The CEO's Secret Baby

Looking blankly at the shaking piece of paper in her hands, Emily Davis sat at her little kitchen table. The shredded pregnancy test box lay tossed nearby, its clear truth seeping into her bones. Once a refuge, her apartment felt cramped, walls closing in on her every moment. Pregnant! She kept hearing the word returning like a relentless drumbeat. She had arrived here, just how? That was absurd. Just barely making ends meet in Los Angeles, she had been consumed with her growing career in marketing a few months previously. Then he materialised in her life. Daniels Sterling. She nurses at the memories under her breath. Larger-than-life, pompous, arrogant CEO had hurried into her life and left destruction in his wake. Their whirl-around relationship had been a disaster—short, sharp, and eventually explosive. And just now here is this. She dropped the paper on the table and put her face in her fists, the cool wood pressing up against her forehead. One could not prevent the inevitable. Saying to herself, "I have to tell him," her voice almost rang in the quiet of her chamber. Her phone buzzed, jangling her out of her dream. Emily turned to observe the TV. Her best friend, Samantha, was the only person in the world who could enable her to feel somewhat sensible under such circumstances. She hesitated then responded with swipes. Emily said, "Hey," trying to keep her voice calm. What is happening here? Samantha's vibrant voice sounded odd, yet below the usual excitement, there was a hint of anxiety. "I—uh—little." Just thinking, Emily lied; her gaze drifted once again towards the test box. Oh, come on Em. I am aware of when things aren't right. drip. Emily pained and tensely moved her fingertips over the table. "I must inform you something." On the other side, the silence had a pulse. Is Daniel saying "Oh No?" Had he taken action? Emily closed her eyes; the mention of his name set off a range of feelings. Retaliation. Emotion. A slosh of something she preferred not to acknowledge. No, it is not at all true. Not exactly, Emily stammered over her words. Sam, I anticipated. Still, another pause, more drawn out this one. "What?" wondered. Samantha's voice yelled with disbelief. Do you anticipate? Are you very sure? Emily twisted her lips slightly into a small bitter smile. " The test came back clean." "Oh my God." Samantha took a hard breath. And Daniel, he doesn't know yet? No, and that brings the problem. I must clarify for him. Samantha responded succinctly, but more deliberately now. There was a brief quiet. Em, do you think this is a smart concept? After everything between you two experienced. He is not exactly the upbeat kind. "I know, Sam, but he has the right to know. His daughter is also active here. Emily bit her lip and stared out her little apartment window towards the street below. She was correct in Samantha's case. Daniel was not the kind of man who would embrace this news. He would see it as some kind of trap, a manner of bringing him back into the relationship he had so freely abandoned. But what other choice had she to make? Emily's voice shaking slightly, she replied, "I'm not attempting to acquire anything from him." But I cannot accomplish this on my own. At least for awareness, I need him. Samantha opened her mouth to yawn. "You stand more boldly than I do. Look, I am here for you whatever happens. And you give me a call, okay? Should that moron attempt to pull anything? "Thanks, Sam. In fact. "You grasped, Em." And you are stronger than you could ever imagine. Emily hung there, the weight of her next move fully on her shoulders. At that, she glanced at her phone. She knew Daniel would still be at his office now, late afternoon. Sterling Enterprises, the booming empire he mercilessly controlled, was under control. Rising from the dinner, she strolled the little apartment. Her thoughts whirled through the many possibilities their meeting may provide, none of which sounded appealing. At last, Emily grabbed her coat and keys. She had to quit dragging this back off any longer. Daniel wanted to know, hence it would be best if she addressed it early on. ✔ Sterling Enterprises's lobby, she remembered, was as icy and intimidating. Glass, steel, and expensive marble screamed money and power, much as the person controlling it all. Here Emily felt uneasy; her hands clenched around the strap of her purse as she approached the receptionist. She added, speaking clearly, "I'm here to see Daniel Sterling." The woman at the counter said, eyebrow raised, "Do you have a planned appointment?" No, but—also Before Emily could finish, a familiar voice slashed over the air. Emma, please? Heart hammering in her chest, she turned to face Daniel. He was only a few feet away, dressed in his elegant suit and exuding the same cold arrogance that had always drawn in her and turned her off. His dark eyes narrowed to assess her with that unique, inexplicable gaze. " What are you doing here?" His voice was calm even if there was an edge to it. Emily took a strong, deliberate swallow. "We ought to speak." Daniel shuts his lips. He nodded sharply to the receptionist and waved Emily to follow him. They walked over the tasteful halls of his business, the silence between them laden with unresolved hostility. Daniel slammed the door behind them when they at last showed up at his office. Slung over his desk, he raised his arms. This should be noteworthy. I'm rather busy right now. Emily took a long breath to feel the weight of the moment. Her pulse thumping, her hands sweaty, she gazed at the man she had thought she knew. "I am pregnant, Daniel," responds His reply was quick, a razor-sharp, icy stare cutting over her. He moved nothing. He stayed away from speaking. He only gazed, eyes narrowing in astonishment, suspicion, and something else she couldn't quite place. "You're what?" asked His voice had low force and danger. Emily pushed herself to gaze at him and straightened her back. I'm expecting. your. For a while Daniel said nothing. His eyes never strayed from hers, he then softly pushed off the desk and headed for her. "I get it. And you look on me to believe this? As he asked, his voice carried cold suspicion. Emily held her position even as her chest tightened. "Believe it or not, Daniel, I'm not here to ask of you anything. But you're right to know; this is your child. Daniel's mouth twisted into a gloomy sarcastic smile. "How valuable? Surely a baby to tug me back in? Her irritations erupted in her eyes. She had expected this reaction even though it did not make hearing it any easier. She shot back, her voice strong now, adding, "This isn't a hoax. I am not asking anything from you. Neither will I, however, withhold this from you either. Daniel advanced, his voice dropping to a frigid whisper. Emily, what then do you want? Emily stared at him, her heart breaking to witness the distance his suspicion covered. "For this infant, what is ideal? This covers everything. Daniel's eyes darkened; for a moment their distance seemed more like a chasm.