The Ride-Along

The morning after overhearing the argument between Ken and Imelda, Bianca decided to keep a low profile. She moved quietly through the penthouse, her goal simple: prepare a quick breakfast for the twins and leave before Ken noticed her.

If they can't find me, they can't fire me, right? she thought, gripping the edge of the counter for a moment to calm her nerves.

But as she stepped into the kitchen, her heart sank. There was Ken, sitting at the island counter, sipping a cup of coffee.

"Ken! I didn't expect you to be up this early," she said, startled, her voice shaky.

Ken looked up from his mug, his expression unreadable. His dark hair was neatly combed, and he wore a light gray sweater with dark trousers, looking effortlessly polished. "I've been meaning to talk to you," he said, his tone calm but firm. "You can be surprisingly hard to find when you want to be."

Oh no. This is it. Just play dumb, she thought, forcing a bright smile.

"Beautiful morning, isn't it? A great day to be gainfully employed," she said cheerfully.

Ken tilted his head, clearly confused. "Are you feeling alright?"

Bianca gave a little shrug. "I'm just relieved to have a mature boss who doesn't fire people on a whim," she said with an exaggerated grin.

Ken reached out and gently touched her arm. "Bianca, I'm not going to fire you."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "But Imelda—"

"Imelda doesn't get a say in this," Ken interrupted. "Yes, she was upset about the club incident, but I wouldn't fire someone just to soothe her ego. Especially when everything you said to Bernard was right."

Bianca blinked, still processing his words. "Good. Because I'm not about to stop speaking my mind."

"I wouldn't want you to," Ken said, his lips curling into a small smile. "If I fired everyone who voiced their opinions, I'd be working alone. The world needs more people who think for themselves, like you."

A wave of relief washed over her. "Thank you, Ken. Or should I call you Mr. Schuyler again today?" she teased.

"Ken is fine," he said with a chuckle. "Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about this morning—your future."

Bianca's brow furrowed. "My future?"

"I thought you could come to the office with me today. Richard can take care of the twins. I know you have dreams beyond being a nanny, and this could be a chance to see Schuyler Enterprises up close."

Bianca's eyes widened. "Schuyler Enterprises? That's a little out of my league, don't you think?"

"Nonsense. I've seen your credentials. I almost gave your resume to HR instead of hiring you as a nanny."

"Really? I didn't know that," Bianca said, blushing.

"You're a bright woman, Bianca. Don't sell yourself short."

She smiled, a mix of gratitude and excitement bubbling up. "Thank you, Ken. Alright, let's do it."

---

Bianca arrived at Schuyler Enterprises dressed in a tailored navy blazer and black slacks, paired with a crisp white blouse. Her hair was swept into a sleek bun, and her black pumps clicked softly against the polished marble floor. She glanced around nervously, taking in the expansive lobby with its towering glass walls and gleaming silver accents.

Ken, walking beside her in a charcoal suit and navy tie, led the way confidently. His mere presence seemed to draw attention from everyone they passed.

"Good morning, Mr. Schuyler," said a man in his mid-thirties, wearing a beige sweater vest over a collared shirt and glasses. "I've submitted the revisions to the patent folder for your review."

"Excellent," Ken replied. He gestured toward Bianca. "Henry, have you met Bianca Martins?"

Henry adjusted his glasses and smiled warmly. "I haven't had the pleasure. Are you new here?"

"Oh no, I—" Bianca started, but Ken stepped in.

"Not yet," he said, a proud grin on his face. "Bianca just earned her master's in chemistry. She's got a lot of potential."

Bianca flushed, feeling both embarrassed and pleased.

"A chemist!" Henry said, his eyes lighting up. "So, do you see yourself inventing or exploring?"

"Inventing," Bianca answered. "The world's always changing, and I want to be part of that."

Henry's enthusiasm was contagious. "Any big ideas?"

"I want to create a material that doesn't break down over time but is completely safe for the human body," Bianca said confidently.

Henry nodded, clearly impressed. "That's ambitious—and groundbreaking. I like how you think."

Ken smirked, rejoining the conversation. "Should I be worried about my job, Bianca?"

Bianca grinned. "No, but I'd keep you around to help with the transition."

Henry laughed, then glanced at his watch. "I'd better get to my meeting. It was great meeting you, Bianca."

"Nice to meet you too," she said, waving as he walked off.

---

Later, Bianca followed Ken into a sleek conference room, its long mahogany table flanked by plush leather chairs. The large screen at the front of the room flickered to life, displaying Lucas, the head of operations at their Milan office. Lucas looked disheveled, his suit slightly wrinkled, and his expression was grim.

"Signor Schuyler, we have a serious problem," Lucas began in a thick Italian accent. "There's been a security breach. Sensitive files were copied onto a jump drive."

Ken's face darkened. "What kind of files?"

Lucas swallowed hard. "Our customer DNA profiles. If this data gets out, it could ruin us."

Gasps echoed around the table.

"Who's the suspect?" asked a woman in her fifties, dressed in a smart green blazer.

"Lucas tends to exaggerate," muttered Daniel, the head of marketing, wearing a navy suit.

"This isn't an exaggeration," Ken said, his voice sharp. "If this data leaks, it will be the greatest violation of privacy we've ever seen."

Bianca leaned toward Robert, who was seated beside her. "Is it really that bad?" she whispered.

"Worse," Robert said quietly, his expression grave.

Ken turned back to the screen. "Lucas, how did this happen?"

Lucas shifted uncomfortably. "I...lost my temper and fired an employee without following proper protocol."

Ken's jaw clenched. "Seal the complex and call the police. I expect updates hourly. And Lucas? Your job depends on how you handle this."

The call ended, leaving a tense silence in the room. Ken sighed and addressed his team. "Felicia, coordinate with Milan. Daniel, I need projections. Robert, draft a press release."

As the executives moved to leave, Ken's phone buzzed. "It's my father. I'll catch up with you all later."

Bianca lingered, watching as the others filed out.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Felicia Shelton, Chief Financial Officer. This is Daniel Harold, head of marketing." Felicia says as she stretches her hand towards Bianca to give her a friendly handshake.

"Bianca Martins." Bianca smiles, returning the handshake.

"So I see you got the job." Daniel said.

Oh right. Daniel was at my nanny interview, Bianca thought to herself.

"I did get the job…And I heard the Illithyia marketing went well. After you decide to take my advice, that is."

Daniel frowns as his jaw clenched tightly. "That was only part of it."

"Oh, you're that Bianca. That explains a lot." Felicia chipped in.

Bianca, now confused, asked. "It does?"

Robert chuckled softly. "Don't worry about Daniel. He's always grumpy right before lunch."

Daniel opens his mouth to retort, but before he can say anything…

"Ms. Martins," the receptionist said, approaching. "Mr. Schuyler asked you to meet him in his office."

Bianca nodded. "Thank you."

She said goodbye to the others, then made her way up to Ken's office…

---

Bianca knocked softly on Ken's office door and peeked inside. He was still on the phone, pacing behind his desk. "I've got it handled, Dad. You know everything I know."

Ken rolls his eyes as Bianca slips into one of the seats. She takes the opportunity to let her gaze rove over Ken, drinking him in…When she finally reaches his face, she's surprised to see his eyes looking right at her.

He hung up and turned to Bianca, his eyes blazing.