She Called Me Fiona

I ended up sending away every woman who tried to get close to the wealthy heir's daughter. They all wanted to become her stepmother.

Some even tried to pass themselves off as her real mother. I was the only one allowed to take his treasured little girl home with me, time after time.

Yet I always thought it was simply part of my job as his assistant. Chapter 1 I often held Elliott Grantham's daughter for him.

So when he handed Haven to me, she opened her eyes just a fraction to look at me, then clung to my shoulder and fell sound asleep again.

It was nine at night, and Elliott was still in his suit and tie. Only the faint weariness on his face betrayed the hour.

He looked at Haven's face in my arms, then lifted his gaze to mine. “Ames, the driver, is waiting in the garage,” he said. “He'll take you both home.” I nodded. “I'll take Haven now, then, Mr.

Grantham. Try to get to bed early yourself.” Elliott murmured an acknowledgment. I carried Haven to the elevator at the end of the hall.

When the doors opened, I glanced back without thinking. Elliott was still where we'd left him, watching us from a distance.

Of everyone at the company, I spent the most time working closely with him. I knew how much his only daughter meant to him.

Her mother's identity might have been a mystery, but this little girl had turned a reckless rich kid into a careful, patient father. Perhaps he was worried about her.

With Elliott watching, I shifted Haven more securely into my arms, then stepped into the elevator. “Fiona?” The little girl spoke as soon as we were inside.

She was only three, still too young to understand much of anything, yet she stubbornly refused to call me Ms. Chandler. I'd joined Elliott's company two years earlier.

The first time I met her, he'd brought her to work with him. She could barely speak back then.

She'd tugged on my sleeve and stared up at me before stumbling through a question about my name. Now, too, she said it as though she needed to make sure. I answered.

She rubbed her eyes, snuggled closer, and went back to sleep. Elliott was one of the most soughtafter bachelors in his social circle.

Having a daughter hadn't slowed the stream of women pursuing him in the least.

Which was why, the moment I reached the underground garage with Haven in my arms, I ran into Felicity Dalton—the woman I'd sent away half an hour earlier.

Felicity was a popular young actress. Young and beautiful, she'd reportedly fallen for Elliott at a party two years ago, when she'd seen him holding his daughter.

She'd been pursuing him relentlessly ever since. Today she'd come to the company under the pretext of discussing a business partnership, but hadn't even managed to see him.

That was why she'd stayed in the garage until now, where she could finally block my path. When she saw me, she first looked over my shoulder.

Only after failing to find Elliott did she turn to Haven. “That's Elliott's daughter, isn't it?” she asked with a frown. I nodded yes.

Her frown deepened. “Then why would he let you take her?” She paused. “…Did you sneak her out?” I shook my head. “Mr. Grantham has more meetings tonight.

She's too tired to stay up, so he asked me to take her home to rest.” But Felicity wouldn't listen to my explanation.

Chapter 2 “This is Elliott's only child,” she said. “Why would he let you take her away all by yourself?” As she spoke, she came toward me, reaching to take the little girl from my arms. “Give her to me.

I'll bring her upstairs to Elliott.” I was alone. Felicity had her assistant and bodyguards behind her. Instinctively, I took two steps back and held Haven tighter. “I'm Mr.

Grantham's assistant. He put her in my arms himself.” But Felicity paid no attention. “I know you're his assistant.

He takes you everywhere—” She looked up, sweeping her gaze over my face. “But you need to remember that you're only an assistant.” By the time she finished, she was right in front of me, both hands reaching for Haven's back.

Haven had woken while we were talking. She'd stayed quiet, her arms around my neck and her eyes on me. But the instant Felicity's hands touched her back, she burst into tears.

The tears came so quickly. Her cries rang out through the quiet garage that late at night. At the sight of her reddening face, my heart clenched.

Without thinking, I held her close and tried to soothe her. The commotion finally caught the attention of Ames, who was some distance away.

Less than three minutes later, Elliott appeared in the garage. Haven was still crying when he reached us and took her from me.

He held her securely with one arm and gently patted her back with his other hand, soothing her with practiced ease.

But he turned his head toward me. “Is anything wrong?” I shook my head, watching Haven sob in his arms even as he soothed her.

Felicity was already stumbling through an explanation. “I only held her for a moment—” She pointed at me. “She came downstairs alone with your daughter.

I was worried about her intentions. I just wanted to bring the little girl upstairs to you.” At last, Elliott looked at the woman opposite him. “Ms. Chandler,” he said abruptly.

His expression was perfectly calm. “Make sure I never have to see her again.” I froze. Felicity's face drained of color.

It was a simple instruction, but it had effectively closed off most of her prospects. He didn't want to see her again.

She could no longer attend any event where he appeared or work in any industry he had interests in. There were plenty of top stars in those circles.

People with money and business influence were far rarer. No one wanted to offend Elliott. “Ms. Chandler?” He said it again, and I finally came to my senses. I nodded my agreement.

Haven had stopped crying. With her arms around Elliott's neck, she tilted her head to look at me. Tears still clung to her lashes. She looked so pitiful.

But I rarely interacted with her when Elliott was there. She was his daughter, after all. All I could do was offer her a reassuring smile where he couldn't see it.

Haven blinked, then tucked her face a little closer to her father's shoulder. Security had escorted Felicity and her entourage out. Elliott suddenly glanced at me. “Let's go.

I'll take you both home.” Ames drove again. I sat in the front passenger seat, with Elliott and Haven in the back. When we reached my building, Elliott didn't come upstairs.

He simply held his daughter out to me. I hadn't said anything yet. Chapter 3 He spoke first. “I have another international conference call at eleven.

Have her stay with you tonight.” I took Haven into my arms and stood outside the car, saying yes. Nothing about it struck me as odd.

Elliott paid me a very generous salary, and Haven was exceptionally well behaved. When he was too busy to manage, asking me to help with his daughter seemed perfectly reasonable.

A gust of wind swept through. Elliott got out of the car and draped his coat around my shoulders, drawing the front together until it covered Haven completely.

He'd been a father for almost three years. He took particular care with things like this. His eyes stayed on Haven's face as he brushed her hand with his fingertips.

Then he took two steps back and finally looked at me. “Go on up.” I carried Haven upstairs without looking back.

After switching on the lights and setting her on the couch, I glanced out the window without thinking.

Down in the bleak lateautumn night, Elliott was still standing there in just his shirt.

A moment ago he'd been in a hurry to get to his meeting, almost urging me to take Haven away.

Now that I'd actually brought her upstairs, he seemed to have all the time in the world. From eighteen floors up, I couldn't make out his expression.

All I could see was his slightly upturned head. Was he reluctant to leave Haven? I looked away and went into the bathroom to run her a bath.

By the time I came back out, Elliott had finally opened the car door and climbed inside. At eleven that night, I had soothed Haven to sleep in my arms.

The company's internal app on my phone showed that Elliott had joined a video call with the head of an overseas branch. I put the phone down and closed my eyes, still holding her.

The next morning, Elliott's driver was waiting downstairs right on time. Elliott was a capable boss who treated his employees well. To outsiders, though, he was also coldblooded.

The year he took control, he'd personally put his father in prison and forced his mother out of the company. Haven was his only weakness.

So I knew these elaborate morning pickups and latenight rides weren't for me. They were for the little girl in my arms. I found Elliott at the office with Haven still in my arms.

He came out in a fresh shirt, his hair still damp as though he'd just showered. He'd spent another night at work. I handed Haven over.

He looked down at her, and I heard him ask softly, “Did you sleep well?” At three, she was remarkably bright and could hold a conversation with her father easily.

Her arms around his neck, she said she'd slept well. “We went to sleep at ten.” She glanced back at me and repeated, “We.” Elliott stood sideways to me.

His gaze softened as he looked at her, and he gently stroked the back of her head, murmuring an acknowledgment. Only then did he turn to me. The warmth had already left his face.

Once more, he was my composed, meticulous boss. “Get ready,” he said. “You're coming on a business trip with me this afternoon.” I hadn't expected him to bring Haven, too.

Because she was coming, he'd filed a flight plan and arranged for us to take a private jet. It involved quite a bit of trouble, but everyone around Elliott worked for him.

No one questioned his decision. All I thought was that he really did care deeply about his only daughter. Chapter 4 He hardly ever left her side.

When I'd joined the company two years earlier, I'd already been surprised by how often such a small child appeared in that cold, impersonal office building.

But now, looking at Haven asleep beside me, I thought even the rumors about how thoroughly Elliott doted on her were an understatement. “I once hired a nanny who wasn't properly qualified.” His voice broke the silence of the cabin. “I'd just taken over the company, and I was very busy.

Haven wasn't even a year old. She couldn't talk yet.

I left her at home with several nannies and bodyguards, but she was still fed sleeping pills for half a month.” My heart clenched as I looked at the sleeping child beside me.

She'd been so tiny then