by Hamel, B. B.
I nod to myself and walk back to the car. Thomas drives me back to the office.
Eden shows up for work an hour later and I can’t stop smiling as she glares at me for the rest of the day.
3
Eden
It’s impossible that I’m pregnant.
I know, I know, I bet every girl that gets pregnant by accident thinks the same thing. I mean, I had sex with a man without protection and he came inside of me. I loved it, but what did I think was going to happen?
The thing is, I can’t have kids. At least, that’s what doctors told me.
Ten years ago, I got into a car accident. It wasn’t some little fender bender. It killed my best friend at the time, a girl named Megan Brown.
We were at a party together, one of those big house parties high school kids try to pull off. There was beer and she was drinking and I knew I should’ve driven us home. But she said she was fine and I didn’t have my permit yet, so I thought, okay, fine, she can drive just fine.
I was young and so, so stupid.
She was driving fast. It was dark, there was a deer. She swerved and we slammed head-first into a truck.
Megan died that night and I broke just about every bone in my body. I shattered my pelvis and the bones scarred my uterus. The doctors said that the scarring would prevent me from having babies for the rest of my life, that they’d never properly implant. They said it’d be impossible.
But now here I am, ten years later, and apparently I have a miracle baby growing inside of me.
What a freaking miracle.
Really, it’s a freaking nightmare.
I sit at my desk and glance over at Finn. He seems like he’s in a good mood. I still can’t believe he made me come in yesterday after I told him that I’m pregnant with his baby. We haven’t talked about it since then and he doesn’t seem interested in bringing it up. I don’t plan on pestering him with it, either, although I will be taking maternity leave at some point.
Because I’m keeping this baby. There’s no doubt in my mind. This might be my only chance at having a baby and I’ve always wanted one.
I don’t know what I expect from Finn. Maybe more than him telling me to get back to work, I guess. He didn’t even seem fazed.
Then again, Finn’s never fazed. He’s a hard boss, controlling, intense, and unrelenting. I should’ve expected him to take it in stride like that. He’s not the kind of man to break down just because he got his personal assistant pregnant by accident.
God, what a nightmare.
The worst part of it all is that Finn pays me really well. Like, just under six figures a year. I don’t know where else I’d make this kind of money, and I really do need it. Student loans aren’t cheap, even if I live in the tiniest, least-expensive apartment imaginable.
Still, I don’t know what to do. I guess I shouldn’t expect anything from him. He didn’t ask for this, although he did have a pretty big hand in making this baby happen. Still, I don’t know where we stand and I’m too afraid to ask.
“Eden!”
I look up. Finn’s glaring at me from his door. “Yes?” I say, hopping up.
“My office.”
I follow him into his office, ignoring the worried glances from the other people working nearby. They should be used to him snapping like that by now. It’s basically just how he talks at this point.
I don’t take it personally. I know better than most how much stress he’s under. His responsibilities are never-ending and almost staggering, and I genuinely don’t envy him at all.
“What is this?” he almost growls at me, holding up a piece of paper.
“A piece of paper,” I say.
He glares at me and holds it out. I walk over and take it, glancing it over.
“It’s an expense report,” I say.
“And why is it just sitting on my desk?”
I want to say, that’s because you haven’t given it to me to file, but I hold my tongue.
“These need to be brought to HR in a timely manner,” he says. “If we get audited, this tiny little mistake could bring this all down, do you hear me?”
“Yes, sir,” I say.
He sighs, still glaring at me. “Get it done.”
I take the report and quickly leave his office. I’m always tempted to curse him out but I never bother doing it. He just pays me too well to make the temporary joy I’d feel even remotely worth it.
I take the paper down to HR and head back to my desk where at least five new tasks are waiting for me. I sit down at my computer with a sigh and get to work, calling clients, setting up meetings, booking hotels and making dinner reservations.
Say what you will about Finn, and I’ve probably said it all too, but at least he keeps me busy. I don’t have time to obsess about the baby I have growing inside of me. I’m too focused on ticking one task off my list after another until finally, it’s the end of the day.
Finn works late, but he almost never expects me to stay past five if I’ve finished everything I need to. He wants me to keep my phone on in case he needs me, but he’s only ever called twice after hours since I started working for him, and both times were emergencies. He works me hard but he’s fair about it at least and doesn’t expect more than what’s reasonable.
As I gather my things, I notice him appear in his doorway again. He looks at me.
“Eden,” he says, although unlike earlier his voice is soft and measured. “I want to talk to you.”
My heart starts beating fast. He never just wants to talk… it’s always an order. I can’t help but think this has to do with…
But no, he’s not going there. I can’t imagine he would. We had our moment and it’s passed now. He doesn’t want anything to do with my baby and I’m not going to make him.
I’m not even sure I want him involved.
Frankly, Finn doesn’t strike me as the good-father type. He sleeps around, he travels a lot, he’s always working, and he’s not exactly incredibly kind. Plus, he’s my boss. If he got involved with this baby, that would complicate everything so much.
No, it’s better if he stays out of it. It’s better if he stays far, far away. I don’t need a demanding asshole like him in my baby’s life, let alone in my own, at least not like that.
I follow him into his office. This time he gestures for me to sit. I take a seat and watch him carefully as he sits down across from me. Our eyes meet briefly and I look away first, down at my hands.
“I need you to know something,” he says softly.
I look up, startled by the intensity in his voice. “Excuse me?”
“I need you to know that I plan on raising that child.”
I stare at him for a second before I burst out in laughter.
He doesn’t seem to appreciate that, but I can’t help it. Did he seriously just say he plans on raising my baby? I mean, I literally just decided I’m not having him anywhere near my child, and now he says that’s exactly what he wants.
Sometimes I think the world can be really cruel to me for no reason.
“I don’t see why that’s funny,” he says. I can see a little hurt in his eyes.
I get myself under control. “It’s not,” I say. “It’s not funny at all. I’m sorry. I was just… surprised.”
“Why?” He cocks his head. “Do I seem like the kind of man to run away from a responsibility?”
“Look, before we go there, this isn’t a responsibility,” I say quickly. “You’re not responsible for me or for the baby. I’m going to keep it but I’m going to raise it on my own.”
He frowns. “In that tiny apartment?”
I glare at him. “Why are you so obsessed with my apartment?”
“It’s just… so small.” He makes a face and shakes his head. “You can’t raise a kid in that.”
“I’ll get a new one,” I say.
“Do you know anything about babies?”
“No, do you?”
He considers for a second. “No,” he says. “Honestly, I nev
er wanted a kid.”
“Don’t worry. As far as I’m concerned, you were just a sperm donor.”
He smirks at that. “A little more than just a donor. More like an artist.”
“Sperm artist?”
“Sure.”
“Gross.”
He shrugs. “Look, you’re going to need help. I pay you well, but can you have a baby and still work for me full-time? I’ve been easy about your hours, but what happens if we need to increase them? Or if there’s an emergency after hours and I need you for something, but you can’t find a babysitter?”
I try to interrupt him, but he holds up his hands.
“You can’t do it alone,” he says simply. “And since I’m that child’s father, I’m going to raise it.”
I clench my jaw. “You don’t know what I can and can’t do, asshole.”
The words come tumbling out of my mouth and as soon as I say them, I honestly can’t believe it.
I just called my boss an asshole. I mean, he deserves it, but still.
He doesn’t seem angry though. An amused smile spreads across his perfect lips.
“I almost believe you.”
I lean forward and glare at him. “Believe me, Finn. I don’t need you or anyone else. If you want to fire me, go ahead, fire me. I’ll find another job and we’ll be just fine.”
I push back and stand up. He watches me for a second and I’m tempted to slap him across his smug face.
Instead, I turn away.
I don’t know why I’m so angry. He’s offering to help me, and god, I know that deep down I really need his help. I need his hands and his money and anything else he can offer me.
But it’s that smug, conceited, know-it-all attitude that’s pushing me away. That, and I already decided I’m not doing this with him.
“It wasn’t a request, Eden,” he says as I head to the door.
I stop and look back at him. “Excuse me?”
“It wasn’t a request.”
“Are you threatening me?”
He shakes his head and smirks at me. He stands and walks after me. I back up until I run into the frame of the door.
He stops inches in front of me.
“I’m not threatening you, Eden,” he says softly, almost whispering in my ear. “I’m going to raise my baby… and I’m going to have you.”
I blink rapidly just as he kisses me.
I don’t pull away. For a second, I fall into that kiss. I remember how it felt to be with him in Poland, how incredible it felt, how right.
But we’re not in Poland anymore. We’re in the middle of the office.
I push him back, looking around. Nobody’s nearby and I doubt anyone saw, but still…
“Don’t do that again,” I hiss at him.
“Afraid someone might see?”
“Yes,” I say. “And I don’t want to kiss you, okay?”
He grins. “You do want to kiss me.”
“No, I don’t. And I don’t want you raising my child.”
“I’m going to,” he says simply. “And I’m going to do more than just kiss you.”
“Finn,” I say through clenched teeth.
“I prefer when you call me Mr. Kelly.”
“Finn,” I say again, really pissed now. “You’re not having anything to do with this baby.”
“We’ll see.” He grins at me and walks back to his desk. “See you tomorrow morning, Eden.”
I glare at him for a second longer before shutting his door and heading back to my desk.
I’m reeling, almost dizzy with desire and confusion as I pack up my stuff for the day.
4
Finn
I don’t know what I’m thinking.
I’ve never wanted a wife or kids. For as long as I can remember, a wife and kids always seemed like a shackle, just another responsibility that would hold me back from doing what I wanted. I’ve always been the kind of man to do whatever I want whenever I want, and I supposed that hasn’t changed.
It’s just that now I want my child and I want Eden.
I know what that means for me in the long term. My life will change in drastic ways. I probably don’t even fully understand what a life with a child will be like.
But the idea of backing away from this… well, I’m not that kind of man. I couldn’t turn my back on a baby.
Let alone a baby being carried by a woman I want more than anything I’ve ever experienced.
I barely recognize myself right now but I also feel good. Just thinking about taking Eden the way I want and raising that baby right makes me smile.
It’s bizarre, but here I am. I’d better come to grips with this, because if I can’t even believe myself, there’s no way Eden’s going to believe me.
The next day, Eden shows up on time. I don’t say anything about raising babies or taking her as my own. I keep things normal. Hell, if anything, I go a little easy on her.
But I can see little chinks in her armor. I notice her glancing at me with these looks, these confused looks. I want to confuse her even more, pull her into my office, kiss her, touch her skin, taste those lips, fuck her deep and rough until she begs me to keep going. I want to show her just how badly I want her.
But no, not just yet. I need to give her a little time to feel normal at least. I can’t scare her away.
I also can’t wait too long.
At the end of the day, I call her into my office. She hovers in the door before I beckon her further inside. She hesitates and I give her a look.
“If I wanted to fuck you right now, Eden, do you think I’d do it in front of glass walls?”
She blushes and shuts the door behind her. “That’s not what I was thinking.”
“Yes, it was. You were thinking about how I told you I’m going to raise our baby and make you mine.”
“Not our baby. My baby.”
I smile. “I need you to make dinner reservations.”
She clenches her jaw, clearly annoyed. “When, where, and how many?”
“Two, tonight, and wherever you want to go.”
She stares at me for a second. “You mean, you want…?”
“To take you to dinner, yes. I think that’s a normal way of starting something like this.”
I see the anger flash across her face. “There’s nothing to start,” she says. “I already told you how I feel.”
“And I told you how I feel.”
“I’m not going.”
“You’re refusing to do your job?”
She crosses her arms, staring right at me. “Fire me if you don’t like it.”
I stare right back and can’t help but smile. That defiance, that fire, it’s fucking sexy.
Annoying, but sexy.
I’m not used to people calling my bluff. Clearly though, she knows she has the upper hand here.
“Fine then,” I say. “Another night.”
“No, no other night. You can’t do this, you can’t just—”
“Get you pregnant then say I’m going to raise my child?” I arch an eyebrow at her. “Seems reasonable to me.”
“You can’t just insert yourself into my life. What happened was just… it was just one night, okay? You don’t owe me anything.”
“I don’t feel like I owe you anything either, little Eden. If you think I’m doing this out of some old-fashioned sense of obligation, you’re wrong.”
She looks exasperated, spreading her hands in front of her. “So why are you doing it?”
“Because.” I smile at her, almost sweetly. “I want to.”
She lets out a frustrated huff. “You’re impossible.”
“Let’s talk about it over dinner.”
That almost breaks her. There’s a quick smile before she shakes her head. “No, thank you. Is there anything else you need?”
I watch her carefully. She meets my gaze, clearly trying hard to keep herself under control.
“No, that will be everything. Have a nice night.”
She tu
rns and leaves my office without another word.
I lean back in my chair and smile to myself. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.
Well, I guess I’ll have to be creative.
* * *
The next day goes a lot like the last one.
I keep things normal all morning and afternoon. I don’t tell her all the filthy things I’m thinking about her. I don’t tell her that I want to bend her over my desk and spank her. I don’t tell her I want to pull her hair while I slide my fingers in and out of her tight little cunt and make her call me sir until she comes. I don’t tell her how badly I want to taste that delicious little pussy of hers, licking it and sucking it over and over until her whole body goes stiff and tense with orgasm.
No, instead, today I keep her busy.
It’s almost the opposite of yesterday. I went easy on her but clearly that didn’t work. Instead, today I’m working her ragged.
And there’s no way she’s finishing on time, either.
I can tell she’s not happy about it as the hours slip past. People start leaving around five but she’s glued to her desk, head buried in a mountain of tasks.
She knows the deal. I keep her hours pretty regular and for the most part I’m pretty lenient. But when I need her to work late and hard, she’d better be ready to give me everything. I don’t ask what I don’t need, but when I need it, she’d better be ready.
So she doesn’t complain. She just works. And slowly the office empties out until it’s only the two of us, completely alone in the entire space. I take a quick stroll around just to make sure that nobody’s still hanging at their desk.
When I’m sure we’re alone, I set up in the conference room before going over to her desk.
She looks up at me, tired and annoyed. “Yes, sir?” she asks.
I smile at her. “You look tired.”
“Thanks.” She doesn’t smile.
“Working hard?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Why don’t you take a break.”
She frowns a little. I can tell that’s all she wants right now, but she senses the trap. “If I keep going, I might be able to get home soon.”
