The CEO's Secret Baby

CHAPTER 3

Later that evening, Emily sat in her little flat blankly looking at the wall. The faint buzz of the city outside did not help to relax the knot developing in her gut. Oliver had been kind, but she knew the real struggle still lay ahead. Dealing with Daniel was like negotiating a minefield—one misplaced action might set everything off once again.

Her phone buzzed, cutting her off from her ideas. Samantha sent me this SMS.

Hello, darling. The conference with Oliver went how?

Emily groaned and wrote back: He was polite. Want to be of assistance. Still, it boils down to Daniel.

The three specks showed and then vanished. Under her breath, Emily pictured Samantha cursing Daniel, most likely wishing she could march into Sterling Enterprises herself and straighten him.

Emily put her phone down and got up to pace the little living area. As her ideas whirled, the walls appeared to shut in on her. How could she raise a kid beside someone who didn't trust her? And given his treatment of her, how could she ever trust him once more?

The doorbell went off all of a sudden. Emily stop. Nobody ever paid an unexpected visit.

She answered the door, and Daniel Sterling—looking as crisp and frigid as usual in his fitted suit—was there. His blue eyes shot through her as if he could read every thought.

"Daniel?." Her voice emerged little, trapped between astonishment and fear.

He replied sharply, " Emily," entering without waiting for an invitation. His presence permeated the room, shrinking her already small flat. We have to speak.

Heart thumping in her chest, she closed the door behind him. On what?

Daniel's jaw constricted. The baby. This condition.

"Situation?"? Her resentment grew at the word. Was that all this was to him?

Indeed, the circumstances, he said, his voice strained. We have to establish some ground rules.

Emily crossed her arms and her defences were on right away. Ground rules: You believe you could simply walk in here and start demanding things?

Daniel's eyes shook with irritation. "I am not demanding anything, Emily. I'm attempting to figure out responsible handling of this.

"Take care of it?" She turned back, shocked. "Daniel, this is not a commercial transaction. This is our baby, a newborn.

I am very aware of it. His tone was frigid and harsh. But we have to be reasonable. I operate a business and cannot afford distractions or controversies.

Emily felt her heart turn upside down. She had known this was on approach, but hearing him say it out stung much more. One might consider a diversion as Was his view of her such? Based on what he saw of their child?

"Then, what is your strategy??" She enquired angrily. "Keep me buried away like a nasty little secret?"

Daniel's gaze became steely. "Don't twist this into something it's not, Emily. I would be happy to help the kid and you financially. I will be participating, but only in limited ways.

"Limits?" Emily's voice became brittle with incredulity. You're talking about our kid, Daniel, not a commercial transaction.

"I am speaking from knowledge," Daniel said. "I'm talking about turning things around without destroying what I've created."

Emily merely looked at him for a time, not sure she could believe the guy before her. She had once imagined there was something more to him hidden deep behind the layers of conceit, maybe just maybe. But just now all she saw was the cold, merciless CEO, the guy seeing everything—including her—as something to be under control.

"Exactly what are you most terrified of, Daniel?" She asked gently, her voice shaking with feeling. That people would consider you human? That you make an error?

Daniel's jaw locked once again, and for a minute something raw, vulnerable flared in his gaze. But it disappeared as fast as it first showed, and the icy mask he normally wore took the front stage.

He answered squarely, "I'm not frightened of anything." Simply spoken, I do not trust you.

The words strike her like a gut-grab blow. Her eyes aching with unshed tears, she felt the breath leave her lungs as she retreated.

"I doubt you," Daniel said, his voice softer this time. "You have already shown you are ready to silently go. Not even told me till now. How do I know this isn't some kind of revenge play?

Emily squeezed her chest, the anguish blending with her wrath. "You believe I'm using the baby? That I aim to control you?

Enough was answered from Daniel's silence.

Her voice cracking, she shook her head. "I intended none of this to happen in this way. I was not attempting to trap you or use some type of power play. But you have never regarded me as anything more than someone you can manipulate.

Daniel tensed but said nothing, his quiet further aggravating her.

"Why did you come here at all?" Her voice shook as she asked. "Why bother if you mistrust me?"

Daniel looked without words for the first time. His presence smothering, his eyes darkened as he moved towards her. "Because I have to be part of this. That is my kid whether or not I trust you. And I will not turn away.

As they stood inches apart, Emily's heart hammered and the strain between them buzzed like lightning. She could feel the heat of his body, the coldness of his words, the struggle separating them.

She wanted to yell at him, correct him, and let him know he lacked control over this, power over her. Rather, she simply stood there, paralysed by their past, by the intricacy of the emotions whirling around between them.

Daniel seemed softer, only for a second. His voice lowered. " Emily... I am not the guy you knew before.

She gave a hard swallow, heart hurting. show me then.

They looked at one other for a long time, neither one eager to disturb the delicate quiet. There was obvious tension, the air heavy with unsaid words and unresolved grief.

Daniel groaned at last, raking a hand over his hair. "Let you have time to consider the offer. But make no mistake—I will be part of this whether or not you want it.

Emily saw him turn and go, tears burning in her eyes. Unshed. The flat was loud as the door closed softly with a click.

She dropped her face into her hands and collapsed onto the sofa. Her heart weighed heavily, divided between the past and the unknown future. Though Daniel's coldness and his mistrust made it hard to see how they could ever make this work, the baby within her served as a reminder of the delicate link they still had.