A few weeks later.

Tanooki awoke to something warm against his side and the smell of strawberry shampoo under his nose.

He slowly opened his eyes. He was laying on his bed and Wendy was half on top of him, her head on his shoulder and her hand rested on his chest, over his heart. Sometime during the night they must have switched position.

The feeling of a beautiful woman against him made his body react, after all it's been years since the last time he's been with someone.

Not want to wake her up, he carefully slid out of bed, making sure Wendy was laying comfortably, and he headed for the bathroom where he hoped some cold water will help him.

After his body was under his control again he made his way to the guest room, where he could hear soft whimpers.

Jessica was moving her arms, trying to reach the little toys that were hanging from the top of the crib. As soon as she saw her father her face lit up and she let out a delighted squeal, her legs kicking wildly in excitement.

"Hey, baby girl." He picked her up. "Are you happy to see me?" He asked her with a smile.

"Let's go get the bottle ready for you, shall we?" He went to the kitchen, trying to keep Jessica quiet so they didn't wake Wendy.

He tried to put her in the high chair, but she started to whine and was about to cry so he immediately took her in his arms again.

"Okay, okay. Just don't wake your mommy." She smiled again, as if she knew exactly what he said.

With her in one arm he worked with the other, heating the bottle that Wendy prepared last night, in case they were going to need it. After checking the temperature he maneuvered Jessica so he could feed her and gently rested the bottle against her lips.

She started to drink it eagerly, one of her hands going to cover his where he gripped the bottle, making sure he won't pull it away and she closed her eyes in contentment.

The light weight of the child in his arm against his bare chest, made him feel lighter.

"You have to keep her head higher."

He was so mesmerized by the baby that he didn't hear Wendy approaching. He turned around and looked at her in surprise.

"What?"

She smiled at him. "You have to keep her head higher than her stomach or she'll inhale too much air and she'll have her tummy ache the entire day."

He immediately fixed his position, following her instructions. Jessica didn't seem to mind the change. "Like this?"

"Perfect." She whispered to him.

He looked at her again. She wasn't wearing her glasses, her hair was a mess and her eyes were still sleepy.

He couldn't help but think she was beautiful.

"Thank you for last night." He said truthfully.

"It was the least I could do." She replied with a smile.

"I'm sorry if I scared you when-" He started to say.

"You didn't. Don't worry." She smiled again and he nodded in thanks.

Jessica patted her little tail against her father's chest and he looked down at her again.

"Someone wants your undivided attention." Wendy commented while she started breakfast for them and he chuckled.

"Apparently."

In that moment his phone beeped with a new message, looking at his daughter he knew she won't let go of him any time soon so he addressed Wendy.

"Can you please read that? I'm waiting news from Amber Yueming for your job interview."

"She was your girlfriend, right?" She asked while making her way to the phone on the counter.

"Ex-girlfriend, but we're in good terms. She's also head of Applied Sciences Division of the company at the moment." He explained.

Wendy picked up his phone and she faltered for a moment, a sad expression overtaking her face. She quickly masked it with a small smile, but he saw right through it.

"What is it?"

"It's not Amber. It's...Pauline. She wants to know if you're still interested for a lunch date, today at 1 pm."

Tanooki closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That woman.

"Do me a favor, please. Reply that I have meetings all day. And I'm not interested in her offer." He shook his head in disbelief.

He saw her typing the message, then she looked at him. "Tanooki, is everything okay?"

He looked down at her daughter, who finished her bottle, and he repositioned her on his shoulder, gently patting her back.

"Tanooki?" She called him again.

"Yeah, yeah, it's just…I already said no to that lunch, but that woman can't take no for an answer." He let out an irritated sigh. "She almost destroyed my family and now she wants to destroy my company."

"What do you mean? If you don't mind me asking." She was quick to add.

"A few years ago, she had an affair with my father." He saw her eyes widen. "She convinced him to leave my family, but at the last minute he came home because my brother got hurt and he decided to stay. Last year my company wasn't doing so great and she tried to get her hands on 50% of the holdings, I'm sure so she could bring down the company in revenge for my father leaving her." He shook his head again.

"She even offered herself to me so people would see me as an irresponsible CEO and probably hoped I'd be fired or whatever."

"Wow, that's…She sounds like…" Wendy opened her mouth a few times, trying to find the words.

"A bitch? Yeah."

They both laughed at his bluntness, just when Jessica let out a burp, some of what he just fed her ending up on his shoulder and back.

"Jessica!" Wendy exclaimed while taking their daughter from him.

"It's okay." He reassured her, grabbing a towel. "That's what I get for saying that in front of her and for not wearing this." He tickled his daughter, which made her squeal in happiness.

"I'm so sorry, honey."

"Don't worry, I had to take a shower anyway." He checked the clock. "But I better hurry or I'm gonna be late." He said while going back to his room.

Fifteen minutes later he was ready to leave when his girlfriend stopped him, a travel mug in her hand. "Here's your coffee."

Surprised, he took it from her. "Thank you."

"That's my apology for our daughter."

"I told you, it's fine." He said with a smile. He checked his watch. "Now I really have to go. I'm sorry."

"Of course! Yeah, have a nice day." She told him with a smile of her own.

"Thanks, you too. Roy will be here in a few minutes." He opened the door and the man in question was standing there, hand raised to knock.

"Just in time, I see." He commented.

"Yeah, I'll call later. Bye." Tanooki hurried out of the door and heard Wendy's bodyguard speak to her.

"So, girls…What's our plan today?"

It was just 11 am and Tanooki was at his desk. He already finished working on a few urgent things that needed his attention, but now that he had a quiet moment he thought back to this morning.

Taking care of his daughter became second nature to him now. But it was the domesticity of his girlfriend giving him coffee and the 'have a nice day' that made him think.

He actually enjoyed that and found himself hoping it'll happen again, he came back to the present when his office door opened and Toadette, his assistant, brought him his mail.

"Thank you, Toadette." He politely said.

"You're welcome, Mr. Mario. And you told me to remind you of your meeting with the investors at 2 pm this afternoon."

"Right. Thanks."

She left without another word. He had completely forgot about the meeting. He grabbed his phone to inform Wendy that he won't be home at the usual time, when he saw something in his mail.

He shoved away notes and letters from his employees and grabbed the white envelope. It was completely white, no writings on it, which was what caught his eye.

Tanooki carefully opened it and took out its contents. Rage and disgust invaded his body.

After a minute, he grabbed his phone and called Roy. As soon as Roy picked up the panicking tanooki spoke.

"Roy, where are you?" He asked while standing from his chair and gathering his things.

"Your apartment, w-"

"Are Wendy and Jessica with you?" He hurried outside his office.

"Yes. What's wrong dude?" He asked concerned.

"Toadette, cancel the meeting, I have an emergency." He didn't even stop to check if she understood, he immediately entered the open elevator and repeatedly pressed the button for the garage.

"Tanooki?" He heard Roy call him again.

"I'm coming home, just keep girls away from the windows."

He hung up and when the elevator opened again he rushed to his car.