Monica's POV
The next morning dawned with an uneasy calm. I woke up early, unable to shake off the events of the previous night. Nicholas's harsh words still echoed in my mind. I had to be stronger, not just for myself but for my unborn child.
As I dressed for the day, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan. His sudden reappearance had thrown me off balance. The memories of our past together were unforgettable, and the sight of him yesterday had brought all those emotions rushing back. But I couldn't afford to let my feelings get in the way. I had to focus on the present and the future I was trying to build.
I made my way downstairs, determined to start the day on a positive note. I found Nicholas in the dining room, already dressed and reading the morning paper. He glanced up as I entered, his expression unreadable.
"Good morning," I said, forcing a smile.
"Morning," he replied, his tone neutral. "We need to talk about the board meeting today. We must present a united front."
"I understand," I said, nodding. "I'll be ready."
As we sat opposite each other in silence, I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. I had to prove to everyone, including Nicholas, that I was capable of handling this.
"Monica" I heard Nicholas calling out and that jolted me out of my thoughts. "I'm sorry about my actions yesterday. I am just trying to be careful with the plan so our cover won't be blown and I need you to be focused. I need the company to be permanently mine and I can't do that on my own. I shouldn't have yelled at you and I'm sorry about that"
I froze as I stared at Nicholas without blinking. I couldn't believe that this cold and arrogant handsome man could apologize for this sincerely.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" He uttered, waiting for my response
"Apology accepted" I replied, saying the only thing that came to my mind with my gaze still on him.
Patricia brought the food for us and I couldn't help but have the huge to throw up. The food looked good but the smell was something else. "Excuse me" I uttered as I rose to my feet and left the dining room.
★★★★★
Nicholas and I drove to the office together. The awkwardness between us was solid, but I tried to focus on the task at hand. We entered the boardroom, where the directors were already gathered. Mr. Benjamin was there, along with the other members, all waiting expectantly.
"We just called you here son to ask about when you're going to start your wedding preparations," Mr. Karl began, his tone jovial yet firm.
"Wedding preparations?" I was stunned by Mr. Karl's statement. I didn't expect to get married.
"Of course, marriage. For Nicholas to fully have access to this company, you two have to get married," Mr. Paul said with a knowing smile.
"And I look forward to seeing the child soon. I wonder what gender the child is," Mr. Karl added, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Ok. We will discuss it at home and come up with a date," Nicholas said, trying to end the conversation as smoothly as possible.
"Come up with a date? We've decided on the date already," Mr. John uttered excitedly, his enthusiasm palpable. "And I look forward to your wedding."
"What?" Nicholas's exclamation echoed in the room, his shock evident.
Mr. John pulled out a piece of paper from his briefcase, handing it over to Nicholas. "We thought it would be best to set a date, considering the importance of this union for the company's future."
Nicholas took the paper, his eyes scanning the text. "Two months from now?" He looked up, his face pale. "That's too soon."
"Not at all," Mr. Benjamin said, leaning back in his chair. "It's perfect timing. It gives enough time for preparations and aligns with the company's strategic goals."
I glanced at Nicholas, sensing his frustration and the weight of the situation. "We'll make it work," I said, stepping in to diffuse the tension. "We appreciate the board's support and enthusiasm."
Nicholas shot me a look, his eyes questioning me "Yes, we'll make it work," he echoed, though his voice lacked conviction.
★★★★★
After we left the meeting, Nicholas and I returned to his office. He closed the door behind us, his expression hard. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low.
"I know," I replied, sinking into one of the chairs. "This changes everything. You didn't tell me we were going to get married"
Nicholas paced the room, his frustration was evident. " I didn't know about that. I thought if they knew I had a child then they would be off my back for good. They're forcing our hand. Two months is hardly any time to plan a wedding"
"We don't have a choice," I said, trying to stay calm. "If we refuse, they'll question our commitment and say we were just not serious from the beginning "
He stopped pacing, looking at me with a mix of determination and desperation. "We have to make this work, Monica. We have to convince everyone that this is real."
I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "We will. But we need to be prepared for the wedding "
"I'll handle the details," he said, determined to make this work. "But we need to discuss the guest list. We can't afford to invite many people. The board of directors, some friends and families and that's it "
I nodded. "We'll keep it small and selective. Just a few people"
As we continued planning, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This wedding wasn't supposed to happen but for us, it was a calculated move in a dangerous game. One misstep and everything could come crashing down.
I suddenly felt like I was losing strength and I began to breathe in and out slowly. "What's the problem?" Nicholas asked, noticing my actions. "Are you all right?"
"I don't know. I just feel-" I couldn't complete my words as darkness consumed me and the last thing I saw was Nicholas running towards me with fear and confusion evident on his face.