Shienna tapped her heels on the marble floor she was standing on. She had been waiting in the lobby for almost half an hour, but the man she was waiting for had yet to appear. She had purposely come to the office of the man she had spent the night with in Palmerston, Cook Island.
The receptionist had told Shienna to wait, but she felt her efforts were in vain. Shienna took her cell phone and dialed the number on the business card the man had given her."Damn it! Is he trying to avoid me?" she muttered, annoyed. She got up, stomping her feet through the men on security duty, standing in front of the escalator, making sure no one could access the metal box to get to the boardroom."Excuse me, miss. Where are you going?" the guard asked as Shienna pressed the button for the elevator to the 21st floor, where the room of the man she was looking for was located."I'm going upstairs to meet the owner of the company.""Do you have an appointment?""I did a few minutes ago.""Then show me the pass card.""Pass card?""Yes. If you have received approval, you will receive a pass from the receptionist.""Oh, I don't have one. But don't you recognize me? I'm the—""We know you very well. Who doesn't know Shienna Miller, the multi-talented diva? However, the rules remain the same. You must get permission from the boss to enter his personal space.""Wait, wait! I don't want to go to the private room, but the office. This is not personal business."The man did not respond but took out his cell phone and dialed someone. Before long, he returned his attention to Shienna, who was still standing, waiting."Mr. Sanders allows you to enter, Miss Miller. Please."Shienna stepped into the elevator, which was not empty. A well-dressed woman wore a brooch with the company crest pinned to her chest. The elevator took them to the 21st floor, and the woman walked Shienna to a door that didn't look like an office."We have arrived at Mr. Sanders' office, Miss Miller. He is waiting for you. Please press the button that will connect you to him. Excuse me." The woman left Shienna and went back to the elevator.Shienna adjusted her clothes, then pressed the button that connected to the intercom. Before Shienna could speak, she heard a loud voice, followed by the door opening.A middle-aged man bowed and let her in."You've finally arrived," greeted a deep baritone voice. Shienna knew who was waiting behind her back. "Come on in. I don't have much time."Shienna didn't have time to look around the room she was in. The man's words made her react, rolling her eyes and snorting. Her gaze fell on the tall, well-built man with the dapper appearance that guided her to follow him.The man, followed by Shienna, entered a room. He invited Shienna to sit, poured vodka into two glasses, and placed it in front of his guests."Have a drink. I don't think you're here for work. Was the pay for your performance yesterday less than satisfactory?""I'm not drinking, and you already know it's not about work. Why bring up money?" Shienna snapped, sounding annoyed. The man sat not far from her."Then tell me.""I'm pregnant, Bray. And I'm sure you know who should be responsible for this."There was silence between the two for a long time. Shienna waited for Bryan's reaction while he had an unreadable expression."You're just quiet? Say something!" Shienna was getting impatient.The man shrugged in response to his former lover's irritated statement. "What do I have to say? You convinced yourself that we didn't do it that night. And now, why are you asking me to take responsibility?""It's because—"Shienna instantly could not continue her sentence. She didn't know what to say to make Bryan understand what she had come to see him for."Why? Don't you have an answer to my question? Does that mean you're just here to hold me responsible when I'm not the one who got you pregnant?""Watch your tongue, asshole! It's obvious you were on my bed naked that night.""But you didn't believe me when I said that we had had sex that night and refused my offer." Bryan grinned, satisfied that he had stirred up Shienna's feelings. "Didn't I tell you I wouldn't make you an offer twice? Besides, that baby could have belonged to another man. How many months after that night? Three months, if I remember correctly. And the time was enough for you to sleep with anyone.""Don't talk shit, Bryan Sanders! I'm not a whore who will sleep with just any man. You're the first if you wanna know.""Ho ho... I just hit the jackpot!" he replied with a booming, mocking laugh. "Still, it doesn't guarantee anything, Miss Shienna Miller, the diva."Shienna clenched her fists at Bryan's lighthearted reply. She got up, grabbed her glass of vodka, and poured the contents over the man's head."Okay. It doesn't matter if you don't want to take responsibility. I just wanted to tell you. If you encounter this kid someday, accept him because he's innocent. Excuse me."With light steps, Shienna made her way out of Bryan's room. Her chest was tight, indeed. However, being modest was not her style. She had never begged a man to be her lover, but the opposite. So, for once, she wouldn't ask either, especially after seeing the man's reaction.Unfortunately, Shienna had no idea what Bryan was thinking right now. He was weighing it up, from various angles, that it would be in his favor if he were willing to take responsibility for Shienna's pregnancy.***"Shie, there's someone here to see you," the assistant said hesitantly. She knew who was coming but said nothing to Shienna, who was practicing the cello in her music room."So early? Who?""Um, someone. He doesn't want me to tell you. Hurry up; he seems like a busy man and seems to be in a hurry."Shienna got up and hurried to meet the man, who was already waiting in the main room with several people carrying trays.Shienna frowned, unsure if she recognized the man with his back to her."Excuse me, did you want to see me?" she asked and clamped her mouth shut as soon as the man turned around."Did I startle you?" the man asked as he looked at Shienna with her eyes bulging and mouth gaping open in two palms. "Are you ready?""Ready? For what?""Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you a few days ago when you came. You left in a hurry before I had time to think. I've already prepared the hall and everything for our wedding. It forced me to pick you up here right away, worried that you'd run away if I contacted you first," the man said, still with a calm but icy demeanor. He didn't smile in the slightest. Very different from the man Shienna had known."You must be joking, Bray. You said—""Help Miss Miller to get to the car. Take her to the place I've prepared, dress her up beautifully, and then head to Gladiola Palace building W10 immediately. Do you understand?" the man ordered, cutting Shienna off.The others nodded in response to the man's words, who had not taken his eyes off Shienna, who looked nervous now. Some people then guided Shienna while the man hurried to follow the other steps.The man had to stop, too, when Shienna halted and faced him. "What are you doing all this for? And what are you going to do to me?""Marry you. I don't need to ask. I don't need your opinion, and I don't need to be responsible for you. My only concern is the baby—if he is indeed my flesh and blood. So, don't think that I'm trying to pursue you. Because my period of patience and begging for you is over," he said. Bryan then stepped over Shienna's body, but not for long. He stopped. "Do what we have to do. After the baby is born, you can decide whether to stay or go. One thing is for sure: if the baby is mine, then he will be in my care."The wedding's procession went smoothly and solemnly. It was the first time Shienna had seen a live wedding because she was the bride. Meanwhile, the look on Bryan's face did not show a glow of happiness, nor did it look sad. He could deliberately hide his feelings because he is trying to maintain an image. This wedding is not something Shienna and Bryan were expecting. Newshounds began to crowd the halls of the Gladiola Palace, checking in on the diva's wedding and the wealthiest businessman who had never been seen with any woman. It meant that the rumors were true, that they had indeed spent a hot night in Palmerston. Now, reporters are waiting for Shienna and Bryan to clarify the news. "I've asked some people to come to your house and get all the stuff you need," Bryan said once they were in the bridal suite of the Gladiola Hotel. They didn't want to spend the night having sex because that's not what they wanted. It's just that the image is what they need right now. "What for?"
Knock, knock, knock!"Shie, I'm sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to tell you something about tomorrow's schedule," Shienna's assistant said after knocking on the door late at night. Bryan, who knew the assistant as well as his wife's best friend, glanced at her and went back to his work on his laptop. "Say it, J." "Ever since you became Mrs. Sanders, the press has been polling to see who would be interested in hearing clarification from you." Jennifer paused her sentence to ascertain her best friend's reaction. "Can you do the press conference for tomorrow?" "Um... that matter..." "Ahem... let's not forget the agreement between us," Bryan interrupted, unable to hear the conversation as if he wasn't there. "Do you want me to tell people you mistakenly conceived the baby?" Shienna gave Bryan a sharp look, then returned her attention to Jennifer, awaiting a response. "Jennie, I'm sorry. There are conditions where I can't give them what they want. This marriage is a personal thing
Shienna arrived at a familiar building. She turned to Bryan when they reached the lobby and stepped into the skyscraper she knew was Bryan's office. Several employees who had been busy working got up and faced Bryan and Shienna, an assistant, and several bodyguards followed. "Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Sanders!" They greeted. Shienna and Bryan received the same greeting every time they met another employee, even when entering the elevator. "Not the 21st floor, Bertha. Take us to 21A," Bryan ordered as the neatly uniformed woman was about to press the button she usually pressed every time she escorted her boss to the penthouse. Today, for the first time, Bryan asked Bertha to take him to the penthouse above his personal space. She nodded, took the card out of her pocket, and held it up to the sensor on the elevator wall. One side of the elevator opened to reveal a few buttons that she pressed, and the metal box they were riding in immediately went to the floor Bryan wanted. They ar
Shienna looked at Ray as he stepped out of her penthouse with a sad look. Shienna was unwilling to let go of a bodyguard as reliable as Ray, who had made her feel safe wherever she was. However, one thing she emphasized to Ray was that he should keep her updated on his situation, and if he ever needed help, she would be able to help him. Plus, there is a promise that Shienna will use his services again when her business with Bryan ends. This time, it was Jennifer's turn to sit not far from Shienna's place, who seemed hesitant to start the conversation. "Shie, are you sure you'll agree with your husband's decision? Are you going to dismiss me? Is this the end of our friendship?" "Tsk! Of course not, idiot! I don't want to make trouble with that psycho guy. Didn't you hear what he said last night? Your presence here is just as a friend, not my assistant anymore. That means you can stay here for the rest of your life." Jennifer rolled her eyes as she heard Shienna's explanation. That
Shienna smiled happily as she saw the package arrive, and she unwrapped it. Jennifer sent the piano and other musical instruments to the penthouse, bringing her to sudden tears. "Oh, look at that! She's so considerate of me," Shienna muttered as she wiped away the tears and dialed the number on her cell phone screen. "J... are you free? I want to meet you and thank you for your concern." "What? What for, Shie? Never mind... I did that as your assistant, so consider it my duty, and you've paid a good amount. Your husband has also added a severance bonus for me," Jennifer replied. "What? Are you sure he increased the severance bonus for you? Why would he do that?" "I don't know. Ask your husband." "No, I won't. I want to hear from you. La Café, at lunchtime. I don't want any rejection. This is a reunion of friends, and you must make time, okay?" After getting an affirmative answer from her friend, Shienna went back to opening some packages and arranging them in the empty room that
Shienna finally made it out of the crowd and arrived back at the penthouse. She was now holed up in her room, not opening the door—no matter who knocked from outside. She had no idea who to trust. Bryan didn't say anything when they got married, not even when she and he talked about the contract, the terms of which she forgot to double-check. However, their marriage was not based on love, so was it right for her to ask for clarity from her husband on this matter? Knock, knock, knock! "Shie, it's me. Elea said you've been reluctant to leave the room since earlier. What happened?" asked a voice that Shienna knew very well must be Bryan. However, she was reluctant to meet anyone for now. She was depressed. As long as she was a public figure, she had never once dealt with romance. Let alone being a suspect in the destruction of someone's relationship. She had always been betrayed and cheated on, and now she was making a man cheat on his fiancee. Could it be true what the woman at the c
Shienna woke up with an aching body that made her reluctant to leave the bed. Instead, she pulled the covers up and lay still until she heard a knock on the door."Mrs. Sanders, are you awake? I've prepared your breakfast and vitamins. You have a check-up at the gynecologist today, and... you'll be doing yoga in the gym today with a maternity yoga trainer and Mr. Sanders," said the woman from outside.Hearing the assistant's explanation, Shienna was forced to get up and open the door for her. "Why don't you come in?" she asked."I'm afraid you're not awake yet, ma'am.""I'm awake now," Shienna replied as she stepped towards the dining table where breakfast and everything she needed was served. "Could you repeat my schedule for today, Elea?"Elea nodded, then repeated what Shienna had asked earlier while calmly enjoying the food in front of her, and once again, she couldn't finish it all.Shienna was silent for a moment as if she was thinking about something. However, a moment later, s
Shienna woke up and realized that it was past seven in the evening. She scrambled to her feet and checked the room outside and found no Bryan there."How could I have fallen asleep? What about the yoga instructor?" she muttered, rushing to put on her sleeping robe and head over to Bryan, but decided against it when she remembered what happened when she came to the 21st floor that night. "Uh, no! Forget it. It's late anyway. There's no way I'm doing pregnancy exercises at this time of night."Shienna was still standing in front of the elevator when the elevator doors suddenly opened, and a scantily clad woman was standing there. Without excusing herself, she stepped into the room and sat down on the sofa."Can you call Bryan? I have an appointment with him," the woman said, giving orders to Shienna, who looked disheveled as she had just woken up after sleeping since noon."Who are you dare to command me? Don't you know me?" asked Shienna, looking annoyed."Do I know you? I'm... you kno