Chapter9
1087 Words
The ride to Reed Enterprises was quiet.
Natasha sat in the backseat of the sleek black car beside Alexander, her hands resting carefully on her lap. The ring sparkled on her finger every time the light shifted through the tinted window.
She stole a glance at the man beside her.
Alexander Reed looked even more intimidating up close. His tall frame filled the seat effortlessly, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His sharp jawline and calm expression made him look like a man who never lost control.
Natasha’s heart beat faster.
She had lied.
And now she was sitting beside one of the most powerful men in the country.
Alexander broke the silence first.
“You said we met last night.”
Natasha swallowed lightly.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Her mind raced. She didn’t know where the real Amelia had gone that night.
But she couldn’t hesitate now.
“A bar,” she said carefully.
Alexander’s gaze shifted toward her.
“Which one?”
Natasha hesitated for half a second before answering.
“The one near the hotel.”
Alexander studied her face.
His memory of the night was foggy. The dim lights, the alcohol, the anger he had felt about the failed business meeting earlier that evening. But he clearly remembered meeting a woman.
A woman with sadness in her eyes.
Someone who seemed just as lost as he was in that moment.
Was Natasha that woman?
Something didn’t quite feel right.
But the ring was there.
And he knew one thing about himself.
Alexander Reed never ran from responsibility.
He leaned back slightly in his seat.
“You should know something,” he said calmly.
Natasha looked at him.
“I don’t do meaningless relationships.”
Her brows lifted slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“If we shared a night together,” Alexander continued, “then I will take responsibility for it.”
Natasha blinked.
Responsibility?
What exactly did that mean?
Before she could ask, the car slowed to a stop.
The massive glass building of Reed Enterprises towered above them.
Natasha’s eyes widened slightly.
The place looked like a palace of steel and power.
Alexander stepped out of the car first.
Employees passing by immediately lowered their heads respectfully.
“Good morning, Mr. Reed.”
“Good morning, sir.”
Natasha followed him inside, trying to hide how amazed she felt.
The lobby alone was larger than the entire Charles mansion.
Shining marble floors.
Crystal lighting.
A reception desk the size of a dining table.
Everyone looked busy, important.
And they were all looking at her.
Whispers quietly spread across the room.
“Who is she?”
“Did you see the ring?”
“Is she…?”
Alexander didn’t slow down.
Natasha struggled to keep up with his long strides as they entered a private elevator.
The doors closed.
Silence returned.
“Are you nervous?” Alexander asked suddenly.
Natasha forced a confident smile.
“No.”
The elevator opened onto the top floor.
His office was enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the entire Paris skyline.
Natasha walked inside slowly, taking everything in.
If she played this right…
This life could be hers.
Alexander removed his jacket and sat behind the large desk.
“Sit.”
Natasha obeyed.
Alexander folded his hands together.
“I want to be clear about something,” he said.
Natasha nodded.
“That night may have been unexpected, but I don’t ignore consequences.”
Her heart began to race again.
Was he about to ask her to leave?
Accuse her of lying?
Alexander continued calmly.
“If you are the woman I spent that night with, then I will make sure you are taken care of.”
Natasha’s eyes widened.
Taken care of?
“What exactly do you mean?” she asked carefully.
Alexander looked directly at her.
“Marriage.”
For a moment, Natasha thought she had misheard.
“Marriage?” she repeated.
Alexander nodded once.
“I don’t build scandals.”
Natasha’s mind exploded with excitement.
Marriage.
To Alexander Reed.
This was bigger than she had imagined.
Far bigger.
But she forced herself to look hesitant instead of thrilled.
“That’s… sudden,” she said softly.
Alexander leaned back in his chair.
“I’m not asking you to decide immediately.”
Natasha’s fingers slowly brushed over the ring.
Inside, she was screaming with excitement.
A billionaire husband.
Unlimited wealth.
Status.
Power.
Everything Amelia always had but multiplied a thousand times.
She lifted her eyes again.
“I’ll think about it.”
Alexander nodded.
“That’s reasonable.”
Just then, someone knocked on the office door.
“Come in,” Alexander said.
His assistant stepped inside.
“Sir, your afternoon meeting—”
She stopped when she noticed Natasha.
Alexander spoke calmly.
“Cancel everything for today.”
The assistant blinked.
“Yes, sir.”
After she left, Alexander turned back to Natasha.
“I’ll have my team arrange accommodations for you.”
“Accommodations?”
“You shouldn’t stay where you were before,” he said simply.
Natasha tried to hide her smile.
“Alright.”
Alexander stood.
“You’ll move into my residence.”
Her heart skipped again.
“Your… house?”
“Yes.”
Natasha could barely contain her excitement now.
She had entered this lie hoping for a little money.
But instead she had just secured something far greater.
A future in the world of billionaires.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away…
Amelia sat quietly inside a small clinic.
The doctor studied her test results carefully.
Then she smiled gently.
“Miss Charles,” the doctor said.
Amelia looked up nervously.
“Yes?”
“Congratulations.”
Amelia frowned slightly.
“Congratulations for what?”
The doctor turned the screen toward her.
“You’re pregnant.”
The words felt like thunder in Amelia’s ears.
Pregnant.
Her heart began to pound.
“That… that’s not possible,” she whispered.
The doctor nodded kindly.
“You’re about five weeks along.”
Amelia’s mind immediately flashed back to that night.
The bar.
The hotel.
Alexander.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Pregnant.
By a man whose last name she didn’t even know.
A man she would probably never see again.
Fear slowly crept into her chest.
But something else appeared too.
A strange, protective warmth.
Her hand moved gently to her stomach.
A life.
Growing inside her.
And she would protect it.
No matter what.
Amelia lifted her chin slowly.
“Thank you, doctor.”
But she made one decision in that moment.
Alexander would never know.
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