The Contract with my CEO Baby Daddy

Episode 4

Rena.

Outside this small apartment of mine, New York was alive; inside, there was only silence except for the groan of old wood and the muted hum of the neighbor's television. I sat by my bed which was by the window, staring blankly out at the traffic, my fingers twisting nervously into the hem of my oversized sweater.

It was weeks since that night, since him: the man whose name I never got, whose face haunted my dreams, and whose touch still lingered upon my skin. I thought by now I’d be past it, past him, but every time the darkness closed over my eyes, there he was: vivid, and unrelenting.

Sighing deeply, I leaned back against the window frame. Greasy smells wafted up from the diner below, and my stomach churned at the scent. My hand flew to my mouth as nausea surged through me, and I stumbled toward the bathroom.

I barely made it to the toilet before retching, my body trembling as I emptied what little I’d eaten. The sound of the front door opening barely registered.

“Ree?” came Stephanie’s familiar, sing-song voice. “I swear, if you’re hiding from me again…”

Stephanie froze mid-sentence, heels clicking against the floor as she materialized in the doorway of the bathroom. Her teasing gave way to concern as she saw me hunched over the toilet.

"Oh my God," Stephanie whispered, hurrying forward. She knelt beside me and gently held my hair back, her manicured fingers surprisingly steady. "What the hell is going on with you?"

When I finally stopped dry-heaving, I leaned back against the bathroom wall, my face pale and sweaty.

"I-I don't know," I muttered weakly, my voice hoarse.

Stephanie arched a brow. "How long has this been going on?"

I rubbed my temples, my head pounding. "I don't know… a week, maybe?"

Stephanie was silent then stood abruptly, brushing her skirt. “Stay right there,” she ordered, already heading for the door. “I’ll be back.”

I didn’t bother arguing. Instead, I dragged myself back to my bed, flopping face-first onto the thin mattress. My mind drifted as exhaustion pulled at me.

He could’ve found me by now, I thought bitterly. Traced me or some s**t. If he wanted to. But why would someone like him care about someone like me?

The thought knotted in my chest, and before I knew it, tears had brimmed over onto my cheeks. A part of me knew my reaction was uncalled for and that I was overreacting. Yet I despised myself for being such an emotional mess, for letting him crawl under my skin like this. For God’s sake, he’s just a man. And there are many other men. Many.

The sound of the door opening again yanked me out of my ridiculous spirallingthoughts.

Stephanie breezed in, clutching a small paper bag. "Up," she commanded, tugging me off the bed.

I groaned. "What now?"

"Just come on."

Stephanie practically dragged me back into the bathroom and I Rena could even blink had thrust a little plastic cup into my hand.

"What the hell is this?" I asked, blinking at it.

"Pee in it," Stephanie said, crossing her arms.

"What? Why?"

Stephanie gave me a pointed look. "Do I really need to spell it out for you, Ree? You have been throwing up a week. Either you have the flu or…"

I stared at her, the unspoken words heavy within the silence.

My heart was racing as realization finally set in, but I shook my head, my laughter nervous. "No way. That's not possible."

Stephanie raised a perfectly sculpted brow. "Humor me."

Sighing with reluctant resignation, I did as I was told, hands shaking the whole time, before Stephanie snatched the cup and pregnancy test from the bag and set it on the counter.

We sat in silence, staring at the floor in silence, while seconds seemed to turn into hours.

I fidgeted nervously, biting my lip. "This is ridiculous," i muttered to myself l. "I can't be pregnant. It was just one night. One amazing, mind-blowing night…" I paused, my face blushing as it dawned on me just how much I was rambling.

Stephanie sent me a glance but said nothing.

Unable to contain myself a second longer, I burst out, "Do you know how crazy that night was? He was… God, he was incredible. I didn't even get his name, but he made me feel…" My voice trailed off, thick with emotion. "He made me feel beautiful, Stephanie. Like I actually mattered."

Stephanie reached out and squeezed my hand silently.

“And now,” I continued, my voice cracking, “I’m back to being a nobody. He’s probably forgotten me already. A guy like that? He wouldn’t remember girls like me.”

Stephanie opened her mouth to respond, but the timer went off and her gaze suddenly flicked to the counter. She got up to pick up the test. Her eyes widened, and she gasped audibly.

My stomach dropped. “What?”

Stephanie said nothing. She simply stared at the pregnancy test, her face pale, and turned it toward me.

Two bright pink lines.

I stared, my vision blurring. I staggered back, bracing myself against the wall as my legs threatened to fail me. "What… what is that?" I whispered, while knowing full well.

"It's positive," Stephanie said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I snatched the test from her, staring at it as if willing the lines to disappear. My hands trembled, and tears welled up in my eyes.

“I’m pregnant,” I whispered, the words barely audible. “Oh God…”