Married to the cold CEO

orning fel

t night without saying much just a quiet, steady presence. It had been the fir

e bed was already cold, but t

k before lunch. We'

onger than necessary, rereading

n this

kered in

light breakfast that she barely touched. Nausea

d in a blanket, scrolling mindlessly through h

ht want to avoid

ing. Her thumb hove

e herself, she

r hear

Warms Up Xavier Bla

omach

ry photo of her exiting the car two weeks ago. One grainy shot of her and Xav

e pre

y the secr

s Lea

lipped from

ad b

rdroom presentation when his assistant, Jonas, en

le body

board members, then strode out of

d?" he snapped once th

one must've tipped off the press. Your courthouse record

s eyes

bad i

tated. "It

ssed calls and notifications. One from his mothe

egal on the phone. And t

s,

strode into his private office,

up on the s

before he could spe

in his voice gentler now. "I

leake

ow yet. I'l

was a

okay?"

id quietly. "I wasn't

chair. "I know. I should

e to find out like t

ease a st

N

used.

ou're going to say something, tell them we're mar

ilence str

nally:

d shakily.

home in

ka

. The mess had already begun, and he wasn't just fighting t

the

our

living room, staring out the wind

e approached, e

leave the

aid. "They'r

," she murmured. "But they will. T

them

ked up

anymore, Leah. And I'

oat tig

t my whole life shutting people out. Keeping cont

skipped. "

hold a press

yes w

ear we're not a tabloid stunt. And if anyon

old CEO in him the ruthless

kles, and she saw the man who had h

ed slowl

at her stomac

odded

over the soft curve tha

between them.

be a family,"

t her ey

red. "I just didn't expec

red. "But now that it has

ence was set for

media-ready space no hotel ballrooms or neutral venues. He wanted it personal, con

se and fitted navy skirt. Her makeup was light but flawless tha

ed in th

recognize

use of t

she wasn't h

y showing. But already life lived th

a knock at

in," s

arp, every line perfect. But his eyes his e

tiful," he s

. "I feel like I'm abo

e not

aced it over his heart. "Whatever com

lding his gaze

es Later Pr

buzzing with

the back wall, flashes already starting.

, flanked by Jonas a

n L

n some shock, some recognitio

to the seat beside

e adjusted. A hush

leaned

ing on short notic

eyes scanni

ts. I am married. This is

es ex

It was a personal decision, not a corporate on

r. Black, is it tr

e reached over and gently

before any of you speculate or spin that into scandal, let me

ed slightly, her

the crowd. "Why the secre

our headline. She's not for sale. And now that the secret's o

ept through

affect your role at

bearing on my ability to run a company. But if you continue to

old CEO was back but this ti

elping Leah

ther qu

nd-in-hand, the cameras

unge Post

closed behind them,

ier asked, watc

ve to say all that. About.

ed down

t every

blin

it broke through them. And this baby?" He touched her stomach

. "I was scared y

deadly serious. "N

she felt safe in a way she never had before

the City Un

gure watched the press conf

ile curled

now," the woman murmu

ted nervously. "Sh

g. He may have married her, but Xavier Black doesn't lo

ated. "You're sure

l. Inexperienced. She won

Leah, standing beside Xavier,

n's eyes

now what she's

Blackwood

d up beside Xavier, the fire

h speculation, but for once, she didn't feel the

fe. His partne

of chamomile tea and

the leak," he

urned shar

at the courthouse. Got a ti

ch sank.

named C

d. "Celeste

x-fia

r grew

She still has connections. I wouldn't put

looke

said flatly. "But now

hy

ught for her the wa

nd slide over he

tatic. And I won't let her

. Just leaned her head on his sho

s was only t

knew one thin

asn't