THE CEO CONTRACT BRIDE

BABY SHOWER

*Day 43. 8:00 AM. Eleanor’s Call.*

Lily was in a board meeting when her phone buzzed.

Eleanor.

Damian texted instantly: _Don’t answer. It’s probably about the catering._

Lily answered.

"Lily, darling," Eleanor said. "We’re having a baby shower."

Lily blinked. "We are?"

"Yes. This Saturday. Hart Tower roof. 100 people. White and gold. No press. No investors. Just family."

Pause. "And I already hired the decorator."

Lily looked at Damian through the glass. He mouthed _what?_

Lily covered the phone. "Your mom is throwing us a baby shower."

Damian’s face: 😳

Then: 😊

Then: "Tell her yes."

Lily smiled into the phone. "Yes, Eleanor. Thank you."

Eleanor sniffed. "Good. I need your sizes. And your registry. And do you want pink or yellow?"

"Neutral," Lily said.

"Neutral is boring," Eleanor said. "We’re doing white and gold. With pink accents. For the girl."

Lily laughed. "How do you know it’s a girl?"

Eleanor: "I’m a grandmother. I know."

*Day 45. The Planning Chaos.*

Hart Tower roof. 48 hours to go.

Eleanor had hired:

1 florist, 2 bakers, 3 planners, and a string quartet.

"For ambiance," she said.

Damian walked in to see the roof covered in white drapes and gold lights.

"Mom," he said. "This is... a lot."

Eleanor turned, holding a clipboard. "It’s not enough. We have 3 years to make up for."

She hugged him. "I’m so proud of you. Both of you."

Damian hugged her back. "Thanks, Mom. For fighting for us."

Eleanor pulled back. "Now go. You have a $2B company to run. I have a baby shower to run."

*Day 47. The Registry Drama.*

Lily and Damian at the store.

Damian picked up a $4,000 stroller. "This one has bulletproof glass."

Lily: "Damian."

Damian: "For safety."

Adesina FaceTimed in. "Get the car seat too. And the crib that monitors breathing."

Mia texted: _I already bought 50 onesies. You’re welcome._

Emma ran around with a cart. "For baby sister! And this! And this!"

By the end they had: clothes, books, toys, and a diaper genie that cost more than Lily’s first car.

In the car home:

Lily rubbed her 17-week bump. "She’s gonna be spoiled."

Damian took her hand. "She deserves to be."

*Day 49. The Baby Shower.*

Hart Tower Roof. 2:00 PM.

White and gold everywhere. Roses. String lights.

No cameras. No board. Just family.

Emma in a pink dress, running. "Baby sister! Baby sister!"

Mia flew in from London. "I’m the godmother. I called dibs in the group chat."

Adesina arrived with a stroller. "It has night vision," she said.

Eleanor greeted everyone at the door. Crying.

"Thank you for coming," she said to every single person.

Damian and Lily walked in together.

Lily in a white wrap dress. Bump out. Glowing.

Damian in a suit. Hand on her back the entire time.

The room clapped.

Gifts: mountains of them.

Clothes. Books. A tiny Hart Industries onesie that said _Future CEO_.

Then food.

Eleanor’s tacos. "Terrible," Damian announced to the crowd.

"Amazing," everyone else said.

Cake cutting.

Damian fed Lily first.

Lily fed Damian.

Emma stole a piece.

Then speeches.

Mia: "To the godmother of the coolest baby ever. I love you."

Adesina: "To my sister. And my niece. Protected always."

Eleanor stood.

The room went quiet.

"I spent 3 years thinking I lost my son," Eleanor said, voice shaking. "To grief. To anger. To a woman who tried to destroy him."

She looked at Lily. "Then Lily came. With a contract. And left with my son’s heart."

She looked at Damian. "Today I have a son who smiles. A daughter-in-law who fights. Two granddaughters. And a family."

She raised her glass. "To Elena. And to healing."

Everyone cried.

Even the security guards.

Damian stood. Pulled Lily up with him.

"I spent 3 years thinking I didn’t deserve this," he said. "Today I have a wife who closed $2B pregnant. A daughter who runs the room. A mom who makes terrible tacos and the best cake I’ve ever had."

He looked at Lily. "I’m not a CEO today. I’m just Dada. And I’m the luckiest man alive."

Lily cried.

Eleanor cried.

Damian kissed Lily’s bump.

After, Eleanor pulled Lily aside.

On the roof, away from everyone.

"Thank you," Eleanor said. "For giving me my son back."

Lily hugged her. "Thank you for fighting for us when I couldn’t."

Eleanor handed her a small box.

Inside: the gold bracelet. _Elena Hart_

"For when she’s older," Eleanor said. "Tell her it’s from Grandma."

Lily nodded, crying.

*Day 49. 9:00 PM. The Cleanup.*

Everyone gone.

Just Lily, Damian, Emma asleep on the couch, and 100 white chairs.

Damian was taking down decorations.

Lily was sitting, feet up.

"Co-CEO Hart needs to rest," Damian said.

Lily watched him. "You were amazing today."

Damian shrugged. "I just told the truth."

He sat next to her. Took her feet in his lap. Rubbed them.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

Lily exhaled. "Loved."

She put her hand on his. "For the first time in a long time, I feel safe."

Damian kissed her knuckles. "You are safe. You and her. I promise."

They sat there. No phones. No press. No threats.

Just string lights and the sound of the city.

Damian whispered: "Chapter 18?"

Lily smiled. "Chapter 18: '20 Week Ultrasound'?"

Damian nodded. "I want to hear her heartbeat again."

Lily turned to him me too.

*TO BE CONTINUED*