Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Valiant Trilogy: Kabanata 141 - Kabanata 150

By the time Monday morning rolls around and Vincent is still MIA, I force myself to get out of bed, eat half a bagel for breakfast, dress as if nothing is wrong, and hit my desk on the marketing floor promptly at 8 a.m. I may have been a crappy personal assistant to Vincent, but I made a promise to myself to be the best kick-ass marketing assistant. Regardless of the problems happening upstairs in the penthouse, I refuse to let my actions and a missing Vincent keep me from being an outstanding employee here.It's time to rally. I've spent way too much of my life as a passenger in my own car. If I want an outstanding life, I have to make it happen for myself. The last few months with Vincent have left me a mess. I always feel off balance and overwhelmed, but that ends now. It's time to take charge. I'm not a meek person who can't take charge. I'm Mackenzie fucking Marshal and I've got this. Mostly.Plus, losing myself in work makes me forget the misery tumbling around in the back of

"You're pregnant."His words bring a deluge of new tears to my eyes as I rest my head in my hands and cry."I'm so sorry, Vincent." Finding out you're having a baby should be a joyous experience—a miracle between two people who are excited for the development and who can look at the test as a blessing not a curse. This was never the way it was supposed to happen.He abandons the test and the directions and finds his way to my side of the island, squeezing me into a deep hug. He lifts me off the stool and carries me to the couch, resting my body on his lap."It's okay. We'll figure it out."I nuzzle my head into his neck not wanting to look at his face. "I promise I didn't mean to get pregnant. You can't end up leaving me." Now I'll be alone to raise a baby as a single mother.Vincent squeezes me harder rocking back and forth. "No, baby. I will not leave you. I'm going to marry you."His words shock me into stillness and I clutch his shirt harder, pulling him close. "No. N

After the crazy of Monday, I welcome a calm Tuesday tucked in behind my cubicle walls. As a marketing assistant, my job is to fill out the boring reports, make copies as needed, and do the other crap jobs no one else wants. Only when you have years of experience as a grunt do you get to attend the fun design meetings and come up with new ideas and advertisements.Still, as I sneak a peek at all the marketing leaders seated around the conference room table on the opposite end of the floor, I can't wait until the day I join their ranks. My lazy daydream ends as Levi walks past my cubicle. I spin in my chair, preparing to greet the one equal I have on this floor. Technically he's been in marketing a few weeks longer than I have, but we're closer than anyone else."Hi, Levi."His steps slow and he turns his head, giving me a most vile look like having to share air with me disgusts him. His steps pick up once he passes my cubicle, and he walks into Marissa's cubicle where the two of t

Not disturbed by my words, Vincent takes his seat again, leaning back in his chair and smiling. "Is that so?""This is serious, Vincent. The least you could do is pretend to be shocked or upset or worried about what I am going to say.""I agree. Give me everything you've got." His dumb smirk kicks up a notch.Ugh, why is he so sexy when he's cocky and why does he constantly leave me feeling like a small child when I'm in his presence? I'm not an adolescent having a temper tantrum. I'm a legitimately pissed-off woman. This is what I get for trying to date a man who runs a billion-dollar company and could negotiate a better price for water in the desert.I stand next to the chair Rachel just vacated but refuse to sit and share the space she had her butt on. "I read your email."His smile grows. He knows exactly why I'm here. "Did you find it informative?""Vincent," I say leaning over his desk, trying to get into his space and intimidate him. As expected, it doesn't work. His

Thirty minutes later as we're walking out of the doctor's office Vincent repeats his earlier statement, clutching my hand and guiding me on the steps as if I'm having trouble walking."We're really having a baby?" he asks, showing the first sign of his raging emotions over the situation emotion. "Me? I'm going to be a dad.""Are you sure about this?" I ask, picking up on his apprehension. This is the first time Vincent has shown any doubt since we walked into the doctor's office. He was so sure of everything and asked the doctor a million questions while I sat beside him completely stunned.He stops at the side the town car as Davis opens the back door, waiting for us to get in to the vehicle. "I've never been surer of anything in my life," he says placing a soft kiss against my lips.I wait until we're in the car and Davis is walking around the front before I ask my question. "Then why did you run?"He gives me a look that I can't quite put my finger on as Davis gets in and