Chapter 4
Alison
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the small examination room, stinging my nostrils as I sat on the edge of the exam table, fingers laced tightly in my lap.
My heartbeat echoed in my ears, thudding in anxious anticipation.
The paper beneath me crinkled every time I shifted, a sharp sound in the otherwise hushed room.
Dr. Mendez entered with a clipboard in hand and a gentle smile on her face. "Alison, thank you for waiting. I have your test results."
As if I didn't already know. The message she sent last night still left a bitter taste in my mouth.
You're pregnant," she said, with a soft finality. "We caught it early, just over two weeks gone."
I was pregnant with Lucas Hawkins's child.
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. I was jobless, humiliated, and now carrying the child of a man who has accused me of being a saboteur.
Whatever I'd done in a previous life to deserve this karma, it must have been truly spectacular."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.
She sat down across from me, folding her hands. "How are you holding up?"
I stared at the floor for a moment, my vision blurring. "Good… I guess. I've thought about... everything. Termination. Keeping it. Adoption. But I can't bring myself to let go. It's not the baby's fault how everything happened."
Dr. Mendez nodded understandingly. "That's a difficult decision, but it's yours. And whatever you choose, we'll support you medically and emotionally. You should schedule your first prenatal visit soon and start on prenatal vitamins if you haven't already."
I let out a small, bitter laugh. "I'll have to figure that part out. I'm between jobs right now and… things are complicated."
Her smile turned empathetic. "Complicated is part of the journey sometimes. But you're not alone, Alison. There are resources—clinics that offer care on a sliding scale, support groups, and even employment programs for single mothers. Don't be afraid to ask for help."
"Thank you," I whispered, barely able to keep the tears in check. It felt like the first real kindness I'd been shown in weeks.
As I left the clinic, prescription for vitamins in my purse and a jumble of emotions warring inside me, I knew one thing for certain—this baby, whoever they were going to be, deserved more than fear and uncertainty. They deserved a mother who tried.
I stared at the rejection email from Bryson Financial—my fifth this week—and closed my laptop with a defeated sigh. Three weeks had passed since my humiliating exit from Hawkins Financial Group, and despite my qualifications, no financial firm in the city would touch me.
"It's like I've been blacklisted," I muttered to myself, rubbing my temples to ease the stress headache that had become my constant companion.
My phone buzzed with a text from my landlord: Rent due tomorrow. No extensions this time.
I checked my bank account balance: $432.
18. Not enough for rent, let alone the prenatal appointment I was supposed to schedule.
The morning sickness had become a near-daily ritual, confirming what Dr. Mendez had already told me.
I was carrying Lucas Hawkins's child, a fact that still felt more like a plot twist than real life.
Part of me had wanted to end it, to reclaim control over my life with a swift and silent decision. But something in me—maybe instinct, maybe defiance—refused. This baby didn't ask to be here, and I couldn't be the reason they weren't.
My phone rang, breaking through my spiral of thoughts. An unknown number with a local area code. I snatched it up, a flicker of hope igniting in my chest. "Alison Miller speaking."
"Ms. Miller, this is Diane from Sterling & Wallace. I'm calling about your application."
My heart leapt. Sterling & Wallace was a reputable mid-sized firm I'd applied to last week. "Yes, thank you for calling," I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
"I'm afraid we won't be proceeding with your application," Diane said, her tone cool and measured. "It's come to our attention that you left your previous position at Hawkins Enterprises under... questionable circumstances."
My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"
There was a pause. "Ms. Miller, we've received information that you abandoned a high-priority project without notice. While your qualifications are impressive, we cannot risk bringing someone with ethical concerns into our organization."
"That's not what happened," I said, my voice rising in desperation. "I was set up. If you could just give me a chance to explain—"
"I'm sorry, but our decision is final. Good luck with your job search."
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, disbelief crashing over me like a wave. Someone was sabotaging me—spreading lies about my departure from Hawkins. My opportunities were evaporating before they could even materialize.
My savings were dwindling. My rent was due. And soon, I'd have more than myself to take care of. Even the waitressing jobs I'd applied for had turned me down as overqualified.
With a slow, steadying breath, I reopened my laptop. There was one option I'd avoided until now. One I'd been too proud to consider. But pride wouldn't put a roof over my head—or feed my baby.
The email from Victor Chen, CEO of Nexus Global, had arrived three days after my firing:
Ms. Miller,
Your abrupt departure from Hawkins Financial Group has reached my attention. I've reviewed your academic record and brief professional history, and I believe your talents are being wasted in this city.
Nexus Global has an opening in our Frankfurt office for a financial analyst with your qualifications. The position includes comprehensive training, accommodation for your first six months, and a competitive salary package.
I believe fresh starts are sometimes necessary in our industry. If you're interested, please contact my assistant to arrange a meeting.
Regards, Victor Chen, CEO of Nexus Global
I'd initially dismissed it as suspicious timing.
Victor Chen was Lucas's main business rival, according to office gossip, and the offer felt potentially like a ploy to gain insider information about Hawkins Financial Group.
And he was the same Victor he accused me of colluding with after our night together. That set alarms off in my head.
But now, jobless and pregnant, I couldn't afford to be picky. Frankfurt meant leaving the country, starting fresh where Victoria's poison couldn't reach me. It meant stability for my baby.
I typed a careful response, expressing interest in the position and requesting a meeting. Within minutes, a reply came from Victor's assistant, offering an appointment for tomorrow morning.
As I confirmed the meeting, a strange mix of relief and unease settled in my stomach. This felt like running away, but sometimes retreat was the only sensible strategy when outgunned and outnumbered.
Victor Chen's office at Nexus Global was magnificent. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the city, and the minimalist decor spoke of subtle wealth rather than ostentatious display.
Victor himself was different from what I'd expected—younger, maybe mid-thirties, with sharp features and calculating eyes that seemed to assess my worth with every glance.
"Ms. Miller," he greeted, rising from behind his glass desk. "Thank you for coming."
"Thank you for the opportunity," I replied, shaking his offered hand.
He gestured to the chair across from him. "Please, sit. Coffee? Tea?"
"Water would be fine, thank you."
As his assistant brought our drinks, I tried to calm my nerves.
Everything about this meeting felt high-stakes, like I was stepping into a game whose rules I didn't fully understand.
The way Lucas spoke of Victor, there was no doubt of intense enmity between the two of them.
Working for Victor would mean working against Lucas, I realized. Well, I owed the man no loyalty.
"I'll be direct, Ms. Miller," Victor said once we were alone. "Lucas Hawkins made a mistake letting you go. His loss can be my gain."
I sipped my water, buying time to compose my response. "I appreciate your interest, Mr. Chen, but I have to ask—why me? I'm sure there are plenty of analysts with more experience."
Victor leaned back, studying me. "Three reasons.
First, your academic record shows remarkable analytical skills and determination.
Second, you survived three weeks at Hawkins Financial on a project most newcomers would have crumbled under.
And third..." A small smile played at his lips.
"Lucas has a talent for hiring exceptional people, even if he lacks the wisdom to keep them. "
There was something in his tone when he mentioned Lucas that confirmed what I already suspected. He hated Lucas.
"The position in Frankfurt," I prompted, steering the conversation back to practical matters.
"Yes." Victor slid a folder across the desk.
"Full details are here, but essentially, you'd be part of our European expansion team, focusing on emerging markets.
The first six months would be intensive training—we do things differently at Nexus.
After that, assuming satisfactory performance, you'd transition to a permanent role with the option to remain in Frankfurt or return to the States. "
I opened the folder, and my eyes widened at the salary figure. It was nearly double what Hawkins had offered, with housing allowance, health insurance, and relocation expenses included.
"This is... very generous," I said cautiously.
Victor waved a dismissive hand. "Talent deserves compensation. But I should mention, the position requires a two-year commitment and complete confidentiality regarding our methods and clients."
Two years in Germany. Away from Lucas, away from Victoria, away from the mess my life had become here. The thought was simultaneously terrifying and liberating.
"When would you need my decision?"
"By the end of the week," Victor replied. "The training program begins next month, and we'd need time to arrange your work visa and accommodations."
I nodded, closing the folder. "I'll review everything and let you know."
As I stood to leave, Victor added, "One more thing, Ms. Miller. I understand your departure from Hawkins was... complicated. Rest assured, your professional reputation won't be an issue at Nexus. We judge people on their merits, not on office politics or personal vendettas."
The relief must have shown on my face, because Victor's smile widened slightly.
"Thank you," I said simply.
His assistant appeared to escort me out, but as I reached the door, Victor called after me. "Ms. Miller? Whatever you decide, I suggest you leave this city. Lucas Hawkins has powerful friends, and Victoria Black has a long memory for perceived slights."
The warning sent a chill down my spine, but I nodded my acknowledgment before following the assistant to the elevator.
Two days later, I sat at a small café near my apartment, watching people pass by on the sidewalk. The Nexus contract lay signed in my bag, my decision made. Frankfurt awaited, a new beginning for me and my unborn child.
My pregnancy was six weeks along, with a due date in early February.
I'd be showing by the time my training period ended in Frankfurt, starting my permanent position as a new mother.
The thought was daunting, but Nexus offered excellent maternity benefits, another point in favor of accepting Victor's offer.
I sipped my ginger tea, one of the few things that settled my queasy stomach these days. Across the street, a familiar black town car pulled up in front of an upscale restaurant, and my heart stuttered as Lucas Hawkins emerged, circling around to open the passenger door.
Victoria stepped out, resplendent in a red dress, her hand resting possessively on Lucas's arm. She was laughing at something he'd said as they entered the restaurant.
The sight shouldn't have hurt. There had never been anything real between Lucas and me—just one night of alcohol-hazed connection and weeks of professional friction. Yet something twisted painfully in my chest, a sense of loss for something that had never been mine to begin with.
My hand drifted unconsciously to my still-flat stomach. Lucas's child grew inside me, yet he would never know. I'd decided that firmly after my firing. This baby was mine alone, and Lucas Hawkins had forfeited any right to know about it after the way he treated me like vermin.
"Another tea, miss?" The waitress interrupted my thoughts.
I shook my head, reaching for my wallet. "No, thank you. Just the check."
As I paid, I took one last look at the restaurant where Lucas and his fiancée were dining. A clean break, that's what I needed. Frankfurt would be my fresh start, far from the complications of Lucas Hawkins and his world.
Lucas Hawkins would become a memory, nothing more—a chapter closed, a lesson learned in the dangers of opening my heart too easily.