Chapter 51
Gabriella
“So, when do I get to meet the guy?” asked my mother, clutching her cup of coffee as she looked at me coyly.
I was surprised by how perfectly calm she was at the news of my pregnancy by a man she had never met.
As soon as she got back into town after helping my grandmother for what felt like forever, I insisted on getting coffee.
It had been months of keeping the pregnancy and everything with Chandler out of our phone calls.
I figured it was best to tell her everything in person.
I just didn’t realize how long she would be gone.
Not only did she help my grandmother settle in at the nursing home, but she went through her childhood home to see what she should keep and what she should sell before ultimately listing the house itself.
I knew it had been a lot on her, which was why I didn’t want to add to the stress.
“You’re being way cooler about this than I thought you would be…
” I said, raising a brow before bringing my mug of tea to my lips, breathing in the herby aroma.
I wondered if my father had tipped her off, even though he swore to me he hadn’t.
I wasn’t able to tell him about my pregnancy before someone beat me to it, so I wanted that moment with my mother.
“Oh, honey.” She waved me off as she leaned back in her chair and looked at me with a knowing smile. “Life is unexpected. It throws curveballs you never see coming, no matter how much you think you’re prepared or careful.”
I nodded, sipping my tea and thinking about just how right she was. I had thought I had my life planned to a tee, but the last couple of months reminded me that I was in control of very little. It was scary, but at some point I realized I just had to trust what life was throwing at me.
“You were a surprise, you know…” said my mother, her fingers drumming around her coffee mug.
“Really?” I asked, eyes widening. She had never told me about how I came to exist, and I had never asked, wanting to spare myself the visuals of my mother and father doing the deed.
“Mhmm. Your father and I had been together for only a few months before I had a positive pregnancy test on my hands.”
“Were you scared?” I asked.
“Terrified.”
“What did you do?”
“I freaked out at first, convinced we weren’t ready for a baby. We weren’t young by any means, but our relationship was young. I wasn’t sure how your father was going to take it. Would he run? Would he feel obligated to stay? We hadn’t even said I love you by that point.”
I shook my head, wondering how I had never known about this and why my father hadn’t told me this when I was going through it myself. I supposed he was too mad at me at the time to think straight.
“How did he take it?”
“He was as scared as I was. Harold Enterprises was already an established business, continuing its skyrocket to the top. Your father didn’t have as much as help then as he does now.
A baby would change everything…” Her voice drifted slightly, as if she were lost in the memories.
After a moment, she looked at me. “Your father was determined to make it work, though. He gave me the reassurance I needed to become a mother. And really, there was no looking back when we had our first doctor’s appointment. ”
“That heartbeat gets you, doesn’t it?” I asked, laughing softly.
“You had us hooked around your finger before we even knew you,” she said knowingly, taking another sip of coffee.
“I wonder why dad didn’t tell me any of this…”
“I think he thought it was my story to tell.”
“I’m glad I got to hear it from you.” I smiled softly at her.
“I’m thrilled for you, Gabriella. It might not be traditional or what you expected, but you have a beautiful blessing and a man who sounds like he loves you.”
“He does,” I said, blinking back tears as I thought about Chandler. “He really does.”
“I’m glad you two figured out your differences to see what was right in front of you, despite it probably almost giving your father a heart attack. Did he go ballistic?”
“I’ve never seen someone’s face turn that red.” I thought back to that day at my apartment when he confronted me.
My mother tilted her head back and laughed. It was music to my ears. I really had missed her these past few months.
“It’s only because he loves you,” she said, looking back at me. “You’ll understand when you have your daughter or son. Do you know?”
I shook my head. “Too soon to know.”
She sighed dreamily. “I hope it’s a girl. Maybe because it’s all I’ve ever known, but there is something special about it. You’re special, honey.” She reached for my hand across the light wood table and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, feeling so thankful for her in that moment.
I glanced at my watch then, realizing it was time to get going to the office. After playing hooky yesterday, I didn’t want to also show up late today. Just because I was CEO, I didn’t want to abuse the privilege too much. Chandler was already there, holding down the fort.
“I should go…” I said regretfully. I could have easily stayed another hour or two talking with my mother, but she nodded with understanding.
“I’m so glad we got to do this, sweetheart. Please, let’s set up a dinner so I can meet Chandler soon. Your father has spoken very highly of him.”
“How about tonight?” I asked.
“How about now?” asked a familiar voice. I looked up in surprise and saw Chandler standing over us, looking ridiculously handsome in a charcoal gray suit and a charming smile.
“What are you doing here?” I asked wide-eyed, standing up and hugging him.
“Your father said you were grabbing coffee with your mother. He’s at the office. He insisted I get over here to meet your mother.” He chuckled.
I smiled up at him and turned to my mother, interlacing my fingers with his.
“Mom, this is Chandler. Chandler, this is my mother, Grace.”
“Grace,” he said, his voice dripping with sentiment as he held out his hand, “it’s a pleasure.”
My mother held her hand out nervously, and I could see I wasn’t the only woman he had this effect on. I stifled a laugh.
“What am I doing?” she asked suddenly, standing up and pulling him in for a big hug. “It’s so wonderful to meet you, Chandler. I’m so excited for you and my daughter. You have no idea!”
She finally released him and looked at me with a pleased smile on her face.
“Do you have time for a coffee?” she asked.
“I have about half an hour to spare before I have to take this one back with me to the office,” he said, nodding toward me and taking the seat next to me.
My mother clapped excitedly and signaled for the server to come over so Chandler could place his coffee order.
I spent the next half hour watching my mother and Chandler practically fall in love with each other over their iced coffees.
I sat back and watched in amusement, my heart filled with warmth that another piece of my life was falling into place.
On our walk to the office, Chandler gave me a mischievous smile.
“What?” I asked curiously.
“Your mother is wonderful. And if that’s what I have to expect in the years to come, I’ll be one happy man.” He wiggled his brows suggestively.
“Chandler!” I slugged him playfully on the shoulder.
He laughed loudly before pulling me close to him, wrapping his arm around my waist. We walked like that through the lobby, aware of the gawking looks we got from security and the lobby attendant.
I realized we hadn’t fully had our relationship out in the open here at the office, aside from our near sprint out the door just yesterday.
As we strode through the office, hand in hand, I noticed the knowing looks sent our way from the employees.
There were smug smiles, hands to the heart, and obvious nods.
I wondered if maybe we hadn’t been as discreet as we thought we were in our office rendezvous.
I thought our outright disdain for each other had everyone fooled. Hell, it had me fooled.
I never thought that all those months ago when I had my dream ripped away from me by my own father in front of everyone here, that my life would turn out anything like this.
Falling in love with my mortal enemy had not been on my bingo card.
I had been so ready to let him sink, even if it meant taking the company with him, just to prove that he was wrong for the job.
But here we were, walking hand in hand through the office where it all began.
“This is weird…” he whispered through the corner of his mouth. “Everyone is looking at us.”
“I know…” I whispered back.
“They’ll get used to it, right?”
“I think they have to. We are their bosses, after all.”
“Damn right.” He grinned down at me.
The next several weeks we spent learning how to work together.
Really work together and not just try pissing the other off or undermining each other like before.
Our first order of business was how to spin the SEC investigation to the press because there was sure to be a leak about the fraudulent activity within the company.
It was a real doozy and we couldn’t quite see eye-to-eye on how to make it a positive thing.
I knew the reputation of the company rode on this, along with my father’s reputation.
Eventually, we decided it was best to make a joint statement that was honest and forthcoming, instead of trying to brush it under the rug.
Thankfully, our statement went over well and the press spun the mess in a good light.
After we were through that storm, we could really focus on the company and making it the best it could be.
The employees seemed to embrace my father’s decision, welcoming us both as their new leaders.
Sure, we argued, but it was more playful now, and often we worked it out in the bedroom with makeup sex.
It was where our best brainstorming happened.
Chandler had been right about how stubborn we both were, and while it caused us to butt heads, it really showed us how passionate we were about work. I found that incredibly sexy about him.
Despite his pride that used to get in the way, he started listening to me and my ideas.
He valued me as his partner, and that was even sexier.
He also didn’t seem so stressed anymore with the pressure of stepping into my father’s shoes and proving he belonged there.
I think it was the second chance he received that made him realize he was where he rightfully should be.
Afterall, he did save the company. I made sure to remind him of that often, if I ever felt like he was doubting himself.
And he made sure I never doubted myself by listening to my ideas and following my lead a lot of the time.
I knew the thought lingered in the back of his mind that I resented us being joint CEOs, but it couldn’t have been further than the truth.
We made each other better, and with my pregnancy there was no way I would be able to do this all on my own.
My dream came true, it just looked a little different. Better.