She looked at me, gave me an excited smile, and placed her hand on her stomach lovingly. We hadn’t discussed making this announcement, but since someone on the board already knew and had probably told the others based on their reactions now, it made sense. This was as good a time as any. I stood up and walked toward Gabriella, grabbing her hand and turning toward the board.
“We are very excited for this next chapter.Bothnew chapters. Parents and CEOs,” I said, looking at Gabriella with excitement and disbelief. She squeezed my hand and returned the smile. A unanimous round of “congratulations” went around the room.
It felt surreal to be standing here with Gabriella, her hand in mine, our baby on the way. It was a complete 180 from where we started months ago in this very boardroom. It was like every single thing was falling into place for both of us. I was thrilled that Gabriella now had her chance to be CEO, even though in the back of my mind it was eating away at me that she would feel robbed somehow. If she did, she wasn’t showing it now as her smile beamed through the entire room.
This wasn’t what I was expecting when I woke up this morning. When Gabriella had told me to come to the office today, I figured it was just to wrap things up in regards to the whole SEC investigation. I hadn’t expected to be reinstated as CEO and share the news of our pregnancy to the entire board of Harold Enterprises, with Gabriella’s father standing by proudly.
As if Gabriella sensed my disbelief, she tugged on my hand gently, bringing my attention to her beautiful face. She looked at me with the same surprised expression on her face. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask “is this real?” I shrugged, grinning back at her. If it was real, we had so much to celebrate tonight.
Chapter 49
Gabriella
As the conference room began to clear of the board members, the shock of my father’s announcement began to grow even more. I had not expected him to make Chandler and me CEOs of the company. I thought today was just going to be a meeting to update the board members on everything that had gone down with the missing money and the SEC investigation.
Something like that could destroy a company, losing the faith of its investors, but they didn’t seem that surprised about my father’s honest confession. Maybe it was because rumors had already been swirling, and they had just been waiting for the news to come from his mouth.
They knew my father was a man of integrity, which was why they had been members for so long and trusting their moneywith Harold Enterprises. What had happened wasn’t my father’s fault. It could have happened to anyone. Thankfully, the SEC had dropped the investigation once they realized it was just one man behind everything.
Another rumor had been swirling around, too, and instead of letting it fester, I wanted the board to hear about my pregnancy fromme. When I spoke to my father this morning, he was supportive of my decision to address it, encouraging me to share the news myself. I was still irritated with the board member who had called my father in the first place, taking away my moment and leading to our fallout, but what was done was done. I was going to take back my power.
I probably should have run my decision by Chandler first, but the way he was beaming when I addressed the room, clutching my small bump, I knew he was supportive. It had come as no surprise to most of them. The board members gossiped more than a group of middle school girls. I was surprised by their genuine congratulations and even a small round of applause for this unexpected union between two people who practically despised each other. It was funny how life worked.
It felt good to no longer be holding onto this secret when I was so happy with what the future held. It wasn’t fair to me, or Chandler, or our baby to treat it as if it were anything other than a blessing. To think, I had almost thrown it all away. Now it was out in the open, and it made it feel even more real. We were going to be parents.
And CEOs…
Once the boardroom was empty of everyone except me and Chandler, who was still holding my hand and stroking my knuckles gently with his hand, he turned to me with a concerned look on his face. I could see the worry etched in his face.
Confused, I asked, “What’s wrong? Is it because I told everyone about the baby? I should have told you…I just…” I felt a small sense of panic that maybe I hadn’t read the moment right.
“No,” he said, holding up his hand. “Not at all.” His eyes widened in surprise at my suggestion. “In fact, I want to shout it from the rooftops. I just might before we leave. Wearein one of the tallest buildings in the city.”
I laughed softly. “Then what is it? What’s wrong?”
He sighed and grabbed my other hand, looking at me intently. “I just know how much CEO means to you. You’ve worked practically your whole life toward it. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t handle CEO on your own. You can. I know you can. I didn’t know your father was even thinking of reinstating me, let alone the two of us. I don’t want you to feel like your moment was stolen again because of me.”
He looked so worried as he studied my face, and I realized just how far we had come since the first time we had been in this boardroom together when my father made his jaw-dropping announcement, and I was flooded with resentment and inadequacy. This moment was nothing like that, though.
“Chandler,” I said, squeezing his hands. “I didn’t want CEO anymore. Being pregnant changed everything. I told my father as much, which is why I’m just as confused as you are by this decision. I want to focus on being a mother for a while.”
“Really?” he asked, raising his brows above his perfect green eyes.
“Mhmm. I know the company is in good hands with you. He couldn’t have picked a better man for the job. You saved the company.”
“Wesaved the company,” he corrected me.
“You’ll just have to hold down the fort for a while until I feel ready to step in. If ever. I don’t know about all of this…”
I felt so torn. I had always wanted this, but now that I had the chance of having a family, it seemed impossible to have both. I knew women did it all the time. I admired them. They were superwomen in my eyes. I just didn’t know ifIcould do it.
“You can do anything you put your mind to,” said Chandler, his tone growing serious. “I know you, Gabriella. You can handle it. If it’s what you want. You have my support, no matter what you choose.”
“I don’t deserve you, you know,” I said, my throat bobbing.
His smile widened before he leaned in and kissed me excitedly. I laughed against his mouth as he lifted me up and swung me around. He set me down and shook his head in disbelief. I placed my hand against his cheek and looked up at him, my heart overwhelmed with emotions.
“Now, let’s go find my father…” I said, wanting to clarify a few things.
