Mia wakes up in the night to find out Liam is not in the room. His side of the bed was empty, "Liam?" She called out, but when she got no answer, she got out of the bedroom and saw him sitting on the couch in the living room.
"Happy birthday darling". Mia said and closed up the distance between them to hug and kiss him. But Liam ignored her.
"What is it?”Did I do something wrong?
"Nothing, just thinking about my inheritance." Today is my 28th birthday. I'm scared the company might not be handed over to me. My grandfather is a weird old man. I don't want to lose this opportunity of a lifetime.
Mia sat beside him immediately, smiling as she placed her head on his shoulder.
“ Don't think too much, darling; you are the only legitimate grandchild he has and the direct heir to inheriting the company.” I believe in you. Mia encouraged him.
Liam let out a deep breath and turned to her, his eyes twinkling with enthusiasm, "Do you know what that means? Mia, if I win this, our lives will change forever.
"I know, darling; there is no purpose in thinking too much when you will get your answer in the morning anyway.” It's your birthday, we need to celebrate before you go to work in the morning.
Seeing the look on his face, Mia blushes. Liam is the best thing that happened to her after the death of her parents. They've been together for three years now, and everything is perfect, although her best friend Grace does not like Liam for her. She bit her lower lip and looked away from him, her thoughts running wild; she had fifty thousand dollars; it was her parent’s savings, and it was all they left for her to survive on. She will use it to get him the car he has always dreamed of having as a birthday gift and surprise him at his workplace.
Thank you so much, Mia, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me," he pulled her into a hug, and soon he was kissing her, "thank you," he murmured in between the kisses."Now, let me drain your strength before I leave for work."
"Oh Liam, no," Mia giggled as he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.
********
Mia woke up late in the morning; Liam had left for work already. She quickly bathed and dressed up to go to the bank and withdraw all her life savings so she could get the gift for Liam. She planned to surprise him at his workplace and invite him out for a private dinner.
Mia arrived at Liam’s grandfather's company and was directed to his office by the receptionist. She got to his floor and saw a lady, sitting on a desk typing on the computer in front of her. She assumed her to be Liam's secretary.
“Hello. Please, I'm here to see Liam Kingston.”
“Do you have an appointment?” The secretary asked her without looking at her.
“No, I am his fiancee. I came here to take him out for a private dinner in celebration of his birthday.”
The secretary looked up at her before saying. I usually wouldn't let you see him without an appointment. But there is a party celebration already going on at the Mercury Hotel for him. Liam was announced as the new CEO of the company this morning.
Mia was happy that Liam's dream was being fulfilled. They had both looked forward to celebrating today. Although she was not happy that she heard the news from someone else, she expected him to call and inform her immediately he was declared the CEO. Maybe, he was too excited and caught in the moment.
Thank you for the information. Mia left his office and drove the car she bought for him to the hotel, where the party was ongoing.
Luckily for her, she was dressed in her best dress. A sexy black dress with puffy hands and a slit on one side to showcase her beautiful shapely legs, paired with silver heels. Liam loves her wearing this dress, he said he can't control himself anytime he sees her on it.
Mia arrived at the hotel and was led to the party by one of the waiters. The party looked more serious to her than a celebration of Liam's achievement as the CEO. The caliber of people she saw and their dressing screamed wealth and glamour. She felt inferior in their midst as she looked around for Liam.
“Where could he have gone to?” She knows he is the celebrant. She heard his name on the lady's lips as they gossiped about his handsome look, which made her jealous. She wanted to shout at them that Liam was already taken; he was her fiance and had eyes for her only. Well, she guessed they would find out soon enough when they saw her later with Liam.
She moved around and found Liam chatting with a group of men and women that looked so wealthy. She smiled as she headed his way. She was not looking and mistakenly stepped on a waiter carrying a tray of drinks.
The waiter slipped and the drinks fell, with shattered glasses on the floor. The waiter glared at her with anger on his face.
The whole place became silent suddenly, and all eyes were on her, wondering who she was and the mishap she had caused with her carelessness.
Mia felt like the ground should open up and swallowed her, as she apologized to the waiter on the floor.
“She doesn't look like she belongs here. Her dress is so cheap. I wonder who she came with”. She heard a lady's voice and looked up to see a blonde speaking beside Liam, while Liam glared at her with disgust on his face, without defending her.
“Whoever dares to bring a low-class person like her to this party does not deserve to be seen here.” One of the men close to Liam also spoke out, as he looked down on her.
Mia was about to say that she was Liam's fiance, but the words she heard next shocked her to her bone marrow.
“ Sorry guys, she is my house help. I guessed she came to deliver what I sent her to bring for me. Liam spoke loudly to the onlookers and signaled her to follow him outside.
Mia stood there with her mouth aghast, stunned at the words of Liam. “ Did she just hear him refer to her as his house help” she wondered. Liam saw that she was not following and came back to drag her out while the people looked at them, mocking her.“I guessed she wanted to have an experience of how people in our class party.” She heard someone say, while the crowd laughed at her as Liam dragged her out like a disobedient child who needed to be punished for a crime.“What are you doing here Mia?” Who gave you this address? Why are you here to embarrass me? Liam shouted at her. He had dragged her to a corner of the hall, far from the people at the party, so they wouldn't hear what they were saying.Just take a look inside, Mia; He said, pointing to the hall full of people dancing and chattering. “What do you see? Do you see anyone in the hall dressed cheaply like you? Even the hotel waiters and waitresses looked more classy than you.Mia looked at the people dancing: women dressed in
Shaw Carter was rendered speechless by her words. He usually does not frequent a bar and avoids places like this. But his car developed a little fault on his way back from a business trip. His driver, Drake, told him to go inside the bar and relax while he got the car fixed since the bar was the closest to where the car suddenly stopped.He barely sat down when he saw a beautiful lady in black walk in and order a bottle of Whiskey. He felt attracted to her; she looked like someone who needed to be loved and pampered. Shaw noticed she was crying so he let her be. She needed to sort out whatever it was that was bothering her so she could feel better.After watching her get herself drunk, he got a call from Drake that the car was fixed and ready. But he couldn't just leave her alone here. He had noticed the men around ogling her with lustful eyes; he couldn't blame them. She is damn sexy in that black dress she is wearing. Like a perfect gentleman, he approaches her to offer to drive he
Mia kept herself busy job hunting since her breakup with Liam. She needed to raise money for herself as she had squandered her life savings to buy a car gift for him.“Hey dear, how is it going over there?” Have you received any job offers yet? Grace asked her as she came into the room eating some cheese. “No yet Grace, No job offer email yet.” Mia sighed in frustration. It's been more than a month since she has been on it. She has sent her resume to several leading companies in the city. She needed to raise the fifty thousand dollars quickly. You know you still haven't told me the full details about your breakup. I know you were hurting badly, and I didn't want to ask you this. But I am curious, Grace sat down on Mia's bed, eating her cheese while looking at Mia typing on her laptop.“Don't you have any work for today, Grace?”I know what you are about to ask me. It's written all over your face. You want to know where I spent the night after the breakup with Liam.You know me too we
The whole atmosphere suddenly became tense. Grace was fuming with anger and was about to respond when the waiter interrupted the conversation by bringing their food.Your food is here, Ma. The waiter informed them and dropped the food on their table.Mia ordered some chicken pasta with salad while Grace ordered rice and Chinese sauce with chicken. As you see Liam. It's time for us to eat and not to chit-chat. Please excuse us. Mia said to reduce the tension and stop Grace from doing something crazy to Liam.They are right darling. Let's leave here. I don't like the smell that is coming from their table. The lady said and dragged Liam to their table.Mia looked at Grace's angry face, using her eyes to plead with her not to react to Liam and his girlfriend. After calming Grace,she breathed out in relief.She was very hungry, but when she looked at the food, she felt like throwing up. Thinking it's because she hasn't eaten any meal for the day. She took a bite and almost vomited the foo
Mia’s eyelids opened up, and she found herself staring up at the bright lights of the tenth-floor lobby ceiling. Blinking in confusion, she tried to piece together what had happened. She remembered the magazine, the photo of Shaw, and then… him, holding her, his arms steadying her as she lost consciousness.Groaning inwardly, she sat up slowly with the help of a security guard, who had brought her a glass of water. A few concerned glances came her way, but she brushed them off, trying to regain her composure. She needed to get out of there, away from Shaw, before he started asking questions.But the man himself was kneeling down beside her, a look of genuine concern on his face. “Are you all right?” he asked, his tone softer than she expected. His gaze held hers,There was something in his eyes that made her feel… safe, and that realization both comforted and unsettled her.“I’m fine, really,” she said, forcing a small smile. “Just a little lightheaded. It must be the stress of starting
Mia shifted uncomfortably in her place, the warmth in Shaw’s office only worsening her light-headedness. Shaw was speaking to his gathered staff about a new project he was launching, his commanding voice steady and confident. Mia had always admired his calm leadership style, but today, her mind was a blur. She’d skipped breakfast, having barely managed to wake up in time to make it to the meeting, and now the consequences were hitting her hard.Luke, Shaw’s second-in-command, was seated next to her, while Mia and the other assistants stood around the office, their notebooks open to jot down key points. But every time she tried to write, her vision blurred. She could feel a trickle of sweat forming on her brow, and her stomach twisted in hunger and nausea.Shaw’s eyes swept across the room, then lingered a little longer when they reached her. He noticed her pale complexion and the way she seemed almost out of balance. His gaze was hard to read, but there was a hint of concern beneath h
Shaw leaned back in his office chair,his fingertips pressed together as he contemplated the news. Mia was pregnant, and he knew it. His doctor had been discrete, following Shaw’s instructions to keep Mia’s condition confidential. As he watched Mia working tirelessly every day, Shaw felt a mixture of intrigue and protectiveness grow within him. Though he was certain Mia hadn’t intended for him to know, the knowledge settled deeply within him, raising questions he wasn’t ready to ask. He didn’t want to intrude, but part of him felt a strange pull—an instinct to look out for her.This internal conflict nagged at him throughout the morning, yet Shaw decided to keep quiet. He’d let Mia share the news when she was ready, all while quietly ensuring she had everything she needed at work. But his train of thought was abruptly interrupted by a sudden knock on his office door.In the apartment, Grace was carefully applying her makeup when an unexpected knock sounded at the front door. She frowne
Liam opened the door to his condo, expecting the usual quiet that greeted him. Instead, he found Maya sitting on the couch, arms folded, her gaze sharp and unyielding. The tension in her posture told him she had been waiting for him—and not happily.“Where are you coming from?” Maya asked, her tone clipped. Her eyes held a hint of hurt and suspicion.Liam closed the door behind him, letting out a deep sigh. He hadn’t told her about his plan yet, and he knew it was bound to cause friction. He took a step closer, hands raised in a gesture of calm.“I went to see Mia,” he admitted.Maya’s eyes narrowed, and he could almost see the anger simmering under the surface. “You went to see your ex? Without telling me?” she demanded, her voice rising. “What were you thinking?”“Hold on,” he interrupted, trying to keep his tone steady. “Let me explain.”“Explain what?” Maya shot back. “How you’re sneaking around to see your ex? You didn’t think I deserved to know?”Liam took a breath. “Look, Maya,
“N-nothing,” Mia stuttered, looking at Shaw. Her heart was in her mouth. Grace also didn’t know what to say. She managed to clear her throat and speak up.“Just some female issues,” Grace said. As far as she was concerned, that was the only thing she had to say to keep men from asking unnecessary questions.“Oh alright,” Shaw said, and dropped the cups of coffee. Suddenly, he froze. “Did you both come across Ahmed on your way here?”Grace was about to speak, but Mia gave her the signal to stop speaking. She didn’t want to tell Shaw about anything that concerned Ahmed yet. They had seen him and he smirked, asking her what she was doing at her boss’ house so late at night. She didn’t have anything to say to him, and he told her that she could come and meet him at his office. And that he had all the information that she needed. He knew that she was looking for every information that concerned Shaw and the bridge that her parents died in. She was shocked that he knew everything that sh
Shaw was putting on tracksuit bottoms. He didn’t have a shirt on. Hell, he just finished having his bath and his hair was wet and sleek. He was shocked when he heard the doorbell go off. He quickly went to check who it was. He silently hoped that it wasn’t anybody that was going to ruin his mood. He was slightly annoyed when he figured out that he was slightly late to call the security men to ask who was at the door. He was already almost there. He swung the door open, ready to see anything. He was shocked when he saw a smirking Ahmed in front of him. In his hand, he held a glass of whiskey. Shaw wanted to punch him there on the spot until his nose bled. Instead, he managed a small smile. “What are you doing here, Ahmed?” he asked, closing the door slightly to show Ahmed that he wasn’t even invited.“Nothing,” Ahmed, said shrugging. “Quite a show you put up at the last meeting we attended. I just wanted to compliment you for it.”Shaw cocked an eyebrow. “Come on, tell me where the m
Liam was minutes away from smashing the television. There was no single channel that Maya liked watching, that Mia and Shaw’s face wasn’t there. He hated the way the media was paying attention to everything that they did on that night. “It’s not like they did anything that special,” he said to himself in frustration. If only he knew what was coming next on the news.“They actually look cute together,” Maya said, chewing her popcorn. It was like she was even looking for any channel that talked about them, and then, she stayed there until the gossip was over. It wasn’t like she was trying to rub salt in Liam’s wounds, she simply adored the dress that Mia wore both times that evening. She couldn’t lie that she also envied Mia’s shape. She planned to order for it once Liam paid her the money that he promised to give her.“Did you hear how much Shaw Carter paid for Mia during the auction?” she asked, looking at Liam with wide eyes. Liam rolled his own eyes in response.“Five million dolla
“The baby is doing just fine,” the doctor assured Mia, smiling that she was worrying unnecessarily. She couldn’t take any risks. It felt like the baby was the only thing that she lived for. A text appeared on her phone. She checked and saw that it was Liam. She was about to ignore when she saw what was actually written on it. “Just a little warning that you should reconsider the marriage. Or else, this might be the last time that you will be heading to the hospital to check up on your baby.”She looked around immediately, worried that he was somewhere around, looking at her. The doctor frowned, sensing her worry.“You shouldn’t worry much,” she said. “Both you and the baby don’t need any stress at this point.” Mia tried to calm down immediately. She nodded, standing out and taking her prescriptions for the medication that she needed. Her eyes were still on her phone as she headed out of the hospital. She was completely distracted until she bumped into a hard body. “I’m sorry,” she
Shaw didn’t know what to expect when he saw Mia coming out of his office. “Was there something she was looking for?” he asked himself as he watched her flip pancakes in his kitchen. It had been years since he had anybody cooking for him. But she was doing it without asking any questions. She couldn’t have been pretending right? He rubbed his face with his hands, trying not to think too much. He already had Ahmed on his tail. And he hadn’t even started dealing with him for all the things that he had done to him in the past. Mia had helped him with all information that he needed. All that was left was the execution. He couldn’t be more glad that Mia wasn’t even one bit shy. She looked very confident when she woke up this morning. She wasn’t avoiding him either. “Food is ready,” she said as she placed a plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He inhaled the heavenly aroma and thanked her for the food. She smiled as she sat down beside him and ate in silence. For the first time, she wasn’t
Mia’s PovI stirred in the bed, with Shaw’s hands wrapped around me. I blinked, trying to take in the design of the room. It almost looked like a hospital with how white almost everything was. His breathing was steady at the back of my neck. I couldn’t smell anything except the scent of him. He smelled so good, I didn’t want to smell anything else.His hands were firmly against my stomach. A feeling of warmth spread in my chest. Then it hit me that he didn’t know that I was carrying his child. There was no need for me to feel anything. I tried to move, then I realized that his office was probably somewhere in the house. There was no way such a rich man didn’t have an office at home. I had to find the documents that must have concerned my parents.It was definitely somewhere around right?I tried to wiggle myself out of his hold without making any noise. I put my two feet on the floor, before practically sprinting out of the room, and shutting the door quietly behind me. I honestly fe
Mia’s PovI was already so disgraced. But that was nothing compared to what I was feeling. Shaw was my boss of course. But nobody knew that he was probably the father of my child. How many people did I have to tell? Only Grace knew about it. and I regretted not bringing her to the party more than anything. Kim was finally quiet after Shaw said all that. I had no idea what he was talking about. But as long as all eyes were finally off me, I honestly had no issue with it. everybody went back to dancing like nothing just happened. I spotted Liam in the crowd. He smirked at me like some sort of warning. Shaw spent the rest of his time trying to be a bad dancer just so that I could laugh, but my mood was already ruined. And besides, he was a really good dancer. Better than I could ever be. “Come,” he finally said, holding me by the hand as he led me away from the party.***Shaw’s PovI watched her ass sway with the gown that she was wearing. It let me get a glimpse of her toned legs. I
Liam was losing his patience as time went by. He didn’t plan on coming to meet Mia and threaten her like that in the female toilet. But it seemed to be that his plan was working after all. She was now looking at him with fear in her eyes. He was already planning on going to meet up with a wedding planner since Mia was going to give birth soon. He was already planning on using everything that he could to get married to her. Whether she wanted or not, he was definitely going to take that child and get his hands on the inheritance that was solely his. Shaw was looking around, wondering where Mia was. “She couldn’t have probably run away because she didn’t want to dance with me, could she?” he thought to himself. The coordinator and the host were already arranging the dancefloor for the people that were auctioned. He decided to hold on, since there was no sign of her. Or maybe she was just taking a long time in the bathroom. He went outside and tried calling her, but she refused to answ
The usher helped her stand up, with her hands firmly on Mia’s lower back as she led her to the back room, where other rich women were standing, adjusting their makeup, and complimenting each other on their perfumes. She knew that there was no need of saying a thing to those women. Mia knew she would never fit in.She stood at a corner of the room, waiting to be called to the front. The usher came into the room again, attaching numbers to the clips of their dresses. Mia was number 17. It was boldly clipped to the front of her expensive dress. She swallowed hard, knowing that she could help donating a whole lot of money to a group of children that she didn’t even know. She was mulling over getting another job. She knew how much her sister needed money, but she didn’t know if Shaw was going to be okay with that.She was barely even aware that the auction had already started.“And now, we call on Lady M, Number 17.” Everything was muffled in her head. Somebody had to tap her for her real