{Five years ago}
.
.
The Valerius Group boardroom fell silent as the man at the head of the table spoke.
Even the most stubborn executives leaned forward, captivated despite their reservations about his proposal.
With sharp cheekbones, piercing gray eyes, and a jawline that could cut glass, the man commanded attention without raising his voice.
“The numbers are clear,” he said.
“We should move forward with the expansion.”
As he concluded his presentation, his phone vibrated silently against the polished mahogany table.
A glance at the screen caused his composed expression to falter for a small second, unnoticeable to anyone except perhaps his personal assistant Leo, who had learned to read his boss’s subtle tells over years of service.
“Meeting adjourned,” the man said already picking up his blazer and rising from his chair.
The other executives exchanged surprised glances.
He never ended meetings early.
“Boss, is everything alright?” Leo asked hurrying to keep up as his boss headed toward the elevator.
“You never leave a meeting before getting the final commitment.”
“No time,” was all he said as he pressed the elevator button repeatedly.
The doors opened and the man stepped inside.
“Call me if anything needs signing.”
Before Leo could respond, the doors closed leaving him standing there alone.
Sebastian Valerius, though no one in that boardroom had used his name walked quickly through the lobby, his thoughts already on his wife.
Outside, he didn’t wait for his driver.
He slid into the driver’s seat of his black sports car, the engine roaring to life as he pressed the button.
He pulled away from the curb almost immediately leaving the driver waiting behind.
Leo who had finally managed to make it down from the elevator watched from the building entrance, shaking his head.
“What’s gotten into him?” he muttered to the security guard.
“Five years I’ve worked for him, and I’ve never seen him rush like this.
If the building were on fire, he’d probably stop to finish his coffee first.”
The guard chuckled.
“Bet it’s got something to do with his precious wife.
Everyone knows how much he adores her.”
Sebastian navigated the city streets with practiced ease, moving through traffic without hesitation.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the private hospital’s parking lot and took the spot reserved for his family.
The maternity ward was quiet as he approached the reception desk.
The receptionist looked up already recognizing him but Sebastian still gave his name.
“Valerius,” he said, his voice softer than it had been in the boardroom.
“My wife…”
“Room 304, Mr.
Valerius.
She gave birth an hour ago.
A healthy baby girl.”
Sebastian nodded, his throat suddenly tight.
He walked down the corridor and paused outside room 304, his hand hovering over the door handle.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open.
The sight that greeted him made his breathing turn heavier.
His wife Seraphina was propped against the pillows, her dark hair spread around her face.
She looked tired but there was a small smile on her lips.
In her arms was a tiny bundle wrapped in pink blankets.
“Sebastian,” she whispered, her voice weak from exhaustion.
He crossed the room in few strides and stopped beside the bed.
“You did it,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“We have a daughter,” she said with shining eyes.
“She’s perfect.”
Sebastian looked from his wife’s face to the small infant, his expression unreadable to anyone who didn’t know him well.
But Seraphina did know him and she saw the wonder in his gray eyes.
“Would you like to hold her?” she asked gently.
He shook his head.
“I might break her.”
Seraphina laughed softly.
“She’s not made of glass Sweetheart.
Come meet your daughter.”
Hesitantly, Sebastian reached out, his large hands awkwardly adjusting to the tiny weight of the baby.
When he finally held her, his breathing hitched.
The baby opened her eyes which was gray like his and stared up at him with a serious little look.
“She has your eyes,” Seraphina said.
“She’ll be a good girl.
I can already tell.”
Sebastian looked from the baby to his wife.
“We haven’t even given her a name yet, have we?”
“I was thinking…
Sophie,” Seraphina said.
“It means wisdom.”
“Sophie,” Sebastian repeated, testing the name.
“I like it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the baby’s face scrunched up and she let out a loud cry.
Sebastian immediately stiffened, his eyes widening as he looked down at her in panic.
“What do I do, Claire?”
Seraphina laughed softly.
“She’s probably hungry.
Or maybe she needs changing.”
“Right,” Sebastian said, already reaching for the call button.
“I’ll get the nurse.”
“No, wait,” Seraphina said stopping him.
“Before you do…
I realized I forgot her special blanket.
The one I weaved for her.
It’s in the nursery closet at home, in the bottom drawer.
Could you get it for me?”
“Can’t she use one of the hospital blankets?” Sebastian asked, his practical CEO mind taking over.
“They should be clean and perfectly adequate.”
Seraphina shook her head.
“It has to be that one.
Please, Sebastian?
It’s important to me.”
He sighed but there was no real resistance in his tone.
“Where in the closet?”
“Bottom drawer, wrapped in tissue paper.
There’s a small lavender sachet with it.”
Sebastian carefully placed the baby back in her mother’s arms, his movements still awkward but more confident than before.
“I’ll be right back.”
He kissed Seraphina’s forehead, a rare public display of affection, and left the room.
Half an hour later, Sebastian pulled into the driveway of his large home, the automatic gates opening as he drove in.
The house stood quiet under the night sky, its wide windows glowing softly from inside.
He found the blanket exactly where Seraphina had said it would be, it was wrapped carefully in tissue paper with a small lavender sachet tucked inside.
The soft fabric carried a faint, comforting scent.
As he drove back to the hospital, his phone suddenly buzzed with an incoming call.
He connected it to the car’s Bluetooth system.
“Sebastian.
I just heard you have a daughter?” a male voice asked through the speakers.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed a bit.
“Who told you?”
“Does it matter?
Congratulations, man!
When can I meet my goddaughter?”
“Soon,” Sebastian said, merging onto the highway.
“We’re still at the hospital.”
The call waiting suddenly beeped.
“Hold on, Xavier.
I have another call.”
A professional voice came as he switched lines.
“Mr.
Valerius, this is Dr.
Chen from City General.
I need you to return to the hospital immediately.”
Sebastian’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“I just left.
Is everything alright?”
There was a small pause on the other end.
“There’s been…
a complication with your wife.
Please come back right away.”
Sebastian went quiet for a moment, his mind suddenly filled with worry.
“Is she alright?” he asked, his voice still controlled, but there was a slight tension in it now.
“We’ll discuss everything when you get here, Mr.
Valerius.
Please come back as quickly as you can.”
Sebastian ended the call and pressed harder on the accelerator…