The CEO's Secret Heir

CHAPTER 2 -------- THE SECOND MEETING

Theresa's heart raced as her gaze locked with the man in the car. There was something captivating about him, a magnetic pull that made her pulse quicken. Despite the coldness in his expression, his striking features were hard to ignore. He bore an air of confidence that spoke of power and authority, and for a fleeting moment, she felt as if he could see right through her, into the turmoil brewing within.

“Did you see that?” Brienne's voice broke through Theresa's reverie, her excitement palpable.

“He was absolutely gorgeous! Did you see the way he looked at you?” Theresa blinked, trying to shake off the moment of connection.

“I… I don’t think he was looking at me,” she replied, her mind still reeling from the encounter.

“I think he was just passing by.” Brienne rolled her eyes, tugging on Theresa’s arm playfully.

“Honey, when a man that good-looking looks at you, you can’t just brush it off. You have to appreciate the moment!” Theresa chuckled lightly, grateful for her friend's enthusiasm, but her thoughts quickly spiraled back to her own situation.

“I don’t know if I’m in the mood for appreciating anything right now,” she sighed, her smile fading.

The weight of the news she had just received sat heavily on her shoulders. Brienne, sensing her friend's shift in mood, quickly changed the subject.

“Okay, let’s focus on something fun. How about we grab some ice cream or something? It’ll cheer you up!” “Sure, ice cream sounds good,” Theresa agreed, though her heart wasn’t fully in it.

As they walked towards the exit, she couldn’t shake the image of the cold man from her mind. What was it about him? She didn’t even know his name, yet he lingered in her thoughts like an uninvited guest. Once outside, the sun felt warm against her skin, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within her. Brienne chatted animatedly as they made their way to the nearby café, her excitement infectious. But Theresa found it hard to concentrate. She glanced around, half-expecting to see the man again.

“Okay, spill it,” Brienne said suddenly, her tone turning serious. “What’s really going on with you? I can tell something’s bothering you.” Theresa hesitated, unsure of how to articulate her feelings.

“I just… I don’t know how to handle everything right now. My mum is still recovering, and now this…” She gestured to her stomach, the reality of her pregnancy hitting her hard once more.

“It’s all just too much.” Brienne took her friend’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly. “You’re not alone in this, Theresa. I’m here for you, no matter what. We’ll figure it out together.”

Tears threatened to spill again, but Theresa blinked them back. “Thank you, Brienne. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

They reached the café, and as they stepped inside, the scent of freshly baked goods enveloped them. Brienne’s chatter resumed, but Theresa’s mind kept drifting back to the man in the car. Who was he? What did he want? And why did she feel an inexplicable connection to him? As they waited for their orders, Brienne suddenly perked up.

“Oh! Look who just walked in!” Theresa turned to see a group of men enter the café, one of whom was unmistakably the handsome stranger from earlier. Her heart raced as he scanned the room, and for a moment, their eyes met again. This time, there was no coldness in his gaze—just an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

“What are the odds?” Brienne whispered, nudging Theresa. "But bran??" Theresa whispered back. "He's gone" she whispered again

“This is your chance! You should go talk to him!” “What? No way!” Theresa shook her head vigorously, panic flooding her senses. “I can’t just walk up to him!” “Why not? You’ll regret it if you don’t! Just be brave for once,” Brienne encouraged, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Before Theresa could protest further, Brienne had

already begun to move towards the man, dragging her along with her. “Excuse me!” she called out, her voice bright and cheerful.

The man turned, his expression shifting from surprise to intrigue as he caught sight of the pair. “Yes?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth. “This is my best friend, Theresa,” Brienne introduced, a grin plastered on her face. “And I think you two should get to know each other.” Theresa's heart raced as she stood before him, unsure of what to say.

The world around her fell silent, and in that moment, it was just the two of them. “Hi,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Hi,” he replied, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’m Adrian.” The moment hung in the air, charged with unspoken possibilities.

In that crowded café, amidst the laughter and chatter, Theresa felt a spark of something new—a flicker of hope in the midst of her chaos.

Right then, one of his men ran up to him and whispered something in his ear, “I'm sorry, but I have to leave” he said politely and started moving towards his car.

He stopped midway, walked back to the girls and looked right into her eyes, bending over her shoulder, she could feel his hot, deep breaths on her skin, he whispered “ call me” then handed her his number, then he started again to his car.

Shivers went down her spine. “There was something familiar about this guy, his perfume, his vibe and everything about him felt familiar but his face” she thought.

“Did you see that?” Brienne squealed in excitement. “ I think he likes you,” she continued.

Her phone beeped, it was a message from her workplace,”oh, I totally forgot about my shift, and I'm practically late. Will you be good on your own?” She asked Theresa with a concerned face.

She nodded in response and smiled. “Alright pookie, love you” she said as she sprinted out of the cafe.

Theresa kept watching her as she ran out of sight when her phone rang, it was her mum's doctor. Her mum had been hospitalized again and this time the dialysis is inevitable. Her heart broke. How was she supposed to get that much money??

She thought of going back to the club, but Brienne, she would definitely be against it. The first and last time she went to the club was when Brienne went on a vacation with her boyfriend who broke up with her two weeks ago, and now she's in this mess because of that. She went there because Toria invited her. Toria was another of her childhood friend who had enmity with Brienne causing a fallout of their friend group.

"You'll earn a lot of money just by dancing, you don't need to have s*x with them, just dance half naked with masks” Toria had told her.

And since she was really desperate for her mum's hospital bills, she took the risk. She kept looking at the number Adrian had given her. She sighed and tossed it into the trashcan.