carrier was Noah, whose face lit up with a toothless, radiant grin the mont he spotted his father.
"Papa!" Noah chirped.
Gabriel was on his feet in a second, his exhaustion evaporating like mist seeing both of them. "Noah! Alie!"
The toddler began to kick his legs and flail his tiny arms in a frantic dance of excitent, babbling a jubilant, nonsensical words.
"Steady now, baby," Alie laughed, bracing the carrier.
"He wants his father," Gabriel noted, a broad smile breaking across his face. He reached out as he transitioned the boy from Alie’s harness into his own arms.
Alie moved toward the office couch, setting a sturdy jute bag on the low table and unlatching a tiered tiffin box that slled of the food she prepared for Gabriel.
"Did you miss , boy? Daddy has been trapped in etings all day," Gabriel murmured, looking into the big, innocent eyes of Noah.
"Daddy?" Noah tilted his head, his brow furrowing in concentration as his small, pudgy fingers gripped the lapel of Gabriel’s embroidered blazer.
"That’s right. I’m your daddy. Papa, Daddy... take your pick, as long as you keep saying it," Gabriel whispered, pressing a lingering, tender kiss to the boy’s soft cheek.
"Gabriel, eat your lunch. Karn ntioned you haven’t had a bite since the etings started," Alie said, glancing over her shoulder.
Gabriel moved toward her, the tension in his shoulders finally beginning to thaw as he sank into the office sofa. As he reached out, Alie took Noah from his arms to give Gabriel room to eat. The shift was imdiate; Noah’s face crumpled, his lower lip trembling before he let out a sharp wail.
"Noah! What’s wrong?" Alie asked, her eyes widening in surprise. She quickly shifted him, tucking his chin against her shoulder and rhythmically patting his back to soothe the sudden outburst.
"I think he just wants his dad. I can eat later," Gabriel said, already reaching back out for the crying boy.
"No, you need your strength. Eat," Alie insisted, gently blocking his reach as she rocked Noah. When the soft swaying didn’t work, she stood up and began a slow lap of the executive suite. She pointed out the gleaming trophies on the shelves and the distant, miniature cars moving far below the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Gabriel watched them, his heart softening as he saw Noah stopped crying. He picked up his spoon and finally began to eat, realizing that while Noah loved his lap, the boy was also ready to discover the world beyond it.
Noah pressed his tiny palms against the floor-to-ceiling glass, his chubby cheeks squished against the surface. Alie gently peeled him away from the window. "Let’s help Daddy out. Let’s clean his desk," she murmured.
She settled Noah into the swivel chair, where he looked even smaller. He let out a soft sound of delight, swinging his arms through the air as he watched her hands move, gathering scattered papers into neat stacks and aligning the heavy leather-bound files to one side. As he watched, his tiny thumb instinctively found its way into his mouth.
"Look at that! Mama is all finished," Alie said, turning back with a bright smile. "Papa has so much work to do for us, so we have to help him and not cry. Okay, baby?"
Her smile faltered slightly when she saw him preoccupied. "Oh, Noah, don’t do that." She gently guided his hand away from his face, pulling the damp thumb from his mouth and carefully drying it with a soft silk handkerchief.
Gabriel caught the tail end of their conversation and couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips, though he didn’t slow his pace as he worked through the al. When Alie turned back, Noah once again perched against, she caught him practically inhaling the last few bites.
"Slow down, Gabriel. We aren’t in a race," she scolded, her tone softening with genuine concern. "You’re going to choke if you keep that up."
"It’s just that good," Gabriel countered, offering a quick, boyish excuse around a mouthful of food. "And I’m starving. That’s why I’m moving so fast."
Alie saw right through him. "Don’t lie to . Eat properly. Your etings are finished for the day. Karn already gave the full report on your schedule. Noah and I aren’t going anywhere until your work is entirely done," she stated firmly, settling back onto the couch.
Alie poured a glass of water, and handed it to Gabriel. He took a few sips, finally heeding her warning and slowing his pace. Once the al was finished, he sealed the tiffin box away, promising a quick return before heading toward the private washroom.
Noah’s head tilted, his wide eyes tracking his father’s every move while Alie began tucking the containers back into the sturdy jute bag. When Gabriel returned, looking refreshed, he imdiately reclaid his spot on the couch beside her.
"Now, Noah can co back to Daddy," he murmured, his arms already outstretched. Alie smiled, easing the toddler into his father’s steady grip.
"I actually have two pieces of good news to share with you," Alie said, her eyes sparking with excitent.
"Good news?" Gabriel’s lips curled into a playful smirk. "Don’t tell Noah is getting a sibling—"
"No," Alie laughed, shaking her head. "Flora and Zander are getting married! And Kate and Sage are set to wed soon, too."
"Two weddings? That’s incredible. I’m already looking forward to attending them both with you," Gabriel asserted. He looked down at the boy in his lap. "Noah, did you hear that? Auntie Kate is getting married!"
"Ha!" Noah chirped, bouncing slightly in Gabriel’s arms.
"Who’s the first to get married?" Gabriel asked, turning his attention back to Alie.
"Kate and Sage are marrying as early as next week," she explained. "As for Flora and Zander, the parents of the both families will first et before deciding on the dates."
"Kate must have called ," Gabriel murmured.
"It’s alright. She’s coming to our house in the evening with Sage to share the good news with you," Alie explained.
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