Charles was not the kind of man to dwell on the past. He was the epitome of success: stoic, cold, calculated — the type who built his empire from grit and sacrifice. His name was always spoken with a certain reverence in business circles, and his face was unmistakable: sharp jawline, intense grey eyes that missed nothing, and that striking red hair — short, curly, shimmering like copper under the morning light.

Despite his status and the fact that nearly every woman in the company secretly (or not so secretly) fantasized about him, Charles had always remained emotionally detached. Love, affection, intimacy — all that was background noise. A weakness. Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

Until sixteen years ago.

A brief, unexpected night with a woman he barely knew. A fleeting spark that broke through his armor for a single moment. And then she vanished — no calls, no trace. He later found out she had been pregnant. But by the time he realized, she was gone. Completely. It haunted him sometimes, though he would never admit it aloud. Somewhere out there, he might have a child.

But he never understood — why did Anna leave him?..

Years passed. He threw himself deeper into work. But something stirred in him recently. He had been thinking more and more about that missing chapter of his life. On a whim — or maybe something deeper — he decided to post a job listing: a junior secretary position. Minimum age: sixteen.

It sounded ridiculous even to him — but something told him to do it because he wanted a person who could come here for work.

And then she walked in.

A girl of sixteen, from a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. Her clothes were neat but modest, shoes slightly worn. But her hair — it caught the light with the same brilliance as his own: long, thick red curls, the exact same fiery hue. Her eyes were intelligent, sharp, like she saw more than she let on. And there was something... familiar. Uncanny.

He interviewed her himself.

Not because he made a habit of it — but because the moment her application hit his desk, he felt compelled. A hunch. A gut feeling he couldn't explain.

She sat across from him now, a little nervous but composed, her hands folded in her lap. He asked the usual questions with his usual controlled tone. Her answers were professional. Too professional for someone her age. She was smart — ambitious. He admired that.

And then, just as the conversation was drawing to a close, he paused.

He leaned forward slightly, scanning her face.

"Please remind me," he asked, voice calm, but just a trace more quiet than before — almost gentle. "...what was your mother's name?"

There was a moment of silence.

She blinked, surprised by the question. Her fingers curled slightly on her lap. She hesitated before speaking, as if unsure why he was asking.