The CEO

Chapter 2: A New Life

It’s been a week since we all had the conversation about the pregnancy and I’m not going to lie, I still have absolutely no idea what I’m going to choose.

I was in my office finishing up some work before lunchtime and I heard a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I answered without looking up still typing on my computer.

“Hey.” I knew to whom that voice belonged.

I looked up and smiled at her.

“How are you.” She asked.

“I’m okay,” I answered right after.

“Listen, Oli, what happened last week is bigger than any of us and I completely understand why you’re taking so much time. I thought why not go out, you know, go to the mall, have fun.” She came in and sat down on one of the chairs in front of my desk.

“Sure, why not.” It seemed like a good plan so I had no reason to decline.

“Great, let’s go.” She stood up excitedly.

“Now?” I was surprised.

“Yes, now. It’s your lunch break anyway. Come on.” She pulled me out of my chair and we left.

We were going from store to store buying anything we liked and basically, we had fun. My lunch break would end in 20 minutes so we decided to have a quick meal somewhere. We were laughing together while eating our meal when suddenly a small kid came and stood beside Lea.

She turned towards him and gave him her hand to shake.

“Hello, big guy.” She asked as they shook hands

“Ma’am, can I have those stickers on those burgers?” He was asking for the stickers the restaurant puts on the burger’s wrapping paper and Lea give them to him immediately.

“Thank you so much.” He gave her a hug and his tiny body disappeared between Lea’s arms.

“Mason, oh god. I’m sorry if he bothered you.” I’m guessing his mother came to take him back.

“Oh, don’t worry. He’s a sweetheart.” She said and caressed his check before Mason ran back to his mother and held his hand.

“Thank you.” The mother said and left with her child.

Lea kept on looking at the kid and the mom until they disappeared. I didn’t realize that I was staring at her this entire time and smiling at her.

“What?” She said when she saw me looking at her.

“You’re ready. Ready to become a mother.” I smiled and she smiled back.

It was night time and I was at home already. I took a shower and sat down in front of the TV, though it was useless since I wasn’t even focusing on the movie.

After this week and what I saw today, I think I made my decision. Looks like I’m going to carry a child.

The next day I asked Lea to meet me at the company during lunch to tell her about my decision. It definitely is a big decision, nevertheless, seeing how happy Lea and Mark would be… made me happier and I want to feel that happiness.

“Olivia, you asked to see me…us?” Lea and her husband came in.

“Yes actually.” I stood up and walked toward them.

“I have been thinking, and I made my decision.” As I was speaking Stephen came in with reports in his hands.

“I see the whole family is gathered here.” He said while placing the files on my desk.

“So, what’s new?” He crossed his arms and stood beside me.

“Yes, I was about to say that I made my decision and that I’d be honored…to carry your future child,” I said and waited for their response.

“You agree?” Lea said happily.

“Yeah,” I replied back

She ran and hugged me tightly cutting my breath.

“Lea calm down if you choke her, we wouldn’t have anyone to carry the baby,” Mark said

“Thank you, Olivia. What you’re doing is…is amazing.” He continued.

“I’m happy,” I said after Lea let me breathe again.

“I’m going to go talk with the doctor and see when we can start this whole thing. Thank you so much.” After Lea finished what she was saying she ran out of the office and Mark followed her.

“So…this is…thank you. You made her so happy.” Stephen said.

“Oh, stop thanking me. She’s ready for parenthood. Not like you.” I joked as I was taking the files he placed on the desk earlier to read them.

“Ha ha, you know I don’t sleep with every girl I meet.” He mocked me

“No, just the ones you flirt with, which is every girl.” I mocked him back.

“I didn’t flirt with you when I first met you.” He sat down in front of me.

“Was it because I turned you down or because you hated me for turning you down and humiliating your ego?” I tilted my head.

He didn’t say a word.

“These reports were given to me by the marketing team and I had to run them by you.” He changed the subject and I laughed.

After a couple of days, Lea and I had a doctor’s appointment to start with the whole process. I was a little nervous since I was reading about surrogacy and in some conditions, the sperm and the egg don’t “stick” and might leave the body so, there is no way to ensure the pregnancy and even if I do get pregnant, I don’t how I’ll start to feel after that.

When I was still young, I always used to play ‘pregnant mom’ with my sister and pretend to be parents. Having a family of my own was always my dream, it’s probably the only dream that stayed with me until now. I don’t really know how to feel about the baby now and of course, I do want Lea and Mark to be happy but I still can’t dodge the fact that I might be giving birth to someone else’s baby.

I was sitting on the hospital bed in the hospital gown they gave me, waiting for the doctor to come in.

“Hey, Oli, again thank you so much. You have no idea how happy this makes us.” Lea said holding my hand. I could see the happiness in her eyes, I could see how hopeful she was that she’s going to become a mother even though she’s not the one that’s going to carry him or her.

I just smiled.

“Good morning Mrs. William, Ms. Adams. I see you decided to choose surrogacy.” The doctor smiled.

“I’m really happy for you. So, the whole process is called ‘Gestational surrogacy’ --“

The doctor went on explaining more about what’s about to happen and that it does not ensure the fertilization of the sperm and egg once inside the womb.

After the little class given by the doctor, they start with the tests and everything was fine so there I was ready to change my life.

The doctor said that I could start taking pregnancy tests a week from now and all I can do is hope one of the eggs sticks inside my womb, though, I read somewhere that sitting upside down helps so I’m doing that right now.

I was lying on my bed with my legs facing the headboard and leaning on the wall basically, lying upside down until I heard the bell ring.

When I opened the door, I was not expecting this visitor.

“Hello.” He said

“Stephen? Come in.” I was still surprised

“What are you doing here?” I asked

“Lea, she had dinner plans and couldn’t make it herself so she asked me…made me cancel MY date to check up on you.” He said sarcastically.

“And how is you being here, going to help with the baby? Oh, wait I know, how about you talk to my uterus and tell the eggs about your adventures as an angel. I’m sure they’d be so horrified all of them would stay inside.” I joked.

He made that face like he was mocking me and we ended up laughing and staring at each other.

“Have a seat,” I said after it felt weird.

“So, Lea tells me there is a chance you don’t get pregnant.” He said after he rested next to me.

“Yeah, the doctor said they usually insert a couple of eggs hoping one of them stays but even then, we don’t know,” I answered.

“Look I know I’m not the typical gentleman—” he put his hand on one of my crisscrossed knees.

“But you genuinely made my sister really happy. I praying one of the little buddies stays in there.” He poked my belly and laughed.

I smiled.

I never saw Stephen this caring. Deep inside I know he’s a wonderful person but seeing him like this, I know he’s as excited as Lea to become an uncle and it was kind of…cute to see him be anything other than the boy that loves to fool around.

“Want to watch a movie?” He asked and started searching for one under my TV.

The next two weeks were really normal. I still didn’t take the pregnancy test; however, I was feeling sick from time to time. I was also spending more time with Stephen because Lea ‘asked’ him to monitor my…moves? She wanted to know if I was pregnant before the test, that’s all I knew.

I was in Stephen’s office finishing up some work at the end of the day and we had a usual guest these days come in.

“Hey, guys.” Said Lea with a plastic bag in her hand.

“Hi.” We said in unison

“Olivia, it’s been two weeks and Stephen said you’re feeling sick from time to time. I bought a pregnancy test for you.” She said coming into the office

“Uh, thank you but I don’t really need to go to the toilet now. I’ll take it later.” I said taking the bag from her and placing it in front of me.

“Okay…okay, no problem. I’m going to go to the cafeteria and get something to drink.” She said while walking back to reach the door.

“One more thing, Stephen…get her water, gallons of it.” She said before she closed the door.

“So how do you feel knowing you might be pregnant?” Stephen asked calmly after his sister left the room.

“I don’t know. Happy, nervous, nauseous.” We both laughed.

“Well, don’t worry. If you’re not, it’s okay and if you are then that’s better than okay.” He smiled and I smiled back.

Half an hour later, I felt like I needed to go to the toilet.

“Hey, Stephen. I think I need to go to the toilet.” I said standing up and taking the bag.

“Guess I’m going to be taking this test.” I looked inside the bag

“Tests,” I said again after seeing she bought four of them to make sure.

-Stephen’s P.O.V-

After Olivia left the room, I called Lea and told her to come to my office.

“Steph, these are the longest five minutes of my life where is she,” Lea said impatiently.

“Calm down, sis. She’ll be here any minute.” I tried calming her down while being nervous myself. I might become an uncle. 

“Oh god, Oli.” I heard my sister say so I turned to face the person she called out.

“So?” Lea was impatient

Olivia stood there staring at both of us for a while before she said these words that changed our lives forever.

“You’re going to become a mother.” She said in between her smile and teary eyes.

Lea hugged her tightly and I stood there looking at her. I stood there staring at Olivia, the woman that is about to give my sister a human being, a gift.

I don’t know what I felt at the moment but I knew it was my duty to protect her to be with her and help her. She is going to give me a nephew or a niece.

“I have to tell Mark. I’ll be back.” She said and rushed out of the room.

Olivia stood there doing nothing and looked at me as I was walking toward her.

“Congratulations.” She smiled

I put both my hands on her cheeks and looked at them. Her beautiful blue eyes that I never took the time and lose myself in. I don’t know what I’m feeling but it definitely is not what two co-workers feel for each other. She changed my life.

I lowered my hands to her hips and looked at her belly.

“Hello, buddy,” I whispered.

I saw her smile.

I looked at her again with a straight face and she seemed confused. Suddenly, I wasn’t in control of my feelings anymore and my lips were on hers. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen had feelings for Olivia? What about his promise? Does Olivia share these feelings too?

Continue reading to find out. Don't forget to like the story for more.

Stay safe.

XOXO