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Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Three
Author’s POV
“Venessa’s older cousin sister,” Claire confirmed.
Tasha’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Claire’s laptop screen, still absorbing the surprise from earlier.
“Venessa Steele…” she muttered under her breath. “What are the odds she’s working on this project?”
Claire, who was still seated beside her, shrugged casually. “Turns out she’s related to Vivienne Steele. Older cousin. That’s probably how she got looped into the Paris team. Small world, right?”
Tasha shook her head, unable to hide the slight irritation at the coincidence. “Of course. That explains why she’s here.”
Claire smirked. “Yeah, I think she’s got family connections. I thought you might find that interesting.”
“I don’t find it interesting,” Tasha replied, a small, amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “More like annoying.”
With that, Tasha closed her laptop. “Alright, let’s call it a day. We’ll have plenty to deal with tomorrow.”
Claire nodded in agreement, gathering her things. They headed out, with Tasha already thinking ahead to how she would handle Venessa at the meeting.
Later, at Home
Tasha and Claire had settled in back at the apartment, with Ethan happily playing in his room. As the tension of the workday began to melt away, Tasha found herself relaxing on the couch, scrolling through emails on her phone.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Tasha said, rising from her seat. She walked to the door and opened it to find Robbin standing there, a wide grin on his face.
“Robbin!” she said, surprised but pleased to see him.
“Hey, thought I’d drop by today,” he said, stepping inside and giving her a hug. “Just wanted to catch up before the big presentation.”
“You always have perfect timing,” Tasha replied with a smile as she closed the door behind him.
As they walked into the living room, Claire looked up from her laptop. “Robbin, good to see you.”
He waved, then sat down on the couch, getting comfortable. Moments later, Ethan bounded into the room, spotting Robbin immediately.
“Hey! You’re back!” Ethan shouted with excitement.
“Hey, champ!” Robbin greeted him, opening his arms wide for a hug.
As Ethan climbed into Robbin’s lap, Tasha leaned back on the couch, a thoughtful look crossing her face.” Claire, did you find anything else about Venessa? Besides her connection to Vivienne?”
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Claire, who had been waiting for this moment, nodded “Not much else that’s relevant to the presentation, Just that she’s been working in Paris for a some times Looks like she rode in on her cousin’s coattails, though. I wouldn’t worry too much.”
Tasha sighed, not entirely convinced. “Let’s hope that’s the case. Either way, I’ll be prepared.”
Robbin smiled as he reached into his bag, pulling out a sleek box. “I got something for you, buddy.”
Ethan’s eyes widened with excitement. “Woah! What is it?”
Robbin set the box on the table, slowly opening it to reveal a brand–new laptop and a smart watch. Ethan gasped in awe. “A laptop? And a watch?! For me?”
Robbin grinned and ruffled Ethan’s hair. “Yep, for you. Thought you might need it for school and, well, to stay in touch with me, of course.”
Ethan immediately reached for the laptop, eyes sparkling, but before he could fully grasp it, Tasha stepped in.
“No, no, no. Come on, Robbin, he’s too young for that!” Tasha said, raising an eyebrow, her tone half- serious and half–amused.
Robbin chuckled. “He’s a smart kid, Tasha. He’ll get the hang of it.”
“I’m not doubting that,” Tasha replied, “but he doesn’t need a whole laptop and smartwatch just yet. He’s five, not Fifteen.”
Ethan looked between the two, holding onto the watch with hopeful eyes. “But, Mom… it’s so cool! I’ll be really careful, I promise.”
Tasha sighed, giving him a soft smile. “I know you would be, but you don’t need this right now.”
Robbin glanced at Ethan, then back to Tasha. “Can I talk to you for a sec?” he asked, his voice quieter
now.
Tasha nodded, giving Ethan a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back, okay?” she said before following Robbin down the hallway and into the bedroom.
Once the door was closed behind them, Robbin crossed his arms and leaned against the dresser. “Tasha, this is New York,” he began, keeping his voice low. “Things move fast here, and kids are getting used to technology younger than ever. You can’t shelter him forever. The laptop, it’s just for school, I swear. And the watch? It’s for safety too. You know that.”
Tasha let out a long breath, rubbing her temple. “I get that, Robbin, but he’s five. He doesn’t need to be glued to a screen, even if it’s for learning. I don’t want him growing up too fast.”
Robbin straightened up, his tone softening. “I’m not saying let him have free reign, but you have to let him adapt. This is New York City, Tasha. Kids his age are already learning coding, using tech in ways we couldn’t have imagined at that age. And it’s not just about keeping up with the times, what if something happens? The smartwatch could help us stay connected.”
Tasha crossed her arms, clearly torn. “I just… I don’t want to lose control. I don’t want him relying on gadgets to the point where he stops being a kid.”
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Twenty The
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Robbin stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder “I get it. I really do. But you’re not losing him to technology, Tasha. You’re giving him the tools to be safe, smart, and connected. He’s still your little boy, and you’ll still set the rules. But this way, you’ll have peace of mind too.”
Tasha looked up at him, her expression softening. “You always know how to make sense of everything.”
Robbin smiled, squeezing her shoulder. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Tasha looked up at Robbin, the warmth of his hand on her shoulder, His smile was the same one that always made her heart skip, a quiet reassurance that everything would be alright. For a moment, she found herself leaning into the comfort he offered. The tension between them shifted, something unspoken passing between their gazes.
Robbin’s hand moved gently from her shoulder, tracing down her arm. His fingers lightly brushed her skin. “You’re doing great, you know?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve been strong through everything.”
Tasha’s breath caught, her heart racing as he stepped closer, his face just inches from hers. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the magnetic pull of something familiar but long buried. His lips hovered near hers, and for a second, she considered closing the distance. It would be so easy, so comforting to fall back into something that once felt so right.
But just as quickly, she pulled back, shaking her head slightly as she took a step away. “Robbin, I can’t…” Her voice was soft but firm, her hand raising to create a bit of space between them.
Robbin froze, his eyes searching hers for a moment, confusion flashing across his face before he sighed, stepping back himself. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Tasha swallowed hard, her heart still pounding in her chest. “It’s just…there’s too much going on. Ethan, the business, everything with Daniel…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away, not wanting to meet his
gaze.
Robbin’s expression immediately darkened at the mention of Daniel. “Daniel?” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, but it carried a weight of confuChapter Twenty Three
Author’s POV
“Venessa’s older cousin sister,” Claire confirmed.
Tasha’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Claire’s laptop screen, still absorbing the surprise from earlier.
“Venessa Steele…” she muttered under her breath. “What are the odds she’s working on this project?”
Claire, who was still seated beside her, shrugged casually. “Turns out she’s related to Vivienne Steele. Older cousin. That’s probably how she got looped into the Paris team. Small world, right?”
Tasha shook her head, unable to hide the slight irritation at the coincidence. “Of course. That explains why she’s here.”
Claire smirked. “Yeah, I think she’s got family connections. I thought you might find that interesting.”
“I don’t find it interesting,” Tasha replied, a small, amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “More like annoying.”
With that, Tasha closed her laptop. “Alright, let’s call it a day. We’ll have plenty to deal with tomorrow.”
Claire nodded in agreement, gathering her things. They headed out, with Tasha already thinking ahead to how she would handle Venessa at the meeting.
Later, at Home
Tasha and Claire had settled in back at the apartment, with Ethan happily playing in his room. As the tension of the workday began to melt away, Tasha found herself relaxing on the couch, scrolling through emails on her phone.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Tasha said, rising from her seat. She walked to the door and opened it to find Robbin standing there, a wide grin on his face.
“Robbin!” she said, surprised but pleased to see him.
“Hey, thought I’d drop by today,” he said, stepping inside and giving her a hug. “Just wanted to catch up before the big presentation.”
“You always have perfect timing,” Tasha replied with a smile as she closed the door behind him.
As they walked into the living room, Claire looked up from her laptop. “Robbin, good to see you.”
He waved, then sat down on the couch, getting comfortable. Moments later, Ethan bounded into the room, spotting Robbin immediately.
“Hey! You’re back!” Ethan shouted with excitement.
“Hey, champ!” Robbin greeted him, opening his arms wide for a hug.
As Ethan climbed into Robbin’s lap, Tasha leaned back on the couch, a thoughtful look crossing her face.” Claire, did you find anything else about Venessa? Besides her connection to Vivienne?”
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Claire, who had been waiting for this moment, nodded “Not much else that’s relevant to the presentation, Just that she’s been working in Paris for a some times Looks like she rode in on her cousin’s coattails, though. I wouldn’t worry too much.”
Tasha sighed, not entirely convinced. “Let’s hope that’s the case. Either way, I’ll be prepared.”
Robbin smiled as he reached into his bag, pulling out a sleek box. “I got something for you, buddy.”
Ethan’s eyes widened with excitement. “Woah! What is it?”
Robbin set the box on the table, slowly opening it to reveal a brand–new laptop and a smart watch. Ethan gasped in awe. “A laptop? And a watch?! For me?”
Robbin grinned and ruffled Ethan’s hair. “Yep, for you. Thought you might need it for school and, well, to stay in touch with me, of course.”
Ethan immediately reached for the laptop, eyes sparkling, but before he could fully grasp it, Tasha stepped in.
“No, no, no. Come on, Robbin, he’s too young for that!” Tasha said, raising an eyebrow, her tone half- serious and half–amused.
Robbin chuckled. “He’s a smart kid, Tasha. He’ll get the hang of it.”
“I’m not doubting that,” Tasha replied, “but he doesn’t need a whole laptop and smartwatch just yet. He’s five, not Fifteen.”
Ethan looked between the two, holding onto the watch with hopeful eyes. “But, Mom… it’s so cool! I’ll be really careful, I promise.”
Tasha sighed, giving him a soft smile. “I know you would be, but you don’t need this right now.”
Robbin glanced at Ethan, then back to Tasha. “Can I talk to you for a sec?” he asked, his voice quieter
now.
Tasha nodded, giving Ethan a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back, okay?” she said before following Robbin down the hallway and into the bedroom.
Once the door was closed behind them, Robbin crossed his arms and leaned against the dresser. “Tasha, this is New York,” he began, keeping his voice low. “Things move fast here, and kids are getting used to technology younger than ever. You can’t shelter him forever. The laptop, it’s just for school, I swear. And the watch? It’s for safety too. You know that.”
Tasha let out a long breath, rubbing her temple. “I get that, Robbin, but he’s five. He doesn’t need to be glued to a screen, even if it’s for learning. I don’t want him growing up too fast.”
Robbin straightened up, his tone softening. “I’m not saying let him have free reign, but you have to let him adapt. This is New York City, Tasha. Kids his age are already learning coding, using tech in ways we couldn’t have imagined at that age. And it’s not just about keeping up with the times, what if something happens? The smartwatch could help us stay connected.”
Tasha crossed her arms, clearly torn. “I just… I don’t want to lose control. I don’t want him relying on gadgets to the point where he stops being a kid.”
ད ཥ་
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Twenty The
+25 BONUS
Robbin stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder “I get it. I really do. But you’re not losing him to technology, Tasha. You’re giving him the tools to be safe, smart, and connected. He’s still your little boy, and you’ll still set the rules. But this way, you’ll have peace of mind too.”
Tasha looked up at him, her expression softening. “You always know how to make sense of everything.”
Robbin smiled, squeezing her shoulder. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Tasha looked up at Robbin, the warmth of his hand on her shoulder, His smile was the same one that always made her heart skip, a quiet reassurance that everything would be alright. For a moment, she found herself leaning into the comfort he offered. The tension between them shifted, something unspoken passing between their gazes.
Robbin’s hand moved gently from her shoulder, tracing down her arm. His fingers lightly brushed her skin. “You’re doing great, you know?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve been strong through everything.”
Tasha’s breath caught, her heart racing as he stepped closer, his face just inches from hers. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the magnetic pull of something familiar but long buried. His lips hovered near hers, and for a second, she considered closing the distance. It would be so easy, so comforting to fall back into something that once felt so right.
But just as quickly, she pulled back, shaking her head slightly as she took a step away. “Robbin, I can’t…” Her voice was soft but firm, her hand raising to create a bit of space between them.
Robbin froze, his eyes searching hers for a moment, confusion flashing across his face before he sighed, stepping back himself. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Tasha swallowed hard, her heart still pounding in her chest. “It’s just…there’s too much going on. Ethan, the business, everything with Daniel…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away, not wanting to meet his
gaze.
Robbin’s expression immediately darkened at the mention of Daniel. “Daniel?” he repeated
