(Ava Chen's POV)
My dad's office looked like a throne room made of money.
Marble floors. Mahogany walls. A ridiculous chandelier that probably cost more than the entire GDP of a small country.
And in the middle of it all, sat him.
Austin Chen.
CEO. Billionaire. Mafia legend. Destroyer of egos.
Also, my dad. And current pillow.
I was curled up sideways in his lap like a cat while he signed terrifying contracts and made people panic over the phone in three languages. My math textbook lay abandoned on the velvet couch nearby, my pencil untouched.
Because… ugh.
Algebra.
Gross.
I tilted my head back, whispering into the air, "Kai…"
One of Dad's men, standing perfectly still near the door in a black suit and matching earpiece, blinked and whispered back, "Yes, Miss Ava?"
He didn't even move his lips.
Professional and helpful. I adored him.
"Do my math for me?"
He coughed lightly. "That would be—uh—cheating."
I grinned. "You helped me with it last week."
"I… I did not, Miss Ava."
"You totally did."
Dad's pen paused.
Uh-oh.
Kai immediately straightened, looking like he was about to get shot.
I leaned closer, conspiratorially. "I'll give you one of the matcha cupcakes the chef made this morning."
"…Deal."
Snap.
Dad closed the file in front of him.
"Ava."
I froze in place. "Yes, Dada?"
He gave me a long look.
"Are you bribing my trained killer with baked goods?"
"I prefer the term persuasive negotiations."
He sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and muttered something in Mandarin that probably translated to "I regret fatherhood."
I kissed his jaw.
"I'm the light of your life."
"More like the glittery chaos in my disaster."
"I brought you a pink bow for your hair. Be grateful."
"I'm the CEO of a global empire."
"You're about to be the CEO of cuteness."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the tiny velvet bow. He didn't move when I stuck it to his slicked-back hair, just gave me that deadpan mafia stare like he was re-evaluating his life choices.
Kai looked away, shoulders shaking silently.
"You're all fired," Dad muttered.
"No we're not," I giggled. "You're in too deep. You love me too much."
He didn't answer.
But he didn't take the bow off, either.