Chapter 11: Trevor met his carbon copy
Mara held her fairy tale book tightly as she wandered through the garden behind the library. Her round blue eyes, wide with curiosity and a hint of anxiety, scanned the flower beds and tall hedges.
“Macey won’t find me here, right?” she whispered, tired of being cooped up inside with books she was reading about bussiness and world oil bussiness.
She found a secluded bench and sat down, swinging her legs. Just as she opened her book, a gust of wind blew a few pages over, and she scrambled to catch them. In her haste, she didn’t notice someone approaching until she collided with a pair of legs.
“Ouch!”
Mara fell backward onto the grass, her book tumbling out of her hands. Tears welled up in her eyes as she rubbed her sore bottom.
“You guys are tired of working with me, hmm? How could a toddler this small escape supervision?”
The stern voice made Mara freeze. Her lip quivered, she looked up and saw the man with the same blue eyes as hers and she burst into tears.
“Hey, I’m not scolding you.”
A man crouched down beside her, his expression a mix of concern and annoyance. He gently wiped the tears from Mara’s cheeks, not wanting to be seen as harsh.
“I’m sorry…. I didn’t mean to run into you,” Mara sobbed, her voice trembling.
“I know. Please stop crying.”
The man, Trevor Quin, patted her head awkwardly. But Mara’s cries only intensified. She hated it when someone touched her hair.
“Mr. Quin, she’s a child, not a pet. You should give her a hug and a light pat on the back to calm her down.”
“Hug?” Trevor looked horrified, especially at the sight of the snot on Mara’s nose. “What are you waiting for? Give her a hug.”
“But you’re the one who bumped into her, Sir. It’s your responsibility.”
Trevor swallowed hard, reluctant to dirty his limited edition blue suit. “Are there any tissues?” He didn’t want to ruin his silk handkerchief either.
Jeremy, his assistant, handed him a tissue. But Trevor only glared at him.
“You expect me to clean it?” he whispered sarcastically.
Before Jeremy could respond, Mara grabbed the tissue and wiped her nose, trying to breathe easier.
However, her crying continued. With no other choice, Trevor awkwardly pulled Mara into a stiff hug.
“Hey, don’t cry! I’m not angry.”
He patted her back clumsily, feeling out of place. It was the first time he had been this close to a child.
“Are you hurt?”
Mara shook her head. After wiping her eyes with her tiny hands, she stepped back from Trevor, her tears slowing down but her hiccups continuing.
“Does your leg hurt?”
Trevor was taken aback by her thoughtful question and the shimmering eyes looking up at him. He had never seen eyes so beautiful.
“No,” he replied flatly, still captivated by her face. “Where are your parents, Sweet Girl? Are you lost?”
Mara hugged herself again, her head bowing in worry. “Mommy is busy working. Since no one can watch us at home, we come with grandma to work here.”
“We?”
“Me and my brother.”
Her small voice was both scared and endearing, softening Trevor’s heart.
“Your grandmother works here as a gardener?”
Trevor’s tone was gentle, but Mara remained timid. “No she's a Librarian and Please don’t fire Grandma! I promise I won’t cause any more trouble. I’ll be careful not to run around again.”
When Mara nodded, her long eyelashes glistened with tears. Trevor was mesmerized by her charm.
“I’m sure you’re a good kid. So, I won’t fire your grandmother.” Smiling, he picked up her book. “This is the oil bussiness chart book, Can you read it yet?”
“Yes, since I was 5 years old. Mommy taught me every night and then I practiced alone in the library.”
Mara nodded cutely. Trevor was moved to stroke her hair but hesitated.
“Please don’t mess up my hair again, Sir. I don’t like my hair messy,” she requested with a sullen face.
Trevor was stunned again. While thinking about the little girl’s resemblance to himself, he observed her. Mara’s clothes were simple but very neat. She even had a handkerchief sticking out of her pocket.
“What’s your name, Smart Girl?”
The round-eyed girl hesitated. After a quick sigh, she answered, “Mara. Mara Minaj.”
Trevor’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened as he realized the girl looked remarkably like his new secretary, Balqis Minaj, and shared the same last name.
Could his suspicions be true? Balqis was the woman from four years ago, and Mara and her were his children?
No, no that be true.
“How old are you?” Trevor asked spontaneously.
Emily furrowed her brows. Instead of answering, she just shook her head. “Sorry, Sir. Mommy said we shouldn’t share personal information with strangers.”