Boardroom rules

Chapter fourteen

Damien

24 hours.

That's how long we got.

Just us. The secret. Her hand on her stomach. Me losing my mind quietly.

It ended at 8:59 AM.

9:00 AM. Hale-Chen. Executive Floor.

Jenna first.

Maya's office. Door closed.

Jenna sat. "You look like hell."

"Thanks," Maya said.

"Did you sleep?"

"No."

"Board's pissed you missed yesterday."

"I know."

Maya slid the photo across the desk.

Not the test.

An ultrasound.

Black and white. Blob.

We did it at 7 AM. Private clinic. No name. Cash.

Jenna stared.

Then looked up.

"Is that—"

"Yes," Maya said.

Jenna's mouth opened. Closed.

"You're—"

"Pregnant," I said. "12 weeks."

Lie.

We didn't know yet.

But I wasn't letting anyone count.

Jenna stood. Sat. Stood again.

"Fuck."

"Yeah," Maya said.

"f**k," Jenna said again. Louder.

Then she crossed the room and hugged Maya.

Hard.

"I'm happy," she said into Maya's hair. "I'm also terrified for you."

"Same," Maya said.

Jenna pulled back. "The board can't know yet."

"They'll know," I said. "At 10."

"What?"

"Board meeting," Maya said. "We're telling them."

Jenna stared. "You're insane."

"Probably," I said. "But I'm not letting Vance's allies use this against her later."

10:00 AM. Boardroom.

Same table. Same sharks.

Minus Vance. Plus fear.

Maya walked in first.

No blazer.

Loose dress. Black.

I followed.

Sat beside her. Not behind her.

"Good morning," she said.

No one spoke.

"I'll be brief," she said. "Because I don't have time for games."

She placed the ultrasound on the table.

Silence.

"What is this?" Elise asked.

"I'm pregnant," Maya said. "Due in February."

The room exploded.

"You can't—"

"This is—"

"Conflict of interest—"

"Stop." My voice cut through.

They did.

"Mrs. Hale is pregnant," I said. "She's also CEO. One does not cancel the other."

Elise stood. "Mr. Hale. She'll be on leave. The company—"

"Will be fine," Maya said. "Because I'm not taking leave."

Gasps.

"You can't run a company while—"

"I can," Maya said. "I am. Watch me."

She was ruthless.

Beautiful.

"My maternity plan," she said. "4 weeks after birth. Remote for 8. Jenna as interim COO. I'm in every meeting. Every call. Every decision."

"That's illegal," Legal said.

"No," I said. "It's called working."

The board looked at each other.

They didn't have a move.

Because we didn't ask.

We told.

"Vote," I said. "Motion to approve CEO maternity structure as presented."

7 to 5.

It passed.

Because they were scared of us.

Good.

Meeting adjourned.

They left.

Until it was just us.

Maya's hands were shaking.

Again.

I took them.

"You did it," I said.

"I think I'm going to throw up," she said.

I pulled her to me.

"Do it on me," I said. "I deserve it."

She laughed.

Then cried.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"I know." I held her tighter. "Me too."

"Damien, what if I'm a bad mother?"

"You won't be."

"How do you know?"

"Because you're a terrible quitter," I said. "And mothers don't quit."

She hit me.

Soft.

"I hate you."

"I love you too."

The door opened.

Jenna.

"Press got it," she said. "Someone leaked."

Of course they did.

Maya stiffened.

"What do they know?" I asked.

"Everything." Jenna held up her phone.

Headline:

"HALE-CHEN CEO PREGNANT. COMPANY IN CHAOS."

"Billionaire's Baby Threatens Billion-Dollar Deal"

Maya closed her eyes.

I didn't.

"Good," I said.

Both of them stared at me.

"What?" Maya said.

"If they're going to talk," I said. "Let them talk about this."

I pulled out my phone.

Typed.

Posted.

To my account. To the company account.

"Mrs. Hale and I are expecting. February. She's the CEO. I'm the Chairman. The baby is our VP of Chaos. Any questions?"

Send.

Maya looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Damien—"

"Own it," I said. "Before they do."

Her phone buzzed.

Thousands of comments.

"Power couple."

"CEO mom era."

"Protect her at all costs."

She stared.

"They're not mad," she whispered.

"No," I said. "They're with us."

She leaned into me.

Hard.

"I'm scared," she said again.

"I know." I kissed her hair. "So am I."

But we weren't alone anymore.

We were three.

Rule #14 of the boardroom: Never show weakness.

We did.

And the world didn't eat us alive.

They stood with us.