Chapter Ten
Ariana woke up the next morning feeling like she hadn't slept at all. Her conversation with Caleb from the night before still lingered in her mind. His reaction to the news of the pregnancy had been complicated, a mix of shock and confusion, but he hadn't said much after she told him. He had left shortly after, promising to talk again soon, but now Ariana was left with a gnawing uncertainty. What was he thinking? What was he planning to do?
But as much as her personal life felt like it was spiraling out of control, she couldn't let it affect her work. Her family's company was already struggling after her father's death, and as the newly appointed CEO, she had no choice but to keep everything running smoothly. It was supposed to be business as usual, but nothing felt usual about today.
She walked into the sleek, modern office building that had been her second home for as long as she could remember. Everything about the place screamed power and success marble floors, glass walls, employees bustling around in crisp suits. But beneath the surface, she could feel the tension. People were watching her, wondering if she had what it took to lead the company.
Her assistant, Emily, was already waiting for her at her desk when she arrived. "Good morning, Miss Carter," Emily said, handing Ariana a tablet filled with today's schedule. "You have a meeting with the board at ten, a conference call with the New York office at one, and a lunch with Mr. Sterling at twelve."
Ariana nodded, trying to focus on the tasks at hand. "Thank you, Emily. Can you make sure I have the latest financial reports before the board meeting?"
"Of course," Emily replied, her tone professional but with a hint of concern. "Is everything okay, Miss Carter? You seem… distracted."
Ariana forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."
Emily didn't push further, though Ariana could tell she wanted to. She was grateful for that. The last thing she needed right now was for people at work to start asking questions about her personal life.
The board meeting came quickly, and Ariana sat at the head of the long, polished table, surrounded by older men and women who had known her father for years. They all stared at her, waiting for her to speak, waiting to see if she could fill her father's shoes. It was intimidating, but Ariana had grown used to being underestimated. She took a deep breath and launched into the meeting.
"We've had a challenging quarter," she began, her voice steady. "But I believe we can turn things around if we focus on our core strengths. Our real estate division is still profitable, and we've seen some promising growth in the tech sector. We'll need to cut some of the underperforming projects, but if we focus on streamlining operations, I'm confident we can stabilize the company."
The board members nodded, some more enthusiastically than others. There were a few skeptical glances, particularly from Mr. Reynolds, one of the oldest and most vocal members of the board. He had never been shy about his doubts regarding Ariana's ability to lead.
"You've got big shoes to fill, Miss Carter," Reynolds said, leaning forward. "Your father built this company from the ground up, and he made decisions that weren't always popular, but they were necessary. Are you prepared to make those kinds of hard choices?"
Ariana felt a surge of frustration. She had been working here for years, long before her father's death, and yet Reynolds still looked at her like she was a little girl playing dress-up. "I am," she said firmly. "I've already begun reviewing our most underperforming sectors, and I'll make the necessary cuts to ensure the company's long-term success."
Reynolds gave her a tight smile. "I hope you're right."
The meeting dragged on, with more questions about the future of the company, the state of the markets, and Ariana's plans. She answered each one with as much confidence as she could muster, but by the end, she felt drained. As the board members filed out of the room, Emily approached her with a stack of papers.
"Here are the financials you requested," Emily said. "And Mr. Sterling just confirmed your lunch meeting."
"Thanks," Ariana said, rubbing her temples. "I'll be in my office if anyone needs me."
She retreated to her office, shutting the door behind her with a sigh. For a moment, she just stood there, leaning against the door, trying to gather her thoughts. Running a company was hard enough, but doing it while dealing with a pregnancy and everything that came with it felt impossible.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her back to the present. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Caleb.
Caleb: We need to talk. Tonight?
Ariana stared at the message, her heart racing. She hadn't expected to hear from him so soon, but of course, he would want to talk. They had left things unresolved. She typed a quick reply.
Ariana: Yes. Come by after work.
She put the phone down, her mind spinning. How would this conversation go? Would Caleb be angry? Or worse, would he try to distance himself from her and the baby?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Emily buzzing through the intercom. "Miss Carter, Mr. Sterling is here for your lunch meeting."
Ariana took a deep breath and smoothed her dress. "Send him in."
As Mr. Sterling entered, Ariana plastered on a professional smile. He was a potential investor, someone they needed on their side if they were going to stabilize the company's finances. The lunch was meant to be casual, but Ariana knew it was anything but. Everything was riding on this deal, and she couldn't afford any mistakes.
They sat across from each other in the conference room, discussing business over catered salads. Mr. Sterling was polite, charming even, but Ariana could sense his hesitation. He had worked with her father for years, and while he wasn't openly skeptical like Reynolds, she could tell he was still assessing her.
"I have to admit," Sterling said, setting down his fork, "I was surprised when I heard you were stepping up as CEO. But you've handled things well so far."
"Thank you," Ariana said, keeping her tone even. "I've been involved in the company for years, so this transition felt natural to me."
Sterling smiled, though there was a hint of something else in his eyes doubt, perhaps? "Still, taking over such a large company at your age… it can't be easy. Are you sure you're ready for the pressure?"
Ariana bristled at the question, but she kept her expression calm. "I'm ready," she said firmly. "I've been preparing for this my entire life."
Sterling leaned back in his chair, studying her. "I hope you are. Because this company needs strong leadership right now, and I'm not sure the board will be patient if things don't improve."
Ariana felt the weight of his words settle over her like a heavy blanket. She knew what he was saying, even if he didn't come right out and say it. If she didn't prove herself soon, the board would look for someone else someone more experienced, more capable in their eyes.
The rest of the lunch passed in a blur, her mind racing with everything Sterling had said. By the time he left, she felt like she had run a marathon. There was no room for error, not here, not now.
As the day wore on, Ariana found herself counting down the hours until her meeting with Caleb. Work had always been her escape, the one place where she felt in control, but now even that felt shaky. And with Caleb coming over tonight, the uncertainty in her personal life was about to come crashing back.
She looked out the window of her office, the city skyline stretching out before her. From here, everything looked calm and orderly. But beneath the surface, both in the company and in her own life, everything was hanging by a thread.
And the hardest part? Pretending that it was all just business as usual.