The black Mercedes glided to a stop in front of the towering glass building. The moment it did, the driver stepped out and walked swiftly to open the rear door. The young woman inside stepped out. She was dressed in a basic white hoody and sky blue denim bottom wear, with a pair of sneakers.
Forsythia looked up.
Her father's company name loomed in sharp silver letters above the entrance, Heather's, the same one she had stared at countless times as a little girl — back when she used to visit him in his office after school, swinging her legs from the edge of his leather couch while he wrapped up calls.
Now, it felt different.
The front desk had already been informed. One polite nod from security, and she was escorted into the private elevator reserved for top executives. The doors closed behind her with a soft hiss, and she leaned back slightly, drawing in a slow breath.
Upstairs, in a glass-walled conference room on the top second floor, her father was in the middle of a strategy meeting, eyes narrowed as a projection flickered with quarterly numbers. He sat at the head of the long table, one hand resting thoughtfully near his chin — until a discreet knock interrupted.
His assistant who was in charge of receiving his daughter, entered, whispering into his ear.
For a moment, he froze. Then, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile — genuine and immediate. Without hesitation, he stood.
"Excuse me," he said to the room full of executives, already closing his file. "My daughter just arrived."
He didn't explain further. He didn't need to. The expression on his face said enough — warmth, relief, and something unspoken.
Everyone present in the meeting room had an expression of disbelief on their faces. Some of the newer employees present had never seen their CEO so happy before, and the older ones were equally surprised to see him smiling after almost a decade. They also left to have lunch early.
Moments later, the office door opened.
She turned at the sound. And then she saw him — her father, looking just as she remembered him: tall, proud, a presence that filled a room even in silence. His expression softened the second their eyes met.
"Dad—" her voice cracked, and before either of them could say another word, she crossed the room in two steps and threw her arms around him.
He caught her, holding her tightly, protectively, like he had a hundred times before when the world had felt too loud.
And just like that, she broke again — silent sobs against his chest, tears soaking into his crisp black suit jacket. But this time, it wasn't grief. It was safety, relief.
"I'm here," he murmured into her hair, voice low and steady. "It's okay now."
They stood there for a while, just father and daughter, bound by memories of years and the quiet kind of love that didn't need to be spoken often to be deeply understood.
They finally sat down in the lounge sofas, her still wiping at her eyes with a tissue he handed her.
The little blue bird, that was asleep all this time had finally opened it's eyes and flapped it's wings, chirped "Squeak.. I was sleeping soundly when I felt this overwhelmingly powerful aura walking towards us, obviously it can't overwhelm me.. It turns out to be your father.. Squeak I can finally see some of the similarities between you two.."
Although she was still crying on the outside, asked in her mind "Of course, it's because I'm his daughter.. I got my eyes from him.. hehe.."
The blue bird rolled it's bead like eyes and scoffed "Squeak.. I'm not talking about your appearances.. I'm taking about the aura.. I have felt it before.. When and where did I feel it? let me think.. um.."
While she was having a conversation inside her head, Heather, her father, saw that she had calmed down, he finally asked "Now that you have cried your heart out, can you tell me the reason you left home? What made you leave your mother's house in such a hurry?"
Forsythia took a deep breath, raised her head to look him in the eyes and said "Mom said I had to get engaged today.. No questions asked.."
The moment he heard it, a surge of aura erupted from him, so powerful it overwhelmed his daughter, stealing the breath from her lungs and leaving her stunned in its intensity.
The blue bird snapped out of his thoughts at this moment, he felt the powerful aura surrounding her body, he chirped in urgency "Squeak.. What happened all of a sudden, to make your father release his powers like this?
Oh no.. Squeak.. It's no time this..
Forsythia you have to make him retract his powers or .. Squeak.. No.. Quickly do something.. Forsythia.."
Forsythia heard the bird chirping in a panic in her mind, as she tried to lift her hand, that was visibly trembling, with great difficulty she tapped her father on his hand.
It made her father, who was releasing his powers in full force, to snap out of it. Seeing his daughter's trembling body, trying hard to breathe, he finally retracted his powers at once.
"Squeak.." The blue bird sighed with relief, thinking in his mind "I could've easily protected her if only.. no.. Squeak.. it's not the time for all this crap.. I have to find the energy sources quickly to recover mine and her powers, so that something like this never happens again.. Squeak.."
On the other hand, concern and guilt filled Heather's eyes, He held her wrist in panic, to check if everything was fine with her body by feeling her pulse "Are you okay Forsythia? I'm sorry.. I just.. when I heard what you said, I couldn't keep my powers in check and it exploded.. my dear, please forgive your father.."
Seeing her father full of guilt and concern, made her heart feel unsettled and warm at the same time. She didn't want her father to look like he was about to cry. She reached her other hand out and placed it on top of her father's, and said softly with a reassuring smile "I'm fine dad.. don't worry.. I know you can never hurt me.. see.. I'm alright.."
Feeling her pulse, making sure that she was fine. A moment of delay in retracting his powers, could've made his daughter suffer internal injuries. He sighed with relief "Yes.. I could never forgive myself if I had hurt you just now.. I feel so bad.. I'll make sure it won't happen again.."
"I know.. i trust you dad.." Forsythia reassured him with a smile.
At this moment the door was swung open.
***