Personal assistant

Expecting

Pinks and lilacs, those were Katya's favourite colours. I chose a beautiful bouquet in the florist, filled with carnations and hydrangeas, silver dollar leaves poking through the powdery baby blue tissue paper. 

"Ready?"

Sofia enquired, face stuck in her phone. I pouted. Miss Bardot told me she didn't want to visit the baby as she felt she wasn't close enough with Matt and Katya, but she could have at least supported my excitement. Finally, noticing my silence, the businesswoman glanced up and locked her phone, putting it in her pocket.

"I am sorry prediletto, I was working." She stepped into my space and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear fondly.

"These are beautiful, you choose well." My mood was lifted once more, the power she held over my feelings was annoying, but not something I could help. She slipped the cashier her card, and I protested. She raised an eyebrow, and my objections ceased. I wouldn't win, and since acts of service were so very clearly her love language, I was secretly enjoying the way she treated me like a princess. We walked back to her car, my arm looped under hers, her attention once more on her phone, but this time I didn't mind. My door was opened for me, and she took the flowers as I got in, handing them back once I was settled.

"Shall we?" 

She asked, her Ferrari rumbling into ignition. I nodded eagerly, and gabbled nonsense at her the entire journey, about whether the baby would have Matt's wild hair, and how it was sure to have Katya's beautiful dark skin. I was on the edge of my seat, I couldn't wait. Matt had called this morning with news that the delivery last night was a success, and Katya was well enough for visitors. Sash was going to catch a cab after she'd finished work in the evening, and I was under strict instructions from her not to ruin any surprises about the baby. She wanted to walk into the hospital room like me, blind to the baby's name, gender, even eye colour. Everything was a mystery, and that was what made it the most exciting. 

The receptionist had informed us the room number, when approaching I looked back at Sofia, and spluttered out a laugh. She had her hands in her pockets, and was awkwardly stood a few metres away.

"I'm ready, are you?" I drawled, eyes glinting humour.

"I don't like children, and they don't really like me either, which I'm perfectly fine with. You go ahead."

She waved me away and I shook my head defiantly.

"Matt asked after you, you never know, this might be the one baby that isn't petrified of you."

She huffed, and complained I was terrible at reassurance. I ignored her, and pulled her towards the door after knocking. We were granted permission to come in, and I clutched Sofia's hand tightly under one arm, flowers in the other as we entered. Matt beamed and welcomed us, Katya's smile was so radiant and sunny I thought she would burst. She ushered us over to the bedside, and I embraced her warmly, making sure to be gentle. 

"Congratulations you two, I'm so pleased everything went perfectly!" 

Katya showered the flowers I'd  brought with wonder and compliments, ordering Matt to put them in a jug of water and display them on the table immediately. I handed them to him and gave him a tight hug too, I couldn't believe he was finally a father.

Sofia was glancing gingerly at the bassinet by Katya's side, and I rolled my eyes.

"They didn't birth Medusa, you can look if you want Sofia," I shot sarcastically, earning a loud cackle from Katya who turned to the cot, leaning over to lift the bundle of blanket towards her. Sofia scowled at me but I was too busy staring with adoration at the scene in front of me. Soft sounds emerged from Katya's arms, who hushed her baby soothingly, rocking them until they hindered.

"Come and have a look at him," Katya encouraged, gesturing for us to come closer and finally get our first proper look at the baby's face. My eyes lit at the revelation, Matt had always wanted a boy.

"We named him Alec, after my grandfather," Matt piped from the other side of Katya's bed, wrapping an arm around his wife.

"Little Alec, what a sweet name for a sweet boy," I cooed, taking in his stunning dark hair and even darker eyes. 

"Here, now he's settled," Katya leant forward, Alec now dozing peacefully in her arms. I outstretched mine casually, Sofia looked at me as if I was insane. I didn't even notice, I was occupied with Alec as he was placed carefully into my arms. His round face scrunched slightly, I bounced him gently to keep him peaceful and sleepy in my arms. He had the sweetest little face, a tiny button nose and full lips. 

"I knew he'd love you," Matt grinned at my natural ability to lull his son into slumber, a gift given to me through years of caring for my younger brother when I was growing up. I stole a glance at Sofia, who had remained standing quite close to the door, arms folded stiffly across her chest. I giggled again, I couldn't help it. In the entirety of the time I'd known her, the only thing that made her visibly uncomfortable was her father, which was perfectly understandable, and now Alec. This I found inconceivable, and consequently very amusing. I approached her with him slowly, and she locked eyes with mine, appearing as if she wanted to bolt.

"Lana is right, he doesn't bite," Katya teased, a jovial look on her pretty features.

My boss pinched the bridge of her nose at her own uptight body language, clearly frustrated with how she was behaving. I could tell she was worried Matt and Katya thought she was being rude, but we were all finding this far too funny.

"My apologies, I am terrible with children. They always cry near me and I don't wish to upset Alec."

Katya threw back her head and laughed heartily at Sofia's angst towards her harmless son.

"There's only one way to find out if you'll upset him, don't you agree Lana?" 

I nodded, understanding what Katya was hinting for me to do. I advanced a few more steps towards Miss Bardot, who held up a finger in silent warning. Matt grinned and pushed a chair up behind her. He sat her down and she landed with a bump, palms up in surrender as I lowered Alec down to her.

"No, I"

"Shh." I responded quietly so as not to disturb the baby.

She shook her head rapidly, and Matt placed a hand on her shoulder in encouragement, myself taking the harsher approach and cutting her a frown to just do as Katya wished and take him.

"Ok, but I-"

She swallowed back her words as his tiny body was nestled into her arms. For someone who claimed they were rubbish with kids, she sure held this one perfectly. Even Matt seemed surprised as she automatically adjusted the crook of her arm to support his neck.

"You're so dramatic," I whispered at her, and she looked up, eyes much calmer as she held him close to her.

"He is well behaved, otherwise I would have already given him back," she answered earnestly, pulling another roaring laugh from Katya. 

"Well I think we have our babysitter sorted Kat," Matt joked, and Sofia's head snapped towards him in alarm. She relaxed after she figured out he was joking, but I offered to watch Alec any time. She handed Alec back to me and I rocked him as we all continued a contented gossip, catching up on each other's lives before Sofia turned over her wrist and glanced at her watch.

"We have our meeting soon, I think it's time we head off, I don't want to keep Mr Angelo waiting."

I nodded in agreement and passed Alec to Matt, already missing the feeling of him sleeping peacefully in my arms. Rupert had set up a few meetings with Armstrong corp following the mixer, after Sofia was threatened by my father. Hopefully Mr Angelo and his team would shed some light on her predicament, the thought of her marrying someone else, even if there weren't any feelings involved was too much for me.