PregnantWithTheCEO'SChildButInLoveWithMyHighSchoolCrush

Kate

Four shots of margaritas.

That was how many I had taken.

Maybe four was too many, but at that moment, I didn't care.

Judging by the way the world was spinning around me, I was definitely drunk.

I laughed and ruffled my hair before lazily dragging my feet toward the receptionist.

My vision was a little hazy, but I could still make out my way to the front desk.

"Hi... I need a room," I whispered, placing my card on the counter as I stumbled slightly.

The receptionist glanced at me. "Of course. Do you have a reservation?"

I shook my head. "No."

"That's okay. May I see your ID, please?"

I fumbled through my bag and handed it to her.

She typed something into the computer before looking back at me.

"How many nights will you be staying?"

"I... I'm not sure. Just one night for now."

She nodded. "Okay. Here's your key card. You're in room 108. The elevators are just down the hall to your right."

"Thank you," I murmured, taking the card.

I walked down the hall, trying to keep myself steady.

When I got to my room, I turned the doorknob and frowned when the door opened easily.

Why was the door open?

I stared at it for a moment before shaking my head.

I was too drunk to think about it.

I walked inside and headed straight for the bed, collapsing onto it.

I buried my face into the pillow, sobbing as I hit my legs against the mattress.

"Why?"

My voice cracked.

Why wasn't I enough?

I had loved Cole for years.

I had held onto every little moment between us, convincing myself that maybe, someday, he would see me the way I saw him.

But he never did.

He only saw me as his friend.

Friend.

I pressed the pillow against my face, trying to silence my sobs, but they only grew louder.

It hurt.

God, it hurt so badly.

I wished I could shut my heart off.

I wished I had never told him how I felt.

At least then, I could have kept pretending that I still had a chance.

Then I heard the doorknob turn.

I stopped crying.

For a second, I just stared at the door, confused.

Who was coming in?

The door slowly opened, and a man stepped inside.

I blinked.

I slowly lifted my head from the pillow, wiping at my cheeks as I looked at him.

He had a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair dripping wet, and water running down his chest. A tattoo of a woman's face was inked across his skin.

Then he looked at me.

I looked back.

My eyes traveled up to his face.

A sharp jawline.

Full lips.

He was tall.

And annoyingly handsome.

My heart, which had already been hurting, suddenly started pounding.

I didn't know why.

Maybe it was the alcohol.

Maybe it was the way he looked at me.

Whatever it was, my brain seemed to stop working.

I slowly stood up and walked toward him.

He took a step backward.

I still didn't understand where the boldness came from, but I kept moving until his back hit the wall.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

Then, without thinking, I stood on my toes, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips against his.

Oh...

It was so soft.

Tender.

It sent sparkling stars spinning through my head while butterflies filled my stomach.

I moved my hands to the back of his head.

His hair was so soft and silky.

Then he kissed me back.

Rough.

Wanting.

Passionate.

For a moment, I forgot everything.

I forgot Cole.

I forgot the rejection.

I forgot how badly my heart had been hurting.

All I could think about was him.

He carried me toward the bed, his strong arms holding me close. A rush of fear and desire coursed through my veins.

I moaned softly, my body arching into his touch even as a part of me screamed to stop this, to end this dangerous encounter before it went too far. 

But I couldn't bring myself to resist him, not when his touch sent electric shocks of pleasure through me with every caress.

And that night, I let myself forget everything.

I woke up the next morning with a sharp pain shooting through my head.

I groaned and slowly opened my eyes.

The entire room was empty.

"What the hell?" I whispered, holding my head.

I sat upright and looked toward the mirror.

My hair was a mess, and my eyeliner had smudged into a ridiculous line beneath my eye.

I sighed and was about to move when I felt a sharp pain between my legs.

Then, slowly, everything came rushing back.

I had unprotected sex with a stranger.

And he hadn't left a note.

Not even his name.

I had always wanted my first time to be special and blissful.

I wanted it to be with the man I loved.

Not some stranger in a hotel whose name I didn't even know.

He was careful and gentle not to hurt me but I still felt pains around my legs. I rubbed my thighs softly and bit my lips.

"What have you done, Kate?" I whispered, dropping my head into my hands.

My mind drifted back to him.

Yeah.

The stranger was handsome.

Very handsome.

His touch was something I knew I wouldn't forget anytime soon.

The way he kissed me...

I had never experienced anything like it before.

When he played with my nipples.

When he kissed me down there, I couldn't help but beg for more from a stranger I know nothing of.

I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering the night, then quickly opened them.

What was wrong with me?

I had just slept with a man I knew absolutely nothing about.

And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about him.

My phone suddenly buzzed, making me jump.

I quickly searched for it and saw Helena's name on the screen.

I answered.

"Hey."

"Just where the fuck are you?"

I sighed and rubbed the back of my head.

There she went again.

She complained like she always did.

I pushed the phone a few inches away from my ear because I knew she was about to deafen me.

"Be right on my way," I whispered weakly before ending the call.

I quickly grabbed my things and hurried out of the hotel.

---

By the time I got to the office, something was clearly wrong.

Everyone looked tense.

Some were whispering while others sat in their chairs, barely talking or moving.

What the hell had happened?

I raised my head and saw Helena rubbing her forehead while adjusting her glasses.

I was just about to ask what was going on when someone suddenly yelled.

"Kate to the office. This instant!"

I froze.

It was my boss.

I hurried toward his office, my heels clicking against the floor.

My palms were sweating, and my heart was thudding violently in my chest.

Oh, God.

What was going on?

Please, let it not be what I was thinking.

I prayed silently.

When I reached his office, I stood there with my hands behind my back, my legs shifting nervously as I watched him.

This was my first time being late for work.

And apparently, a lot had happened while I was gone.

"Sit," he said, motioning toward the chair.

I slowly sat down, my body trembling slightly.

"The company has filed for bankruptcy," he said, his voice unusually heavy.

My head began to pound.

I could feel my heart freeze in my chest.

I stared at him, barely able to process his words.

"What?" I whispered, my breath shaking as I wiped my sweaty palms against my skirt.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to take in."

My heart sank.

He hesitated before continuing.

"I'll be stepping down as CEO of this company. That means I'm no longer in a position to run it."

He looked at me with an apologetic expression.

"Kate, I know this is hard, but you know we can barely keep the company running. We can barely pay wages at the end of the month."

I gripped the handle of my bag tightly.

"Due to the bankruptcy, the company and its remaining assets have been placed under new ownership."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"New ownership?"

He nodded.

"Yes. A private acquisition was completed earlier last week. The new owner has taken over the company, and he will be assuming control of its operations."

"He's a very powerful businessman and the CEO of Whitmore Enterprises. He acquired the company and will be taking over as the new CEO."

My stomach twisted.

Whitmore.

The ruthless and most arrogant CEO in the city.

Color drained from my face.

"So... what happens to us?"

"That decision will be made by Mr. Whitmore," he said. "I don't want to give you false information. Until he addresses everyone, none of us knows what the future holds."

His words only made me more anxious.

Everything was happening too fast.

Just a few minutes ago, I had walked into this office expecting another normal workday.

Now I was being told that the company was bankrupt, my boss was stepping down, and a stranger had bought the company.

Before I could ask another question, a knock sounded on the door.

My boss looked toward it.

"He's here."

The door opened.

And then he walked in.

A perfectly fitted black suit covered his tall frame. His expression was cold, with not even a hint of a smile.

His sharp eyes swept across the room before briefly settling on me.

I froze.

My breath cut in my throat.

My heart began pounding so hard I was certain everyone could hear it.

I felt like the floor had disappeared beneath me.

My legs trembled inside my shoes.

No way.

It couldn't be.