Chapter 3 Make Waves

Mia's POV

The morning sickness hit me as soon as I woke up. I barely made it to the bathroom in time. Dark circles under my eyes. Pale skin. I had to look better than this. I couldn't let anyone at work suspect anything.

Linda was waiting for me when I arrived at the office. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, much better." I forced a smile. Linda watched me carefully, but didn't push.

Linda’s expression as neutral as ever, holding out two cups of coffee. “He asked for these,” she murmured, her tone professional, yet I could sense a hint of pity in her eyes.

My stomach churned at the thought of coffee, but I nodded. "Sure."

I balanced the two cups carefully. Two cups. My heart sank. I already knew who the second one was for.

When I pushed open Kyle's office door, Taylor was perched on the edge of his desk. She wore a tight red dress that probably cost more than my monthly salary. Her perfectly manicured hand rested on Kyle's shoulder.

"Oh, look who it is," Taylor's voice dripped honey. "How nice to see you, Mia."

I set the cups down carefully, trying not to let my hands shake. "Your coffee, Mr. Branson."

"That's not how I like my coffee," Taylor pouted. She picked up the cup and took a sip. "Too much sugar. Be a dear and get me another one."

I clenched my fists. "I didn't make the coffee, Miss Matthews. Perhaps you should specify your preferences to the coffee shop directly."

Taylor's eyes narrowed for a moment before she laughed. "Oh, Kyle, isn't she adorable? So defensive over a cup of coffee." She turned to me, her smile never reaching her eyes. "You know, Mia, attitude like that is probably why you're still just a secretary."

Kyle didn't even look up from his computer. "That will be all, Mia."

I turned to leave, but Taylor wasn't done. "Actually, Mia, wait." She stood up, smoothing her dress. "Could you show me to the ladies' room? This building is so big, I always get lost."

I knew it was a trap. But with Kyle sitting right there, I couldn't refuse. "Of course."

The moment we entered the bathroom, Taylor's sweet facade dropped. She checked every stall before turning to me, her eyes cold.

"I know what you're doing," she hissed. "Playing the perfect employee, always so helpful, so eager to please. Everyone knows you’ve always been desperate for any scrap of attention. You’re just like your mother—always looking for something that isn’t yours"

My hands trembled. "Don't talk about my mother."

"Why not? Everyone knew what she was - a gold-digger who trapped my father with her money. And now look at you, following in her footsteps."

"That's not true." My voice shook. "My mother loved Dad. She didn't know—"

"She didn't know he was already in love with my mom?" Taylor laughed. "Please. She knew exactly what she was doing. Just like you know exactly what you're doing with Kyle."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Taylor stepped closer. "Don't play innocent. I've seen how you look at him. How you've always looked at him. It's pathetic, really. Do you think he'll ever see you as anything more than what you are? A convenient employee he can use?"

"Stop it." My stomach churned. Whether from morning sickness or stress, I wasn't sure.

"You know what's funny?" Taylor continued. "Kyle tells me everything. About his little arrangement. About how the board forced him to find a wife quickly after that scandal. And guess who was there, so eager to sign whatever contract he put in front of her?"

I felt the blood drain from my face. Kyle had told her about our marriage?

"Oh, don't worry," Taylor smirked. "Your secret is safe with me. It's too amusing to spoil. Kyle's fake wife, pining away while he spends his nights with me."

"You're lying." But my voice sounded weak even to my own ears.

"Am I? Where do you think he goes when he's not at your little love nest? Who do you think he's with?" She pulled out her phone, scrolling through photos. "Look. Last night, after he left you. And the night before that."

The photos showed Kyle and Taylor at various restaurants, clubs, looking intimate. Happy. Real.

"Stop." My voice cracked.

"You'll never be anything to him, Mia. I have told you, you're just like your mother, trying to hold onto things that don't belong to you. But you should remember what your mom got. "

Something in me snapped. I couldn't take it anymore.

The slap echoed in the tiled bathroom. Anger flared inside me, and before I could think, my hand flew up, landing a hard slap across her face. The sharp sound echoed in the empty hallway.

Taylor's head snapped to the side. For a moment, there was absolute silence. Then she started to smile.

"Oh, Mia," she said softly. "You shouldn't have done that."

She grabbed her own arm and squeezed hard, leaving red marks. Then she messed up her hair slightly and let tears fill her eyes.

The bathroom door burst open. Kyle stood there, his face dark with anger.

"Kyle!" Taylor sobbed, running to him. "I don't know what happened! I was just trying to be friendly, and she attacked me!"

"She's lying!" I said. "Kyle, she—"

"I saw enough," Kyle cut me off. His voice was ice cold. "Taylor, are you alright?"

She buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking with perfectly timed sobs. "I just wanted to talk to her. To try and be friends. I know our past is complicated, but..."

Kyle wrapped his arms around her protectively. The sight made me feel sick.

"Please," I whispered. "Kyle, let me explain."

Taylor touched her cheek, her expression shifting instantly to one of hurt innocence. “Kyle, I… I didn’t mean to upset her,” she said, her voice soft, pleading. “Please, don’t be angry with her.”

Kyle’s gaze was cold as he looked at me. “Apologize, Mia,” he ordered, his tone hard.

I met his gaze, refusing to back down, my heart breaking anew. “No,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I won’t apologize.”

Kyle’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes—disappointment, maybe, or frustration. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

“Fine,” he said coldly. “You’re suspended. I’ll let Linda handle your work until further notice.”

The words were a knife in my heart, but I lifted my chin, refusing to let him see how much they hurt. “Understood.”

I walked away without another word, my heart aching, feeling like I had left a piece of myself behind.