Pregnant by the Rival CEO(48)

Adam turned slowly in his massive leather executive chair like a villain in an action movie. “This is a surprise.”

Jacob didn’t wait for an invitation to sit, taking a seat opposite Adam’s desk. “I’m as surprised as you are.”

“Are you going to tell me why you’re here or are we going to play twenty questions?” Adam tapped a pen on the desk blotter.

“It’s the War Chest.”

“The gang of thugs you put together to take down the corporation my father built from the ground up? I know all about that.”

It was so like Adam to bring up the most damning details. “The investment group I was kicked out of when I pushed them to stop because I didn’t want a takeover to ruin my chances at a relationship with Anna.”

Adam cleared his throat. “Don’t get me started on Anna.”

You have no idea. Adam was going to blow up when he found out that he and Anna were as involved as a man and woman could possibly be, even if the romantic side of things was fragile. “Please, Adam. I know I’ve done some things you aren’t happy about. You can’t say that you haven’t done the same to me.”

“I have a busy day ahead of me. Can you get to the point?”

“Your brother Aiden has joined the War Chest.”

“What?” Fury blazed in Adam’s eyes.

“With his percentage of stock in the mix, they can take over LangTel. Without much problem, I have to point out. You need to do something about this now.”

“Oh, my God. Aiden.” Adam’s skin blanched, his eyes grew wide with disbelief. It was the first chink in Adam’s armor that Jacob had ever seen. “He’s been estranged from the family for years and it got worse when my dad got sick, but I never imagined he would go this far.”

“Well, he has.”

Adam’s elbows dropped to his desk, and he pushed his hair back from his forehead. He twisted his lips. His stare narrowed. “Why didn’t you take this to Anna? Was your breakup really that awful? I know she’s not fun when she’s mad.”

Jacob had already covered up an awful lot with Anna, and the guilt from that might remain forever. He couldn’t take the lies any further. “No, Adam. Anna is pregnant and I’m the father. I didn’t want to tell her because stress could jeopardize the baby.”



Anna walked through the quiet reception area on the executive floor, making her way to her office. She didn’t normally get in so early, but she hadn’t been able to sleep much. Perhaps the distraction of work would help clear her head before she ultimately returned to her worries about the baby and whether or not Jacob was really going to stand by her, no matter what.

“Good morning, Ms. Langford. Will you be joining Mr. Langford and Mr. Lin in their meeting?” her assistant, Carrie, asked as she took Anna’s coat.

Anna froze in place. “Mr. Langford and Mr. Lin? Meeting? With each other? Here?”

“They’re in Mr. Langford’s office right now. I just assumed you knew.” Her voice trailed off.

What in the world? Confused, she composed herself. “Oh, uh, yes. Yes, I’m joining them.” Anna marched down the hall to her brother’s office as if this had been the plan all along. A flurry of thoughts was turning her mind into a snow globe of speculation. Was this Jacob’s way of fighting for her? Of showing her that he would take the worst of it? She could only hope that this meeting didn’t end up with fists flying.

Adam’s assistant bolted from her seat when Anna breezed past her and lunged for the doorknob to Adam’s office. “Ms. Langford, I’m sorry. Mr. Langford is in a very important meeting...”

“So I heard.” Anna marched into her brother’s office. She wasn’t about to wait to be invited in. Somebody could be dead.

She first saw Adam’s response—surprise and shock. Jacob turned and showed a similar horror.

“Well, you’re both still alive. So I guess that’s good. Anybody want to tell me what’s going on?” She planted her hand on her hip, assessing the situation. What are these two up to?

Jacob shifted in his seat. “We, uh, had a few things we needed to discuss.”

“Right,” Adam said, unconvincingly.

“You two can’t stand to be in the same zip code. How about we try again?” She glanced over at Jacob, eager to glean from his facial expressions what was going on.

“Maybe it’s time to finally change that,” Adam interjected.

Now she had to make eye contact with Jacob. She tapped her foot on the floor. Something about this was off and she could see it on Jacob’s face.