Shaken

Shaken
Diane’s POV

At GlamHome.

My alarm rang the second time before I finally opened my eyes. I lay there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling. My body felt heavy, the type of heaviness that came with pregnancy and stress from the fake company establishment mixed together. Five months and some weeks. I could feel it. My back ached a little, and my stomach felt firm under my palm.

“I need to stand up,” I whispered to myself, even though I didn’t want to.

I pushed myself up, swung my legs off the bed, and sat still for a moment. The quiet in the house made every sound louder in my head. The running tap in the bathroom. The soft hum of the AC. My heartbeat.

I got up slowly and walked into the bathroom to wash my face. When I looked into the mirror, I saw it instantly… the tiredness around my eyes. I sighed and tied my hair into a messy bun. Then my mind drifted off to Mike, pondering if I should grant his plea or not.

“Whatever,” I told my reflection. “Whatever.”

After brushing my teeth, I walked back into the room to dress up. I picked a loose gown that didn’t cling too much to my stomach. It was more comfortable and easier to breathe in. I wore flat shoes, grabbed my small handbag, and headed out.

Outside, the morning breeze hit me, and I inhaled deeply. I didn’t want to think about the main house. Or who was in it. Or who wasn’t. I walked to my car, entered, and drove off before I allowed my mind to drift somewhere it shouldn’t.



Work was already busy when I arrived at Glam Home Cosmetics. People moved around with files, talking, typing, carrying boxes, doing one thing or the other. I loved this place because it kept me distracted.

“Good morning, Ma’am Diane,” a few workers said as I walked in.

“Morning,” I replied with a small smile.

I got to my office, shut the door behind me, and dropped my bag on the table. My secretary, Anna, walked in almost immediately with a tablet in her hand.

“Good morning, ma,” she said.

“Good morning, Anna. What do we have today?”

She handed me the tablet. “Emails are already sorted. I replied to the ones that didn’t need your direct approval. You have a short meeting with the product team in thirty minutes. Then there’s a report from the marketing unit that they want you to review.”

I nodded. “Okay. Anything else?”

“Just one,” she said. “The HR unit asked if you would be available around noon.”

“For what?”

“They want to run through some new staff arrangements.”

I shrugged. “That’s fine. Just remind me.”

“Yes ma.”

She left the office, and I sat down, opening my laptop. I went through emails, signed a few documents, responded to others, and tried to focus only on work. Every time my mind tried to drift to yesterday, I forced it back.

Work. Only work.

Thirty minutes later, I walked into the meeting room. The product team was already seated.

“Good morning,” I said.

They chorused back, “Good morning, ma.”

“Let’s start,” I said, sitting at the head of the table.

We discussed new product packaging, colors, customer feedback, and expenses. It wasn’t a long meeting, but it was detailed. One of the team leads, Drestan, asked me a question about the next quarter’s goal, and I explained it to him.

After the meeting, I returned to my office and exhaled deeply.

“Finally,” I murmured. I just wanted to sit down for a bit.

Anna returned with a bottle of water. “Do you need anything else, ma?”

“No. I’m fine.”

She nodded and left.

I took a sip of water and leaned back in my chair. My stomach felt a little tight, but it wasn’t painful, so I ignored it. Pregnancy came with plenty of random feelings. I had learned that already.

I rested for a while, then continued with some reports. After a few minutes, the tight feeling came again. This time, stronger.

I paused.

“What is this?” I whispered, placing my hand on my belly.

Another wave came, harder. I hissed softly and sat up straight.

“Okay… okay, maybe I just need to stand.”

I pushed my chair back and stood slowly. My legs felt weak. My heart started beating faster. I pressed my palm on the desk to steady myself.

Another sharp feeling shot through my lower stomach.

“Shit…”

Before I could call Anna, my door flew open.

Anna rushed in, her eyes wide. “Ma! Are you okay? I saw you stand up and hold the table on the camera…”

“I don’t… I don’t know,” I managed to say. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

Her face changed immediately. “Let’s go. Please, let’s go now.”

“I just need to sit…”

“No, ma,” she insisted, moving to my side and grabbing my arm. “You’re not looking fine. Let’s go.”

She helped me walk toward the door. I tried to breathe slowly, but my chest felt tight.

“Maybe it’s nothing,” I said.

“No. We’re going to the hospital.”

We stepped into the hallway, and a few workers looked up, alarmed. They whispered among themselves, but Anna ignored them.

“Please move,” she said as she guided me.

I leaned on her as we walked. My stomach tightened again, and I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out.

“Anna…” I said, breathing fast.

“We’re almost outside,” she replied quickly. “Just hold on.”

She pushed the glass door open and helped me toward the parking lot. I was about to get into the car when I heard fast footsteps approaching us. Strong, quick footsteps.

Anna turned first.

I didn’t need to look before I knew who it was.

Lance.

He reached us in seconds, his face tight, his eyes narrowed, but there was something else there… something a bit familiar.

“Diane,” he said, out of breath.

Anna stepped back immediately.

“Sir…”

“What happened?” he asked, looking at me, not her.

“I’m… I’m okay,” I said even though I wasn’t.

He frowned, and that cold, strict look disappeared. His voice came out rough and surprised me. “You don’t look okay.”

“I just felt…”

Before I finished, another moment of tightness hit me. My hand flew to my stomach, and I bent a little.

“Diane,” he said quickly, stepping closer.

He grabbed my other arm before I fell.

Workers standing outside went silent. I could feel their eyes on us, watching. I knew they had never seen him like this. Lance didn’t touch people. Lance didn’t rush for anything. Lance didn’t act panicked.

But he was holding me.

He was breathing hard.

He looked… worried.

His jaw tightened. “Open the back door,” he said to Anna.

“Yes, sir!” she rushed to do it.

I could feel Lance’s hand on my back, steadying me.

“Can you breathe?” he asked, his voice low but tense.

“Yes,” I said, trying not to panic. “I’m fine. Maybe it’s just cramps.”

“This is not cramps,” he said.

“How do you know?” I whispered.

“Because I know.”

He guided me to the car as if I would fall any second. His hand stayed on me the whole time.

And then…. We heard a familiar voice.

“What the hell is this?”

Victoria.

She stood near the other car, arms folded, anger written all over her face. She was watching everything. Watching him hold me. Watching him panic.

Her eyes were fixed on Lance’s hand on my back. But Lance didn’t even look at her. He tightened his grip on me instead, helping me lower into the car.

“Anna, get her bag,” he said.

“Yes sir.”

Victoria took a step forward. “Lance, what are you doing?!”

He finally turned his head a little, but his voice stayed cold.

“I’m taking her to the hospital.”

“For what? She has her a secretary,”

“She’s not fine,” he snapped.

The workers around us froze. Nobody had ever heard him raise his voice like that.

Victoria looked shocked. “So you’re acting like this because she’s sick? Are you serious right now?”

Lance didn’t answer her.

He didn’t even blink in her direction again.

His eyes were on me.

Only me.