Friday evenings were sacred to Alexandria Bolivar.
No matter how demanding work became, no matter how many reports remained unfinished or how many emails waited in her inbox, she always left the office at exactly five-thirty.
It was a promise she had made long ago.
A promise to a little boy with bright eyes and an even brighter smile.
As the elevator descended, Alex glanced at the time on her phone.
5:28 p.m.
Perfect.
She quickly texted Asha.
Alex: I'm on my way. Has Yuto eaten?
Almost immediately, a reply came.
Asha: He's refusing dinner until Mama gets home.
Alex sighed fondly.
Alex: Tell him Mama will be there soon.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
By the time she stepped out of the building, the city had begun transitioning into evening. The streets buzzed with life—people heading home, friends meeting for dinner, children laughing as they tugged on their parents' hands.
For a moment, Alex allowed herself to breathe.
Then—
"Ms. Bolivar."
She turned.
Yujiro stood a few feet away.
His suit jacket was draped over one arm, his expression as composed as ever.
"Mr. Yujiro."
"I didn't realize we were heading in the same direction."
Neither had she.
"I usually take the train," Alex replied politely.
Yujiro gave a small nod.
"My driver hasn't arrived yet."
Silence settled between them.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
Just unfamiliar.
"I'll be going then," Alex said.
"...Wait."
The word slipped out before Yujiro could stop himself.
Alex blinked.
"Yes?"
He hesitated.
"You've contributed significantly to the company these past three months."
"...Thank you."
"I was wondering..."
He paused again, appearing almost irritated by his own uncertainty.
"...Would you allow me to buy you dinner? As thanks."
Alex froze.
A business dinner?
A personal one?
She wasn't sure.
"I'm sorry, sir," she answered after a moment.
"I can't."
His expression remained unreadable.
"I have somewhere I need to be."
Yujiro inclined his head.
"I understand."
Alex offered him a small smile before walking away.
"I'll see you on Monday."
He watched her disappear into the crowd.
Something unfamiliar settled in his chest.
Disappointment.
Meanwhile, several blocks away
"Mama!"
The front door burst open before Alex even had a chance to set down her bag.
A small body collided with her legs.
She laughed as Yuto wrapped his arms around her.
"You promised you'd come home early!"
"I know, sweetheart."
Alex crouched down.
"I'm sorry. Work was busy."
Yuto puffed out his cheeks dramatically.
"You missed broccoli night."
"...Should I be grateful?"
"No!" Yuto gasped.
"You have to suffer with me!"
Asha burst into laughter from the kitchen.
"See what I deal with every day?"
Alex couldn't help smiling.
This.
This was home.
Not the glass offices.
Not the boardrooms.
Not the endless meetings.
This little apartment filled with laughter and love.
As Yuto excitedly dragged her toward the dining table to show off the drawing he'd made at daycare, Alex felt the exhaustion of the week melt away.
"Look!" Yuto exclaimed proudly.
Three stick figures stood beneath a bright yellow sun.
"That's me."
He pointed.
"That's Mama."
Then his tiny finger moved toward the third figure.
"And that's Uncle Asha."
Alex blinked.
"Auntie Asha," she corrected gently.
Yuto frowned.
"But I wanted to draw another person."
"Another person?"
Yuto nodded.
"A daddy."
The room fell silent.
Alex's smile faltered.
Asha's expression softened immediately.
"Yuto..."
The little boy tilted his head.
"Why don't I have a daddy?"
Alex's throat tightened.
Of all the questions she had prepared herself for...
this one still hurt.
She gathered Yuto into her arms.
"You do have a daddy," she whispered.
His eyes widened.
"Really?"
Alex brushed his hair away from his forehead.
"He just... doesn't know you yet."
Yuto considered her words carefully.
"Will he know me someday?"
Tears threatened to gather in Alex's eyes.
"I don't know, sweetheart."
She kissed the top of his head.
"But I promise..."
"You are loved very, very much."
Satisfied with that answer, Yuto returned to showing her his crayons.
Children accepted truths adults struggled with.
Asha squeezed Alex's shoulder once Yuto wasn't looking.
"You okay?"
Alex forced a smile.
"Yeah."
But later that night, after Yuto had fallen asleep tucked against his favorite stuffed toy, Alex stood by the window overlooking the city.
Three years ago, she had accepted that raising Yuto alone would be enough.
And it had been.
Most days.
Yet Yuto's innocent question lingered in her heart.
Will he know me someday?
Across the city, Yujiro sat alone in his penthouse office.
His untouched dinner had gone cold.
For reasons he couldn't explain, his thoughts drifted back to Alexandria Bolivar.
To the way she had smiled at her phone.
The way she left every Friday without fail.
The apology in her eyes when she declined dinner.
His phone buzzed.
His assistant had sent tomorrow's schedule.
Instead, Yujiro found himself staring out at the city lights.
Who are you when you're not Ms. Bolivar?
Who are you rushing home to?
He didn't realize that only a few miles away, a little boy with bright eyes had fallen asleep wondering about the father he'd never met.
Nor did he know that fate had already begun steering him toward the answer.
Soon, coincidence would no longer be enough to explain the pull drawing their lives together.
And some encounters, no matter how unexpected, had a way of changing everything.
— End of Chapter 5 —