We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar) novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Cedar’s POV

The atmosphere in Ridley Sterling’s office felt surprisingly comfortable as I walked him through my presentation. Light from the floor to ceiling window illuminated the sleek Danish furniture and the glass desk where my carefully prepared portfolio lay open.

“Mr. Sterling, the design exhibition is scheduled for this Saturday. I sent all the procedural details to your email yesterday, which you can review at your convenience,‘ I said, maintaining my professional tone. “The exhibition will run for ninety minutes total. We ve scheduled you for opening remarks, and you’ll also need to deliver the closing address… Unless, of course, you’d prefer to delegate those responsibilities to someone else.”

“That won’t be necessary, Ridley replied, leaning back in his chair. His silver cufflinks caught the light as he adjusted his position. Til handle it myself.”

He studied me with those piercing eyes. “This is your first time managing an event of this scale, isn’t it, Ms. Wright?”

I nodded, straightening my shoulders. “It is. But I’m confident I can execute it flawlessly. The fact that you’ve entrusted me with this responsibility tells me you believe in my abilities. I won’t disappoint you.”

Something in me always came alive when discussing work. Like a vintage pendant light that had been covered in dust, finally cleaned and illuminated, revealing its true brilliance.

Ridley closed the portfolio with a decisive motion. “Good. I look forward to seeing the results. You may return to your preparations.”

I hesitated momentarily.

Was that it? Just a business discussion? I’d half–expected… what exactly?

I felt a flush creep up my neck as I gathered my materials. “I’ll get back to work then, Mr. Sterling.”

As I reached the door and turned the handle, it opened with a soft click. I found myself face–to–face with a familiar woman.

“You?!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening in recognition.

I blinked, immediately placing her as the woman from Navy Pier with that troubled little girl.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice tight with anxiety.

Her hand clutched her designer purse so tightly her knuckles whitened. The hostility radiating from her caught me off guard.

“Why shouldn’t I be here?” I replied coolly, maintaining my composure.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “First you deliberately approach Aria at Navy Pier, and now you’re here trying to get close to Ridley? What exactly are you after? Her voice lowered to a hiss. “I’m warning you–stay away from Sterling Design Group or I’ll make sure you regret setting foot in Chicago.”

The audacity! I nearly laughed at her presumption.

“My, what impressive threats,” I said with a slight curl of my lip. “Is this your strategy? Aiming to be someone’s stepmother and now shopping around for alternative prospects?”

I remembered the little girl’s eyes, filled with such sadness when this woman took her away. Clearly, the child hadn’t been comfortable with her, yet she

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9:33 pm P P P M

Chapter 89

apparently had the authority to take her to public places. The situation struck me as decidedly odd.

Her face flushed with anger, and I noticed her hand twitch upward as if she might actually strike me. Before she could complete the motion, footstep approached from behind her.

Ridley Sterling appeared in the doorway, and the transformation in the woman was immediate and remarkable. Her aggressive posture softened, her eyst

filling with practiced tears as she turned toward him.

“Ridley…” she said softly, her voice deliberately vulnerable.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the display.

“What’s happening here?” Ridley asked, his tone revealing nothing.

The woman rushed to explain. “Ridley, I came to discuss Aria’s condition, but this woman blocked me from your office. Tears spilled down her cheeks with theatrical precision. ‘I know I shouldn’t interrupt your workday, but Aria’s situation couldn’t wait… I had no choice.”

Aria? Ridley had some connection with Aria, that little girl? Could he be Aria’s Uncle? Oh, that’s more complicated now. Could it be that she wanted to approach Ridley by taking care of his niece?

Stop it, Cedar. I maintained my composure, biting back my curiosity. No need to come across as nosy.

“This lady’s designer outfit suggests she’s from a prominent family,” I observed calmly. “Yet instead of handling problems herself, she runs crying to a man for help. How does she expect to succeed in high society with so little backbone? Aspiring to join the Sterling family while expecting you to solve all her problems seems rather presumptuous.”

Her expression shifted from feigned distress to genuine shock.

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” she stammered. “I never said anything about joining the Sterling family.”

“Right, my mistake,” I replied with subtle sarcasm.

She turned desperately to Ridley. “Please don’t listen to her. I would never presume… I know my place. I’ve never thought of myself as a potential mother for

Aria.”

“Enough, Daisy,” Ridley cut her off, his voice like ice. “Is this the extent of the Black family’s etiquette training?”

The woman–Daisy Black, apparently–blanched visibly. The hatred in her eyes when she glanced at me was unmistakable, though she quickly masked it.

‘I apologize, Ridley. I lost my composure,” she said, regaining control. “Aria’s condition is concerning. Can we discuss it privately?”

Ridley nodded curtly and returned to his office. Daisy shot me one last venomous look before following him inside, her shoulders squared with artificial

dignity.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as they disappeared into the office.

What century was this woman living in? The damsel in distress routine to attract a powerful man’s attention seemed pathetically outdated. If she thought a few tears would sway someone like Ridley, she severely underestimated him.

I headed back to my workstation, but couldn’t shake the encounter from my mind. The little girl I’d met at Navy Pier–Aria, apparently–had seemed so troubled in that woman’s presence. What was their connection? And why did Daisy have such authority over her?

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9:33 pm P ppm

Chapter 89

Something wasn’t adding up, but I had a design exhibition to organize. Whatever drama was unfolding in the Sterling family would have to remain a mystery

for now

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