CHAPTER 5: THE INITIAL LINK

"You shouldn’t be here."

His words pierced through the tension that already existed between us like a chilling warning. Despite

my instincts telling me to turn around and go, I swallowed and kept my chin up. However, I couldn't

quite yet.

Despite my pulse pounding, I replied, "I didn’t come here to cause trouble," in a loud voice. "I just want

to talk."

Unreadable, Damian Blackwood's eyes swept over me, evaluating. We were surrounded by lengthy

shadows from the city lights as he stood by the door-to-ceiling window of his rooftop oce. His sharp

white shirt's top button was undone, and his tie was loose, but he was still wearing his fitted black suit.

He had the appearance of a man who controlled the world, yet he also bore its burden.

"Talk?" he repeated, averting his gaze as if to ignore me. "You already made your position clear."

I balled my sts up. "Have I? Therefore I don't believe I did.

He stiffened his shoulders a little but remained silent.

With my heels tapping on the marble door, I stepped forward. "I want to know why you hired me."

He was interested in it. Like a predator seeing a challenge, he turned and fixed his gaze on mine. "You

know why."

"Do I? Simply because it doesn't make logic to me. You don't have much faith in people, yet you let a

total stranger look after your daughter in your house." I lowered my voice and folded my arms.

"Why?"

Something sparked in his eyes for the first time, something unprotected, something primal. In a

second, it vanished, buried under that mantle of frigid control he wore.

"You are here because I need someone competent, not because I owe you explanations," he replied in

a calm, quiet voice.

"You don’t owe me anything," I acknowledged. But because you continuously exclude me, don't

expect me to mindlessly abide by your rules. I need to know what your kid needs if you want me to

take care of her. Knowing yourself is the first step in that.

Quiet. Smothering, heavy.

Then, suddenly, he rubbed his temple and exhaled slowly. "She’s... different." There was none of the

grit in his voice. "She doesn’t open up easily."

I thought, "Neither do you," but I refrained from saying it.

Rather, I gave a nod. "Then let me help."

For a split second, his eyes fell to the other before returning to mine, and this time, there was a little

break in the Ice King's fortifications.

"Tomorrow," said him. "You're going to the park with her. Watch what occurs.

Even if it wasn't much, it was something. The first relationship.

The next day, I was sitting on a park bench and observing Emily, Damian's kid, as she knelt on the grass

and embraced her knees. For her age, she was a quiet child—too quiet.

I softly said, "Do you want to play?" instead.

She gave a headshake.

I followed her eyes. Near the swings, a bunch of kids were chasing each other while laughing. She was

observing them, but I could see the melancholy in her eyes, which was too far.

"Do you want to tell me why?" I said after a moment of hesitation.

She took a while to respond. Then she whispered, "They don't want me there," in a voice so faint I

could hardly hear it.

My heart tightened. "Who told you that?"

Her little fingers sank into the grass as she shrugged, revealing her feelings.

I let out a sigh. "You know, I used to be alone, too."

She took notice of it. Her curiosity began to creep in as she moved her head slightly.

I went on, "I felt like nobody wanted to be my friend." Sometimes, however, it's not because they don't

want you. They just don't know how to involve you sometimes. And sometimes, they're waiting for you

to initiate contact."

Emily gave me a confused look. "What if they still don’t like me?"

Simply put, "Then it’s their loss," I replied. "But you won’t know until you try."

She looked back at the gathering of children and bit her lip. A long time went by. Then she gently stood

up.

I saw her pause, then take a few hesitant steps in their direction.

The quiet behind me was broken by Damian's voice. "You’re good with her."

Startled, I turned. He watched Emily from a few feet away, his hands in his pockets, his face impassive.

Saying, "I just listened,"

As if that simple gesture were alien to him, he nodded. "Most people don’t."

I opened my mouth to speak when a piercing wail interrupted me.

Emily.

When I turned back, I saw that she was standing rigidly while one of the kids was laughing and pointing

at her. The giggling of the other children became louder as they followed.

One youngster scored and said, "You don't belong here."

With her face crushed, Emily turned and ran directly at me, her eyes full of sorrow.

I was boiling with rage as I bent down to grab her. "Hey, it’s okay."

She snied, "No, it’s not!" "They hate me!"

Damian moved by me before I could reply. The whole playground was silent only because of him. The

parents who had been speaking nearby now paid attention as the children drew back from his stare.

One of the moms wanted to know what was happening.

Damian spoke in a cool but forceful tone. "Your son seems to think it’s acceptable to bully others."

The mother's gaze expanded. "I—I’m sure it was just—"

"A misunderstanding?" Damian's forehead raised. "If I ever see this happen again, I will make sure you

regret it."

The tension in the air increased. She pulled her son back as she muttered something. The other kids

dispersed, abruptly losing interest in their game.

Startled, I glanced up at Damian. "You didn’t have to do that."

He clenched his jaw. "No one makes my daughter cry."

My chest constricted in some manner when he said it. He cared despite his remoteness, control, and

harshness. Perhaps even more than he was aware of.

Emily looked up at her father as she brushed away her tears. "Can we go home now?"

"Yes," he murmured. "Let’s go home."

Emily's little hand crept into mine as we made our way back. A quiet exchange. An unspoken pledge.

And when I looked at Damian, I saw something I never would have expected to see in his face.

Have faith.

His phone rang just as I was allowing the feeling to settle.

His body became still as he responded. "What? "When?"

A pause. Then his phone hold tightened and his gaze clouded.

"Identify the perpetrator. "Now."

Then the Ice King returned, and the moment was broken.