PREGNANT AND TRAPPED WITH THE CEO

chapter six

AVA

The truth came crashing down late one evening. I stayed behind as usual at his office, working on a report for the CEO.

I didn't even realize he had forgotten his phone at the office until it buzzed with a new message. I wasn’t the snooping type so i ignored it but when the second, third and fourth messages came in. I had to check, thinking it was an emergency.

But the emergency turned out to be Rachael from accounting. The one he had specifically called annoying.

Can’t wait for tonight babe

Last night was incredible.

Do you think she suspects us?

I love you so much babe

I'm coming over tonight.

These were the top messages that had just entered.

I could feel my stomach twisting heavily. My vision blurred as I scrolled through dozens of messages. Proof that I was nothing to Damon but a plaything. I couldn't believe what I had just read, and I wasn't going to. There had to be some sort of explanation, something that would rationalize all these. I just had to see Damon and he’d explain and everything would be okay.

I could feel a tightness in my chest as I gathered my stuff in a hurry and headed for Damon’s house.

When I got to his apartment, I tried to calm myself down as I inserted the spare key he had given me into the door.

With shaky hands, I pushed the door open and went in.

Female clothes were scattered across the floor. A woman’s heels stood by the couch.

I tiptoed to the bedroom. From behind the door I could hear high-pitched laughter. The same one Damon described as loud and crass.

My stomach turned.

I heard Damon's voice low and seductive. The same voice he used on me

“She actually thinks I'll marry her”, he scoffed. “Like I’ll waste my life on some nobody secretary”.

“She really believes you?” Rachel asked, giggling.

Damon chuckled: “Of course she did. I’m an award-winning actor and Ava is a fool. Always running around, fixing my problems like a good little assistant. If she weren’t so damn useful, I’d have dropped her ages ago. Such a bore”

My breath caught in my throat.

Was the room spinning or was I falling?

My heart pounded so loudly I wondered how it did not burst out of my chest.

Here was my confirmation. I couldn't believe it but I had to. I was nothing but a glorified maid to this man. All the “I love you’s, I need you’, stolen kisses and touches had all been lies to keep me slaving for him. I gave him my heart, my soul, my body, my time and yet this was what he thought of me.

I walked out of his apartment that night without saying anything to him. I never went back to the office after that. I didn't have any jobs lined up. I had no recommendations because I would never ask that man for anything, not even a recommendation, but one thing I knew was I could never remain there.

That night didn’t just end my journey in the corporate world-it ended my career. I walked off from everything. I was an emotional and mental wreck, too broken to fight for the career I had once dreamed of.

It was only Vivian that knew what had happened.

“Ava.. Ava?”

I’m snapped back to the present by Vivian calling my name.

I blink slowly and focus on her. She’s looking at me with concern.

“Did you even hear a word I just said?” she asks

“I’m sorry Viv, my mind strayed “ I smile apologetically at her

“Are you okay? You seem a little off”

I swallow hard.

“Vivian I..” I hesitate, then exhale shakily. Better to just say it out now. Get it over with. “I’m pregnant”.

I stare at her waiting for her reaction.

For a moment she's too stunned to speak then

“You’re what?” she explodes, jumping up. “Is this a prank? A joke?”

My throat tightens “Pregnant. And no, it’s not a joke. I would never joke about something like this”.

Vivian’s mouth falls open and without thinking, she blurts out

“Is it Damon’s?”

I flinch at the name “What? No. Hell No!, I haven’t seen him in two years.”

Vivians brows pull together.

“Then..? who’s is it? "You haven’t been having a secret relationship I don’t know about, have you? “ She pauses, her eyes narrowing. ”Oh my God, Ava- don’t tell me he’s married! Is that why you’ve been hiding him?”

I want to laugh at her assuming the worst, but there's nothing to laugh about.

“No Vivian, it's not for a married man. It was a one-time thing. A mistake I thought I had put out of my mind and life for good but…” I trail off.

“So what are you going to do?” she asks, ignoring the father question for now. She knows she'll find out eventually.

“I don’t know, I’m so confused,” I admit, and that terrifies me.

Vivian was about to reply when a loud knock echoed through the apartment.

I froze. So did Vivian

She frowned. “Are you expecting someone?”

I wasn’t.

Another knock-harder this time.

A strange feeling crept up my spine as Vivian stood up and walked towards the door. My heart pounded violently, like somehow I knew who’d be at the door.

When Vivian opened the door, I saw her expression change to abject shock and I swallowed hard. My stomach tied up in knots because I could already guess who it was.