Page 7

As I walk toward the public transport station, the weight of what just happened presses down on me. My footsteps are quick, but my mind races even faster. What was I thinking? Taking on a challenge like that, especially in front of everyone, and most of all, him ? I took the bait in the heat of the moment, letting my pride take over, but now, the reality of the situation is sinking in. What if I fail?

I feel a tight knot forming in my stomach as I stop at the curb, my thoughts swirling with doubt. The bus is still a few minutes away, and I don’t even know if I can think straight at this point. I take a deep breath, hoping the cool air will calm me down.

Just then, a sleek black SUV pulls up next to me, its engine purring softly. The window slides down, and my heart sinks. It’s Timur in the backseat, being driven by a chauffer.

“Get in,” he says, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.

It doesn’t sound like a request—it sounds like an order. I hesitate, my pulse quickening. Timur’s sharp eyes are on me, waiting, and I know there’s no escaping this. He’s the chairman of the company I work for now, and whether I like it or not, I can’t afford to be disrespectful. Not after everything that just went down in the boardroom. I can’t risk being seen as uncooperative.

I glance at the bus stop one last time before pulling the car door open and sliding in.

The leather seats are cool beneath me, and I can feel his presence as we pull back into traffic. The silence between us is thick, uncomfortable. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He’s still the same—a presence that commands attention without even trying. His jaw is tight, though his hands and body appear relaxed. Everything about him radiates power and confidence, and it makes me even more uneasy.

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” he starts, breaking the silence, his voice calm but with a hint of something darker. “But I’m glad we’ve finally crossed paths again.”

I keep my gaze forward, trying to focus on anything but him. The passing streets, the sound of the car’s engine, the weight of his words. I know I can’t avoid this conversation, but that doesn’t mean I have to make it easy for him.

“Just business,” I reply shortly, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

He chuckles, a low, deep sound that sends a shiver down my spine. “Business. Is that what we’re calling it now?”

I don’t respond. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of looking at him.

“You didn’t think you could sneak away without saying anything, did you?” His voice is teasing, pushing at me, testing me.

I finally turn my head, meeting his eyes for the first time since I got in the car. He’s watching me closely, the corner of his lips curled into a grin. God, why does he have to be so attractive? I hate that my pulse quickens just from looking at him. He knows the effect he has on me, and I hate that too.

“It was just one night,” I say bluntly, trying to sound as indifferent as possible. My voice is steady, but inside I’m a mess. “It meant nothing.”

His grin widens, and I immediately regret my words. He doesn’t believe me. Hell, I barely believe me. But I can’t let him know that.

“Is that what you’re telling yourself, Jennifer?” he asks, his tone mockingly gentle. “That it meant nothing? Because from where I was standing, it looked like it meant a hell of a lot more.”

I swallow hard, feeling the heat spread from my cheeks to my neck. “It was just one night,” I repeat, even though the words taste bitter on my tongue. I’m trying to protect myself, to keep my emotions in check, but it’s so much harder when he’s sitting right next to me, looking at me like that.

Timur watches me, his fingers slowly drumming against the seat. His eyes never leave mine, and it feels like he’s seeing right through the mask I’m trying so hard to wear.

“If that’s what you want to believe, fine,” he says, his voice soft but laced with something that makes my heart race. “You should know, Jennifer, I’m not the kind of man who forgets things that easily.”

The car pulls up in front of my dorm apartment building, and I can barely breathe. My hands are clenched in my lap, and my mind is a whirl of emotions I don’t know how to handle. Before I can say anything, he leans in slightly, his eyes still locked on mine.

“Next time,” he murmurs, “don’t run.”

I finally turn to him, my voice sharper than I intended. “Why do you always do that?”

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Do what?”

“Belittle me. Challenge me like you’re testing how far you can push.” My hands clench in my lap, and I feel the words spilling out before I can stop them. “I worked hard to get that internship. I deserve to be there. You of all people should know that.”

Timur stays silent for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he’s holding back a smirk. “You think I’m trying to belittle you?” he says slowly, his tone calm but laced with amusement. “I gave you a challenge because I know you can handle it, Jennifer. If I didn’t think you were capable, I wouldn’t waste my time.”

“Waste your time?” I scoff, turning my body to fully face him. “You didn’t seem too concerned about wasting your time a month ago when—”

“Careful,” he interrupts, his voice suddenly lower, a warning tone slipping into it. “You’re walking a fine line.”

I feel my pulse quicken, but I refuse to back down. “You know what? Forget it. You don’t get to play games with me, Timur. I don’t care how powerful you are, or how important your stupid company is.”

He doesn’t respond right away, just watches me with those unreadable eyes. The weight of his gaze is almost unbearable, but I don’t look away. I can’t. The frustration bubbling inside me is too much to contain.

Then I realize something. We’ve been sitting outside my dorm this whole time. My frustration briefly shifts into confusion as I glance out the window.

“Wait… how did you know where I live?” I ask, my voice softening slightly, caught off guard by this revelation.

He smirks, the same infuriating grin that always seems to push me over the edge. “I own the company, Jennifer. Keeping track of an employee’s records, including their address, isn’t exactly difficult.”

My mouth drops open slightly, a mix of annoyance and shock coursing through me. He says it so casually, as if it’s no big deal. Of course, he’s that kind of man—the type who knows everything about everyone around him.

I let out a huff of frustration and open the door, stepping out of the car before I say something I’ll regret. “Let’s just forget about it,” I mutter, my voice barely audible as I close the door behind me. “Whatever happened between us—it’s in the past. It meant nothing.”

Before he can respond, I turn on my heel and march toward the dorm entrance, my heart racing. I hear the car pull away behind me, but I don’t look back. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that I’m still thinking about him—about that night. About everything.

As soon as I reach my room, I slam the door shut and lean against it, letting out a shaky breath. The worst part isn’t that he turned out to be my boss. No, that’s not what’s eating away at me.

It’s the secret I’ve been holding on to for weeks, the one that’s been keeping me up at night, making my thoughts spiral in every direction. I walk over to my desk, where a file sits open, the papers spread out in front of me. My hands tremble as I pick up the report—the one that confirmed everything.

I’m pregnant.

I stare down at the words, my vision blurring as the reality of the situation settles in again. I’m carrying Timur’s child. The man I tried to forget about, the man who I thought I could walk away from without any complications.

Now, I’m tied to him in a way I never expected.

My hand drifts to my stomach, the weight of the secret crushing me all over again. How do I tell him? Should I even tell him? Part of me wants to run again, to pretend this isn’t happening. I can’t.

I glance at the mirror across the room, seeing my reflection—my face pale, my eyes wide with uncertainty. I’m not ready for this. None of this was part of the plan. Not Timur, not the pregnancy, not the confusion that’s gnawing at me from the inside out.

I let out a shaky breath, closing the file and pushing it away. What am I going to do?