"You're my lucky charm, my queen. Just as you came to my house, someone special is coming too. You know who?" I said to the little kiddo, Amara; bouncing her on my lap. She gazed at me intently like she was understanding everything.

"Eloi." Her eyes got bigger. "Yes, my baby queen, Eloi. She's coming by herself. Please don't act possessive in front of her. You know I love you a lot but please act civil when she's here. Okay?" I kissed her face repeatedly.

It was afternoon, Ariana and Xavier had to attend a meeting separately so Ariana left Amara at my place to babysit her.

Amara giggled and kicked her legs. "Aww, you're eager to meet Eloi? Me too baby, me too." I tickled her which made her laugh.

Later, when the doorbell rang I picked up Amara in my arms and opened the door.

"Hey, Eloi. Welcome!" I said brightly.

"Whoa!" She got stunned when she saw Amara.

"Oh! She's my queen." I kissed Amara's cheek then looked at Eloise who was still standing at the doorstep.

"Come in." I stepped aside and let her in.

She was still looking at Amara and Amara at her.

"She's so cute. Who's daughter is she?" Eloise asked with a big smile.

"She's my best friend Xavier and his wife, Ariana Knight's daughter. Amara."

As I said that, Eloise jumped in excitement. "OMG! She's Ariana Knight's daughter? Goodness, I admire her a lot. The way she has made her name in the business world is remarkable. And this cute bundle is her daughter! Goodness, can I hold her?" She babbled in excitement and touched my arm.

And I just gaped at her. I never knew my sister has admirers. Amara was gaping at Eloise's hand that was on my arm. She tried to swat Eloise's hand away with her foot.

"Yeah sure, you can." I leaned forward to hand her Amara but Amara clung to me by wrapping her arms around my neck and hid her face in my neck. She denied going away from me.

Eloise's face fell and I chuckled. "Don't worry, Eloi. She's a little possessive about me. Spend some time with her, she'll come to you eagerly."

"I hope so." She pouted in disbelief.

"Come, have a seat," I said to her and when she walked towards the couch I looked at Amara. "I told you not to act possessive. You made her upset. Don't do that, please?" I pleaded her but she giggled in return. "You're so evil." I playfully glared at her.

With Amara in my arms, I sat beside Eloise on the couch. Eloise had impatient expressions on her face. She wanted to hold Amara but she couldn't as Amara was clinging to me.

"I never knew you are a fan of Ariana." I started the conversation.

Her eyes twinkled and she smiled a little as she spoke, "I've always admired her. Though everyone was against her, mocking her for being given the privilege of Xavier Knight's wife, still, she fought to make way for herself. She never gave up. She moved past the judgments and criticism and stood tall. She marked her territory. And now? No one can question her. She's running the company with her skills." She kept her gaze fixed at Amara.

Only if she knew the back story. She doesn't know how much hard work was done on Ariana. Xavier always stayed by her side and became her backbone. He gave her the courage to fight against the world, he brought her confidence back.

I glanced at Amara, whose doe eyes were fixed on Eloise. I guess, she perceived that the talk was about her mother that's why she looked so interested.

"Do you want to meet her?" I asked, looking at her.

"Why not!" She sat straight. "She barely comes on camera, she lives so secretive life. I want to know her."

"If you had told me this before, I would have introduced you to her. She's like a sister to me. You're aware that she's my best friend's wife, right?" I raised my eyebrows.

"I know, it's just that... It literally slipped out of my mind. I have even never met Xavier Knight." She said as she tucked the loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

"How old is she?" She asked, pointing at Amara.

"Turning one in two days." I gave a light squeeze to Amara.

"Umm... Can I try again?" She said hesitantly.

"Yeah, sure." I again leaned forward but Amara started kicking her legs and whined by making some noise. Eloise's lips again curled downwards.

"Wait, let me talk to her." I laughed and face Amara. "My queen, please cooperate. Eloi wants to hold you. And you promised that you'll act civil, didn't you? You love me right? So, please, do it for me." I cooed, wiggling her in my arms.

"You adore her a lot, don't you? Eloise asked. I kept my eyes on Amara. I smiled warmly and said,

"I adore her the most in the world. She's my sunshine. Whenever I feel low, either I spend time with her or talk to Princess."

"P...Princess?"

I gave a side look to Eloise to find her staring at me curiously but hesitantly. Adjusting Amara on my lap, I shifted to face Eloise and raised my eyebrows.

She became startled and let out a nervous chuckle, "Oh, I'm just curious. I...I have heard that name from your mouth before so... I thought if she's an acquaintance or maybe...girl...girlfriend." She rambled looking everywhere but me.

Resting my elbow on the edge of the backrest of the couch I supported my head on my palm. I smirked, thinking how intrigued she was. I kept staring at her until her eyes fell on me.

"W..what?" She stuttered, her face on the edge of turning red.

I pressed my head more on my palm to balance my body and grinned. "Jealous?"

She got stunned and her face turned red. "Jealous? Who, Me? No! Why would I be? I said I was just curious. It's okay if you don't want to tell me." She let out a nervous chuckle at the end.

I admired her red face. She looked so cute when she blushed. I let out a hearty laugh which made her surprised. "Just accept that you are jealous. You can't see any other woman with me." I teased her.

"No!" Came her instant reply.

"No? That means you can't see me with..."

"No-I mean, I'm not jealous." She tried to glare at me but failed when she looked at my teasing grin.

"Whatever makes you digest your food," I commented. I again took Amara in my arms and adjusted her clothes. I kept my gaze at Amara and spoke to Eloise, "Just to tell you... Princess holds a special place in my heart."

I didn't tell her who exactly Princess is because I was enjoying teasing her. My heart did a happy dance feeling that she was jealous.

"Amara, would you go to Eloi now?" I cooed in Amara's ear. She started babbling don't know what but she looked happy. I took that moment to slip her into Eloise's arms. She started crying but suddenly stopped when Eloise pressed her against her chest and kissed her head repeatedly. Then she pulled her away and stared at her adoringly, her eyes twinkling in delight.

"Aww... Amara, you're so cute, baby." She cooed. I was amazed as to how Amara stopped crying instantly. When I analyzed the situation then only I found that-

"Ow!" Amara tugged Eloise's hair a little harshly. Yeah, that's why Amara stopped crying. She loves playing with her hair.

"I'll advice you to tie your hair 'cause this kiddo loves snatching hair." I chuckled, trying to remove her hair from Amara's grip.

"Oh, okay." She said and tied her hair in a ponytail. When Amara couldn't get to tug her hair, she started throwing her hands and legs in the air.

"Hey, baby it's okay. I'll give you a toy to play with." Eloise distracted Amara by giving her penguin plush-toy. I couldn't stop admiring her, she was handling Amara efficiently. And Amara, it seemed like Amara was getting along with Eloise.

"You like kids, don't you?" I found myself asking.

"A lot. They're little magicians." She mumbled, smiling broadly.

"They are. They make you do things which you thought you would never do." I mumbled, gazing at Amara.

After playing for a few minutes Amara started crying out of hunger. I warmed the milk and gave her the bottle which she held between her palms. When she was full, her eyes started drooping, and slowly, slowly she slept in my arms. I placed her in the swinging baby cradle which was placed near the couch, in the living room.

I then glanced at Eloise who was now staring into the emptiness. Her legs were folded up in the lotus style and she was absent-mindedly tugging on the flippers of Amara's penguin plush toy. I observed her for a few seconds, she was lost in her thoughts. I assumed that something- or rather someone- was bothering her.

I sighed silently and sat closer to her. "Now tell me what's bothering you," I said but she didn't look at me and also didn't stop playing with the plush toy.

"Being a successful businessman, you too must have come across some obnoxious people who pester you like hell, right? How do you deal with them?" She said a little above whisper, still absorbed in her thoughts, her eyes darted at the floor.

Confirmed! Someone is definitely bothering her. I shifted closer to her and took her hand in mine then only she looked at me.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, observing her expressions.

She smiled faintly, "Everything is fine. I just wanted to know that's all."

I didn't buy her statement. I don't know why she wasn't telling me. Don't she trust me enough to share her feelings with me? I felt a sudden tightness in my chest. We have been spending time with each other for the past few days and still, she doesn't consider me anyone. I waved away the unsettling feeling that had developed inside me and forced a smile.

"Yes, I come across many of these people but I don't take anyone's shit- Sorry for using the unpleasant word. If her mother gets to know that I used that word, she would cut me off from her tasty cooking." I smiled sheepishly, pointing at the sleeping figure of Amara.

"She didn't hear, she's sleeping." Eloise chuckled.

"Can't take the risk!" I chuckled. "Now back to the topic. You know... You'll come across different types of people. Some will adore you, some will criticize you, and some will try to make your life a living hell. What you have to do is be you. Stay strong and fight for yourself, you aren't here to be ruled by anyone. You aren't here to please everyone. People will try to dominate you, not because they're strong but because they fear that you'll bring them down." I paused and studied her. She was listening to me intently.

I squeezed her hand and continued, "You have to fight at every step to prove yourself. Those who fail, fall. So, don't take anyone's fuc-*ahem*-funny act and stand strong." I rubbed the back of my neck in the embracement for using a curse word again. Eloise chuckled at my reaction which made me laugh too.

"How do you always manage to smile?" She asked, her eyes darted on my lips. I licked my lips as my eyes too fell on her rosy lips. I flickered my eyes between her eyes and lips, my lips itched to taste her red lipstick coated lips-

"How Daniel?" I cleared my throat and sat straight, enclosing my wild desires inside me.

"You want me to share my secret with you? I teased then pulled up a serious face. "If you want that then you'll have to share your worries too."

She looked away bit her lower lip. Don't do that.

"Okay, I will." Surprise surged up in me. Did she agree to share her worries with me? Whoa!

I couldn't stop myself from smiling. "Okay then, listen carefully." I shifted my body towards her. "I have made one rule in my life... Make people burn with my smile. Their opinions aren't my problem. Let them think and gossip about me. That way, they'll never forget me and I'll be in their heart for long." I shrugged casually, grinning ear to ear.

Eloise laughed out loud but when she sensed that a baby was sleeping in the same room shut her mouth and smiled sheepishly. "You're really something else, Daniel." She commented.

"Your turn," I said as I folded my legs up.

She looked uncertain, I have thought she was going to refuse to share anything but to my surprise she faced me and released a breath before speaking,

"Rick Hashington is threatening me."

"What?!" I got alarmed by her confession. "Why? What he wants from you?"

"Umm..." She fidgeted the toy in her hands then placed it on the center table with a huff and sat straight. "He wants me to endorse his new lingerie clothing line but I refused so he's forcing me to work for him because he wants me. And if I don't work with him, he'll degrade my and my mother's name in the industry as my mother took a favor from him and promised a favor back that was related to me."

That bastard! How dare he do that. And he wants Eloise? No way in hell.

"Did he do...umm... anything wrong-"

"No." She replied quickly. "And I'm not backing away. I'm not even scared of him but sometimes I just feel so low like I won't be able to fight him. Yes, I'm not scared but sometimes a fear simmer inside me and, and I feel so weak." She clutched her head between her hand. She was distressed.

I cupped her face between my palms and made her look at me. "You're not weak, you're stronger than anyone could imagine. The fact that you aren't giving up and fighting toe to toe is what makes you powerful." Her eyes studied my face, her tired eyes were looking for strength which I was going to give to her. I won't let her question her worth. But there was something she needed to know.

"You know Eloise, being strong and all is good but never be afraid to ask for support. Never be ashamed to admit that you need help because there are a few things that can't be handled alone."

For a few seconds, she didn't utter a word, she just kept studying me then she bobbed her head up and down. I gave her an encouraging smile. She smiled too and my eyes got fixed on her lips. The anticipation of tasting her lips returned. The urge to kiss her, to take her worries away molded in me.

My eyes flickered between her eyes and her lips. The desire hit me with full force which made me lean towards her. She didn't back away which gave me the courage to fulfill my craving for her lips. Everything else disappeared for me, only her lips zoomed to my eyes. I slowly leaned forward to close the gap between our lips. My raging heartbeat could be heard in the silent room. I felt her lean too, she wanted the same. Tilting my head, I licked my lips and inched closer and closer and closer-

"Uaaaaa"

Shit! We both abruptly backed away and I stood up to see the devil who woke up at the wrong time. Amaraaaaa...

I was too close. Second time. Second fucking time.

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Shit! Second time.

What was I going to do? For heaven's sake Eloise, come to your senses. I scolded myself.

He has his princess in his life. How could I allow him to kiss me?

I felt a sudden tightness in my chest. I wish I could become special to someone. I wish I had someone in my life who would make me feel special; who would give me importance; who would love me like no one else.

Why do I feel strange at the fact that he has someone special in his life? I asked myself.

Maybe because somewhere inside... I wanted it to be me?

Stop right there Eloise, don't even think about it, you'll get hurt. I again scolded myself. Surely, Daniel gave me importance by sparing time for me, listening to me, by encouraging me. But I had to accept the fact that I would never be the one for him.

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