Yes,I proposed to my Boss

Chapter Five

For three weeks, I successfully avoided Sebastian Rhodes.

Three.

Whole.

Weeks.

Honestly, I deserved an award.

The man owned the building.

He visited departments randomly.

People practically worshipped him.

And yet somehow, every time he appeared on a floor, I was somewhere else.

It was becoming a talent.

A very necessary talent.

Because every time I thought about him, my face grew hot.

And every time I remembered that night, I wanted to throw myself into the nearest river.

So avoiding him was healthy.

Very healthy.

At least until my body decided to betray me.

The first time I threw up, I blamed breakfast.

The second time, I blamed stress.

The third time—

Okay.

Maybe something was wrong.

I was exhausted all the time.

Dizzy.

My head hurt.

I couldn't focus properly.

Even coffee wasn't helping.

Which was deeply concerning.

My mother noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

Mothers were terrifying like that.

"You look pale."

"I'm fine."

"You threw up twice."

"I'm dramatic."

"You nearly fell down the stairs."

"I missed a step."

She narrowed her eyes.

I looked away.

"Hospital."

"No."

"Hospital."

"Mom—"

"Hospital."

And just like that, I lost the argument.

A few hours later, I sat in a hospital room questioning every decision that had led me here.

The doctor looked pleasant.

Too pleasant.

Like someone who was about to ruin my day.

She looked through the test results.

Then smiled.

Oh no.

That smile wasn't good.

"Congratulations."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You're pregnant."

Silence.

I stared.

The doctor smiled wider.

"Congratulations."

My brain stopped.

Completely.

Entirely.

Thoroughly.

What?

WHAT??

CONGRATULATIONS?????

I sat there in complete silence.

The doctor kept talking.

Something about health.

Something about prenatal care.

Something about vitamins.

I heard absolutely none of it.

Because my brain was busy screaming.

Pregnant?

Pregnant?

Pregnant?

Oh my God

Oh my God

OH MY GOD.

I was twenty-three.

Head of Finance.

Unmarried.

Pregnant.

By my boss.

This was not ideal.

Not even slightly.

I somehow maintained a straight face.

Years of professionalism were finally useful.

"Can I have the report?" I asked.

"Of course."

The doctor handed it over.

I accepted it.

Calmly.

Very calmly.

Like my entire life hadn't just exploded.

I didn't go to work.

I went straight home.

My mother opened the door immediately.

"What did the doctor say?"

I smiled.

A fake smile.

One of my best.

"Stress."

"Hm?"

"she said it was stress."

Technically a doctor had spoken.

So.

Not a complete lie.

"Just stress?"

"Yeah."

Relief flooded her face.

"You scared me."

I smiled again.

"I'll be okay."

"Good."

She patted my shoulder.

"Go rest. I'll bring food."

"Mhm."

I headed upstairs before guilt could catch me.

The moment I entered my room, I dropped my bag.

The report slipped partially out.

White paper.

Black letters.

Life-changing information.

I shoved it back inside immediately.

Nope.

Didn't want to see it.

Not today.

Maybe not ever.

I fell onto my bed and stared at the ceiling.

For a very long time.

Pregnant.

The word kept repeating.

Abortion?

No.

Heavens no

The answer came instantly.

Absolutely not.

I didn't want that.

Not for myself.

Not for the baby.

But then—

What was I supposed to do?

Raise a child alone?

Tell Sebastian?

Pretend nothing happened?

Run away?

Move countries?

Become a shepherd somewhere?

I groaned into my pillow.

Everything sounded difficult.

Hours later, I grabbed my tablet.

The poor thing looked exhausted.

The screen had a crack.

The battery lasted approximately seven minutes.

I'd been meaning to replace it for months.

Naturally, I never remembered.

I unlocked it anyway.

Then typed:

Sebastian Rhodes.

The results exploded.

Articles.

Interviews.

Business magazines.

Photos.

Videos.

woah

I do not know who my boss is apart from being the Ceo

Apparently my boss was famous-famous.

Not just rich.

Celebrity rich.

Wonderful.

I started scrolling.

Former model.

Young entrepreneur.

Youngest CEO in company history.

Multiple awards.

Multiple achievements.

Multiple reasons to make me feel inadequate.

I continued reading.

Parents.

Three siblings.

Two older.

One younger.

Close family.

Strong family values.

Successful.

Successful.

Successful.

Goodness.

Was there anything this man couldn't do?

Then I found another article.

Former engagement.

I skimmed it.

Apparently he had ended it years ago.

Didn't care.

Next.

Then I saw something interesting.

Very interesting.

Several headlines.

Several tweets.

Several articles.

All discussing the same thing.

Blind dates?

I blinked.

Then read another.

And another.

And another.

Apparently his mother constantly set him up.

Apparently he constantly escaped.

Apparently the woman desperately wanted him married.

and these are all recent post

Two months ago

Three months ago

a month ago???

I sat upright slowly.

A little bulb just lit

Wait.

His mother wants him married.

My mother wants me married.

His family wants a wife.

My Mother wants a husband.

I looked toward my bag.

Toward the pregnancy report hidden inside.

Then back at the tablet.

Then back at the bag.

A thought formed.

A terrible thought.

An insane thought.

A Reece thought.

My eyes widened.

"No way."

The thought remained.

Actually...

Wait.

No.

No.

That was crazy.

Completely crazy.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Reece you are going mad

I considered it again.

...not impossible though.

i could imply a contract marriage.

Temporary.

Simple.

The baby gets both parents.

The families stop complaining.

Everyone wins.

Then after some years—

Divorce.

Easy.

Clean.

Done.

I stared at the ceiling.

Another thought appeared.

It could be permanent tho..

I immediately sat up.

"No."

Because why had my brain suggested that?

Permanent?

Seriously?

I barely knew him.

Sure, he was handsome.

Very handsome.

Annoyingly handsome.

And charming.

And patient.

And gentle.

And—

I stopped.

Wait.

Was he my type?

Do I even have a type?

I dropped the tablet onto my face.

"Ow."

That evening I found myself thinking about my mother.

She had raised me alone.

Worked herself to exhaustion.

Sacrificed everything.

Because my father had disappeared.

Gone.

Vanished.

He left after mom got pregnant with me

Never returned.

Like he had gone to buy milk and gotten lost permanently.

A laugh escaped me.

"Ha."

I was funny.

Like daughter.

Like mother.

Except my child's father wasn't disappearing.

Because I was going to drag him back myself.

The next day, I went shopping.

The jewelry store was intimidating.

Everything sparkled.

Everything looked expensive.

Everything probably cost more than my first car.

I walked through anyway.

Because if I was proposing to a billionaire, I needed confidence.

Or delusion.

Both worked.

Then I saw it.

The ring.

Simple.

Elegant.

Powerful.

A platinum band with a single flawless princess-cut diamond at the center. Smaller diamonds lined the shoulders of the ring, catching light from every angle without looking overly flashy.

It wasn't loud.

It wasn't excessive.

It was beautiful.

Sophisticated.

Memorable.

Exactly what I wanted.

"How much?" I asked.

The saleswoman smiled.

"Five thousand dollars."

I stared at it.

Then nodded.

"I'll take it."

She blinked.

"Immediately?"

"Immediately."

I was Head of Finance.

I earned well.

And this wasn't just a purchase.

It was an investment in chaos.

Monday arrived.

I dressed carefully.

High-waisted three button blue corporate trousers,with a white button-up shirt, I paired it blue cropped blazer which was obviously not buttoned.

Low heels.

My short hair left free with a side part.

Professional.

Confident.

Dangerously close to proposing marriage.

I grabbed the pregnancy report.

The ring box.

My bag.

Then headed to work.

Several employees immediately noticed me.

"Ma'am! Are you okay?"

"We were worried."

"You disappeared."

I smiled.

"I'm fine,I was only gone one day now get busy." I say waving my hands

Eventually, I stepped into the elevator.

Highest floor.

CEO floor.

My pulse sped up.

I ignored it.

The elevator doors opened.

I walked out.

Straight to his office.

Straight toward the door.

Then knocked.

"Come in."

I entered.

Sebastian was seated behind his desk.

His assistant stood nearby discussing something.

The moment his eyes landed on me—

Recognition flashed.

Followed by something unexpectedly soft.

Something that made my stomach do strange things.

"Devon."

His assistant immediately straightened.

"Yes, sir?"

"Give us some privacy."

Devon blinked.

"Sir?"

"Thirty minutes."

Devon nodded.

Then left.

The door shut behind him.

Silence.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair.

A slow smile appeared.

Dangerous.

Charming.

Entirely unfair.

"Well, well."

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't."

"I've been looking for you."

"Oh please."

"I have."

His smile widened.

"You're incredible at hiding yourself."

I sat down.

"That was intentional."

"I noticed."

He rested his cheek against his palm.

Still watching me.

Entirely too interested.

"I did tell you not to dissappear"

I sighed.

I ignored him.

He seemed amused.

Of course he did.

I reached into my bag.

His attention sharpened immediately.

"Do you know why I'm here?" I asked.

"No."

His smile remained.

"But I'm very glad you are."

"Oh, shut up."

His grin widened.

Heat crept into my ears.

I hated him.

A little.

I pulled out the medical report and placed it on the desk.

His smile faded.

He opened it.

Read.

Then looked up.

His expression had become unreadable.

Completely serious now.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Quieter.

He looked back at the report.

Then at me.

Then back again.

Finally—

"So."

His voice was calmer than before.

"What would you like to do now, darling “

I folded my hands.

Calm.

Composed.

Professional.

As if this were a quarterly budget meeting.

"Marry me."

Silence.

Complete silence.

And then—

Nothing.

Because for the first time since I'd met Sebastian Rhodes—

I had managed to leave him speechless.