Secret Baby with the CEO

Chapter 1

Isabella

“It’s been a year since you graduated from college, Isi..” My mom who sat opposite to me on the dinner table speaks as she takes a sip of her expensive wine. “But you still haven’t got yourself a job..”

My mom, Dr. Leila Anderson is a successful gynecologist. As I stare at her, she looks like she’s just walked out of a saloon. She is undeniably good-looking, blonde with sky blue eyes who had a few nips and tucks over the years and managed to look ten years younger than her years.

“I am freelancing, mom..” I say, twirling the wine glass in my hand in an attempt to tone down the annoyance coming off me.

“Freelancing?” My eldest sister, Arianna scoffs mockingly. “That isn’t even a real job, Isi”

My sister Arianna, a pediatrician thinks all the other professions in the world are under hers. I want to slap the arrogance off her face but I shove that thought away.

“Why?” I match her gaze instead, “I earn from it..”

“Earn?” My dad, Dr. James Anderson, a famous cardiologist in the city and CEO of Europa Hospitals chips in. “Do you think what you earn is enough for you, Isabella? You don’t even own an apartment. And god knows how you are happy with whatever waste of time you are making out of yourself..”

This is why I should have avoided coming to the weekend dinner at my parents’ house like I did the last two times. I hate having this conversation over and over again with my family. No matter what I do, I am always a disappointment to them. My choices have never made them happy or proud of me.

I can’t say I am successful like any of them but I do make a living out of my job.

“You should have taken medicine as your career, Isi..” Viviana, the youngest Anderson sibling spoke. She wasn’t a doctor like the others because she was still in med school but that doesn't stop her from taunting me. “Look I’m already earning more than you and I haven’t even graduated yet..”

I curb the urge to roll my eyes at her. She’s working part-time in my parents’ Hospital and obviously, they pay her well to meet her needs. And now she thinks she is better than me.

“No wonder, Ray broke up with you. Who would want to associate with a girl who doesn’t have a career and is sitting at home all day doing nothing?”

My mom’s words manage to snap all the patience in me “I was the one to break up with him, not the other way around, mom..”

“Another bad decision..” My dad remarks, “Dr. Ray is a successful, young man. You should consider yourself lucky to have got yourself such a wonderful man..”

“Wonderful Man?” I snigger in response, “He is a class-A asshole..”

“Language, Isi..” Mom chides, “Care to explain why you broke up with him?”

“No..” I press my lips into a thin line, “Can we not talk about my career, my relationship, or anything related to me?”

“Fine..” Mom finally gives up with a sigh and surprisingly, for the rest of the dinner, my family gives up on chewing my head off.

I am exhausted by the time I reach Christy’s apartment. I had a long day. Agreed that I don’t have a full-time job but that doesn’t mean I am sitting at home doing nothing as my mom puts it. I work for several online companies, developing websites and apps. And let me tell you, I work my ass off. However, the pay isn’t good enough for me to rent an apartment for myself. Yet.

I can certainly get my parents' help with it since they have always offered to buy me my apartment but my self-respect always interferes and so and that’s why I share this place with Christy.

Budget, sure is a reason that I have to share this apartment with my Christy but that’s not the only reason. She’s my best friend and the only person in my life who has been so supportive of the decisions I have taken so far. I love her, even more than my sisters and I love it even more to spend time with her. And so does Christy!

“Hey, girl!! So I assume the dinner with your parents didn’t go very well..” One look at my face and Christy, my best friend can tell that.

I chuckle ruefully, “It would have been a surprise if it had..”

“Want to talk about it?” She asks as she opens the door wider for me to get in.

“No..” I walk to the couch and slump on it.

“Did you at least eat properly?” She takes the spot beside me and asks with concern.

“Not really. The food tasted bland for my liking..” I make a ‘yuck’ gesture.

“I am sure it did. Or else how would your mom and sisters maintain that finger?” She laughs.

I can't disagree with her. My sisters are pretty and carbon copies of my mom, whereas I, well, I did not inherit the model-like figure, blonde hair, or their height. I am more like my dad’s side of the family who have Mexican genes, petite and brunette. The only thing I have of my mom is her blue eyes.

We snuggle on the couch and start watching Virgin River from where we left it last night.

“Annoying is the word that comes to my head every time I see Charmaine’s face..” I mumble, pulling the blanket up my chin.

“That’s an understatement. She is a stubborn, manipulative bitch..” Christy agrees with me in her way.

“I am going to order Pizza..” She announces taking out her phone.. “You want..?”

“That would do me some good after such a crappy day..”

Gigging, she orders before we go back to watching the shitty show. I don’t know why I am still watching it when I feel it’s becoming dragging with each episode. I guess, I like the time I get to spend and crack silly jokes with my bestie. So, I will stick to the routine while munching on the pizza.

“Babe, I am going to bed. Goodnight..” I hear her but I am too deep gone into my sleep that I don’t find the energy to answer her. All I remember is stretching out of the small couch that I have been spending my nights on for the past few months since I broke up with Ray.

***

The next morning, I wake up to the blaring sound of the alarm, begrudgingly. It may be a weekend but I still have work to do. Opening my laptop, I start checking my emails.

My eyes widen to the size of saucers when I notice a reply mail from the HR of Emblix Designs, the company for which I have been freelancing for almost a year now. I don’t delay opening the mail.

“Oh, my Gawd!!” I have to press my palms over my mouth to suppress the screech that I just let out. It is a freaking Saturday morning and I don’t want to disturb Christy so early in the morning.

The mail read that they liked all the previous designs that I worked on for them and currently, they have a vacancy for which they want to fill me into. It further said to walk into their office on the following Monday, which means the day after tomorrow, to discuss more about the job nature and salary.

I don’t want to wake up Christy but heck, I cannot stop myself from running to her bedroom and shaking her up, “Christy, you need to wake up..”

“What is it, Isi..?” She groans sleepily, “Let me sleep, you crazy bitch..”

“You can sleep later..” I shake her again, almost pulling her up this time, “You need to hear this first..”

“Arrgh..” She rubs her eyes with the ball of her palms. “What is it?”

Instead of simply telling her about it, I push my laptop into her lap. Christy squeezes her eyes briefly before opening them to read the mail. I watch as her sleep-filled eyes slowly grow wider just like mine did a few minutes ago, “Oh my god!! This is such great news to wake up to..”

She lunges forward to throw her arms around me in a tight hug. “Congrats, Isi. You finally did it!!”

“Thank you so much, Christy, for everything you have done for me..” I quickly blink the tears away before she can see it.

“Oh, come on. You don’t have to thank me..” She smiles devilishly, “But you can return the favor in other ways..”

“Like what?” I might know what she wants but I wish to hear it from her.

“Come with me to Golden booze..” It sounds more like a command. She has been pestering me about going to the newly opened pub downtown for months but it has never interested me. However today, though, I nod my head to agree with her.

“Really?” She exclaims.

“Yes, let’s go check out what is so great about this Golden booze that you are talking non-stop about..”

“You will see once you go there..” Instead of going back to sleep, she hops out of her bed and towards her closet, throwing out all the coolest outfits she owns on the bed. “Let’s see which one fits you..”

“I have enough dresses of my own, Christy..” I protest as I walk behind her.

She turns around, “We are going to a pub, not to the church..”

“What’s wrong with my dresses?” I ask thinking hard about it.

“I am trying to hook you up with some hot guy and with all the modest dresses you wear, that is impossible, Isi..” She rolls her eyes at me.

“I don’t want to hook up with some random stranger, Christy..” That is not me.

She folds her hands in front of her in a reprimanding way, “Of course you do, babe. There are so many reasons we should celebrate. Firstly, for getting rid of that d**k boyfriend of yours and now this new job..”

“Celebration doesn’t mean I have to hook up with someone..”

“You know it’s said that the best way to get over one man is to sleep with another one. That’s the perfect breakup remedy, babe.” She smirks and winks at me.

“I am already over Ray, Christy..” In fact, I never felt sad for breaking up with that jerk. “Moreover, one-night stands are not my thing..”

“You wouldn’t know until you have tried it first..”

“Christy..” I whine.

“Fine..” She gives up, “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. Let’s just drink, dance, and have fun tonight. How does that sound?”

“O-kayyy..” I smile at her victoriously.