CEO'S Secret Baby: A Standalone Surprise Pregnancy Romance - Iona Rose (which ebook reader .txt) 📗

mentioned how focused she was with the new state tourism account I had passed onto her.

Joseph would definitely no longer be at the office but perhaps Jeremy would know of her whereabouts. A few minutes later, I had him on the line, and could hear the shock in his tone at my contact.

“Yes, this is Jeremy… s-sir. Is there a problem?”

“I apologize for startling you,” I replied. “But I’m not able to reach Leah. Did you see her before you left the office?”

“No, sir, I did not,” he replied. “She left before me. She also took a sick day off for tomorrow.”

My nerves tightened with concern. “A sick day? She wasn't feeling well?”

“Not that I know of, but she told me not to worry about it. That she was fine.”

“Thank you, Jeremy,” I said, and ended the call. From then on, I pushed the report aside and rose to my feet. I immediately dialed Tracy and went over to the windows overlooking the brightly lit city skyline.

She picked up after the third ring, also surprised that I was contacting her.

“Have you heard from Leah?” I asked. “I can’t reach her, and it seems she took a sick day off from work for tomorrow.”

“Uh…” she said. “I t-think she’s all right. She’ll probably contact you soon.”

I cocked my head at her response. “‘Has she been active on your group chat within the last hour?”

“She uh—I’m not sure, let me call you back.”

Before I could protest, she ended the call and I was left staring at the disconnected phone. I became worried then, impatience and frustration welling up inside of me.

“Sir?”

I suddenly heard a call from behind me. I turned around to see that it was my secretary, Meredith. “Your call with Chicago is in ten minutes. We’ve already set up in conference room 3. We’re just waiting on you now.”

“Everyone’s seated?” I asked.

“Yes, sir.”

I groaned inwardly, close to cancelling the meeting, but it had taken a village to put together. So I headed over to my table, and quickly wrote down a note. I grabbed my jacket, and at the door, handed the note over to her. “Keep calling this number, and when it goes through, introduce yourself as my secretary and ask for Leah Peters. If she’s the one that answers, ask her if she’s okay and relay that I’m fucking pissed that I’m not able to reach her.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied.

I went on my way.

Chapter 36

Leah

I received Tracy’s text message just as I arrived at the Minnesota airport.

‘Leah! Carter called! He’s incredibly anxious that he can’t reach you. Have you landed? I just told him that I’d call him back, and hung up.’

I was just about to respond to the text, when a call came in. It was definitely not a number on my contact’s list, but one from Minnesota. Perhaps it was Carter. So I picked up, but instead heard the smooth response of a woman’s voice.

“Miss Leah Peters?” She called.

“Yes?”

“I’m Meredith, Mr Edward’s secretary. He’s in a meeting right now so he can’t contact you directly, but he’s been trying to get in touch with you for the last hour. Is everything alright?”

I sighed, remorseful that I had caused him to be so worried. I wondered then if it would be best to just inform him of my arrival, but I couldn’t make up my mind. “Everything’s fine,” I replied. “Please tell him to give me a call the moment he’s available.”

“I will,” she said and hung up.

I found a taxi then, and after giving him the address to Carter’s apartment complex, I settled in the backseat and sent a reply to Tracy. Carter was still in a meeting at work, but I had all the information needed to access his building and apartment.

In our phone conversations, I had hinted at a surprise visit and cajoled him to facilitate its possibility.

So a half-hour later, I arrived at the high rise apartment building in downtown St. Paul and walked into the glistening reception, I gave my name to the front desk and hoped to God that Carter had registered my name as one of his acceptable guests.

“Miss Leah Peters.” He nodded “I have you right here. You can go right ahead ma’am.”

I thanked him. I knew Carter wasn’t home, but I still got even more nervous as I approached his apartment on the seventh floor. I would go in to wait for him, and hopefully, he wouldn't be too startled upon his return at the stranger in his house, and club me to death before it registered that it was me. Just to be sure of his location though, I decided to give his secretary another call. It was pretty late so I wasn't sure she would pick up, and was pleasantly surprised when she did.

“Miss Peters?” She answered.

“Hello? Yeah, this is Leah Peters. I’m calling to check if Mr. Edwards is still in his meeting.”

“Yes, he is,” she answered somewhat coldly.

“Oh alright, thank you.” I replied and ended the call with a face. Perhaps her tone was just naturally that curt, or she was cranky from still being at work so late.

The elevator door dinged open and I stepped out with my luggage. I watched the numbers on the doors for his, and then turned the corner. Given the arrangement, it would be at the end of the hallway.

I lifted my gaze however, and I froze.

He was already home.

The door was slightly ajar, and his hand on the knob.

He was wearing a baseball hat over his head and smiling at someone. Suddenly, long painted fingernails came out of nowhere and settled on his chest. A woman appeared, her bone straight dark hair swishing behind her. She pushed him against the frame of the door, and in moments, their lips were locked together in a ravenous kiss.

Her ass was grabbed, and something in my heart shattered.

I immediately began to turn around, almost desperate to be out of there before either of them spotted me. But