Page 55 of Billionaire Boss's One Night Stand

“I’m very excited about it,” I told her as we all took our places in the conference room. And I was excited. Despite Matt’s pathetic reaction, I would take charge and handle being a single mother on my own.

I’d never thought much about when and where I would want to have a baby. Now, it looked like my baby and I would discover this big city together, soon.

“How have you been feeling?” Emily asked.

“Oh, on and off. There are good days and bad.”

She winced as she sat. “Ugh. I gotsolucky with morning sickness. I can’t help you with any advice there.”

I nodded. “I’ll get the hang of it,” I said.

“I love your spirit. You take charge of any challenge and handle it like a boss, don’t you?”

I have to.“I do.”

As she took her seat, another one of the Gammon associates looked around the room. “Is Mr. Richards joining us today?” he asked.

“I don’t believe so,” I said, clear and confident with my tone. “I believe a family matter arose.” I cleared my throat. “Quite unexpectedly.”

And those weren’t lies. He did have a family matter to get used to—a family we’d started, one I would make my own without his input. If his mode of reacting was to walk away, to go when the going got tough, then like Hailey said, screw him.

Plus, this babywasunexpected.

“But we are here to handle this presentation.” I smiled, getting right into it after that explanation.

Together, among Brad, Rupert, Eli, and me, we presented the adjusted and revised material that was structured on the storyboards and visuals we’d prepared to show them. Without any hiccups, we explained the new directions where the marketing and promotional efforts could go.

It felt like a rush, talking for so long without Matt here, but we really did come across as a team. I led them in Matt’s absence, mostly because it seemed I had the most personable skills to charm them. My three teammates didn’t sit there silent, though. They spoke as well, stepping in to share parts that they had a better handle on.

An hour flew by, blurring with how quickly it all wrapped up. Just like the last time we met with the Gammon associates, they asked follow-up questions and made comments where they made sense.

I wanted to feel like we were really pulling this off. That despite Matt not being here, hehadled us at the Richards office to ensure we were ready to go and to do this.

Or maybe it’s because these products are relevant to me now.I would be a parent buying bottles, teethers, toys, and clothes for a baby soon. All those things and more. Even though it was early days yet, it somehow made it all the more different to feel like a consumer of these specific things to really get a better grasp for them or to anticipate whatIwould consider for my own child.

At the end, I sighed and smiled. Exchanging glances with the three coworkers who’d shown up with me, I was optimistic and convinced that we had definitely wowed them.

“This was a wonderful meeting,” one of Emily’s coworkers said. “Very informative.”

“Thank you,” I replied. It felt good to receive praise in general, but hearing a compliment from the potential client was a type of approval I had been seeking for a long time. This wasmy first “real” and big job. I was taking off with my career here, not just an ordinary dime-a-dozen, entry-level gig that I could replace with any other thing.

I was using my education. I was experiencing a sense of finding myself through this. And it feltgood.

It almost erased the sting of Matt not showing up. He’d done such a seamless and smooth maneuver of getting me to see him as someone who’d be there, a constant. Someone to depend on not as an out-of-sight overseer but someoneonthe team.

“Are you nervous yet?” Emily asked after the guys packed up their things and moved out of the room. Brad and one of the Gammon workers were talking away about something to do with sports, and I appreciated having this moment with Emily. Just us girls.

“About the presentation?” I smiled. “Actually, no.” And I meant that. I’d stand by my work. I gave it my all for this meeting. It didn’t have the hiccups of the first meeting, and that showed how we were progressing professionally on this pitch.

“No. Of course, not.” Emily laughed lightly. “You all really wowed us with that pitch. I meant about the pregnancy. The baby.”

My smile widened. “Oh, I’mdefinitelynervous about that! It’s my first time, so I’m learning it all as I go.”

Including how to screw up informing the daddy that he’s having a child… And navigating the very real idea that I’ll need to do this alone.

We lingered, chatting for a while longer. It felt good to have a basic pregnancy sort of talk with another woman who’d really understand and be sympathetic about morning sickness and that rush of seeing a test turn positive. She was further along than I was, so she had more experience with what I assumed would be coming for me.

When we parted ways, sharing our personal contact info to get lunch sometime and talk more, I felt like I’d gained another friend. Not a business acquaintance, but a real friend to bring in as a support system.

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