My Baby’s Daddy Is Mr CEO

Chapter 17

Arianna was almost through with work for the day. Earlier today, her boss had called her and informed her that she would have to resign next month due to her condition. Arianna had pleaded to have another extra month added but he had adamantly refused.

The boss was worried that something could happen to her while at work because her delivery date was near; she was almost seven months pregnant. He did not want to be held responsible in the case that anything went wrong.

Arianna was bothered by the news, she still needed to save more for her baby’s arrival. Quitting the job two months earlier would consume her savings even before she arrives.

While at work, her phone beeped and she picked it from the counter. It was a message notification; the message had come from an unsaved number. She wondered who the phone number could belong to.

She clicked the message and the text was just three words. “Can we meet?”

The number seemed familiar to her, so she checked the message records and discovered that it was the number Oliver had used to text her days ago. She sighed, wondering what he wanted this time. It’s been two days since they had the gathering at his office.

After hesitating for a while, she decided to reply to his text. “Why?” That was the shortest text she had ever sent anyone.

She made to drop the phone and focus on her work but the moment it touched the counter, it beeped again. She picked the phone up and it was a reply from Oliver. It seemed like he was waiting for her reply.

The message read, “I understand that things are complicated between us right now, but I promise, it’s just a friendly date, I would like to say a few words to you in person, so I would appreciate it if you can honor my invitation.”

Arianna thought about it for a while, she was not sure what he wanted to talk about but she was tempted to accept his invitation. At least to know what he had to say. She thought of calling her friend first, but when she did, Rosie`s number was temporarily out of network coverage.

Finally, she made up her mind to go. “It’s just this one time after all,” she said, trying to convince herself that it was the right choice.

“Alright, but not at the club, a café spot would be better.” She sent her reply

“Arianna, You should drop your phone and face your work if you want to get paid!” her boss yelled from the other room, jolting her attention back to the poor chickens that were being grilled; they were almost burnt.

It seemed like Oliver existed just to put her in trouble.

* * * * *

Few hours later, her work hours were over and she arrived at the café spot she and Oliver had agreed on. The sun had gone down and the cool evening breeze was soothing after such a stressful day at work.

The café spot had chairs and tables set on the outside and inside, Arianna preferred sitting on the outside, because there was a nice view of the environment from there and in addition was the fresh air that came there.

She looked around but Oliver was nowhere in sight, both on the outside and the inside. She wondered if he was not here yet, or had he played a prank on her by making her come here. She decided to call him but the moment she dialed his number, she heard a phone ringing behind her. She turned around and came to face the billionaire.

He was dressed in simple clothes but with famous brand names tagged on it, the only jewelry on him was a gold wristwatch on his wrist. Perhaps he was avoiding drawing attention to himself, nevertheless, she couldn’t deny that he was cute, his long eyebrows mesmerizing, his hair black like darkness, but yet shiny like light. Her gaze fell on his lips, then his grey eyes, they were beautiful.

“Hi,” he said with a small smile tugged on his lips.

“Um… Hi… Hi,” she stuttered, she was suddenly feeling nervous.

“I thought I would let you chose a table today, that’s why I decided to wait in my car outside till you arrived,” he said

“Oh,” Arianna muttered, she had not been paying attention when she walked in or she would have noticed the car.

“So where do you think we should stay?” he asked in a friendly tone.

Arianna was still puzzled with the way he was smiling. The last time they had seen each other, things didn’t end well, so it’s strange that he is smiling now. However, she had to admit to herself that he had a nice smile too. What is wrong with her today?

“Hello? Are you there?” Oliver waved his hand at her face, trying to bring back her attention.

“Oh, yes… I think the outside would be better,” she replied to his question.

“Okay then, let’s sit here,” he said, pointing to a chair not too distant from then.

She nodded and they walked to the table. Oliver pulled out one of the seats for her to sit and that got her even more puzzled. Why is he suddenly being nice to her? Acting like a gentleman, was this some sort of game or what?

She sat down and dropped her bag on the table, while he sat on the other side, directly facing her.

“So, since you chose a café spot, I guess you would like to have a cup of coffee, but are pregnant women allowed to take coffee?” he asked curiously.

Arianna chuckled softly and looked down. Did he really ask that? What is going on? Why is he suddenly so caring?

“Well, it’s safe for pregnant women to consume up to two hundred milligrams of caffeine a day, which is about one to two cups, so yes we are,” she replied, trying to hide her surprise with his new behavior and look as nonchalant as ever.

“Oh, okay then.”

Oliver ordered two cups of coffee, he doesn’t enjoy coffee much but since she was having it, he felt that he should too.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” Arianna queried, after their coffee had been served.

“Oh, um… look, I… I just wanted to apologize to you for everything that had happened between us in the past. I understand that my actions must have hurt you but honestly, that wasn’t my intention.

I mean, I had only done all of that because I thought you were lying. Some complications involving the night we spent together made me feel that I was not the father of this child. I was very confident about that and if not for the hospital reports, I might have never believed…” He paused for a while and stared at her, she wasn’t saying any words and her face held no expressions.

“Listen Aria, I’m really sorry for all I had made you go through, all the hurtful words I said to you, I am sincerely sorry and I would only be at peace with myself if you would forgive me,” he added.

Arianna was still silent; she was surprised and confused at the same time. She had never expected someone as arrogant as her baby’s daddy to apologize, did he really mean this or was he planning something else?

Oliver stretched his hand towards her and held her right hand which she had placed on the table. “Please Aria,” he pleaded.

Arianna wanted to take her hand off his, but it felt like it had magnate to her so she let it be, however she tried avoiding those grey eyes. She thought about his request, she didn’t really have much of a grudge against him, she had felt satisfied after the outcome of the tests and dropped all bad thoughts towards him, with the mindset that they might never meet again, but right now she didn’t know if she should admit it to him.

After a few minutes of silence, she finally gave her reply. “It’s alright Oliver, I forgive you.”

Oliver`s face brightened immediately, he had thought earlier that it would be more difficult than this.

“Thank you so much, now I can finally have a rest of mind. One more request, I know things are complicated between us right now, but at least, can we be friends?” he asked.

“I am not sure about that, but I will think about it, I need to go home now, my friend would be waiting for me,” she replied and stood up.

Oliver was a bit disappointed. “Alright, can I drop you off at your house?” he queried.

She lifted her handbag, “no, but maybe some other time.” She smiled.

Oliver smiled too, she said some other time, and well, that was a good sign.