THE BILLIONAIRE’S UNEXPECTED SECRET

Sofia Reed had forgotten what it felt like to wake up excited. For months, every morning had felt the same. Wake up. Stare at the ceiling. Remember that her mother was gone. Then spend the rest of the day pretending she was fine. But that morning was different. Sofia opened her eyes and immediately reached for her phone. 7:13 a.m. Her eyes widened. "Jesus!" She jumped out of bed so quickly that her blanket landed on the floor. "Not today. Please, not today." Today was her interview at Stone Enterprises. The interview she had been waiting weeks for. The interview she had convinced herself could change everything. Sofia rushed into the bathroom, brushing her teeth with one hand while trying to fix her hair with the other. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess. Her eyes looked tired. And her blouse was still lying on the bed. "Perfect," she muttered. "Exactly how I wanted to impress a billionaire." She quickly dressed and grabbed her bag. Before leaving, she glanced at the framed photograph sitting on her bedside table. Her mother smiled back at her from the picture. Sofia's smile disappeared. "I'll make you proud, Mom." She touched the frame gently. "I promise." Then she picked up her bag. Today, she had to be strong. The rain started the moment Sofia stepped outside. She stopped at the gate and stared at the sky. "You've got to be kidding me." The rain came down harder. Of all days. She looked at her watch. 7:42. Her interview was at nine. She could still make it. Probably. Maybe. If the traffic decided not to destroy her life first. Sofia suddenly remembered something. Lena. Her best friend lived the next door. And Lena had an umbrella. Sofia immediately turned around. "If that girl isn't awake, I'm breaking her door." She knocked. Nothing. She knocked again. "Lena!" Silence. "Lena, I know you're inside!" Still nothing. Sofia banged on the door. "Lena, open this door before I start telling the neighbors your secrets!" The door suddenly opened. Lena stood there. Sofia stopped talking. Something was wrong. Her face was unusually pale. Her eyes were swollen, like she hadn't slept all night. Sofia's playful expression disappeared. "Lena?" "I'm fine." "You look terrible." "Thanks." "You know what I mean." Lena stepped aside. Sofia walked in. "I came for your umbrella. I'm already late." Lena nodded and walked toward the bedroom. Sofia followed her with her eyes. "Lena?" "Yes?" "You've been crying." "No." "You have." "I haven't." "Lena." "I'm fine!" The sharpness in her voice made Sofia pause. Lena immediately looked away. "I'm sorry." Sofia walked closer. "What happened?" "Nothing." "Did someone hurt you?" Lena shook her head. "Then why are you crying?" Lena said nothing. Sofia sighed. She wanted to push. But she knew Lena. When she wasn't ready to talk, forcing her only made things worse. "Okay," Sofia said softly. "You don't have to tell me now." Lena looked at her. Sofia smiled. "But you owe me an explanation later." A tiny smile appeared on Lena's face. "Deal." Sofia grabbed the umbrella. She turned toward the door. Then Lena spoke. "Sofia." "Yes?" "I need to tell you something." Sofia turned around. "What?" Lena looked nervous. Very nervous. She opened her mouth. Closed it. Then opened it again. "I..." Sofia waited. "I think I'm pregnant." Silence. The rain outside suddenly sounded louder. Sofia stared at her. "You think you're what?" "Pregnant." "No." Lena nodded. Yes." Sofia blinked several times. "But..." She looked completely confused. "How?" "How what?" "How are you pregnant?" Lena stared at her. "Sofia, I know how pregnancy works." Lena's eyes dropped. "Yes." "And?" "I don't know." Sofia stared at her. "You don't know?" "I don't." Sofia looked at the clock. 8:02. Her heart dropped. "Oh my God." She had twenty minutes to get to the bus stop, and she was still standing in Lena's living room discussing pregnancy. "I have to go." "What?" "I'll come back." "Sofia" "I promise." She rushed toward the door. "But I need to talk to you!" "I know!" She opened the door. "I'll be back after the interview." "Sofia!" She turned. Lena was standing there with tears in her eyes. "Please come back." Something about her voice made Sofia's smile fade. "I will." She closed the door. But as she walked into the rain, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lena had left something unsaid. Something important. Stone Enterprises was even more intimidating than Sofia had imagined. The building stood several floors above the busy street, covered almost entirely in glass. Sofia stepped inside, slightly out of breath. She quickly fixed her hair. Then she looked down at her shoes. Wet. Wonderful. "Good morning," she said to the receptionist. The woman looked up. Her eyes moved over Sofia's damp clothes and tired face. She gave her a sympathetic smile. "Good morning. You're here for the interview?" "Yes." "Newton Project?" Sofia nodded. "Yes." The receptionist checked her list. "Sofia?" "That's me." "Mr. Anderson is waiting for you." Sofia swallowed. "Already? The receptionist smiled. "Don't worry." Sofia forced a smile back. "That's easy for you to say." The receptionist laughed softly. "His office is upstairs. Just take the elevator." Sofia nodded. "Thank you." She walked toward the elevator. As the doors closed, she whispered to herself. "Okay. You've survived grief, unemployment, rejection and Lagos traffic." She took a deep breath. "Surely one billionaire can't be worse than all of that." She had no idea how wrong she was. The doors opened. Sofia stepped out. A man sitting behind the reception desk pointed toward a large office. "Mr. Stone's office." "Thank you." She walked toward the door. Her heart began beating faster. She knocked. "Come in." Sofia opened the door. "Good morning, sir." Anderson Stone didn't answer. He continued reading something on his desk. Sofia stood there awkwardly. "Sir?" His eyes finally lifted. The look on his face immediately told her one thing. He wasn't happy. Not even slightly. "You." Sofia blinked. "Yes, sir." "You're the applicant?" "Yes." He looked at the clock. "You're late." "I'm sorry. The rain" "I don't care about the rain." Sofia closed her mouth. Anderson looked at her resume. Then at her. Then back at the resume. "Who told you that you were qualified for this position?" Sofia's confidence dropped. "Sir?" "This is Stone Enterprises." "I know." "Do you?" His voice was cold. Sofia nodded. "Yes, sir." "Then you should know we don't hire people simply because they need jobs." Sofia swallowed. "I understand." "You don't look like someone who can handle the Newton Project." That irritated her. She had spent weeks preparing for this interview. She wasn't going to let this man dismiss her because she had arrived wet. "Sir, you haven't asked me anything yet." Anderson looked up. "What did you say?" Sofia immediately regretted speaking. But she continued. "You haven't asked me about my qualifications." His jaw tightened. "You think you're here to question me?" "No." "Then stop talking." Sofia's lips parted. She stared at him. Then slowly closed them. For a few seconds, neither spoke. Anderson picked up her résumé again. He scanned it. "You have experience." "Yes." "Your grades are good." "Thank you." "But..." There it was. The dreaded but. "But you don't have enough experience for this project." Sofia's stomach dropped. She knew exactly what was coming. Another rejection. Another polite smile. Another we'll get back to you. She took a breath. "Then why did you call me here?" Anderson looked at her. Sofia surprised herself. She was angry. Tired. And honestly, she had nothing left to lose. "I need this job," she said. "But I don't want it because you're doing me a favor." Anderson said nothing. "I know I can do this job. Give me a chance, and I'll prove it." The room became strangely quiet. Anderson studied her. Something about the way she spoke was different. Most applicants who sat in that chair were terrified of him. This woman looked terrified too. But she was still standing her ground. Finally, Anderson reached for a pen. "Fine." Sofia waited. "You start Monday." She froze. "Excuse me?" "You're hired." Her mouth fell open. "You're serious?" Anderson looked irritated again. "Do I look like I'm joking?" "No, sir." "Good." Sofia couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. "Thank you so much." "Don't thank me yet." He handed her the documents. "Prove you deserve the position." Sofia nodded quickly. "I will." She turned toward the door. Then Anderson's voice stopped her. "And Sofia?" She turned. "Yes, sir?" "If you disappoint me, you're gone." Her smile disappeared. "Understood." She walked out. The moment the door closed behind her, she let out a breath. Then she smiled. "I got the job." She almost jumped. The receptionist looked up. Sofia covered her mouth. "Sorry." The receptionist laughed. "First day?" "Technically, I haven't even started." "Then good luck." Sofia smiled. "I think I'll need it." She hurried toward the elevator. All she could think about was Lena. She needed to tell her. She needed to understand how her best friend could possibly be pregnant after taking the pills. And most importantly... Why had Lena looked so frightened when she told her? Sofia stepped outside. The rain had slowed to a drizzle. She opened her umbrella and started walking. Her phone suddenly rang. She looked at the screen. Lena. Sofia smiled. "Finally." She answered. "Hey, I just got the" There was silence on the other end. "Lena?" Nothing. Sofia stopped walking. "Lena, can you hear me?" A faint sound came through the phone. A shaky breath. Then Lena whispered something that made Sofia's smile disappear. "Sofia... I need you to come home." "Why?" Another silence. Then, in a trembling voice, Lena said, "I didn't tell you everything." Sofia's heart began pounding. "What do you mean?" The call ended. Sofia stared at her phone. "Lena?" She called back. No answer. She tried again. Nothing. The excitement of getting her dream job disappeared completely. Sofia lowered her umbrella. One thought filled her mind. Something was seriously wrong. And she had no idea that before the day ended, the truth about Lena would change both of their lives forever.