Six Months later
292 Words
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*Chapter 11: Six Months Later*
Six months.
The Queen Holdings boardroom was 50 floors above the city.
Glass walls. Morning sun. 12 executives in suits.
And me.
9 months pregnant. Power suit tailored to fit.
Heels on. Crown not visible, but felt.
"Q4 projections," I said. My voice filled the room.
"200% growth. New branches in Dubai, London, Singapore."
Applause.
My assistant placed a bottle of water next to me.
"Ms. Queen, your doctor's appointment is at 3."
"Move it to 4," I said. "This meeting runs till 3:30."
The doors opened.
He walked in late.
Rayan.
Hair shorter. Suit simpler. No Rayan Corp logo anywhere.
He took the only empty seat. At the back.
Our eyes met for 1 second.
He nodded. I didn't.
I turned back to the board.
"Any questions?"
Silence.
Because Queens don't get questioned.
Meeting ended. Everyone left.
Except him.
Rayan stood by the window. Hands in pockets.
"You look..." he started.
"Powerful?" I finished. Rubbed my belly.
"I am."
He took a step forward. "Can I--"
The baby kicked. Hard.
I winced.
Rayan was instantly beside me. "Are you okay?"
I looked up at him. The man who called me an option.
The father of my child.
The man I chose to do this without.
"I'm fine," I said. "And I'm due in 3 weeks."
He swallowed. "Can I be there?"
I picked up my files. My heels clicked on the marble.
"That," I said, "is my decision to make."
I walked past him. Toward the door.
Toward my company. Toward my future.
Toward the life I built alone.
Behind me, he whispered:
"Queen."
I didn't turn around.
I just smiled.
Because Queens don't fall.
Queens rise.
And I had.
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*End of Chapter 11*
- Writer
