All Chapters of The Reluctant Daddy CEO : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

38 Chapters

Chapter Eleven : I want to be okay.

ASHLEYI have seen shirtless guys, but I haven't seen anyone like him before. I couldn't get the image out of my head no matter how much I tried.The joggers hung low on his hips, careless and effortless.I remembered the way his muscles shifted when he moved. Subtle flexes beneath warm skin, the quiet strength in his arms. His chest was toned, broad and smooth, rising and falling with slow, steady breaths. Below it, well-defined abs tightened slightly when he turned, the faint lines catching the light.He saw me in shorts. I was still embarrassed about him seeing me in clothes like that.In my defence, I wasn't expecting to see anyone there so early. I only wanted a cup of coffee.He was normal during the conversation, unlike me, who was a mess. If he noticed anything, he didn't say it.Rather, he showed it...I could still remember the tingles I felt when he patted my back softly. And when he put a finger over my mouth. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't help but wonder if he fe

Chapter Twelve : Conversation.

NICHOLAS "How was the interview?" I asked, looking up from my laptop."It went well, sir. She will resume tomorrow," the director in charge replied.I sipped my coffee while leaning back in my chair."Keep the list of the top five applicants. In case she doesn't meet my expectations.""Understood, sir.""You can leave."He got up and left my office. My secretary entered almost immediately. "Mark is here to see you. Should I let him in?"I nodded and continued with the task I was dealing with."Good afternoon, boss," Mark greeted, and I gestured for him to sit."Any information?"He nodded. "To an extent, yes. I will know whoever it is soon.""Find her soon."He nodded before leaving. He was my private investigator. I needed to find the mother of that girl. She will take her daughter back when I find her. The rest of the day went by slowly. Attending to files. Going to meetings. I got down from my car and stepped out. I headed out of the garage into the house. I could smell the t

Chapter Thirteen : Does someone have a crush?

ASHLEY He didn't even glance at me.Not once. It ignited something in me.Sadness. I couldn't pinpoint why.Dinner with Kat was amazing. I learnt that she took care of him when he was a child. It explained the closeness between them.That night, I was able to fall asleep easily. __^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^__^One week.Seven days.He went on a business trip the following morning. He hasn't been back since. The mansion felt suffocating whenever Kat left for her house. I couldn't possibly talk to Luciana. Life's boring. Without his presence. Without the weird feelings I felt around him.It's also good in a way. It allowed me to organise my thoughts. Compose myself. To try to understand the weird feelings I felt whenever he was around. To understand what was going on with me.When Maya's text came in to hang out, I couldn't decline the offer."Do you mind watching over Luciana for a few hours?" I asked Katrina.She stared at me for a second before her face broke i

Chapter Fourteen : The way she moved.

NICHOLAS. "Welcome onboard. Flight Chicago to New York. We leave in five minutes. Ensure to fasten your seatbelt and read the safety guidelines," my pilot's voice came up.I massaged my temples while pushing my reading glasses up. It has been two weeks of trying to seal a multi-billion dollar deal. At first, my reputation almost ruined my chances of winning. But I drafted a plan with my PR team, and it succeeded. "Did you call me, sir?" I turned around and frowned.My new personal assistant, or should I say soon-to-be ex personal assistant?She clearly doesn't understand the meaning of 'I don't mix business with pleasure.'Her shirt had gotten tighter since we got here. She was literally pushing her assets right in my face.She's beautiful. Well endowed.I couldn't break that one rule even if I wanted to.Ashley was perfect. She never tried to seduce me. It helps that I wasn't her type, which still baffled me. I was every girl's type. What kind of men does she like?It's none of

Chapter Fifteen : His loss!

ASHLEY. When did I realize I had a serious problem? And Maya's assumption might be right.When he walked through that door wearing that glasses looking like a sexy nerd.I didn't even know I was into guys with glasses until then. Of all nights, I decided to skip dinner. A night I had to come prepare something because that decision was bad.It had to be the night he came down still wearing those glasses.Thank goodness he came in minutes after I finished dancing. I wouldn't be able to face him again if he saw me doing that. The universe hates me so much. "I hope you like red wine," his voice came up behind me.I collected the glass from him, avoiding the tiniest contact. "Yes, I do. Thank you."He shrugged as I took a sip. I almost moaned. It tasted expensive, something I wasn't used to. Something I couldn't afford.Today's the day I had to face my sister. I was dreading it. I wasn't ready to see the new scars she will be hiding under her long sleeve hoodie. Knowing I was resp

Chapter Sixteen : It truly sucked.

ASHLEY.I tied my hair into a ponytail and walked out of my room. I headed to Luciana's to check up on her.I wanted to run this morning to stay in shape.But it's more than that.It's to get over the fact that we almost kissed. And the fact that I was meeting with Lily later.It has been only a few hours.I entered her room and heard her soft snores. She's a good one. I don't know why anyone wouldn't like her.Except her father, of course.He hasn't warmed up to her yet. I wasn't sure if he would ever accept her as his child. She's innocent in all this, yet she's the victim. The mother abandoned her, and her father wanted nothing to do with her.It truly sucked.She will ask questions when she grows older.By then, I hope they will be present in her life. I patted her hair before slowly walking out, careful not to wake her up. I could hear pots clanking even before I entered the kitchen. "Good morning, Kat," I said while opening the fridge. She looked more healthy now. She gav

Chapter Seventeen : Lily.

ASHLEY. "A!" A voice squealed before hands wrapped around me.I didn't need to turn around before I knew who.The smell.She smelled like home.The struggles we have been through. The Ashley Walker before this fantasy. "L!" I sighed, hugging her just as tight.I pulled away, slightly. My hands moved on their own. Checking, searching.Bruises. Scars.New ones.My fingers traced them carefully, like I could erase them if I tried hard enough.Scars given by the one person who was supposed to protect her.My throat tightened.This was why I stayed away.Why I made excuses.Because seeing it… made it real.She gently pulled her hand from mine and tugged her sleeve down."A," she called softly."I am... sorry."The words felt useless the moment they left my mouth. I couldn't meet her eyes. "It is not your fault, A," she started. "You are doing everything you can."My laugh came out hollow."My best isn’t enough."I dropped onto the bench, pressing my palms together to steady myself.Wh

Chapter Eighteen : You are not me!

ASHLEY. She looked at me with expectant eyes waiting for me to say something.I couldn't tell her about Luciana because it wasn't my secret to tell."I am just his personal assistant. How do you expect me to know much about this guy?" I grumbled. She pouted. "For starters, have you been to his house?""I live there," I blurted out without thinking.Oh God!"You live with Nicholas Bianchi?" she gasped out, abandoning her ice cream.I nodded. "We usually have midnight meetings. He thought it would be easier for me."I was becoming a perfect liar. "I want to be you," she groaned. I pulled her cheeks and forced her to look at me. "Be yourself! Nobody else.""I am not the one living in a billion dollar house."I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you know all these things?" I asked. "You don't have a phone."Her smile faded away. "My school has Internet and laptops. So I make use of that."My chest tightened painfully. "That’s about to change," I smirked. I reached into my bag and

Chapter Nineteen : Strange feelings.

NICHOLAS. I looked up from the file I was reading. "Mark is here, sir," Jack, my new personal assistant said."Send him in."He was the fourth after Ashley. The other three only wanted one thing.Me."Come in," I said as I heard a knock on the door.Mark stepped into the office, and I gestured for him to sit.He cleared his throat before speaking. "I have news, boss."I nodded, urging him to go on. I hoped he had a good one."I found out who she is," he said before handing me an envelope. I wasted no time opening the envelope. Taking out the pictures inside. There were a lot. The supposed mother of the girl in some photoshoot. Then some of her and me locked in a heated kiss. One of us walking out of the party. Another captured us in front of me hotel room. It showed evidence. Yet, I still couldn't remember the night."What’s her name? Where does she stay?" I asked."Angelina Parker. She moved to Spain a few months ago. I found her flight ticket. It's dated the same night the ba

Chapter Twenty : Loud fears.

NICHOLAS. "Fasten your seatbelt. We will touch down in Barcelona, Spain," my pilot announced. I finished the food Kat packed in the first hour of the flight. I couldn't stop replaying the moment with Luciana. Her name was slowly replacing her nickname in my head. It's messing with my head. I couldn't wait to negotiate with her mother to take her back. I don't need her in my life. I knew that much. I imagined what would happen if people found out about her.I could see it clearly.'Illegitimate child of Nicholas Bianchi.''Playboy’s mistake finally exposed.'Stocks crashing.Investors pulling out.Everything I built slipping through my fingers.My grip tightened around the glass.No.That couldn’t happen.I threw back the rest of the bourbon and dragged a hand through my hair.Damn it.This had to be the biggest mistake of my life.The plane began its descent... just like my life would if the truth came out.My dad.I couldn’t tell him.Wouldn’t.Disappointment would be an und

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