ONE NIGHT WITH MY SECRET CEO HUSBAND

THE MEETING DISASTER

CHAPTER NINE

Elena Carter woke to another wave of nausea. Her head throbbed, and every muscle in her body felt heavy. She had barely slept, tossing and turning as thoughts of last night’s dinner replayed endlessly—Dominic’s grandmother. The piercing look in her eyes. The accusation of pregnancy.

Tomorrow I move in… Elena whispered to herself, pressing a trembling hand to her abdomen. The thought made her stomach twist violently.

She forced herself up, took a deep breath, and dressed quickly, hoping to mask her unease. Today, the office was no place for weakness. She couldn’t let anyone see her trembling hands or pale complexion. Not now. Not ever.

Upon arriving at Wolfe Industries, the tension hit her immediately. The lobby was bustling, but something felt off. Staff moved cautiously, whispers passing quickly from one to another. She barely registered it, too focused on steadying herself.

“Elena, the CEO is calling for a meeting,” one assistant said, glancing nervously at her.

Elena nodded, her stomach flipping. “Yes, I’ll be there.”

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The conference room was grand, filled with polished tables, glass walls, and attentive employees. Dominic stood at the head, commanding the room with quiet authority. His presence was magnetic, every eye on him, yet somehow all focus seemed to zero in on her as she entered.

Her hands clutched the report folder, knuckles white. Her chest tightened. Every step felt heavier, as if her body was conspiring against her.

Dominic’s dark eyes met hers briefly. A flicker of concern crossed his face—but quickly masked under his usual calm exterior.

“Elena,” he said. His voice cut through the low murmur of the room. “Present the report.”

She swallowed hard, nodding, and stepped forward. Her heart raced. The words on the slides blurred together as she spoke. Her voice trembled despite her best efforts.

*Focus… just focus,* she urged herself, pressing a hand to her stomach as another sharp wave of nausea hit.

Midway through her presentation, she felt it again—a wave of dizziness that made her vision blur. Her knees wobbled, and she gripped the edge of the table for support. A staff member’s eyes widened as they noticed her struggle, but no one moved.

Elena’s voice faltered. “Excuse me—” She barely made it out before turning and rushing toward the restroom.

The room fell silent. Whispers rippled through the staff, all eyes now on Dominic.

He froze for a split second, then strode out of the room, his expression hard. The moment he stepped into the hallway, he noticed the panicked, guilty looks of several staff members lingering near the doorway. Their faces were pale, their hands fidgeting.

“What’s going on?” he barked, his tone sharp, cutting through the murmurs.

“We… we don’t know, sir,” one staff member stammered.

“Don’t lie to me!” Dominic snapped, stepping closer. His eyes narrowed, catching every tremor in their expressions. “Tell me exactly where she is.”

A brief silence followed before one of them whispered, “…the restroom…”

Dominic didn’t wait. His long strides carried him down the hallway, past shocked staff, until he reached the restroom door. It was locked. His jaw tightened.

“Elena, open the door!” he shouted.

No answer. Panic rose in his chest. He didn’t care about protocol, just about her. With one swift movement, he forced the door open.

Inside, Elena was slumped against the wall, her body pale and trembling. She had pressed her hand to her stomach, trying to steady herself, but it did little to ease the nausea. She barely looked up as Dominic knelt beside her, his gaze scanning her face for injuries.

“Elena… stay with me,” he commanded softly, but firmly.

Her eyes fluttered weakly. “…Dominic…”

He lifted her carefully, supporting her weight. Her body felt fragile in his arms, each tremor making his chest tighten. The nausea had been relentless all morning, and now, combined with her exhaustion, it had rendered her almost unconscious.

“Who did this to you?” Dominic demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Elena tried to respond, but only a faint whisper escaped her lips. “…I don’t know…”

Dominic’s eyes burned with controlled fury. Whoever had caused this—planned it, carried it out—would be held accountable. He glanced at the staff who had been hesitant to tell him the truth. Their faces were pale, fear etched into every line.

“They didn’t tell me who sent them,” one staff member admitted. “We were told to…” Their voice faltered.

Dominic’s expression darkened further. “I will find out. And whoever is responsible will regret it.”

He carried Elena to his office, placing her carefully on the sofa. She lay there, pale and weak, her breathing uneven. Dominic removed her shoes gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. She felt vulnerable, fragile in a way she had never allowed anyone to see.

“You’re going to be okay,” he murmured, his voice softening. “But we’re going to the hospital. Now.”

Elena’s lips parted weakly, fear and exhaustion mingling. “…I… I don’t…”

“Yes, you will,” he said firmly. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Even as he spoke, he felt the surge of protectiveness that had been building since the moment he first noticed her in the office. No one would hurt Elena under his watch. No one.

And if she was indeed… carrying his child?

He would protect both of them, no matter the cost.

The drive to the hospital was tense, and Dominic was focused yet silently anxious. Elena leaned back in her seat, her hand pressing again to her stomach, nausea making her wince.

She didn’t fully understand the situation yet. But one thing was certain: her life had changed completely.

And now, with Dominic by her side, she had no choice but to face it.