All Chapters of The Ceo's Unexpected Choice : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Zara barely slept.The note they had found on Adrian's car kept replaying in her mind.Enjoy pretending. She'll be taken next.She tried convincing herself it was just another threat.But after everything that had happened over the past few weeks, she knew better than to ignore it.By Monday morning, security at Knight Technologies had doubled.Every visitor was searched.Every employee had to scan their ID twice before entering.Even Zara felt nervous walking through the lobby."Morning, Miss Daniels."The security guard smiled as he handed back her ID.She forced a smile."Morning."The elevator doors opened.She stepped inside and leaned against the wall, letting out a quiet sigh."Long weekend?"She looked up.Daniel, the software engineer, stepped into the elevator just before the doors closed."You could say that."He smiled."I heard the gala was beautiful.""It was.""And?""And what?"He laughed."I was hoping for a better story than that."She smiled despite herself."You'll

The ride back from the awards ceremony was unusually quiet.The city lights blurred past the window as Zara stared outside.She was still thinking about Adrian's speech."She's reminded me that hard work, honesty, and kindness still matter."No one had ever praised her like that in public.Not even at school.Not even at home."You've been quiet."Adrian's voice pulled her back."Hm?""I asked if you were alright.""Oh... yes."He didn't look convinced."You've answered 'yes' three times in the last five minutes."She laughed softly."Have I?""You have."She turned to him."I was just thinking.""About Bianca?"Her smile disappeared."A little."Adrian sighed."I should've explained everything earlier.""You really don't have to.""I want to."He rested one arm against the car door."Our fathers were business partners years ago.""I know that part.""There was talk about our families merging through marriage.""But it never became official.""My father died.""Her father kept hoping

Monday morning started badly.Not dramatically badly.There were no police officers at the door, no mysterious envelopes, and thankfully, nobody had discovered another secret relative.It was simply one of those mornings when everything seemed determined to go wrong.Zara's alarm had failed to ring.Her phone had died during the night.The bus she normally took had driven past her stop.And when she finally reached Knight Technologies, she was twelve minutes late.Twelve.She stared at the giant clock in the lobby."Please don't let him be here.""Who?"Zara jumped.Evelyn stood behind her with a cup of coffee."Nobody."Evelyn raised an eyebrow."That sounded very convincing.""I'm late.""I noticed.""Is he angry?""Who?"Zara gave her a look.Evelyn smiled."Adrian has been asking where you are."Zara's stomach dropped."He's angry.""No.""Then why did you say it like that?""Because it's funny watching you panic.""Evelyn!"She laughed."Go upstairs. He has a meeting in ten minut

Zara stared at the woman standing in front of her.For a moment, she honestly thought she had heard wrong."My... sister?"The woman nodded."Yes."Zara looked at Adrian.Then back at the stranger."No."The woman swallowed."I know this is a lot.""A lot?"Zara let out a nervous laugh."You walk into my workplace, look at me like you've known me forever, and tell me you're my sister.""I know how it sounds.""It sounds crazy.""I agree.""Then why are you here?"The woman took a breath."My name is Nadia."Zara said nothing."Nadia Hayes."The surname meant nothing to her.She folded her arms."I don't have a sister named Nadia.""I know.""Then we're done here."She turned toward her desk.Nadia didn't move."Your mother's name was Evelyn Daniels."Zara froze.She slowly turned around.Nobody outside her family knew her mother's name.Adrian noticed the change in her expression."Zara?"She ignored him."How do you know my mother's name?"Nadia's eyes softened."Because she was my m

The woman’s words hung in the air.Your father.Zara stared at her."My father?"The older woman nodded slowly.Adrian stepped forward."Who are you?"The woman looked at him, and something about her expression made him uncomfortable."My name is Margaret Cole."Adrian's eyes narrowed."That name means nothing to me.""It should."His mother stepped in."Margaret, this isn't the place.""No." Margaret shook her head. "We've hidden enough."Zara's heart hammered."Hidden what?"Margaret looked at her."Your father was alive when your mother left."Zara blinked.She had grown up with almost no information about him.Whenever she'd asked her mother, Evelyn had always changed the subject.Sometimes she'd simply said, He's gone.Zara had assumed that meant dead.Now she realized it hadn't."Who was he?"Margaret glanced at Adrian.Then at his mother."Richard Hayes."Zara's face went blank."Nadia's father?""Yes."The world seemed to stop."Nadia's father was my father?"Margaret nodded.