"Have you told him yet?" Cassie sits next to me on the couch. It's been two weeks since we got back from our business trip to California. It's also been two weeks since I had any interaction with Darren. I couldn't tell if it was him or I who was avoiding the other. Some days I swore it would be him and then others it would be me. A part of me was thinking about just leaving the company and going elsewhere.

"Nope. I honestly don't even know how to start that conversation off. He probably would think I'm lying and then also, he might think I'm just trying to get his money." I sigh.

"And honestly he would be an ass to think that. Anyone who knows you know that you're not that kind of person. If anything, you both are at fault when it comes to my godchild. You two should have known better to use protection. I don't care how caught up in the moment you are in, wrap it up." Cassie says sternly and her words were nothing but the truth. "You can't keep this a secret any longer. You need to tell him." She looks around, her eyes landing on my cell phone. "Call him."

"Shouldn't I do this in person?"

"If you were going to do it in person, you would have done it weeks ago. Come on, call him. At least I'm here for moral support." She hands me the cell phone.

"Actually, I have to see him tomorrow morning. So, I'll tell him then. I need to do it face to face. If I was a guy, I wouldn't want to be told something like this at ten o'clock at night. Let's be considerate."I look at her.

"Fine. But you have to tell him tomorrow. Don't prolong it because then it will just look bad. I mean already does, but you're still in the early stages if you two decide on giving the baby its wings."

"Cassie!" I look at her as if she had three heads. "I would never."

She stands up gathering her things. "I know you won't, but maybe he might."

"And I would leave and never look back."

"That's what I love to hear. Look I have to get going. I have work in the morning as well and I can't show up late again. I've been late a total of three weeks and let's just say my boss isn't happy about that. Later my love." She kisses me on the forehead, and I walk her out.

"Wait," I call out to her as she reaches the bottom step. She looks up at me confused. 'Didn't you start that job about three weeks ago?"

"Yup." She says shrugging her shoulders. "I'll text you when I make it in the house."

All night into the early hours of the morning I twist and turned in my bed. I didn't know if I had it in me to tell Darren, but I knew it had to be done. I should at least give him a chance to be a part of something so special. I just hope he wasn't the kind of man that would want to abort his child. If he didn't want our baby, I would figure out the next steps. However, I didn't want to think about that, I would cross that bridge when the time come.

I enter the office and today is busier than usual.

"Erika, what's going on?"

"Did you not get the email last night?" I shake my head no. "Since going public was a huge success last week. A few shareholders are coming to walk the company. The executives will also be walking too, so a lot of people are on high alert."

"Why?" I'm missing a lot.

"Last time the executives walked the entire company at least twenty people got fired. Mr. Kramer is literally the devil who wears suspenders. I swear that man is scary. Also, Mr. Jackson can be a bit much too. So please don't cross paths with either one of them. I think Mrs. Tucker will be walking as well." Erika rambles looking over her shoulder she gasps. "I gotta go." She yells at Ivy for putting more files on her desk.

With all this information I make a beeline for my office and start tidying up. The last thing I want is for them to come inside and see anything but perfection. An hour later my GroupMe starts to explode. It seems like the visit has begun. Damn it. My desk is literally a mess all over again, but at least I'm sitting behind it working. You can't fault something for being a mess if the culprit is doing her job.

I stand up to grab something from my printer and the sudden movement makes my stomach do party tricks. This isn't the life I envisioned for myself. Morning sickness wasn't a thing for me, I wish it were. I had the sickness all morning and night and right now was no different. I take a deep breath over and over trying to fight the urge to vomit. My phone rings distracting me just a bit. Hitting the speaker button, I walk over to the printer.

"Hello, Ms. Alexander speaking."

"So, professional. Hey girlie, just calling to check on you."

"Hey Cassie, I'm doing good. Today we have a visit so I can't be on the phone just gossiping with you today."

"Boo. Fine, let me just cut to the chase. Did you tell Darren you're carrying his child yet?"

"No. What part of we have a visit don't you understand? I will tell him later or tomorrow. It really isn't important today."

"You think a visit is more important than letting him know he is going to be a father? I mean I get you were holding this information for some weeks, but I don't think you should hold on to it much longer."

"It will just be one more day."

"This must be your pregnant brain talking. I think you should march up to him and just rip the band-aid off and say hey buddy, I'm pregnant and this is your baby."

"I know Cassie. I will tell him. Now I have to go." I really don't have time for her shenanigans right now.

"Fine, just don't take too long to tell him. Later girlie."

I turn around from the printer and stand frozen. This seriously can't be happening. Maybe they didn't hear the whole conversation. Damnit I should've closed my office door.

"Good morning, Mrs. Tucker, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Jackson. Am I needed for anything?" It feels like my heart is about to beat outside my chest. I pray they didn't hear anything, but the look on Mrs. Tucker's face tells me they heard something, but I'm not sure what. I don't think I said Darren was the father and damn I don't remember if Cassie said it or not.

"No," Darren says through clenched teeth, storming out the office.

"Charles, do you mind if I have a word with Ms. Alexander alone?" Mr. Jackson asks.

"Five minutes that's all I'm giving you because I need to check on him." She gives me a stern look before walking out of my office, closing the door behind her.

You know when you feel like you have to shit because of nerves. Well, that's me right now. The urge to vomit is no longer present. It's just me and the shits. I eye Mr. Jackson as he walks further into my office. He walks to the windows and it was like a sense of Deja vu. I remember Mr. Tucker in my office weeks ago just like this. However, I feel like this conversation could lead to termination. After all, the man standing in my office is in charge of the staff. I could be gone with the snap of his fingers.

Not wasting any more precious time I walk over to the windows standing a few feet away from him.

"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Jackson?"

He looks at me and feels like he is staring into my soul. I hold his gaze, not showing any signs of weakness. Cassie told me, never to show weakness to the rich and powerful. They are humans just like the rest of us and we should never feel any less than because they have money. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared shitless right now.

"You're pregnant, Mr. Reed—Darren is the father. How far along are you?"

"Are you asking me questions or?"

"The only question I asked was how far along are you?"

Rude much.

"Most likely a month. I haven't set an appointment with the doctor just yet. I still don't want to believe this is true. Am I in any sort of trouble?" I watch as a smile breaks out on his face, quickly pulling out his phone he types away.

"Of course not. However, I would need you to make your way to HR and talk to Priscilla about this. We have policies and protocols to follow."

"I didn't think there was a policy regarding dating at the workplace..."

"Oh, there isn't, we never stand in the way of love. However, you're not dating anyone in the company and two you're carrying one of the founders of this company's baby. Please see Priscilla immediately, as in right now. Confidentiality is a golden rule here. What is said to Priscilla doesn't leave her office unless it's a need-to-know for the parties involved." He places his phone back into his blazer's pocket.

"Did Darren hear me?" my voice barely above a whisper.

"We all heard that you're pregnant, but Darren can be a bit slow when it comes to putting two and two together. Always have been since our college days. I know Charles will be thrilled to know that she will have another sister so to speak to and spend time with."

Sister?

"Right. Off to Priscilla I go."