Terms and conditions
414 Words
The conference room was quiet except for the steady ticking of the sleek wall clock. Liam stood at one end, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, the CEO in full command. Ariana sat opposite him, knees tucked together, hands folded tightly in her lap.
Neither of them quite knew how to begin.
Finally, Liam broke the silence.
“So,” he said, voice measured, “we need to talk about what happens next.”
Ariana met his gaze, wary but curious.
“This baby,” Liam continued, “changes everything for both of us. But I want us to be clear from the start. I’m not interested in fairy tales or rushed decisions. I want a partnership—a partnership where we respect each other’s space and decisions.”
Ariana raised an eyebrow.
“Terms and conditions?” she asked with a half-smile.
Liam smirked. “Call it what you want. But I want us to be honest. No games, no surprises.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay, I’m listening.”
He leaned forward, steepling his fingers. “First, I want to be involved in the pregnancy—appointments, decisions, everything. Second, I want us to maintain a professional relationship at work. No complications.”
“Fair,” Ariana said, surprised at her own agreement.
“Third,” he added, “we’ll discuss how to co-parent once the baby arrives. No pressure to be anything we’re not ready for, but we owe this child a stable environment.”
She swallowed, heart fluttering. “You really thought this through.”
He shrugged, a rare hint of vulnerability showing. “I’ve had time. But I want you to know—this isn’t a punishment or an ultimatum. Just the beginning of figuring things out.”
Ariana smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing.
“This might be the strangest negotiation I’ve ever been part of,” she said softly.
Liam laughed, the sound warm and genuine.
“Welcome to the unexpected,” he said.
Over the next few weeks, they found a fragile rhythm—work by day, careful conversations by night. The walls between them began to crumble, replaced by moments of laughter, shared worries, and the unspoken bond growing between them.
But just as things seemed to settle, a shadow lurked on the horizon—someone determined to keep their secret buried and their lives complicated.
Because in the world of power, love, and ambition, no one gets what they want without a fight.
- Writer
