The Contract with my CEO Baby Daddy

Rena. The violent buzzing of the phone on the nightstand jerked me from my thoughts. I grabbed at it immediately, squinting at the screen. Unknown number. My stomach clutched in nervous fits. This had to be that call I had been hoping to get all week. "Hello?" I answered, trying to sound professional, though the slight quaver in my voice betrayed my anxiety. "Am I speaking with Ms. Rena Edmund?" a crisp, female voice asked. “Yes, this is Rena,” I said, clutching the phone tightly, my heart pounding. “We’ve reviewed your application for the marketing associate position at Ranchert Enterprises,” the woman began. I sat up straighter, my pulse racing. But then came the dreaded word: “Unfortunately, we will not be…” I didn't hear the rest. It was like a gut punch, my mind falling immediately into a loop of despair. My ears buzzed, drowning out the woman's explanation. All I got at the end was a perfunctory, “…we wish you the best in your future endeavors. Goodbye." "Yeah, bye," I muttered under my breath, and the call was already over. I let the phone drop onto the bed beside me and tilted my head back to stare at the ceiling. It was chipped and stained in several places, testifying to the years I’d spent scraping by in my dingy little apartment. I let out a deep sigh, my eyes blinking back the sting of hot tears. The knot in my chest began to twist tighter as I glanced around the cluttered room: bills piled high on my small desk, student loan reminders ominously sitting in my email inbox, awaiting payment I couldn't afford. “Get it together, Rena," I whispered, running a hand over my face. "You'll figure this out. You always do." I took a deep breath, forcing a pep talk on myself. "This isn't the end. You just need one yes. One. You'll find it.” I flung off the blanket, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and stood up. The sinking feeling was starting to be replaced by determination. I grabbed a pair of worn jeans and a thick sweater, threw them on, and shoved my well-worn CV into my satchel. "Let's go find that yes," I murmured, locking the door behind me as I headed out. --- I had spent the day trudging from one firm to the next, putting up with polite smiles, vague promises to "get back to me," and worse, outright rejections. At five o'clock, my feet ached and my satchel felt heavier than ever, though it was noticeably emptier, most copies of my resumes now sat in office drawers or trash cans. My phone buzzed again as I walked to the bus stop, and I glanced down to see Stephanie's name flash across the screen. Relief washed over me at the sight of my best friend's name on the screen. "Hey, Steph," I greeted, trying to keep the exhaustion out of my voice. "Ree! How's my favorite human?" Stephanie's voice bubbled with energy, as always. "I have had better days," I conceded. "Oh no, what happened?" Stephanie asked, softening. "Another rejection," I said, sidestepping puddles in my path down the sidewalk. "It is as though nobody reads my CV; they see the address and dump it in the garbage bin." I took a deep breath. “I’ve got a good feeling this time though. “ “Ugh, I hate that for you. You deserve so much better," Stephanie said, her voice laced with sympathy. "But hey, listen. I kind of have a favor to ask, and I know you're going to be mad." My eyebrows shot upwards. "Oh, God. What did you do?” "Nothing!" Stephanie protested, then quickly added, "Okay, maybe something. Look, I was supposed to attend this award ceremony tonight for the Women in Sustainability Initiative…you know, the thing I've been working on for months, but I'm stuck in Paris. My flight got delayed, and there's no way I'll make it back in time." “Steph, what does this have to do with me?" I asked warily, already sensing where this was going. "Well. I need you to go in my place," Stephanie said in a rush, "just accept the award, thank everyone on my behalf, and apologize for my absence. That's it. In and out.” I stopped dead in my tracks. "You want me to attend a high-profile event full of people I don't know, accept an award I didn't earn, and give a speech?" "It's not a speech!" Stephanie insisted. "Just a few words. Ree, please. I'm desperate.” I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Stephanie, I don't fit in that crowd. You know I don't have your connections, or for that matter, your confidence. I will make a total spectacle of myself." "You won't," said Stephanie categorically. "You are fabulous, and you know it. Besides, you will not even have to mix around or for that matter mingle with anyone. Just smile and say thank you, and here you go, gone in no time." "When is it?" I asked suspiciously. "Uh…eight," Stephanie said, sounding sheepish. My eyes widened. "Stephanie, that's in three hours!" "I know, I know," Stephanie said in a rush. "I'm so sorry, it's really short notice, but you're the only person I trust to do this for me. I'll owe you forever. My firstborn child will be yours. Please?" I couldn't help it; despite myself , a laugh escaped my lips. "You're impossible." "Does that mean you'll do it?" Stephanie asked hopefully. I let out a deep sigh. "All right. But you owe me. Big time." "Thanks! You are the best! And don't forget to wear that emerald dress from last year's gala…you know, the one that really makes your eyes pop and your ass look fire. You'll look great." "Yeah, yeah," I said, hailing a cab. "I'm hanging up now before you guilt-trip me into even more favors." "Love you, Ree!" Stephanie chimed, "You got this!" "Yeah, yeah. Love you too. Bye." I struck the end button and got into the cab, letting my body sag back in the seat. I could already tell it was going to be one of those nights that promised only disaster.