chapter 3:danger zones

Olivia's pov

Starting over was supposed to feel empowering.

Instead, Olivia felt like she was walking a tightrope—with no safety net, no plan, and no idea what she was doing.

She should’ve been focused on her first day at Carter & Co. She should’ve been excited about the sleek office, the view of Manhattan, the brilliant career pivot that had landed her here.

But all she could think about was one terrible truth:

She had slept with her boss.

And if that weren’t enough of a cosmic joke, her cheating ex and ex–best friend worked two departments over.

So much for a fresh start.

---

The elevator ride to the seventeenth floor felt longer than it should have. She smoothed down the front of her blouse for the fifth time and tried to ignore the sweat prickling at her hairline.

Nathan hadn’t said a word about the night before. No lingering glances. No subtle digs. Just a smooth, corporate welcome as if they’d never even met.

Which somehow made it worse.

She should’ve been relieved. But his indifference stung more than she cared to admit.

Maybe he didn’t remember her.

Maybe she had been forgettable.

God, she hated that thought.

“Olivia Bennett?” A voice cut through her spiraling.

She blinked and looked up. A woman in her late twenties with a clipboard and sharp black bangs was smiling at her.

“Uh—yes?”

“I’m Sarah, Matthew Hughes’ assistant. He’s your direct supervisor. He’s out at a client meeting this morning, but I’ll get you settled.”

“Thanks,” Olivia said, trying to match her cheerfulness.

She followed Sarah past rows of glass-enclosed offices and open-plan desks, their heels clicking in near-unison.

“We’ve been excited to have you join the team,” Sarah continued. “Your portfolio was incredible. And your references were glowing.”

Olivia smiled, though it felt stiff. Her last manager had loved her. Before everything blew up.

Sarah gestured toward a corner cubicle near a wide window. “Here’s your desk. Great view, right?”

The view was incredible—Central Park, bathed in morning sunlight, with the edges of the skyline sparkling behind it. It should’ve made her feel optimistic.

Instead, her stomach twisted.

She thanked Sarah and sat down, running her fingers over the edge of the desk. Clean. Organized. Blank—like her new life was waiting for her to start painting it in.

She could do this.

Forget the man from last night. Forget Nathan Carter’s unreadable face. Forget the way her body had betrayed her with pleasure—and now anxiety—every time she thought about him.

This was a new beginning.

And then she heard it.

That laugh.

Low. Familiar. Smug.

Jason.

She didn’t have to look. Her body recognized the sound before her brain did. Her hands clenched in her lap.

Of course he was here.

She turned just enough to see them—Jason and Clara—hovering near the coffee station. Jason wore that same cocky grin, perfectly styled hair, designer watch glinting under the fluorescent lights. And Clara, in a tailored cream blouse and a smirk Olivia knew too well.

The same smirk Clara had the day Olivia caught her sitting on Jason’s lap at their old office.

The same smirk she wore while claiming “It just happened.”

Olivia turned away, nausea rising.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Of all the companies in the city. Of all the offices.

Clara was saying something—laughing too loud, probably on purpose. Jason leaned in close, murmuring something in her ear. They were playing house right there, in front of her.

Sarah seemed oblivious. “If you need anything, just shoot me a message. Oh, and orientation’s in Conference Room B in twenty minutes.”

“Thanks,” Olivia replied, eyes fixed on her monitor. “Got it.”

Sarah left.

And right on cue, a shadow fell across her desk.

“Olivia?”

Her hands stilled on the keyboard.

She looked up slowly, bracing herself.

Jason stood there, hands in his pockets, like he hadn’t torn her apart a month ago.

“Well, this is awkward,” he said with a crooked smile.

“No,” Olivia replied flatly. “This is karma.”

He laughed—actually laughed. “Still dramatic, I see.”

“Still a walking cliché,” she shot back.

Jason glanced around. “Didn’t know you were joining the firm.”

“I didn’t know you worked here. Believe me, I wouldn’t have applied.”

Clara appeared behind him, all flawless skin and glossy waves. “Olivia. Wow. Small world.”

Olivia turned to her slowly. “What’s the expression? Keep your friends close and your backstabbing ex-best friends closer?”

Clara’s smile faltered.

Jason sighed. “Can we not do this here?”

“Oh, sorry,” Olivia said coolly. “Is the truth too unprofessional for your shiny new environment?”

Clara stepped in quickly. “Let’s just all try to be civil. We work here now.”

“Some of us actually work,” Olivia snapped. “Others just screw their way up the ladder.”

Jason’s expression darkened. “Watch it.”

She stood, refusing to be talked down to. “Or what? You’ll cheat on Clara next and pretend that’s an accident too?”

His mouth opened—then shut.

Clara flushed. “Olivia, enough.”

“You’re right.” Olivia straightened her blazer. “I’ve got more important things to focus on. Like literally anything other than you two clowns.”

And she walked off, leaving them speechless.

She didn’t stop walking until she found the bathroom. She locked herself in a stall and leaned back against the door, breathing hard.

This wasn’t just a rough start.

This was a nightmare.

---

Ten minutes later, she still hadn’t left the stall.

Her hands were shaking.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the nausea this morning. The way her breasts felt sore. The dizziness when she stood up too fast.

She’d blamed it on stress. Bad sleep. Hangover leftovers.

But now?

Now she wasn’t so sure.

Her purse was sitting on her lap. And inside was a foil packet she’d shoved in at the last second before leaving for work—just in case.

She stared at it for a long time.

Finally, she opened it.

A pregnancy test.

She didn’t want to do it. Not here. Not now. But part of her had to know.

She followed the instructions with trembling hands, then set it aside and closed her eyes.

A thousand thoughts raced through her head at once.

What if it was positive?

She hadn’t slept with anyone besides Nathan. It had only been one night. They hadn’t even exchanged last names.

Would he think she was lying?

Would he even care?

Her phone buzzed with the timer.

She looked down.

Two pink lines.

Pregnant.

Olivia stared at the test for a long time before the tears came.

Silent. Hot. Heavy.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

She wasn’t ready for this. Not emotionally. Not financially. Not when her life was falling apart at the seams.

Her mind flashed to Nathan. The way he touched her. The calm in his voice. The way he had looked at her—like he saw her.

She didn’t even know him.

But now… they were tied together.

Whether he liked it or not.

---

She slipped out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, carefully pocketing the test in a wrapper inside her bag. Her face was pale, but she’d cleaned herself up enough to pass as “tired” instead of “emotionally imploding.”

Her next stop was the conference room.

People were already seated around the long table, chatting casually while a screen displayed the company’s vision statement.

She spotted an empty seat near the back and slipped into it quietly.

Nathan walked in a moment later.

Her pulse jumped.

He looked as calm and confident as ever in a slate gray suit, a tablet in one hand. He didn’t glance at her. Didn’t acknowledge her.

But she felt the tension—low and sharp and undeniable.

He started the presentation with ease, his voice smooth and authoritative. He welcomed the new hires, explained company values, and fielded questions with practiced charm.

She tried to focus. She really did.

But all she could think about was that test.

That night.

That man.

She didn’t want to be this girl. The one with the secret. The one tangled in a mess.

But here she was.

When the session ended, Nathan lingered near the front, talking with a few new hires.

She tried to leave quietly, but she heard her name.

“Miss Bennett?”

She turned, heart pounding. Nathan stood a few feet away, gesturing for her to join him.

She hesitated, then approached.

“Yes, Mr. Carter?”

His eyes met hers—steady, unreadable.

“Could I see you in my office for a moment?”

The question was innocent enough. But her stomach dropped.

“Of course,” she said, voice tight.

---

They walked in silence.

Once inside his office, he closed the door.

Olivia stood stiffly in front of his desk.

Nathan leaned back against it, arms crossed.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning,” he said softly.

She swallowed. “Same.”

There was a long pause.

“I want to be clear,” he said carefully. “I didn’t know you were starting here. And I’m assuming you didn’t know who I was, either.”

“I didn’t,” she said. “I only found out when I saw you in the office.”

He nodded slowly. “This isn’t how I usually operate.”

A dry laugh escaped her. “Trust me, me neither.”

Another pause.

“You’re not in trouble,” he added. “But I do need to know—can we be professional about this?”

She met his eyes.

“I can,” she said. “Can you?”

Something flickered in his gaze. Respect? Amusement? She couldn’t tell.

“I can,” he said.

She turned to leave—then hesitated.

“Nathan,” she said quietly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

His expression shifted instantly. “What is it?”

She opened her mouth—then stopped.

Not here. Not yet. Not until she had a grip on her own emotions.

“Never mind,” she said quickly. “It can wait.”

He watched her, but didn’t push.

“Alright. My door’s open if you need anything.”

She nodded and left.

But as she walked back to her desk, hand pressed flat against her stomach, one thought echoed through her head:

You’re going to have his baby.

And sooner or later, she’d have to tell him everything.