Chapter Text
Sylus hated parent-teacher conferences. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be involved in his sons’ lives — he did, very much so.
Luke and Kieran were the center of his world, the two little souls he had rescued from a harsh life on the streets. They belonged to him now.
His boys, his sons.
When he found them scrounging for food in those back alleys, something in him snapped. Two sharp-eyed boys with a fierceness that mirrored his own. He took them in without hesitation, bringing them into his world of steel and circuits. It was such an easy decision.
No, it wasn’t a lack of care that made him despise these meetings. It was the people. The judgmental stares and condescending tones.
Most teachers were too quick to dismiss the twins as troublemakers, unable to see the brilliance in Luke’s wild energy or Kieran’s quiet scheming.
It infuriated him.
He had been playing the role of an apologetic father far more often than he’d like.
Teachers were supposed to nurture, to understand. And yet, none of them seemed to appreciate his boys for who they were.
Sylus sighed as he waited for his turn, expecting the usual criticisms, the same old story. He almost preferred sending his assistants instead. But this time, he decided to show up himself. He regretted that decision almost immediately — until he stepped into the office.
And there she was.
He paused, a little surprised. If he had known the twins’ teacher was this enchanting, he would have made the time to attend these conferences in person much sooner.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Why hadn’t his assistants mentioned this? Were they keeping her a secret from him? Did they want her for themselves?
“Hello, Mr. Sylus Qin...? I’m Melissa Theron, a pleasure to meet you.”
In the boardroom, Sylus was unflappable, always in control. Here, though, he felt the ground shift beneath him.
He didn’t like it.
“Mm, yes,” he said, his voice steady despite the brief wariness flashing in his eyes. He was Sylus Qin, and this… this was new. “Likewise, Miss Theron.”
Her eyes were a soft grey, and her chestnut hair framed her face like curtains on a window. She was dressed modestly, a floral blouse and dress pants as required per school dress code, with adorable kitten heels.
Pretty.
He was Sylus Qin, the mastermind behind a global tech empire, a ruthless businessman who never faltered. He didn’t get thrown off by simple pleasantries, certainly not by a smile. He was—
“Please, have a seat.”
He sat down.
Fuck.
This woman was cute. Really, really cute. The kind of cute that could lead a man into thinking thoughts he shouldn’t.
His mind jammed, like a gun misfiring, unable to find its target.
He needed to focus. Now. Before he did something he might regret.
“What trouble did those two get into this time?” His voice came out sharper than intended. No, no, no. He couldn’t scare her off.
His gaze couldn’t help lingering on her lips, soft and such a pretty shade of pink that was… inviting.
A distraction he couldn’t afford, not when he had twin boys to raise.
He’d never been this thrown off by someone else before. It was… concerning, to say the least.
A mix of new and worn plushies of different shapes and sizes lined the cabinet drawers behind her desk, some of those he recognized as the ones Luke pleaded they get in one of the arcades.
Childish, he thought idly, but endearing. The children must’ve loved those.
Miss Theron’s smile was gentle, and his pulse quickened against his will. No, no, no.
“They’re in no trouble at all, I assure you, sir. These meetings are mandatory after every quarter — just to check in on the kids. It’s a new policy implemented just this school year.”
He raised an eyebrow. Despite her explanation, Luke and Kieran were never trouble-free. They were his little chaos makers, the only two who could disrupt his perfectly controlled life. The idea that they could be trouble-free was almost laughable.
“Are you sure we’re talking about the same Luke and Kieran?”
Her laughter was light and airy, a sound that sank into him like a blade.
He would need to be careful around her.
“You’d be surprised,” she said, resting her chin on a perfectly manicured hand, eyes sparkling. “Luke is incredibly smart and always willing to help others. A bit of a class clown, but there’s no harm in that. And Kieran, he’s so observant. He’s quiet, but his mind works in the most brilliant way. Partners in crime, those two.”
She slid a folder towards him, opening it to show their grades. “They’re brilliant boys, though they just needed a little nudge in the right direction. You should be proud of them.”
Oh she was dangerous, this one. Unknowingly so, perhaps, but all the more charming for it. So unassuming, yet here she was, making him feel… things. Making him think things.
How was Sylus supposed to keep a clear head when she spoke so kindly of his sons?
And she was attractive…
He could feel his mind starting to drift towards less professional thoughts, imagining how her laugh might sound under different circumstances.
He suppressed the images ruthlessly, regaining control of his thoughts as he glanced down at the folder. A mix of As and Bs, with a few Cs. He should have paid more attention to the reports his assistants brought him.
“I am,” Sylus spoke softly, a smile tugging at his lips despite himself. They were doing well. Better than well.
Perhaps it was because of her. Past teachers had merely tolerated the twins, never truly understanding them. But Miss Theron… she got it. She saw what made them special.
He closed the folder, sliding it back to her, his gaze settling on her face again.
There was something about her that made his mind stall, his thoughts scattering like spent casings hitting the ground, utterly disarmed by the smile playing on her lips.
The rest of the meeting was a blur after that. The twins were doing well — decent grades, improving behavior, and they were making friends. That’s what’s important to Sylus.
He didn’t know how he managed to get through it without going insane.
Sylus was still feeling quite dazed as he left the room, as if he had been hit by a stun grenade rather than a beautiful smile.
He had never been affected like this before. Sure, he had experienced attraction before, had dated before, but this was different. This was— no, no, no.
He had to get himself under control, remember the priorities in his life.
The twins, his business, and his role as CEO. They were his focus, not this… woman.
After all, how often would he even be seeing her? Teachers weren’t exactly a part of his day-to-day life.
And with what she said in her reports, Luke and Kieran haven’t been getting themselves into trouble at all.
...He was almost tempted to tell them to go stir some havoc up. Just enough to get them in trouble but not enough to worry about. Something small, some petty chaos.
Sylus could almost imagine the look on Miss Theron’s face if his little ruffians suddenly started pulling pranks left and right.
But would she still keep smiling? Would she still see the twins with the same endearing quality, or would they finally prove to be too much for her?
No, no. He can’t have that. He couldn’t afford to be selfish, not this time. Not anymore.
The very thought of seeing her smile falter because of the twins made something hard and cold clench in his chest. No, that would not do.
They were good boys, he would make sure of that. He would see those bright, mischievous grins on their faces instead of tears of remorse. He wouldn’t give her even the tiniest reason to frown or to doubt them.
…Perhaps he was just lonely.
Yes, that was the reason.
After all, it had been a long time since he had allowed himself the time to indulge in the company of a pretty lady.
Lonely. That was that.
Sylus was far too busy for dating, even if he did happen to find a charming woman worth pursuing — which he wasn’t, this teacher was merely a brief flicker of interest, nothing more.