Pregnant for my arrogant boss

Chapter Four: Tangled in His Power

The glass doors of Spencer Enterprises slid open with their usual soft hiss, but Sophia’s heart thumped louder than the sound. She had rehearsed it in her head that morning—she would avoid him, keep her head down, and focus on her work. No lingering glances, no unnecessary words, no cracks in her composure.

And yet, the instant she stepped into the building, she felt it.

That pull.

Like the entire atmosphere bent toward him, whether she wanted it to or not.

She tightened her grip on her files and forced her steps to remain steady. The lobby gleamed with modern luxury—white marble, tall glass windows, an elegant chandelier dripping golden light. People in suits rushed past her, but Sophia felt like she was walking underwater. Every step was heavy with the awareness that he was somewhere in this building.

And it was only a matter of time before he found her.

---

Her office door creaked open with a soft push, and her breath caught instantly.

Ethan Spencer was already inside.

Not sitting, not waiting politely, but perched against her desk like it was his throne. One ankle crossed casually over the other, his hand resting lightly on a folder as though it were his property. His navy suit clung to him perfectly, crisp and sharp, his presence so commanding it made the room feel smaller.

“Do you make a habit of barging into offices that aren’t yours?” she demanded, keeping her voice even even though her pulse betrayed her.

His eyes lifted lazily from the papers to hers, piercing and deliberate. A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

“Only when the occupant intrigues me.”

Her breath hitched, but she masked it with a roll of her eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Thank you.” He stood, unhurried, like every movement was designed to test her patience—and her resolve. “And you’re tense. I can see it in your shoulders.”

Sophia straightened instantly, clenching her jaw. “Get out.”

He moved closer, each step echoing in the quiet room. “Say what you like, Sophia. But you’re already reacting to me. That’s not something you can control.”

Her chest tightened. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” His gaze swept over her face, lingering just long enough to make her skin heat. “Tell me then, why can’t you look at me without biting back a retort? Why does your pulse race when I step near you?”

The air between them crackled. She opened her mouth to snap back, but the sharp knock on her door made her flinch.

Maya peeked in, smiling innocently, holding a folder. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Sophia nearly sagged with relief. “It’s fine, Maya. Leave it there.”

By the time Maya stepped out, Ethan was smirking again. “Saved by the knock. But sooner or later, Sophia… no one will save you from me.”

He walked out as if he owned the building. And maybe he did. But he didn’t have to own her—did he?

---

The rest of the day blurred, but Sophia couldn’t escape him.

At lunch in the bustling cafeteria, he was there. Sitting across the room, surrounded by executives, laughing with that easy charm that made people lean in closer. His smile was practiced, dangerous, magnetic. Her eyes betrayed her—flickering toward him, then darting away the moment his gaze threatened to meet hers.

Later, during the board meeting, his voice filled the room. Every word was confident, deliberate, heavy with authority. Sophia kept her eyes on the slides in front of her, but her skin prickled every time he said her name or asked for her input.

When the meeting ended, she was halfway out of her chair when his voice stopped her cold.

“Stay.”

Her body froze. Slowly, she looked back. The others were already filing out. Ethan leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on her with quiet command. When the door clicked shut behind the last person, the silence became suffocating.

Sophia swallowed. “I don’t have time for this.”

“You’ll make time.”

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. “This isn’t professional.”

He rose to his feet, crossing the space between them with a predator’s grace. His hands pressed against the table on either side of her papers, boxing her in with the sheer force of his presence. His cologne—rich, subtle, devastating—wrapped around her.

“Professional?” His voice was low, rough velvet. “You and I passed professional the moment you walked into my life.”

Her throat tightened. “I don’t want this.”

He tilted his head, studying her like he could see through every layer of her defenses. “Your words say no. Your eyes… say otherwise.”

Her breath caught. She hated that he was right. She hated that her pulse fluttered like a trapped bird when his gaze pinned her.

After a long pause, his lips curved in that knowing smirk. “You’re tangled in my power already, Sophia. And the more you fight, the deeper you’ll sink.”

And just like that, he stepped back, collected his jacket, and left her trembling in the empty boardroom.

---

That night, Sophia sat on her bed, knees pulled to her chest, her laptop abandoned beside her. She had tried to drown herself in work, tried to erase his words, his nearness, his voice. But it was useless.

Every memory replayed in her mind like a reel she couldn’t switch off.

His smirk.

His gaze.

The way he leaned close enough that she forgot how to breathe.

She pressed her palms to her face. “What am I doing?” she whispered into the silence.

The worst part wasn’t that Ethan Spencer unsettled her.

It was that part of her—against all reason—didn’t want him to stop.