My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation

(Karsten)

"It's a girl," I cheerfully announced to Ma and Skyla. Their impatient faces lit up at the joyful news. Ma rushed forward to hug me with her eyes shining and cheeks flushed.

"Congratulations on becoming a father." I hugged her back. "How are Arata and little one? Everything went smoothly?"

"Yes, and both are fine. The doctor says you can meet them soon." I let go of Ma and Skyla stepped forward to give me a warm hug too.

"Congratulations, Karsten. Welcome to parenthood and sleepless nights." All of us laughed at her last sentence.

"Thank you! She was already bawling at the top of her lungs," I shared with a shake of my head. I couldn't wait to hold her again, to let that new feeling of unconditional love consume me.

"Seems like she took that from you. You were a grumpy child through and through," Ma spilt my secrets, making Skyla laugh.

Just to change the embarrassing topic of my childhood, I said, "Let's inform everyone."

The next two hours we spent calling and receiving calls from friends and relatives. Everyone was excited to meet the little one. Arata and I had already decided to hold a party once our baby would be born, so everyone could attend and welcome the baby with us.

The nurse soon came to inform us that we could meet Arata and the baby.

I held the door open and let Ma and Skyla excitedly move ahead of me.

The cheers and hollers followed as they hugged Arata, cried and picked up the little one in their arms.

"Cutie pootie! Look at this doll."

Ma's smile was wider than the Cheshire cat and I could sense so much love oozing out of her as she held our daughter and lovingly spoke to her. Skyla sat beside her, watching with the same love and affection.

I sat myself near Arata, placing my arm behind her. She leaned into me clutching my bloodied shirt and murmured, "There is blood on your shirt."

"Sorry, I couldn't get time to change." My lips I placed in her hair, kissing her.

She closed her eyes. "Don't kill anyone for a few days. I don't want the birth of our child to be associated with death. I know it's your work, but can this go into pending? Please." Her voice was so low, only I could hear but her hurtful plea crept into my heart.

My hand slid against her arm. "I promise, no killings."

"Thank you! Watch over her, I want to sleep for an hour. I am exhausted," she pleaded again, a yawn left her.

"Sleep and don't worry about her. We will only wake you when she is hungry." I helped her slide down in bed and covered her with the blanket, staying closer.

She appeared utterly exhausted and I knew this was just the beginning of what was to come. Soon she was soundly sleeping.

"She looks like you, Karsten. Except her eyes," Skyla vocalised her observation as she slowly rocked the baby in her arms. "Arata was the same. She only has my hair; the rest of her features are entirely like her father's."

Did she look like me? I knew her hair had the same shade as mine but the rest of her features too? I had merely held her before and was lost in watching how tiny she was but now I wished to observe her properly.

Another pang of these unfamiliar feelings burst in my heart, softening it even more. All those walls I had put up my entire life, more than half had already been destroyed by Arata and it seemed like the rest were going to be demolished by my daughter.

My feet were moving on their own as I spread my hands forward and requested. "May I hold her?"

"Of course!" Carefully, Skyla let me carry the little one. She had been dressed up in a blue onesie with stars on it. With eyes closed, she was fast asleep, her tiny fists raised to the heavens.

A stub of a nose, puffed cheeks like her mother and tiny ears and chin. To me, she resembled Arata more, but maybe I wasn't that good at comparing baby features.

So soft like a teddy bear, she rested in my arms as I carried her around the room Arata had been shifted into.

She smelled unique too, and I knew it was her natural scent. Leaning closer I placed my cheek with hers, so warm and soft that it put a smile on my face.

That was the exact moment I knew how special she was for me, how I could do anything for her. I couldn't even hear her cries.

Zyair's words echoed in my brain and I knew this was all because of the old man's prayers. He had wished for us to have a daughter first so I could understand the love he held for Arata.

Now, I did and clearly understood what he meant. Even felt in every cell of my body, the strange type of love that had crawled in with her birth. She had changed me and I knew I would never be the same.

Father-daughter relationships are special and I was going to give her everything she would need, especially unconditional love.

The kind of love I didn't have growing up, the love of a father.

The protector and the caretaker.

The one who provided without any conditions.

That's who I was going to be for this little creature, sleeping so soundly and carefreely in my arms.

"You are going to be a role model for her." Ma had gotten up and placed her hand on my arm, pressing gently.

She understood what I was feeling. The lack of a father growing up had turned me into someone who needed to be everything a father should have been.

But my daughter will never have to feel that way.

"I will do my best." I smiled seeing her little lips hike up to show she was smiling, maybe dreaming of something beautiful because she was safe with me.

"I know you will, Karsten and I am proud of how far you have come and the way you have stepped up. This is your family now. Always put them first," Ma gently advised and respect for her rose in my heart.

"You are my family too and I love all the ladies of my family." My words made her hug me sideways, placing her head on my shoulder.

"You are the perfect son."

And we just stood there, cherishing this moment.