Updated Mar 22, 2026 • ~4 min read
Chapter 12: Seeing Baby
MAREN
Week twenty.
Halfway through pregnancy.
The baby is moving constantly now.
Little flutters.
Kicks.
Jasper is obsessed.
Every time we’re together, his hand goes to my bump.
Waiting for movement.
“There! Did you feel that?”
He’s grinning like a kid.
“I feel it all day, every day.”
“It’s amazing.”
It is.
Despite everything—the secrecy, the fear, the impossible situation—
I’m happy.
Really, truly happy.
***
Hartley makes their decision in two days.
Final pitch presentations happened last week.
Both agencies gave it everything.
Now we wait.
Conrad is confident.
“We’ve got this. I can feel it.”
But I’m not so sure.
King Industries was strong.
Jasper was strong.
This could go either way.
“What happens if we lose?” I ask Sienna.
“We don’t lose.”
“But what if we do?”
“Then we rebuild. Like we always do.”
But it feels different this time.
Because losing Hartley means Conrad’s wrath.
And I can’t hide the pregnancy much longer.
I’m twenty weeks.
Showing significantly.
Soon, everyone will know.
And when Conrad finds out…
I don’t want to think about it.
***
JASPER
Emmett corners me in my office.
“We need to talk.”
“About?”
“Maren. The baby. This whole situation.”
I lean back.
“What about it?”
“The board is asking questions. About why you’re distracted. About Hartley.”
“I’m not distracted.”
“You are. And if we don’t win Hartley, they’re going to blame you.”
He’s right.
The board has been watching me.
Questioning my focus.
Wondering why I’m not as ruthless as Dad was.
“Let them blame me.”
“Jasper—”
“I mean it. If we lose Hartley, fine. We’ll find another account. But I’m not losing Maren. Or my daughter.”
Emmett sighs.
“You’re really all in on this.”
“Completely.”
“And if Conrad finds out? Before you’re ready to tell him?”
“Then we deal with it. Together.”
Emmett studies me.
“You’ve changed. Since Miami. Since Maren.”
“Good change or bad change?”
“Good. You’re happier. More… human.”
I laugh.
“Thanks?”
“I mean it. Dad made you into this corporate machine. But Maren’s bringing back the real you. The guy who gives a shit about more than just winning.”
That hits.
Because he’s right.
I do give a shit.
About Maren. About the baby. About building something better than this endless feud.
“Thanks, Em.”
“Anytime. Now go win Hartley so the board gets off your back.”
***
MAREN
The call comes at 3 PM.
Caroline from Hartley.
Conference call.
Both agencies.
My heart is racing.
This is it.
Conrad, Sienna, and I dial in from our conference room.
I can see Jasper’s team on the video screen.
Jasper’s eyes find mine.
Brief. Supportive.
Caroline speaks:
“Thank you both for your incredible presentations. This was the hardest decision we’ve ever made.”
Here it comes.
“After careful deliberation, we’ve decided to award the Hartley account to…”
Please please please.
“King Industries.”
No.
Conrad’s face goes white.
Then red.
“What?”
Caroline continues:
“King Industries’ innovative approach and long-term vision aligned more closely with our goals. However, we were incredibly impressed with Ross Agency and hope to work together on future projects.”
Future projects.
Consolation prize.
We lost.
Conrad ends the call.
Slams his laptop shut.
“This is bullshit.”
“Conrad—”
“We were better. We KNOW we were better.”
“Sometimes—”
“They rigged it. The Kings rigged it somehow.”
Sienna and I exchange looks.
“I’m sure they didn’t—”
“OF COURSE they did. That’s what Kings DO. They cheat. They steal. They destroy.”
He storms out.
I sink into my chair.
Defeated.
Terrified.
Because now Conrad is going to be watching everything.
Looking for ways the Kings sabotaged us.
And if he finds out about me and Jasper?
This will be nuclear.
END OF CHAPTER 12
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