Serena Lockhart’s fingers gripped the edge of her kitchen counter as she struggled to process the weight of her reality. The pregnancy test might as well have been a ticking time bomb—one she could no longer ignore.
Lena stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “Alright, spill it. What’s going on?”
Serena hesitated. How could she even begin? Her best friend knew about the forbidden night she had spent with Damian Blackwood, but this was different. This changed everything.
“I’m pregnant,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lena’s eyes widened. “Wait—pregnant? As in, with a baby? As in, Damian Blackwood’s baby?”
Serena nodded slowly.
“Oh. My. God.” Lena pulled out a chair and sat down, shaking her head in disbelief. “Serena, do you realize what this means?”
Of course she did. It meant that her life, once orderly and structured, was now spiraling into uncertainty. It meant that she had to figure out how to navigate working for the most powerful man she knew while carrying his child. And worst of all, it meant that Damian had to be told.
Serena collapsed onto the chair opposite Lena. “I don’t know what to do,” she admitted, running a hand through her dark hair. “I mean, I was always careful, but that night… everything just happened so fast.”
Lena exhaled. “You have to tell him.”
Serena looked up sharply. “Are you insane? Damian Blackwood is the last person I want to have this conversation with.”
Lena gave her a pointed look. “Serena, this is not just about you anymore. He’s the father. Whether you like it or not, he has a right to know.”
Serena sighed. She hated that Lena was right.
The Next Morning – Sterling Enterprises
Serena walked into the sleek, glass-walled offices of Sterling Enterprises, her heels clicking against the marble floors. The usual morning chaos surrounded her—phones ringing, assistants scrambling, executives deep in conversation. But all she could focus on was the weight of the secret she carried.
She wasn’t just an employee here. She was Damian Blackwood’s right-hand woman, the one person who kept his world in order. And now, she was carrying his child.
As she reached her desk outside Damian’s office, his deep, commanding voice came from inside. “Carter, that deal should’ve been closed yesterday. Find out what the holdup is.”
Damian was all business, as always.
Serena took a deep breath and knocked lightly on the heavy wooden door.
“Come in,” came the clipped response.
She stepped inside, trying to steady her nerves. Damian sat at his massive desk, his tailored suit perfectly in place, his sharp blue eyes scanning through a report. He was intimidating, powerful—and utterly breathtaking.
He glanced up, his gaze locking onto hers. “Serena, good. I need you to—” He paused, narrowing his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She hesitated. How could he read her so easily?
“Nothing,” she lied.
His eyes darkened. “Don’t lie to me.”
Serena swallowed. Now wasn’t the time. Not here. Not while he was in business mode.
“I’ll tell you later,” she promised.
Damian studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Fine. But make sure you do.”
She gave a quick nod and turned to leave, knowing that later would come much sooner than she wanted.
That Evening – Damian’s Penthouse
Serena had spent the entire day debating whether she should follow through with telling Damian. She had gone back and forth in her mind, but Lena’s words kept echoing—he had a right to know.
And so, with her heart pounding in her chest, she found herself standing outside his penthouse door, her hands shaking as she knocked.
The door opened within seconds, and there he was. Damian, still in his crisp white dress shirt, the top button undone, looking at her with an unreadable expression.
“Serena,” he said smoothly, stepping aside to let her in.
She entered, acutely aware of how familiar this place was. The last time she had been here, everything had changed.
Damian poured himself a drink, watching her carefully. “You said you had something to tell me.”
Serena inhaled sharply. It was now or never.
“I’m pregnant.”
The room went deathly silent. Damian, who never lost control, suddenly looked like the ground had just shifted beneath him. He set his glass down with deliberate care, his gaze locked onto hers.
“Say that again,” he said, his voice dangerously low.
Serena met his stare, refusing to cower. “I’m pregnant. And it’s yours.”
Damian’s jaw tightened. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “You’re sure?”
She shot him a dry look. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
He turned away, pacing. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken emotions.
Finally, he stopped and turned back to her. “Are you keeping it?”
The question stung more than she expected. “Of course I am.”
Damian’s eyes darkened. “Then we have a lot to discuss.”
Serena squared her shoulders. “We do.”
But neither of them knew just how complicated things were about to get.
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