Pregnant For The Ruthless CEO

　　The elevator groaned as it climbed higher and higher into the clouds, its silver doors shining like mirrors. Ann Smith stood in the corner, clutching her folder so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heart raced in rhythm with the floors blinking past.

　　She adjusted the loose ponytail that barely tamed her long chestnut hair, took a shaky breath, and whispered, "You've got this, Ann."This was her dream or as close as she could get to one.

　　Knight Global Holdings.

　　The company every business student fantasized about. Billion-dollar deals, international offices, and a CEO who was as powerful as he was terrifying. Richard Knight. The name alone sent shivers through the building. Rumor had it, he fired people with a look. Some claimed they hadn't seen him smile in years. Others whispered stories about boardroom showdowns and rival CEOs brought to their knees.

　　But Ann wasn't here for the stories. She needed this internship desperately. Her mother's hospital bills were rising, and their tiny apartment barely held together through the winter.

　　As the elevator dinged at the top floor, she stepped out and almost gasped. The office looked like a glass palace white marble floors, sleek black desks, and a breathtaking view of the city that stretched to the horizon. But before she could take it all in, someone shoved a tray into her hands.

　　"Coffee for the executive meeting. Now!" barked a woman in sharp heels and sharper eyeliner.

　　Ann blinked. "Me?"

　　"Yes, you. Conference Room A. Don't spill it." the lady said and walked away.

　　"Easy for her to say."Ann whispered to herself and hurried down the corridor, balancing the tray of steaming lattes with trembling fingers. She found the room, pushed the door, open and walked into silence.

　　Twelve people sat around the long glass table in Suits and silk ties with cold eyes. At the head of the table sat a man who looked like he belonged in a movie: tailored black suit, dark hair swept back, sharp jawline, and eyes that could slice steel. Richard Knight.

　　Her heart nearly stopped. He didn't even glance her way. Just continued talking, voice deep and smooth, "…if the Tokyo branch misses that deadline again, you know what to do." The woman beside him scribbled furiously in a notebook. Ann moved slowly, one cup at a time, her fingers slippery with nerves. Just one more left. She leaned forward to set Richard's cup in front of him. And then it happened. Her ankle twisted on the edge of the rug. She gasped. The cup tipped. Time froze. A splash of coffee landed straight onto Richard Knight's lap. Ann froze, eyes wide in horror and the room went dead silent. Richard slowly looked down at his soaked suit. Then up at her. His expression unreadable, eyes colder than winter rain. "I….I'm so sorry," she whispered. "It was an accident…"

　　"Out," he said. It wasn't a shout. It didn't need to be. His voice was calm but Dangerous. A few people flinched. "But I…" "Out. Now." Ann turned and fled, cheeks burning, eyes stinging. She didn't stop running until she reached the hallway. Her chest heaved as she leaned against the wall, heart pounding. On her first day. She'd spilled coffee on the most feared CEO in the country. A voice beside her made her jump. "Impressive," said a man with sandy blond hair and a gentle smile. "No one survives spilling anything on Richard Knight." Ann laughed bitterly. "Well, I doubt I'll survive this either." He held out a hand. "Ethan Kane. Head of Marketing. You?" "Ann Smith," she replied, shaking it. "Dead woman walking." "Don't worry. He's scary, but he won't fire you. Not yet, anyway." "Comforting," she muttered.

　　A few hours later, Ann sat alone in the intern cubicle room, her laptop open but her thoughts far away. She couldn't focus. The accident kept replaying in her mind like a nightmare on loop. The look on Richard's face. The silence in the room. The way her hands still trembled. She sighed. "You had one job, Ann. One job." The door suddenly swung open. A sleek assistant stepped in. "Mr. Knight wants to see you. Now." Ann's stomach dropped to her knees. She stood, her legs like jelly, and followed the assistant down the hall. The door to the CEO's office loomed ahead like a gate to another world. It opened silently. Richard Knight stood by the window, looking out over the city. "Sit," he said without turning. Ann sat. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, he turned. His eyes pinned her in place. "Tell me, Miss Smith. What exactly were you doing when you decided to throw coffee on me?" "I didn't throw, it was an accident." He raised a hand. "I don't care about excuses. I care about competence." She swallowed hard. "I understand." "Good," he said, walking over to his desk. "Because this company doesn't run on kindness or second chances. You're not here to be liked. You're here to deliver. Do that and I won't care if you set the whole building on fire." Her heart thumped wildly. "You're not firing me?" He sat, eyes cool. "Not yet. Impress me. Or you're out." Ann nodded quickly. "I will. I promise." His gaze held hers for a second longer than necessary. Then he looked away, already reaching for his phone. "You can go." She rose and turned to leave, heart pounding in her ears. "Oh, and Miss Smith" he said. She paused. "Next time, bring water."

　　Later that night, Ann collapsed into bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling of her apartment. Her mother was already asleep in the next room, machines softly humming. Bills were stacked on the kitchen counter. Her life was still a mess. But for some strange reason, a part of her felt…alive. Richard Knight had terrified her. But he hadn't fired her. And that fire in his eyes… that chill in his voice… something about him wasn't just scary. It was magnetic. She closed her eyes. This internship was going to be the hardest thing she'd ever done and most dangerous.