Chapter 52

Jonathan clocked out for the day and sent his driver home. He made his way to Rosary Estates, where a cozy bakery sat a stone’s throw from the apartments. He went in and picked out a cake. Since Teresa had skipped his birthday well-wishes, he decided to cheer himself up.

Exiting the bakery, Jonathan spotted a little kid, his back to him and his hands flat on the glass like a mini superhero, peering inside. “Hey there,” Jonathan called out, and the kid spun around. The moment they locked eyes, both Jonathan and Michael were taken aback. Jonathan felt a jolt of recognition, thinking, “Why does this kid look so familiar?”

“Wow,” Michael blurted, blushing, “You’re so cool, mister!” Then he took off. Jonathan watched the boy run off, a smile playing on his lips, thinking, “So cool! What’s that about?” Then he saw the kid run up to a woman he didn’t know, and she led him away.

Sherry asked Michael, “Mike, where did you run off to?” Michael pointed back at the black Maybach, saying, “I saw the boss’s car. I wanted to see what he looked like.”

“Boss? Which boss is here?” Sherry wondered, thinking it was someone from her company. Then she saw a Maybach with a license plate of all sixes drive away. But she figured no boss from her company could afford such a fancy car, so it definitely wasn’t her boss.

Later, Teresa pulled up to the house to find Sherry busy making ravioli, and she offered to lend a hand. “Sherry, let me give you a hand,” Teresa said.

“Mom, don’t bother,” Michael butted in. “You don’t know how to make ravioli.”

Teresa retorted, “I can learn, can’t I?” Then Teresa went to wash her hands, and Michael followed her, staring at her back. He said, “Mom, I saw your boss today.”

“What boss?” Teresa asked, scrubbing her hands and not quite registering.

“The one with the black car. You said he’s not good-looking, but he’s super handsome, just like Mr. Lime from TV,” Michael explained.

Teresa paused in her drying, turning sharply to face him and gripping his shoulders. “What happened? Did you talk to him? Did he say anything to you?”

Michael winced and said, “Mom, you’re hurting me…”

“Sorry,” Teresa let go, realizing she’d gotten too anxious. “I just worry that you might say something to upset him. He’s not known for his good temper.”

Michael tilted his head, saying, “Really? I didn’t talk to him. I got shy and ran away when I saw how cool he was.”

Teresa was both amused and confused, thinking, ‘Is this really my Michael, getting shy?’

“Your boss had a cake, too. Whose birthday is it?” Michael asked.

Teresa hesitated, thinking. Does a big CEO like him need to buy his own cake? And why did he buy one around my place? Couldn’t Simona get him a cake!

“Mom,” Michael chattered away, full of energy. “Come on. Tell me, whose birthday is it today?”

“His own,” Teresa admitted. “He must be so lonely, having to celebrate his birthday by himself. Why don’t you call him over and have him join us for ravioli?” Michael advised.

Chapter 32

Teresa didn’t respond. She turned back to the ravioli, ignoring Michael. Michael pouted, thinking, “Why is Mom so cold towards her boss? She really doesn’t know how to handle things properly.”

Teresa was distractedly helping Sherry with the ravioli when Miriam arrived. Miriam pulled Teresa aside, saying, “Today’s Jonathan’s birthday, right? Didn’t you wish him a happy birthday?”

Teresa recalled Simona’s beaming face entering Jonathan’s office and replied emotionlessly. “What’s the point?”

“Come on, at least say happy birthday. It might even get you a raise,” Miriam urged. However, Teresa stayed silent, lost in thought.

Eavesdropping on the conversation while the adults were preoccupied with the ravioli, Michael furrowed his little brow. Taking advantage of the moment, he slipped into the bedroom, grabbed Teresa’s phone, unlocked it, and navigated to her contacts with ease. He scrolled through, finding a contact labeled Jonathan.

“Well, Miriam said it’s Jonathan’s birthday, and Mom said her boss’s birthday is today too, so the boss must be Jonathan. Why is Mom so cold to her own boss! Guess I have to step in,” Michael thought to himself. Michael opened the messaging app, typed out a message, and sent it off.