The secret grows
612 Words
The next few days blurred into a rhythm of meetings, design drafts, and avoiding Liam Carter at all costs.
Ariana buried herself in work, pretending everything was normal, even as her body whispered reminders that nothing was. Morning nausea, sudden fatigue, a slight swell in her stomach she hoped no one noticed—least of all him.
She had already booked a private doctor’s appointment. She needed to confirm how far along she was. But deep down, she already knew.
Eight weeks.
Give or take a night.
That night.
In the office kitchen, she leaned against the counter, sipping warm ginger tea. Her stomach had been churning all morning.
“Hey, you okay?” asked a soft voice.
It was Lily, another intern—a sweet, bubbly girl with a gossip addiction and a heart of gold.
“You’ve been looking pale all week,” Lily said, frowning. “You’re not sick, are you?”
Ariana forced a smile. “Just tired. Probably overworked.”
“You know,” Lily whispered, lowering her voice dramatically, “people say Mr. Carter works his interns into the ground. Especially the pretty ones.”
Ariana nearly choked on her tea. “That’s not true.”
Lily grinned. “Relax. I’m joking. He doesn’t even look at anyone. Cold as a glacier. Gorgeous, but no heart.”
Ariana blinked. She wanted to laugh.
If only you knew...
That afternoon, the design team gathered again for a review presentation. Ariana felt her skin flush hot the moment she stepped into the conference room. Liam was already seated at the head, reviewing slides on a tablet.
She kept her gaze low and took the seat farthest from him.
Jenna began the presentation, but Ariana could feel Liam’s eyes on her more than once.
He hadn’t approached her again since their private conversation—but his silence said more than words. It was like he was waiting for something. Watching her closely.
When Jenna invited Ariana to speak about the layout adjustments, she stood—calmly at first.
Then, halfway through her sentence, a wave of dizziness hit her like a crashing tide.
The room tilted.
The screen blurred.
“Ariana?” someone called.
She gripped the table, trying to steady herself, but her knees buckled—and everything went dark.
When she opened her eyes, soft light flooded the room. She wasn’t in the conference room anymore.
She was lying on a leather couch.
In an office.
His office.
Liam sat nearby, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, concern etched into his usually unreadable expression.
“You fainted,” he said simply.
Ariana tried to sit up. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a scene—”
“Don’t,” he cut her off gently. “You’re not fine. You’re pale. You’ve been shaking all week. You can barely stay on your feet.”
“I said I’m okay.”
He leaned forward slowly, his voice quiet but firm. “Tell me the truth.”
Her heart pounded. The secret she’d been hiding felt heavy on her chest.
He watched her carefully, eyes narrowing slightly. “Are you… sick? Is there something going on I should know?”
Ariana swallowed hard.
This was her chance.
She could tell him now.
But instead, she stood, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. “I just need rest.”
Liam stood too. “Ariana.”
She turned her back to him, hand on the door. “It’s nothing. Really.”
He didn’t push further.
But as she walked out of his office, she didn’t see the way his jaw clenched.
Or the quiet suspicion building in his eyes.
- Writer
