CEO's Expectant Secretary(3)

“You’ll just want unlimited financial support, right?” he asked, unable to check his cynicism.

She narrowed her eyes. “I can take care of this baby on my own. I don’t want anything from you. Do you hear?” she demanded. “Not a thing.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he said. “I can provide—”

“Get out,” she said in a low, firm voice.

He blinked at the resolute expression on her face. “Excuse me?”

“Get out,” she repeated. “You’re not welcome here.”

Stunned at the strength of her response, he shook his head. He hesitated only because she looked so fragile and he didn’t want to upset her more. “I’ll leave,” he said. “But I’ll be back.” He strode out of the condo, already formulating a plan. He was, after all, known as the man with a plan. Always.



Elle held her breath as she watched Brock Maddox leave. As soon as she heard the front door close, she finally exhaled. The room seemed to turn sideways and she felt the alarming sense of her knees weakening. She quickly grasped onto the counter, her hands shaking as she set down her glass.

She just needed to get to a chair, she coached herself. If she could just sit down for a moment…. On wobbly legs, she made her way to a barstool and slid onto it. She took a breath, praying for her head to stop spinning.

How had he found out? She’d been so careful when she’d become Brock’s assistant and been forced to spy on him. She’d been so careful—except for that minor matter of going to bed with her boss and having a scorching affair with him. Her intentions had been honorable. She’d needed the money for her mother’s cancer treatments. Her grandfather had offered her a way to do that while accomplishing his own, less honorable goal.

When she’d first started working for Brock, she’d told herself to treat the job the same way a man would. Compartmentalize. She would do an excellent job for Maddox Communications as she ferreted secrets for her grandfather, Athos Koteas. Elle felt a bitter taste form in the back of her throat. In one way or another, she had spent her entire life at the mercy of a powerful man. Elle might not like the cards that had been dealt, but she would damn well play them to the best of her ability. She wouldn’t let her mother die as a result of her pride or a misplaced sense of ethics in a business completely without ethics.

The only thing she hadn’t counted on was Brock. Meeting him had made her feel as if she were in an earthquake that was rocking her to her core. She’d never intended to be attracted to him, let alone go to bed with him. And she’d never dreamed she would fall for him.

Elle heard the sound of soft footsteps in the hallway and glanced up to see her mother walk into the kitchen. Though a bit weak and frail, Suzanne seemed to be improving with the help of the experimental cancer treatments. Elle immediately plastered a smile on her face to hide how upset she was over Brock’s visit. “Good morning, Mom. Can I fix you some blueberry pancakes for breakfast?” Elle was always looking for a way to keep up her mother’s strength and weight.

Her mother shook her head. “Never try to kid a kidder, kiddo. I overheard the whole conversation with Brock. It’s obvious that you’re in love with the man. I don’t want you giving up your chance for happiness because of my illness.”

Elle quickly pulled her mother into a hug. “Don’t be ridiculous. You and I have always taken care of each other. Besides, I always knew things wouldn’t work out long-term with Brock. I just let myself get carried away,” she whispered.

“But the baby,” her mother said, pulling back, her eyes searching Elle’s face. “What are you going to do about the baby?”

“I’m strong,” Elle said. “I can take care of myself and my little one.” She lifted her hand to her mother’s cheek. “You should know. You helped make me strong.”

Her mother sighed, her gaze filled with worry. “But, Elle, the man asked you to marry him. Do you know what I would have given for your father to ask me to marry him?”

Elle’s stomach clenched. “Brock didn’t ask. He issued an order, the same way he would in the office.” She shook her head, knowing that everything between her and Brock had changed before he’d walked through her front door. He clearly knew she’d been giving away the company’s secrets. He would never forgive her, never trust her. She refused to bring her baby into a marriage of distrust and anger.

Taking a deep breath, she patted her mom’s hand. “Come on, now. You and I have more important things to focus on. Like your health, the baby and—” she forced her lips into a determined smile “—blueberry pancakes.”