The Secret Between Us
871 Words
Chapter Four: The Secret Between Us
Ariana’s footsteps echoed in the marble-lined lobby of Wolfe International, each step heavier than the last. She clutched her handbag tightly, the pregnancy test buried deep inside like a forbidden truth. Her heels clicked with purpose, but inside, she was trembling.
She wasn’t just late for work. She was late in telling Damien the truth.
The elevator ride felt like a trip through purgatory. Each ding was a countdown. With each passing floor, her thoughts screamed louder.
How would he react? Would he fire her? Would he deny the child? Would he demand a termination?
Or worse—would he feel nothing at all?
The doors slid open on the executive floor, revealing Jenna at her usual post outside Damien’s office. The assistant barely looked up.
“He’s in. But he’s in a mood,” she said, tapping on her tablet. “And he made it clear—no interruptions.”
Ariana swallowed hard. “This is personal.”
Jenna finally looked at her—really looked at her—and some faint flicker of empathy passed over her features. “Be quick.”
The door opened with a soft creak. Damien stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to her, city skyline casting long shadows into the room.
“Whatever it is, make it brief,” he said without turning.
“I’m pregnant,” she said, cutting straight through the silence.
The air shifted.
He turned slowly, eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?”
She stepped forward, chin raised. “I said I’m pregnant. And it’s yours.”
A silence fell so thick it felt like suffocation. Damien’s face didn’t change—no anger, no shock. Just cold calculation.
“I see,” he said finally.
That was it. No denial. No accusation.
Just two words that froze her blood.
“That’s all you have to say?” she asked.
“What would you like me to say?” he returned coolly, walking behind his desk. “Congratulations? Or perhaps ask you to marry me?”
“I’d settle for you giving a damn.”
His jaw tightened. “Don’t mistake my composure for apathy. I’m processing.”
“Process faster. This isn’t just about you anymore.”
He looked up sharply, eyes blazing. “Do you think I don’t know that? Do you think I don’t understand the weight of this?”
“Then show me!”
He stood suddenly, palms flat on the desk. “What do you want from me, Ariana? A ring? A promise? I don’t do relationships. I never have. And this—this changes everything.”
“Yes,” she said softly. “It does. And whether you like it or not, you’re going to be a father.”
The word hit him like a bullet.
Father.
He sat back down slowly, rubbing his temples. “Give me time.”
Ariana blinked. “Time?”
“I need to figure out how to handle this…responsibly.”
Her heart twisted. He wasn’t talking about feelings. Or her. Just…responsibility.
She nodded, fighting tears. “Fine. But I won’t wait forever. And I won’t let you treat this baby like a business deal.”
She turned and left.
The door clicked shut behind her, and Damien was alone again.
He stared out the window, the city a blur beyond the glass. His hands trembled—just slightly.
He hadn’t planned for this. He never planned for anything that involved losing control.
But now…
Now, Ariana was carrying his child.
And his carefully built world was beginning to c***k.
—
Later That Night
Ariana curled up on her bed, hugging her pillow like it could protect her from the chaos. Her phone buzzed.
Damien Wolfe: We need to talk. Dinner. Tomorrow.
She stared at the message.
It wasn’t a request. It was a command.
But still…
It was a start.
—
The Next Evening
The restaurant was hidden inside a luxury hotel—private, exclusive, and quiet. Damien had reserved the best table, away from prying eyes. He was already seated when she arrived, a glass of wine untouched before him.
He stood when she approached.
“You look beautiful,” he said, almost awkwardly.
She blinked. “Thank you.”
They sat.
For a long while, silence stretched between them as the waiter brought courses neither of them touched.
Then Damien leaned in. “I want to do right by you. And by the baby.”
Her heart leapt, but she kept her voice steady. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll provide for you. Anything you need—medical care, housing, security. You won’t have to worry.”
“And what about emotional support?” she asked. “Love? A family?”
He looked down. “I don’t know how to be that man, Ariana. My parents… my childhood… it taught me that love is a weakness.”
“Then maybe this baby is your second chance.”
He looked up, eyes haunted.
“I want to try,” he said finally.
And for the first time since the test turned positive, Ariana let herself breathe.
It wouldn’t be easy. But maybe, just maybe, there was hope.
- Writer
