Suppressing Desires for the CEO

Chapter 13

Breakfast followed the mini saga. Scott's mom was dotting on me and his grandfather kept telling stories about Scott's childhood days at their vineyard. I felt the warmth around the table, and shyness set in as I realized I was included by default.

"So this is what all the fuss outside is all about." A baritone voice belonging to a young man said strolling in and looking down at me with curiosity.

"Darling!" Diane got up and pulled the young, attractive, but serious man into her embrace.

Scott gripped his utensils, and didn't acknowledge the man.

"Mother" the man took the seat across from Scott and I, next to Diane.

Once the pleasantries were over, the man extended his hand across the table to me.

"Seeing as your fiancé has lost his manners, allow me to introduce myself, Bradley Dainway. Most people call me Brad."

Hi. Rachel Paul." I shook his hand briefly as Scott watched under hooded eyes.

"So Scott. Where did you find this diamond in the rough?" The guy mocked.

Scott looked up and starred hard at him. I could sense the tension between the two men.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Linda interjected gesturing for me to get up and follow her.

"Ofcourse. Quick turnaround considering the Vanessa story." He called.

"Don't." Scott stood up and the table shook. He followed after us.

Once seated I was curious to know what made Scott dislike the man so much. But judging by the way Scott looked, now wasn't the time to ask.

We ended up in another office in a wing of the mansion. Linda sat across from us and handed me a folder, a pen, and a set of keys. To Scott the same thing.

"So inside the folder is the contract. The terms are nothing to worry about. Rachel, you will be agreeing to be Scott's wife for no less than 2 years. In that time you will need to give him an heir, or an uncontested divorce will ensue. Seeing as you are pregnant - that shouldn't be a problem. Let's hope it is his or you don't lose the child otherwise the terms are null and void." Linda threw in.

"Linda." Scott growled.

She held her hands in surrender "Just a joke. Anyway, your things will be discreetly moved to Scott's by the weekend. We will have a tenant take over your lease so you need not worry about anything except getting the world to believe the two of you are in love blah blah."

"Wait what?" I tried to jump in.

"The keys are for an apartment down the road from here, where you can take any man you want to have an affair with. Make sure you let me know in advance so I can ensure there is no press on this."

"Excuse me?"

"Scott your keys are for the condo at the club. Please try to behave before you get married." Linda finally paused but her last statement rendered me speechless.

"One last thing. There will be plenty of events and interviews and outings so we've set up a wardrobe in your size Mrs Dainway-to-be. Diane has her glam squad who usually help her on big occasions but we have them upstairs for you today. We need you tv ready. Scott, please change into something tv-appropriate."

She shoved a page in front of us. "I have reached out to some of my connections who will ask you the following questions. It's a brief press conference on the front lawn. It's only to be able to clear up this 'news outbreak'. That's about it. You have 4 hours. Call me if you need anything."

She got up and walked out.

"Is she always so -" I struggled at the words in my moment of shock.

"Forward. Direct. Blunt. Assuming. Controlling?" Scott joked.

I laughed and leaned back in the chair putting a palm to my forehead. I felt a little dizzy.

"Not to worry. She is amazing once you get to know her." Scott said turning to me. His brows furrowed with worry," are you ok?"

"I'm fine...I haven't called my mother...and work..they are going to have my head." I groaned feeling even more apprehensive.

"Don't worry about it. I will call Gregory and Patrick. As for your mother, I'm sorry she is finding out this way. It can't be easy."

Understatement of the year. First I had kept the break up from Dylan from my mother. Who knows what she would think of hearing I was engaged and I hadn't informed her first.

"Could you give me a minute?" I needed to call her. I had wasted too much time.

Scott nodded and left the room.

"Mom." I said when she answered her phone.

"Oh hello honey. Did you try call me earlier? The power went and I only just got my phone battery up. It was an absolute nightmare talking with the electric company all morning. Woke up to blackness and it was a little scary but I managed to use the torch I luckily keep on my bedside.."

She was rambling, but I smiled. I was relieved. Maybe I stood a chance.

"Mom. I have news." I said after taking a deep breath.

"Oh? What is it? Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes. I wish I could have told you sooner but..I'm engaged...and pregnant." I whispered the last part.

"What's that?" my mom screeched, "When?! Who?! What?! How?!"

"Well I promise I will tell you everything when I see you on the weekend but my... fiancé is..sort of from a high profile family so it has leaked all over the news. I wanted you to hear it from me first."

I heard silence then just as I was about to check if the line hadn't gone dead I heard a sniff.

"I'm so happy for you! I want to hear ALL the details, how he proposed and who he is.... I won't watch the silly tabloids that lie until you are here as long as you brace yourself to tell me everything OK!?"

I was reminded of the goodness of a mother in that moment. She didn't judge or go psycho. She was just happy for me. I thought of Grandfather Henry and knew I wouldn't want to tell her it was all done to save a lie.

We chatted a bit as I told her who Scott was and she gasped, and giggled. Most of it was the truth. Scott and I had a friendship and we had gotten close and now we were here wanting to be together to make a better life for the baby on the way. I hung up and tears sprung my eyes. My mother was so ecstatic to be a grandmother, and I was struggling to be mother.

I heard a knock, Scott stepped through, dressed in a navy suit. He looked breathtaking. I almost reached out to touch him as the lust filled my eyes. I nodded looking away and shaking my head to rid it of an image of him before me, on top of me, under me. This was not going to be easy.

"How did it go?"

"She had a power outage so I managed to share the news. I will probably need to see her this weekend."

"We will go together." Scott said decisively.

"I don't think it's necessary..." I wasn't ready for Scott to invade my life any further - not yet at least.

"It is Rachel." He stepped closer to me and his eyes intensified their stare, "we are engaged, and we need to act like we are. It would look bad if I were to meet your mother at the engagement party."

He had a point so I nodded, lowering my head in defeat.

He brought a curled finger to my cheek and tilted my head up.

"I said we are in this together. And I mean it." His gaze had softened and I found myself recalling that look in the midst of our love-making. Which only got me wanting him again.

As if sensing my thoughts, he lowered his head and brushed my lips softly. It took my breath away.

"I better go. My father is waiting for you, and I know Linda has an army ready for you." He stepped back, smiled, before turning and leaving me. I touched my lips. I was a goner.