CEO'S Secret Baby: A Standalone Surprise Pregnancy Romance by Iona Rose (books for 5 year olds to read themselves .TXT) 📕

I still couldn’t believe he had actually stolen my phone from me, just to get me to visit him. It was a great move, and one I didn’t mind at all, but it was also unnecessary. Sooner or later, I would have gone over to see him. It was just so endearing though that he wanted it to be sooner.

I was however so preoccupied with giddy thoughts of him, that I didn’t even bother to note whom I had passed on the way out of his office.

“Leah?”

I heard my name called, and turned around.

My heart lurched into my throat as I met the gaze of Daniel Coghlan, the VP I had a meeting with in twenty minutes. The smile immediately disappeared from my face. “Sir?” I answered.

His eyes narrowed at me, and then at my somewhat rumpled appearance. When he returned his gaze to me, his expression looked sour.

It sent a sliver of worry down my spine.

He didn’t say a word.

A lump began to grow at the back of my throat.

He turned around to head into the office, while Carter’s secretary Joseph, gave me a somewhat polite smile.

I turned around to head to the elevator, feeling somewhat nervous.

This could very well be interpreted as me frolicking with the boss, and it just wasn’t the reputation I wanted swirling around me. But it was the best I would be able to receive if I kept sneaking around with Carter. I mean, how many employees could come out of an executive’s office with hearts in their eyes, without there being a sultry story behind the visit?

The whole situation troubled me, especially as I was going to see the VP in a short while. With a sigh, I got on the elevator as it arrived and headed back to my floor.

Half an hour later and VP Daniel had somehow managed to turn into a nightmare overnight.

Today, we were focusing on establishing the demographic that would yield the utmost success if we directed our campaign towards them, and every single idea put forward by the members of the team, had been rudely shut down.

After an aggressive rant, the room was silent for a while, before I decided to speak. “Sir, based on my research so far, I think that young mothers would be a great focus.”

For the first time since I had ran into him earlier in front of Carter’s office, he spoke to me, “And why do you think that? We’ve just heard that the majority of the demographic that consumes energy drinks are students and middle-aged workers. Where do young mothers come into this equation?”

I wanted to give up right then, but I fought myself from rolling my eyes at him, and went on, "Gillette’s major demographic is indeed men. But during this past year, and especially after the controversial 'the best men can be’ ad that they put out, they’re gradually beginning to win the new market of younger women who appreciated them speaking against toxic masculinity”.

“Leah, they received massive backlash for that ad, and men advocated for their products to be boycotted,” Henry warned.

“At first.” I nodded. “But then their sales have grown over the second quarter of the year because despite all the racket they made, men don’t buy their own razors. Their wives and girlfriends do that, the same market that was impressed by the message that Gillette was trying to pass across. My point is this; mothers, especially new mothers more than the usual college students whom energy drinks are targeted towards, need a pick me up as they try to navigate the new phase of their life. And that’s what Vita500 is for. We target it to new mothers, but then others can relate. Students, especially females just starting college, young adults just entering into the job market and trying to navigate the challenges of their new life… and so on.”

The room went silent and the longer it stretched, the more I shrunk back into my chair.

Our esteemed VP rose up and walked out of the room.

“Well that went great,” Henry said sarcastically, and went on his way.

Jeremy lowered his head to conceal a snort.

I smacked him with my folder across his arm.

Chapter 26

Leah

That night, and for the first time in a long time, I had something to look forward to beyond the frustrations of our current account. I arrived home early, and made sure I had all the ingredients needed for my fail proof dinner of fettuccine in creamy alfredo sauce, garnished with cheese, shrimp and parsley.

At a quarter past nine, Carter called to tell me that he was on his way. My house was cleaner than it had been in a little while, the over-priced cashmere mist candle I had never used lit and burning on the mantle, as the scent of jasmine filled the atmosphere. At the ring of my doorbell, I hurried over to the door.

I didn’t even bother checking who it was before I pulled the door open.

My face was beaming with excitement in one moment, but fell with disappointment in the next, as I saw who my guests were.

For a long time I couldn’t speak, until Tracy popped some confetti.

“Hey!” I jumped.

“Wow,” Anne spat. “So much for a hearty welcome.”

They pushed their way in.

I was forced to back away before they ran me over.

I saw Tracy had a bucket of cheese balls, and a tote I was sure contained more food, while Anne had three bottles of wine.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Tracy was losing her mind,” Anne said.

“That’s not true,” Tracy retorted. “I was just worried. We haven’t seen you since you told us about your pregnancy, and then Carter’s sudden appearance, my God. I still can’t believe he’s here and that he bought your company.”

“I knew he was a designated and ‘solid piece of ass’ from the first time I laid eyes on him,” Anne commented.

“Basically you’re going through a lot,” Tracy said. “So we came to cheer you up.