CEO’s Secret Baby

Chapter Four: Headlines and Heartbeats

CEO’s Secret Baby

Chapter Four: Headlines and Heartbeats

Monday morning began with a crisis.

Damian had barely stepped into the executive conference room when the giant screen lit up with a photograph.

He.

Ethan.

Noah.

The three of them laughing in the park.

The headline beneath the picture made his stomach tighten.

BLACKWOOD CEO SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY FAMILY.

His board members exchanged uneasy glances.

“The article is spreading quickly,” the communications director said. “Every business outlet has picked it up.”

Another headline appeared.

SECRET HEIR TO BLACKWOOD FORTUNE?

A third.

WHO IS THE LITTLE BOY?

Damian’s expression hardened.

“Where did they get these photographs?”

“A freelance photographer.”

“They were taken without permission.”

“They were.”

Silence settled over the room.

One director cleared his throat.

“We should release a statement denying any speculation.”

“No.”

Every eye turned toward Damian.

“If the articles are false, we say they’re false. If they’re true, we don’t lie.”

The room fell quiet again.

“You mean…”

Damian looked at the photographs once more.

“I mean my private life is not a scandal.”

⸻

Across town, Ethan stared at the same headlines on his phone.

He quickly locked the screen before Noah could read them.

“Dad?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you look worried?”

“I’m just thinking.”

“About grown-up stuff?”

Ethan smiled faintly.

“Exactly.”

Noah nodded as though that explained everything.

“I don’t like grown-up stuff.”

“I don’t either.”

His phone buzzed.

Damian Calling.

Ethan answered immediately.

“Are you all right?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“I’m fine.”

“And Noah?”

“He hasn’t seen the articles.”

“Good.”

Damian hesitated.

“I’m coming over.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

A pause.

“I want to.”

⸻

Forty minutes later, Damian stood outside Ethan’s apartment holding a paper bag from the bakery Noah liked.

When the door opened, Noah’s face lit up.

“Damian!”

The little boy wrapped his arms around him before anyone could say another word.

Damian froze.

Then, slowly, he hugged him back.

It was awkward.

Careful.

Completely new.

And somehow it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

“You brought cinnamon rolls!”

“I was told they’re your favorite.”

“They’re my second favorite.”

“Oh?”

“My dad’s pancakes are first.”

Damian laughed.

“I don’t think I can compete with that.”

“You can try.”

Ethan watched from the doorway, unable to hide a smile.

⸻

Later, after Noah disappeared into his room to build an elaborate dinosaur kingdom, Ethan and Damian sat together in the kitchen.

The apartment was small but warm, filled with books, framed illustrations, and Noah’s artwork.

“I never imagined this,” Damian admitted.

“What?”

“You.”

Ethan frowned.

“This life.”

He gestured around the apartment.

“It feels… happy.”

“It is.”

Ethan wrapped both hands around a mug of tea.

“It isn’t always easy. There were nights Noah was sick, mornings I overslept because I’d been working late, months when every bill mattered.”

He smiled softly.

“But every time he laughs, it’s worth it.”

Damian looked down.

“I missed all of it.”

“You did.”

“I can’t stop thinking about that.”

“You can’t change yesterday.”

“I know.”

“You can only decide what you do tomorrow.”

Damian met his eyes.

“Then tomorrow, and every day after, I’d like to be here.”

⸻

Their conversation was interrupted by another knock at the door.

Ethan wasn’t expecting anyone.

Neither was Damian.

When the door opened, a sharply dressed woman stood in the hallway, holding a tablet and wearing the calm confidence of someone accustomed to expensive boardrooms.

She looked from Ethan…

to Damian…

then back again.

“So the rumors are true.”

Damian’s face lost all warmth.

“Victoria.”

Ethan looked between them.

“You know each other?”

Victoria gave a polite smile.

“We were engaged.”

Ethan blinked.

“You were what?”

“It was years after you left,” Damian said quickly. “The engagement ended long ago.”

Victoria folded her arms.

“I didn’t come here to revisit ancient history.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because your board asked me to.”

Damian’s jaw tightened.

“They’re worried.”

“They’re always worried.”

“They think the company needs stability.”

She glanced toward the hallway where Noah’s laughter echoed from his bedroom.

“They believe your personal life is becoming a business problem.”

Damian stood.

“My son is not a business problem.”

The apartment fell silent.

It was the first time he had said the words aloud.

My son.

He hadn’t planned to.

They had simply come from the heart.

Behind them, Noah appeared in the hallway clutching a toy stegosaurus.

“Damian?”

He looked up with innocent curiosity.

“Did you say I’m your son?”

Damian knelt until they were eye to eye.

“If you’re comfortable with that.”

Noah thought about it for several seconds.

Then he smiled.

“I think… I’d like that.”

The little boy slipped his hand into Damian’s.

The gesture was small.

But to Damian, it felt larger than every business deal he had ever signed.

Victoria watched quietly.

For the first time since arriving, her expression softened.

Perhaps the board saw risk.

The newspapers saw gossip.

But standing in that tiny apartment, she saw something else entirely.

A family.

Not perfect.

Not finished.

But finally beginning.