Dropping Off

Steven held open the door for her.

He then said, "Hop in."

Evelyn was about to do that when her eyes fell on the man seated on backseat.

Leaning against the backseat, he had his eyes closed. Even so, he gave off air of elegance and seemed refined. He had black hair that was neatly arranged, giving him a reserved image. A mole sat under his eyes.

And that was Evelyn's focus.

The man who is supposed to be her father had a mole at the same spot too.

Just as she was observing him, he opened his eyes. Those blue eyes of his that fell on her made her take a step back, feeling intimidated. And there was nothing similarity with Daniel.

Seeing reaction made Steven laugh.

"Boss won't bite. You can comfortably sit."

Evelyn didn't like how coldly the man stared at him, and it got her to tightly clutch on to the straps of her bag. With a pleading expression, she looked at Steven and asked, "Can I sit at the front?"

"Don't create a fuss," fell the man's magnetic voice.

Steven patted on her back.

"He might look scary, but he is sweet. I promise you."

Evelyn wasn't sure about them.

But as a sensible child, she didn't want to create troubles for them. That's why, suppressing in her fear for the man, she got in.

The door was closed, and soon, the car started to move.

Evelyn took glances at the man beside her occasionally.

At that moment, Evelyn heard that her tablet started to ring. She removed her bag from her shoulders and placed it on her lap. Then, opening the zipper, she took out the device.

She realized that the call was coming from her mother.

This made her eyes widen.

She bit down on her lower lip, not knowing what to do. Afraid of her mother scolding her, she wanted to shut down her tablet, not wanting to get embarrassed in front of everyone.

As she pressed on the power button, the man beside her said, "Receive the call."

But she didn't want to.

She looked at him, and those solemn eyes of his face no space for defiance. She wanted to cry.

This man was too scary!

Evelyn slowly slid against the screen, seemingly about to receive the call, only to slide it in the opposite direction and hang up the call.

Acting surprised, she had a gasp release from her lips and exclaimed, "Oops."

Her antics and vivid expressions which fell in the eyes of Steven through the rearview made him burst out into laughter.

Evelyn sheepishly rubbed the back of her head, not daring to look at the man beside her.

Then, her eyes fell out of the window, and she exclaimed, "This is my school!"

Steven then stopped the car and took out Evelyn. There was her teacher standing outside, searching frantically. As Steven approached the teacher, she paused and her eyes fell on the little Evelyn.

She checked Evelyn from top to bottom before voicing out, "Evelyn, dear, where have you been? Your mom and everyone is worried sick about you."

Before Evelyn could make an excuse, Steven answered on her behalf.

"She was at UCI, apparently searching for her father."

The teachers' eyes widened at it.

"Thank you, Mister…" she trailed off, asking for his name.

"Steven."

"Right. Thank you, Mr. Steven, for bringing her here."

The teacher then placed her hand on Evelyn's cheek and said, "Why are you suddenly searching for your father, Evelyn? Did someone say anything to you?"

Evelyn felt discontent at Steven for revealing this.

Now, her mother was going to know about this, and this would only be making the woman more upset.

"Her father?" probed Steven.

The teacher smiled.

"Her father hadn't been in the picture," the teacher concisely answered.

Steven nodded and stated, "I will be going then."

After both of them exchanged their goodbyes, Steven patted on the top of her hair and said, "Don't go running off like this again or you will be taken by a giant monster."

Evelyn crinkled up her nose at it.

What was she? A baby? As if she would believe that.

He pinched on her nose, finding her adorable, before laughing and getting into his car.

As Steven started to drive the car, he commented, "That child, it appears that her father wasn't with her. She was searching for him. How sad."

The man remained silent.

"Funnily enough, she resembles your childhood pictures well. Especially those blue eyes. That shade is quite unique. For a second there, I was afraid she is your illegitimate child."

"Shut up," the man ordered.

"Yes, Boss."

At that moment, many thoughts went inside the man's mind.