A promise

 Episode 16

Little Bloom kindergarten

Ryan walked into the classroom, scanning the room until his eyes landed on Ash, playing alone with blocks. He smiled.

He approached the teacher, who was busy helping another student. 

     "Excuse me, why is that little girl playing alone?" he asked.

  "Well, she doesn't seem to like playing with the other kids, except for her brother," she replied

, "That's not true! It's the others who don't like playing with her!" Zander shouted from the back

The teacher tried to talk, but Ryan held up his hand, excusing her. He walked over to Zander and bent down to his level, 

        

. "What's your name, and your sister's?" Ryan asked, his voice gentle 

    Zander hesitated a little before answering.

"I'm Zander and my sister's name is Ash." He answered

        

Ryan's face lit up with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Zander. And Ash is a beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

Zander's face relaxed, and he smiled back at Ryan. "Yeah, she's the best."

Ash, who had been playing quietly, looked up at the mention of her name. Her eyes met Ryan's, and she smiled  

Ryan felt a pang in his heart, struck by the twins' special bond. He wanted to know more about them.

        

"About what you said earlier?, What did you mean?" Ryan asked, his voice gentle 

  . "They think Ash is weird because she doesn't talk. But she's not weird, she's just... different."

        

. "why can't she talk?" he asked gently.

Zander's expression turned somber, and he looked down, fidgeting with his hands. "It wasn't always like this," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ash used to talk a lot, just like me."

Ryan's eyes encouraged him to continue.

"It was two years ago... Mom was working so hard, taking on many part-time jobs. She barely slept, trying to provide for us." Zander's voice cracked, and he paused.

"One day, we were in the car with Mom, and she fell asleep at the wheel. We had an accident..." Zander's eyes welled up with tears.

"The accident... it shocked Ash. She hasn't spoken since then. The doctors say that she's traumatized." Zander's voice broke, and he looked up at Ryan with tears streaming down his face.

Ryan felt a lump form in his throat as he processed Zander's words. He couldn't imagine what the twins had gone through.Without thinking, he opened his arms and hugged Zander tightly. The young boy didn't resist, instead, he buried his face in Ryan's chest, letting out a sob.

Ryan held him for a long moment. He stroked his hair, whispering softly, "It's okay, Zander. I'm here. You and Ash are not alone."

As they hugged, Ash looked up from her play, sensing her brother's distress. She got up and walked over to them and wrapped her arms around Ryan's waist, joining the hug. Ryan enveloped her in his arms, holding both twins close.

Ryan had never felt like this before especially to some kids he just met but fir some reason in that moment, he felt a deep connection to them.

      

 ×××××××××××

 *

 *

 * Star light Management.🌟

Alex couldn't believe her ears just now.

  "What... what did you just say!," She screamed.

        

" This is exactly the problem I have with you, why do you love screaming so much huh? don't you get tired" Emily asked with an eye roll

        

 👤 I can't believe this

   🗣️ Did she just talk down on miss Alex

Everyone in the room kept whispering making Alex more angry

        

" Shut the f**k up all of you!!" She shouted and they kept quiet.

        

" Hey, you lowlife!... How dare you insult me huh!. Do you even know who I am.!!" She faced Emily

        

 " I don't care who or what you're okay, last time I didn't get to say what was on my mind because I had a job to do, but today...I won't give you the chance to talk to me anyhow, just so you know... I've already quit from that job" Emily replied looking unfazed

"You!... just wait, with just one word from me i'll make sure nobody buys from this stupid eatery again!" Alex said and took her phone ready to post online. Emily scoffed.

        

"Go ahead tshh, most of our customers are middle aged construction workers, tired students and some company workers who are so busy that they don't even have time to hear you tell them what to eat and not what to eat tshhh" she mocked and Alex stared at her shocked.

        

 " Oh my, I guess it's just my luck bumping into someone unlucky today. Hmmm I can't believe my fingers are still hurting from the massage I gave you.. what's your back made of anyway...stone? and here I thought all celebrities have smooth skin" Emily said pretending like her fingers really hurt, Alex was just speechless.

        

 "Anyways... thanks for buying from grace Pizza Palace, I'll be going now," she did a light bow and left. Just then Dan came in.

        

 "Why's everywhere quite?" He asked looking around but no one answered

 " Oh great the pizza is here, hmmmm it tastes good " he moaned, the stylist kept giving him signs to stop but he winked at them thinking they liked him.

        " Hmmm so good, do you want one Alex" he asked giving her a slice , Alex turned to him with an angry glare..

        

 "Get...that.. pizza out... of...my..

        Faceeeeeee!!!" She screamed so loudly he fainted.

**************

The next day. Thompson industries 🏢

  Ryan's Office.

Ryan sat at his desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of him. Tyler came in.

"Boss! the plan is working. The public loves the new 'caring CEO' image. The comments online are positive," he said smiling.

But Ryan's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake off the memory of the twins. He felt a pang of guilt for using his visit to the kindergarten as a PR stunt.

 "Everything okay, boss? You seem a bit... distant."

Ryan hesitated, unsure how to share his thoughts. "It's just... those twins, I can't stop thinking about them."

Tylor raised an eyebrow. "The ones from the kindergarten? What about them?"

"I don't know... there's just something about them. Their story, their bond... it's haunting me." He said and Tlyer blinked.

  "Well if you're that worried, you can help them."

Ryan's eyes snapped back to Tyler.

    "You know what you're right, that's not a bad idea."He said 

Just then, Ethan walked into the office. "Hey, Ryan, what's going on? I saw the news about your kindergarten visit and—"

But Ryan didn't let him finish. He was already standing up, 

 "Ethan, I'll talk to you later. I have something I need to take care of."

Ethan looked confused. "What's going on ?, Where are you going to in a hurry?"

Ryan didn't respond. He was already rushing out of the office, leaving Ethan and Tyler.behind.

"Tyler, get the car ready," Ryan called out as he hurried away.

Tylor exchanged a glance with Ethan before rushing out.

Ethan shook his head

", hmmm....guess I'll just stay hide here for now." He smiled and went into the rest room in the office. The rest room is literally a bedroom Ryan uses anytime he stays late in the office instead of going home.

        

" Hmmm, what a nice bed" he moaned enjoying the softness of the bed. Just then his phone rang, seeing it was Alex he turned off the phone.

        

" Not ready for another drama" he muttered and closed his eyes.

 ××××××××

    Little bloom kindergarten.

Ryan arrived at the school, he jumped out of the car and rushed inside. He burst into the kindergarten, looking around for Zander and Ash. The teacher, spotted him and approached with a concerned expression.

"Mr. Thompson, what brings you back here today? Is everything okay?"

Ryan scanned the room, his eyes locking onto the twins, who were playing together in the corner.

"I just... I needed to see them, the twins."

Mrs. Johnson's expression softened. "Ah, I see. Well, they're doing well. Zander's been talking a lot about you, actually."

Ryan's heart swelled with emotion. "Really?"

Just then, Zander looked up and saw Ryan. His face lit up with a bright smile, and he ran over to him with ash.

Ryan hugged them.

"Zander, Ash, I want to help your family. I want to give your mother a job at my company."

Zander's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? What kind of job?"

Ryan thought for a moment. "I'm not sure yet, but I'll find something suitable for her. She won't have to work multiple part-time jobs anymore. She can have a stable income and be there for you both."

Ash's face lit up with a smile, and she hugged Ryan tighter.

Zander's eyes shone with tears. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson. That would mean everything to us."

 Ryan smiled, 

    "I'll make it happen, Zander. I promise."

        Tbc..