Chapter 4Dad Is My Sugar Daddy

The atmosphere at our company was actually pretty great.

Sure, Ava wore a permanent scowl, called us into her office one by one to tear us to shreds, and sarcastically compared our proposals to garbage and our presentation color schemes to funeral homes.

She was ruthless. She'd even insult herself.

But she was a good person.

She hired women who were planning to have kids, gave generous maternity and nursing leave, and even allowed parents to bring their children to work if they were in a bind.

More than that, at a networking dinner once, a greasy middle-aged client tried to grope Chloe, his hand creeping dangerously close to her thigh.

Ava, who had been pouring wine, saw it happen. Without a second's hesitation, she flung the entire contents of the bottle in his face.

She looked at him, her voice dripping with ice.

"I suggest you keep your hands to yourself. Unlike you, some of us prefer to make our money using our brains."

It was because of moments like that that everyone was fiercely loyal to her.

But that temper of hers had made her a lot of enemies.

Business started to decline, then plummet.

Finally, this month, the reality hit: there wasn't enough money left in the company account to make payroll.

The shadow of bankruptcy loomed over every desk.

The office was a graveyard of long faces and anxious sighs. The air was thick with the stench of impending unemployment.

Even the owner of the snail noodle shop noticed. She texted me:

[Gigi, honey, what's going on? No orders from your office lately. You guys get tired of my food? I just launched a new double-egg, extra-pungent combo! Just say the word, and it's on its way!]

I thought for a moment, then replied: [Send two.]

Half an hour later, I was carrying two bowls of destructively aromatic noodles toward Ava's office when Chloe and Sarah intercepted me.

"Are you insane? You're going to poke the bear right now?"

I shook them off and pushed the door open.

Ava was drowning her sorrows in paperwork.

Her desk was buried under files from potential partners, her hair was a mess from her running her hands through it, and her eyes were webbed with red veins.

She didn't even look up when I came in. Her voice was a low rasp.

"Get out. Unless you want me to scream at you."

I didn't listen.

I opened the bag, pushed the extra-pungent bowl in front of her, and started fanning the fumes in her direction.

Ava finally snapped, looking up to glare at me.

But as the familiar, powerful scent assaulted her nostrils, her throat bobbed.

Slowly, her gaze drifted from the list of partners to the bowl of crimson-slicked noodles.

And my gaze drifted from the noodles to that list of partners.

My eyes scanned the names and suddenly lit up.

I recognized one!

Hey, I know that guy!

I pointed at the list, my voice bursting with excitement. "Ava, I have an idea!"

Ava, her mouth now full of noodles, rolled her eyes.

"What kind of idea could you possibly have?" she mumbled. "Bore them to death with your cluelessness?

"Eat your food and stop messing around. This isn't a joke. Now get out."

She kicked me out.

Standing in the hallway, I felt a little hurt.

Why didn't she believe me?

How could I be this clueless and still live such a sunny, carefree life if I didn't have some connections?

And besides... all that money my mom spent on fertility treatments to have me? That stuff is expensive!

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Dad. I'm craving that... what's it called? Oh, right. I want you to meet my boss."

On the other end, my dad's voice was cheerful.

"Anything for my little princess. As long as you don't quit and come home to take over the family business, you can have whatever you want."

Shortly after that call, Ava announced that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.