4

CHLOE  

That day, I had packed all of my belongings and left the company with my head high. Nathan had been the one to take me to his branch at the other end of the city. 

Over the next few weeks, I settled into my new role at Sebastian's branch, no longer a secretary, but a Personal Assistant. 

Sebastian was different to work with. Despite being more quiet and reserved he was more strong-willed in his decisions, a far cry from Nathan who was impulsive and sometimes lazy.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed working with him. He included me in decision-making and asked for my advice, which was a change I hadn't expected but it was true to what he told me the day he hired me.

When I asked him why he had saved me that day, his answer surprised me.

“It wasn't out of pity if that's what you think. It's Nathan's loss to fire you. You're smart, resourceful, and talented. You're too good to be stuck as a mere secretary," he continued. "You deserve better. You always did.

I was taken aback by his words that day.

Nobody had ever said anything like that to me before. Nathan had always reminded me that I was just a servant, that working for him was a privilege. 

But Sebastian's words made me feel seen for the first time. 

That day, I felt a flutter in my chest when it came to him. It was a feeling I couldn't explain, but it was there, nonetheless.

Since then we had grown closer. I still lived in his home.

As for Nathan, I rarely saw him aside from the few joint meetings that happened weekly. Sometimes I could feel him staring across from me as if willing me to give a reaction but I held back.

I was relieved to find that I no longer felt anything for him. After the heartbreak and realization, my feelings for him for the past decade faded. Being with him for that long was a mistake and now I felt free.

I wished I could forget him entirely, but I couldn't. Not when my pregnancy was a constant reminder.

The morning sickness had gotten worse over the following weeks. I tried to hide my condition from Sebastian, but it was getting harder with every growing day. I was falling sick more often, even between work. It made me more paranoid that it was only a matter of time before he found out.

That time came sooner than I expected.

During a morning briefing, a wave of nausea rushed over me, and I had to run out of the room where I stayed. When I returned, the meeting was already over and Nathan simply passed me a cold look.

“Come to my office,” he said

Fear and anxiety filled my gut. This was it. There was no going back.

I obeyed, closing the door behind me in dismay. He was going to fire me

For a moment everything was silent. My heart hammered in my chest as he looked at me.

“You're pregnant.” He said. It wasn't a question 

A mix of emotions filled me but I nodded.

 "Who's the father?" he asked, his voice neutral. Sebastian's expression was unreadable.

I stiffened in tension. Sebastian had no idea that the baby was Nathan's. Our relationship was a secret after all.

The reminder of Nathan's threat to hide our relationship sent a chill through my spine. I wanted nothing to do with him anymore and I had no intention of revealing it now.

“I…I'd rather not say,” I replied, trying to sound strong despite everything else in me trembling in fear.

Sebastian's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I felt like crying. Was he going to fire me?

I had already felt so close to him. He was the one to support me through this. Now that I was pregnant was he disappointed? Angry? Would he throw me out just like Nathan di-

“Marry me.”