THE BILLIONAIRE SECRET BABY

ADRIANA COLEMAN I slowly opened my eyes to find the morning sun streaming through the window, casting a warm glow over my small studio apartment in Queens. The brightness forced me to turn away, but the sound of Brian's giggles and toy cars racing across the floor drew me back. My four-year-old son's carefree laughter was one of my motivations to keep struggling, so I didn't mind that his noise had woken me; it was school vacation, after all. As I sat up, the softness of the bed enveloped me, tempting me to lie back. For the past two weeks, since being laid off from my job as a secretary, this had become my routine: sleep until the sun woke me up, attend to Brian, and then check my email, hoping one of the countless companies I’d sent my résumé to had finally responded. But so far, nothing had come through. Except— I jolted from the bed like I was being electrocuted. I had an interview in one of the biggest firms in New York, for a personal assistant position. I'd seen the message late in the night. I glanced at the grandfather clock hanging on the wall, and panic shook me. 8:00 AM. I was already running late. I heard a slight knock on the floor, and Brian, who was looking shocked at my sudden alertness, turned to look at me. "Mommy, I think someone's at the door," he said, his attention drifting back to the scattered toys beside him. Without answering, I leapt out of bed, my bare feet pattering against the cool hardwood floor, my eyes focused in the direction of the bathroom. “Laura, is that you?" I asked distractedly. I heard the keys jingling, then the door creaked open, and Laura's cheerful voice filled the room. "Adriana, why are you still here? I thought you'd drop Brian off at my place by seven," Laura said, her tone laced with amusement. Without answering her, I rushed into the bathroom, flipping on the faucet to start the shower. The water's warmth beckoned, but I went for my toothbrush instead. "I overslept," I shouted over the running water, barely comprehensible. Laura's laughter echoed from the living room. "Gosh, Addy, what do you mean you overslept? You're kind of comfortable not working, right?" she teased. "Laura!" I yelled, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “I’m trying to rush things here, okay? So give me a break and let me concentrate." A few minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom to find Laura sitting cross-legged on the floor with Brian. They were building a tower with blocks. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and the blue gown she was wearing seemed to complement my room. For a moment, I forgot my urgency. Seeing them like that reminded me of simpler times when life's biggest worry was not about interviews. As I watched, Brian grinned up at Laura, his eyes sparkling. "Aunt Laura, look!" He pointed at the block he'd made. Laura wasn’t looking; instead, her eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of concern beneath her playful demeanor. "You’d better hurry, sis," she said, handing Brian a block. I nodded, running to a curtain demarcation in the room, where I hastily threw on a black skirt and a white corporate shirt I’d kept aside for moments like this—just in case an interview ever came through. I rushed out moments later, planting a quick kiss on Brian's forehead. "See you later, sweetie." His distracted "Bye, Mum" followed me out the door. "Your makeup!" Laura called after me, but I didn’t mind. Two weeks of unemployment, dwindling savings, and the weight of single motherhood had me fixed on one goal: getting this job. As I hailed a taxi, the Manhattan morning chaos enveloped me—honking horns, chattering pedestrians, and the wail of sirens in the distance. In no time, I was in front of Stone Corporation's sleek, modern high-rise. Inside, the cool, marble-lined lobby enveloped me—a stark contrast to the establishment I'd worked at before. I got an INTERVIEWEE card from the security men, and soon, I was in the elevator heading to the fourteenth floor. When the doors slid open, my heart sank. The section was a swarm of hopeful faces—at least fifty candidates, all impeccably dressed and exuding confidence. “Hi,” I said, trying to sound cheerful as I took the only available seat next to a young woman in a sharp black suit, her eyes fixed on her phone. “Has anyone been called in yet?” “No, not yet," she turned, her gaze brief but assessing. "Hi. I'm Rachel." She stretched her hand for a handshake. "Adriana," I replied, my smile nervous. As I settled, I caught the subtle scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting from the nearby reception area, reminding me of what I was supposed to be doing at home. "You're late," Rachel observed, her eyes darting to her wristwatch. I chuckled, making a face. "I overslept." Rachel's eyebrows shot up. "Really? I, on the other hand, couldn't sleep all night. Nerves, I guess." I nodded sympathetically. Glancing around, I noticed murmurs and furtive glances over my shoulder. “I guess they are about to start." I turned, following their gaze. My breath caught in an instant. A stunning woman stood across the room, beside the “Stone CORPORATION" silvery digital display. Her tailored denim skirt accentuated her curves, and her brown eyes sparkled as she smiled graciously at someone nearby. Her smile could have definitely melted ice. Rachel leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's Miss Kira O'Malley, the fiancée of Stone Corp's CEO." I wanted to ask who the beautiful lady was smiling at, but the sight of him stopped me cold. Levi Brownstone. It wasn't just his chiseled features or the athletic build that left me breathless. It was the memories. What was he doing here? For five years, I'd fought to suppress my emotions, but the mere sight of him made them flood back—our short romance in California, the coffee shop argument, his abrupt departure. He'd promised to stay in touch, but I never heard from him again. Rachel seemed to misread my expression as she leaned toward me again, nodding toward Levi with a broad smile on her face. "And that's Levi Brownstone, CEO of Stone Corp." My lips parted in shock. "What?" I muttered, my voice barely audible. The Levi I knew wasn't a CEO. He'd told me he came from a middle-class family. Was it all a lie? All of it? “What do you mean he's the CEO?" I turned to Rachel, my hands already involuntarily shaking slightly. "You haven't heard?” Rachel's eyes widened. "His grandfather fell off the stairs last week. He was called from London to come take over the company.” A pang of sympathy struck me, thinking of Levi's grandfather. He'd spoken about him lots of times, but he'd never told me they were the owners of a billion-dollar conglomerate. My gaze drifted back to Levi, whose head was slightly bent as he listened to whatever Kira O'Malley was saying. They were walking toward us, and his eyes seemed to be everywhere. I froze. I can't let him see me. How would I explain to Brian that he suddenly has a father? Or how would I even explain to Levi that a few weeks after he abandoned me, I found out I was pregnant? That sounded pathetic. He would probably accuse me of trying to disrupt his new life. Panic set in, my heart racing like a trapped animal. I had to escape. But the exit lay directly behind him. With newfound determination, I turned to Rachel. "Excuse me," I whispered, feigning composure. "I need to...erm... freshen up." Rachel nodded, and I jolted up. I was too quick. My bag slid from my lap, its contents spilling onto the polished floor. I bent down, my heart racing, desperate to escape unnoticed. But things were just bound not to go right at the moment. "Hey, watch it!" a passing stranger exclaimed, bumping into me. I stumbled backward, my arms flailing. The room tilted, and I felt myself falling. Strong fingers wrapped around my elbow, steadying me. "Got you." I turned, my gaze locking onto familiar eyes—Levi's. The same piercing blue that had haunted my dreams. "Adriana?" His voice, low and thick, sent shivers down my spine. Five years of separation melted away as our eyes met. The sounds of the room—murmurs, the sound of shoes, the ticking clock—all faded into the background. Levi's grip on my elbow tightened, his face etched with shock. "What are you doing here?" I wrenched free, my cheeks burning. The room snapped back into focus, and I became aware of the silent, watching crowd. Most people looked intrigued, but one face stood out—Kira's, and she was not smiling.