No Boss of Mine

The Unexpected Shelter

The rest of the week was more hectic than Ashley anticipated. First, she lost a significant donor for the welfare center, and now her parents weren't answering her calls. She could really use a weekend off, but instead, she had to work overtime. Dragging her feet across Finn's kitchen to start her day, she murmured, "Ugh, that dream felt so real..."

Opening the pantry, Ashley was surprised to see it stocked with essentials. Blushing, she thought, How thoughtful of him. Determined to start fresh, she whipped up some bacon and eggs, savoring the sizzle in the pan. Suddenly, footsteps approached, and Finn's voice broke the silence, "Something smells good."

Startled, she nearly dropped the pan, turning to see him leaning against the counter. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he said with a smirk.

"I'd almost prefer a damn poltergeist," she mumbled, smiling inwardly as he looked puzzled.

Finn brewed coffee in his corner of the kitchen, then walked up with two cups. "Heavy work, huh?" he said, glancing at her.

"Yeah, just a bit," she replied, her gaze fixed on the pan as she flipped the eggs.

He placed a coffee cup in front of her and waited, smirking, "So... when are you gonna offer me some breakfast?"

"You're as subtle as a sledgehammer," she said, plating up a portion and handing it over. She packed some extra in a box for herself, glancing at her watch.

As he took a bite, Finn closed his eyes, savoring it. "This is delicious. Thanks, Ashley."

"Welcome, my lord," she joked, turning to leave.

"Leaving already?" he asked, his tone almost disappointed.

"Duty calls," she replied with a sigh. "I'll be late tonight—welfare work has no weekends, you know?"

Back at her office desk, Ashley let out a sigh. The work was piling up, and stacks of paperwork sat on her desk, serving as a frustrating reminder of endless red tape. A small voice broke her thoughts. She looked up to see a boy, probably nine or ten years old, standing shyly at her door.

"Miss Ashley?" he said softly.

She turned, surprised, "I didn't see you there—who are you?"

"A-Alex told me about you. I'm Jake," he said, glancing at the floor.

Jake's mention of Alex, a runaway who'd recently been sent to rehab, set off alarm bells. She immediately grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around his small, trembling shoulders.

"Jake, what happened?"

He looked up, worry etched across his face. "Alex... he needs help. His parents treat him like trash, and he ran off to be with some bad people—junkies..."

Ashley's heart sank as she listened, determination filling her.