Page 16 of Secret Baby for the Bad Boy

“Mr. Carlyle?” I recognize that voice the moment I hear it, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I pivot on my heel. Time seems to grind to a halt. It's her. Lara. The woman who's haunted my thoughts and dreams for the past five years, no matter how hard I’ve tried to forget her.

“Miss Mills.” My voice is steady, but my heart? It’s beating like mad. I feel woozy, as if I might fall down, like the time I’d been stabbed in a deal gone wrong and lost a lot of blood. It’s that same disorientating sensation that I’m fighting against now. Only this time, I’m not at a real risk of dying. I think.

She hasn't aged a day. If anything, she looks more radiant, more... formidable. That same energy crackles between us as if the passing of time has done nothing to dim the desire between us. Her sandy hair is pulled into a sleek bun, and her professional dress has me drooling as much as those cute sundresses had. And her legs… this woman and her thighs could destroy me in the best way possible.

“Mr. Carlyle, you’re staring.” The amusement in her voice matches the sparkle in her eyes, and I lift both shoulders.

“I feel like I’ve seen a ghost,” I say, and the words aren’t a lie. She’s a ghost of my past I thought I’d never see again, outside my dreams and memories.

Her gaze sweeps my face, then my body, and come back to my eyes with an almost intimidating coolness. “Do I need to cross you off the list?” she asks, arching a single eyebrow in a silent challenge that demands I forget the past – or at least, never bring it up again – and I swallow hard.

I need this job. I want this job. This is my dream position in an up-and-coming company that’ll be a springboard to opening up my own tech company – in a non-competing area, of course.

So, I shove down the memories of our wild nights together and what I know she looks like under that dress, and nod. “No need to cross me off the list.”

She nods, a victorious gleam in those striking eyes. “Then please, come,” she says, her tone all business. But the words… they leave my body confused and hard, ready for her. I remember asking her to do the same, without the please.

“Of course.” I follow her. What are the odds that she’d be the one hiring? What are the odds I’d wind up at her company after all these years of being apart? And why do I still feel the exact same tug toward her that I did then?

We enter her office, and I have no answers for any of the questions that fill my thoughts. Plants line one wall; the other are floor to ceiling windows that show the city from high above the streets. The marble underfoot gleams, and the wainscoting adds texture and an unexpected rich depth to the space.

But as beautiful as her office is, she has all of my attention. I can’t look away; she’s mesmerizing. There's strength in the way she moves, confidence in how she takes her seat behind the desk before squaring up and looking at me.

“Your resume is impressive,” Lara says, her eyes never leaving mine.

“Thank you.” I match her gaze, unwilling to back down. “I'm ready for this.”

“Good.” She nods, a single, decisive motion. “Let’s get started.”

As we dive into discussions about the position, my initial shock slowly settles into an even deeper need to land this job. Lara Mills is an unfinished chapter in my past, one I want to explore more, but this job is my future. And I'll claim it, no matter what memories stand in my way.

The silence stretches between us. Lara's eyes lock onto mine, recognition shining there as if she wants to address the past, but she's all ice and control.

Lara shifts papers on her desk. She clears her throat.

I sit across from her, the leather chair cool against my skin. My heart races but my voice is calm. I can’t help but wonder if she’s weighing the past as part of her decision, and that thought constricts my breathing like a boa constrictor. “I believe I'd be a great fit for your team.”

She gives a very slight nod. “Indeed.” A pause. “But let's get one thing straight, Mr. Carlyle.” Her gaze doesn't waver. “This is strictly professional. Nothing personal. Nothing romantic. The past stays there, understood?”

“Understood.” The word is like ash in my mouth. I expected as much, yet it still stings to be rejected, especially when I still have unfinished business with her. This isn’t how I’d hoped this would go when I learned she’s the one hiring me, but I can’t say I’m surprised. For all I know, she’s married with kids now.

But as my gaze darts to her hand, I see no ring. Not even a tan line where one would be if she’d taken it off. It’s an important detail to the plans slowly coalescing in the back of my mind.

“Good.” She exhales, then something shifts in her expression. I can only hope for the best, because we both know I’m well-qualified and if she refuses me, it’s based on the past that she just said needs to stay behind us. “You're hired.”

And just like that, my future snaps into sharp focus. Despite the romantic rejection that burns low in my gut, I sense a whole new future opening its arms to me. What now?

Stepping out onto the bustling street with skyscrapers towering above, I dial my mom's number. It rings twice before she picks up.

“It's me.” She’d asked me to call her when the interview was over and let her know how things went. And I’m honoring that request.

“Tell me everything!” Her voice is filled with hope and worry.

“I got the job,” I say, adrenaline still pumping through my veins.

“Of course, you did. Congratulations!” Her soft support and lack of surprise are just the boost I need to remind me that my trajectory these last five years has been steadily onward and up.

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