Chapter 1

　　Fifteen days late.

　　Outside the CEO's office, Jade stared at the notification she'd been ignoring the entire morning.

　　She counted again.

　　Same result.

　　Her period was fifteen days late. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the screen in horror. She couldn't be pregnant, right?

　　She couldn't be pregnant with her boss's child.

　　Dashing into the private bathroom of Lucian Ashford's office, she quickly worked her way through the pregnancy test she'd bought this morning.

　　For the entire five minutes it remained in the cup, Jade paced around the bathroom, gnawing anxiously at her forefinger. Cold spread through her bones.

　　They'd always been careful. She'd never missed a pill.

　　Except for that one time in the office six weeks ago.

　　Oh God, please no.

　　She stopped pacing. Her fingers hovered over the stick, slowly lifting it from the cup. She drew in a shaky breath.

　　Just then, her phone shrieked.

　　Jade flinched violently before picking it up from the sink, her finger swiping on the green button.

　　Her boss's order rang out. "Come to the hotel with my clothes, now."

　　"Yes, si…" the call ended before she could finish.

　　Quickly slipping the pregnancy test stick into her pocket, she hurried out of the bathroom and headed to the parking lot.

　　Being Lucian Ashford's secretary by day and secret lover by night was the worst decision she'd ever made. Had she known things would turn out this way, she would never have stepped into his office that day.

　　Thirty minutes later, Jade stopped outside his hotel room. Swiping the spare key card, she pushed the door open. But the moment she stepped in, her entire body stiffened.

　　A dull ache settled in her chest as her wide eyes swept across the room.

　　A pink dress, white heels, a pink bag, and a few other unfamiliar feminine items were scattered across the floor. The bed was rumpled, and the air carried a scent of expensive vanilla perfume.

　　Her fingers tightened painfully around the paper bag.

　　"You're late."

　　She looked up. Lucian Ashford emerged from the bathroom, shirtless, a white towel wrapped around his waist.

　　Before she could reply, another figure stepped out from behind him. A woman with nothing more than a lacy bra and thong. She trailed her fingertips across his chest.

　　"I'll help you get dressed," she purred. Then, turning to Jade, her gaze traveled over her.

　　And Jade hated herself for also trailing her gaze over the woman. They couldn't have been more different. While the woman was tall, slim, and glamorous, she was the average height, curvier and much simpler. A lump settled on her throat.

　　"You're the secretary? Give me that. I'll help him get dressed."

　　When he didn't say anything or oppose, she reluctantly stepped forward and handed the bag to the woman.

　　"Leave," Lucian said.

　　She bit hard on her lips. Was he seriously asking her to leave? Had she been replaced just that easily? A bitter laugh almost escaped her.

　　How ridiculous of her to think that the months together meant anything to him.

　　Not that it did to her either.

　　Nodding, she swiveled and began to storm toward the door only for his voice to stop her halfway.

　　"Not you, Jade."

　　She turned sharply.

　　"You." His eyes rested on the woman before him.

　　The woman let out a short laugh. "What do you mean? We're supposed to leave together, babe." She tried to run her hands over his chest again, but he quickly caught her, his expression turning glacial.

　　"Didn't you hear me?"

　　Reluctantly, she let the bag drop onto the bed and proceeded to put on her dress. Once she was fully dressed, she cast Jade a glare before brushing past her to the door.

　　"Are you going to stand there all day or come dress me up?"

　　Jade's fingers dug into her palm. "You can dress yourself," she spat, not caring about her tone.

　　He cocked a brow. "I'm your boss."

　　Releasing a low grunt, she marched toward him and brought out his clothes from the bag. She kept a straight face as he took off the towel, revealing his boxers underneath. Quickly, she helped him with his pants and moved to put his shirt over him.

　　All the while, his gaze was glued to her face.

　　After she was done with the shirt, she threw his tie over his neck and pulled it with more force than usual.

　　"One would think that you hold a decade-old grudge over me," he said. "Planning to kill me?"

　　Lucian attempted to caress her hair, but she moved away from him. "Don't touch me."

　　"What's with you today? Mad?" Then he chuckled. "Or jealous. Is it because you saw me with another woman? "

　　Jade let out a hollow laugh. Jealous?

　　Ridiculous.

　　Why would she be jealous? He'd always made it clear that their relationship outside work was simply transactional. She serviced him sexually, and he did his own part. She didn't have the right.

　　"I'm not jealous," her voice cracked.

　　He lifted a brow.

　　If there was anything that annoyed Jade the most about their whole arrangement was how stupidly hot she found him to be. From his voice to the way those perfect chiseled cheeks of his moved whenever he smiled.

　　Just like now, as his lips slowly curl upward, amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

　　Lucian's hands snaked around her waist, and he pulled her toward him. She tried to push him away, but his hold on her was tight.

　　"Have I told you how cute you look when you're jealous?"

　　"I said I'm not."

　　"Don't worry, no matter how many women there are, you're still my favorite." He bumped a knuckle against her nose.

　　She bit out. "I'm just afraid you'll give me a sexually transmitted disease."

　　"Really? Just that?"

　　"Yes."

　　"Pity. I was hoping you were."

　　Jade rolled her eyes. "Since your clothing is done, I'll leave now, sir."

　　His hold on her tightened. "Who said you could leave?"

　　"I have other work to do." She frowned, struggling to get out of his hold.

　　"But I pay you to serve me."

　　She tugged his hands off her. "You…."

　　She froze when something slipped from her pocket and clattered against the floor.

　　Their attention shifted to it. Jade's eyes widened, and she immediately bent to pick it up. But before her hand could touch it, he snatched it away.

　　His eyes suddenly darkened as he examined the pregnancy test stick in his hand. And then slowly, his piercing gaze met hers again.

　　"What made you test?" His voice had lost every trace of humor. "Didn't you take your contraceptives?"