** Unspoken Words**
The morning light streamed through the bakery's windows, casting a warm glow over the small, cozy space. Sophie Lawson, typically full of energy as she prepared the day's treats, found herself moving slower than usual. Her hands went through the motions—kneading dough, checking the ovens—but her mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the previous night over and over again.
She glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. It wasn't even noon, and she was already exhausted. The bakery had always been her escape, a place where she could lose herself in the rhythm of baking and forget about the outside world. But today, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to **him**—to Alex Carlisle.
She had convinced herself that last night was a mistake, a moment of weakness. Yet, every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel his touch, the way his hands had roamed her body, how his lips had claimed hers in the quiet, dimly lit kitchen after the party had ended. It was overwhelming, both the memory of it and the emotions that came with it.
Just as she was trying to shake off the thoughts, the familiar chime of the bell above the bakery's door rang. Sophie quickly composed herself, forcing a smile as her best friend, **Lila**, stepped inside.
"Hey! You look like you've been hit by a truck," Lila joked as she approached the counter. "Rough night?"
Sophie chuckled nervously, wiping her hands on her apron. "You could say that."
Lila raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter with a knowing smirk. "Come on, spill. What's going on? You've been acting weird since you got back from that fancy party last night."
Sophie busied herself by rearranging the bread loaves on display, her heart racing. She had hoped to avoid this conversation, but Lila knew her too well. There was no hiding the truth from her.
"It's nothing, really," Sophie began, her voice wavering slightly. "Just... work stuff."
Lila crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Work stuff? Really? You're going to try that with me?" She paused, studying Sophie's face. "Wait, did something happen with that billionaire guy? What's his name again... Alex?"
At the mention of his name, Sophie felt her cheeks flush with warmth. She sighed, realizing there was no point in lying.
"Okay, fine," she admitted quietly, glancing around to make sure no one else was in the bakery. "Something did happen."
Lila's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my God. What do you mean, 'something' happened? Spill the details!"
Sophie hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her apron. "We... we slept together," she whispered, feeling a knot form in her stomach as she finally said the words out loud.
Lila's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? You and **Alex Carlisle**? The Alex Carlisle? Holy crap, Sophie!"
Sophie winced at the volume of Lila's voice, quickly gesturing for her to keep it down. "Yes, but it was just... a mistake. It wasn't supposed to happen."
Lila blinked in disbelief, leaning in closer. "A mistake? Sophie, that's huge! How did it even happen? I mean, what was he like?"
Sophie felt her face heat up again as memories from the previous night flashed through her mind. "I don't know... It just happened. We were alone in the kitchen after everyone left, and then one thing led to another." She sighed, shaking her head. "But now, I don't know what to think. I haven't heard from him since. Maybe it didn't mean anything to him."
Lila frowned, her initial excitement fading. "What do you mean, you haven't heard from him? You slept together, and he didn't call you or anything?"
Sophie shrugged, avoiding Lila's concerned gaze. "We're supposed to have a follow-up meeting today, but I don't know how to act around him. What if it really didn't mean anything to him?"
Lila reached across the counter, giving Sophie's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, don't jump to conclusions just yet. You're amazing, and if he doesn't see that, then it's his loss. Just go to the meeting, be yourself, and see what happens."
Sophie forced a small smile, grateful for Lila's support but still feeling the unease gnawing at her.
---
**Later That Afternoon**
The follow-up meeting with Alex was scheduled for mid-afternoon, and as the time drew closer, Sophie's nerves only grew. She arrived at his sleek, modern office building and was greeted by his assistant, who escorted her into a glass-walled conference room.
Alex was already seated at the head of the table, looking as composed and unreadable as ever. His dark suit accentuated his powerful presence, and as Sophie stepped inside, her heart skipped a beat.
He glanced up, their eyes meeting for the first time since that night in the kitchen. For a brief second, she thought she saw something flicker in his gaze, but then his expression turned cold, professional.
"Sophie," he greeted her, his voice smooth but distant. "Please, take a seat."
She sat down across from him, feeling her pulse quicken. The tension in the room was palpable, and it was clear that whatever had happened between them was being deliberately ignored.
"Thank you for coming," Alex began, his tone formal. "I just wanted to go over the details of the event and see if there's anything you'd like to discuss in terms of your bakery's future catering opportunities."
Sophie blinked, taken aback by how detached he sounded. **Was this the same man who had kissed her so passionately just a few nights ago?** The same man who had whispered her name in the dark?
She tried to stay focused, nodding along as he spoke, but her mind was reeling. His indifference stung more than she had anticipated. Maybe Lila had been wrong. Maybe it really hadn't meant anything to him.
As the meeting dragged on, Sophie found it harder and harder to concentrate. She answered his questions and offered suggestions where needed, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the night they had shared and how different things felt now.
When the meeting finally ended, Alex stood up, extending a hand to her. "It was a pleasure working with you, Sophie. I hope we can collaborate again in the future."
Sophie hesitated before shaking his hand, her eyes searching his face for any sign of the man she thought she had seen behind the walls he put up. But his expression remained neutral, businesslike.
"Thank you, Mr. Carlisle," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
As she turned to leave, her heart sank. It was clear now—whatever had happened between them was a closed chapter in his eyes.
---
**Two Weeks Later**
The days passed in a blur for Sophie, with her bakery keeping her busy enough to avoid thinking too much about Alex. She threw herself into her work, trying to focus on her customers and the growing demand for her famous breadsticks and pastries. But even as she immersed herself in her daily routine, the memory of that night refused to fade completely.
Two weeks had gone by since she last saw Alex, and while the initial sting of his indifference had dulled, it still lingered in the back of her mind. She had convinced herself that it was for the best, that what happened was a mistake and nothing more. Yet, there were moments—quiet moments when the bakery was empty or when she was closing up for the night—that her thoughts would drift back to him.
One particular evening, just as she was about to lock up, Sophie suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She stopped in her tracks, clutching the counter for support as the room seemed to spin.
"What the...?" she muttered to herself, her brow furrowing in confusion.
The nausea intensified, and before she knew it, she was rushing out the back door, barely making it to the side of the building before she doubled over, retching into the alleyway.
Once the nausea subsided, Sophie wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her heart pounding. **What was that?** She hadn't felt this sick in a long time.
She quickly finished closing up the bakery and hurried back to her apartment, her mind racing. Was it something she ate? A stomach bug? Or... something else?
As soon as she got home, she bolted to the bathroom, the nausea returning in full force. She knelt by the toilet, heaving until her stomach was empty, her body trembling from the effort.
When it was finally over, Sophie leaned back against the wall, breathing heavily. And then it hit her—a realization so sudden and so terrifying that it left her reeling.
She counted back the days in her mind, her heart hammering in her chest. **Oh no.**
This wasn't a stomach bug. This wasn't food poisoning. This was something else entirely.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered the words aloud, her voice shaky and full of dread.
"I'm pregnant."