Elora’s Point of View

The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway buzzed faintly, casting a cold, sterile glow on the white walls. I sat there, gripping the plastic armrests of the chair, my foot tapping uncontrollably against the polished floor. My chest felt tight, like my lungs were refusing to expand properly. How the hell did I end up here? Just a month ago, I had my entire life planned out. A freshly-minted degree from a good business school in the country, a shiny five-year plan, and the world at my feet.

Now the only thing that was stock in my head were the words “There’s a 70% you’re pregnant.”

“Pregnant.”

The word alone was enough to make my palms sweat. I rubbed them against the fabric of my jeans, hoping to somehow stop the rising panic in my chest. A baby. I wasn’t even in a relationship. Hell, I hadn’t even had sex in a year. Yet here I was, waiting for the confirmation of a pregnancy that supposed to happen.

“Miss Grayson?” A nurse poked her head out of the examination room, her voice soft but clinical.

I jumped to my feet, my knees trembling beneath me. “Yes?”

“Dr. Andrea would like to see you now,” she said with a polite smile, gesturing for me to follow.

Andrea. Had been my doctor since college. The person I trusted with my health and, apparently, the person who had unknowingly turned my life into a goddamn circus.

The walk to her office felt like an eternity, each step echoing in the hallway. I couldn’t tell if it was the distance or the weight of what I was about to hear that made my feet feel like lead. I tried to keep myself calm, rationalize things. Maybe the tests would show negative. Maybe it didn't work as intended, and I’d walk out of here laughing about how ridiculous it all sounded.

But the second I walked into Andrea’s office and saw her face, I knew.

“Come in,” she said quietly, not meeting my eyes.

Her usually warm smile was gone, replaced by a tight, apologetic expression that made my stomach churn. I shut the door, and before I could even sit down, she spoke.

“Elora…” Andrea’s voice wavered slightly, a tone I had never heard from her before. “The results came back positive. I'm afraid you’re pregnant.”

The words hit me like a freight train. My legs gave out, and I sank into the chair across from her desk, my ears ringing.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” My voice sounded distant, like it wasn’t even mine. “Andrea, how? How does something like this even happen?”

Andrea sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I wish I had an answer that would make sense. It was a mistake on my part. Your file was mixed up during your routine checkup last month, and instead of running a standard procedure as should, I …” She paused, swallowing hard. “I inseminated you with someone else’s sample.”

“Jesus Christ,” I whispered, leaning forward and burying my face in my hands. “Andrea, How could you let this happen? What do I do now?”

Her voice cracked. “Elora, I'm sorry!”

“Sorry?” I snapped, my head shooting up. “Do you know what you’ve done to me? What you've…” My voice broke, and I bit my lip hard, trying to hold back tears.

“Elora, I’m so sorry,” she said softly, tears pooling in her own eyes. “I’m going to fix this. I swear to you.”

“Fix it?” I let out a bitter laugh, my hands trembling as they gripped the armrests of the chair. “You think this is fixable? Fine tell me how? Infact…”

Before I could stop myself, the words came out “I want it taken out.”

Andrea froze, her face paling. “What?”

“I can’t do this,” I said, my voice rising. “I can’t raise a child whose father I don’t even know. I have a life planned, Andrea. A career. A future that doesn’t involve… this. Just…just schedule the procedure, okay? This has to end.”

“Elora…” Andrea’s tone changed, becoming more cautious. “That’s not even an option.”

“What do you mean it’s not an option?” I demanded, my pulse quickening. “It’s my body hence my decision.”

She stood and moved around the desk, kneeling in front of me with a desperate look in her eyes. “You don’t understand. The… the sample they used wasn’t just anyone’s.”

“What do you mean?”

Andrea hesitated, and in that moment, I felt the air leave the room. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I waited for her answer.

“It belonged to Mr. Dominic Hale.”

I stared at her, uncomprehending. “The hell, am I supposed to know that name?.”

Her lips parted in disbelief. “Elora, The Dominic Hale, CEO of Hale Enterprises, billionaire, and probably the most powerful man in New York.”

My heart stopped.

Oh, I knew who Dominic Hale was now that she’d said it. Everyone knew him. He was the kind of men they used as case studies in business school, not for his charm or charisma but for his ruthless efficiency in navigating the business world. Stories about him floated through the media like urban legends, how he fired half his board of executive staffs in a single day, how he crushed competitors without breaking a sweat.

And now I was carrying his child.

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

Andrea nodded grimly. “Elora, listen to me. Termination isn’t an option. If Dominic finds out…”

I cut her off, standing so abruptly that the chair screeched against the floor. “Andrea! I didn’t sign up for this!”

“I know,” Andrea said, her voice rising to match mine. “But this was his last viable sample and If you chose to terminate this pregnancy…” She trailed off, her face crumpling.

I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt like it was caving in. The enormity of the situation hit me all at once, a tidal wave of fear, anger, and disbelief. This wasn’t just about me anymore.

I sank back into the chair, my hands trembling as they covered my face. My carefully constructed plans were crumbling around me, replaced by a reality I didn’t know how to handle.

“This is just not happening to me..,” I muttered, more to myself than Andrea.

“Elora…” Andrea’s voice softened, but I didn’t look up.

“I can't deal with this right now,” I said, forcing the words out. I stepping back as I stood. My legs felt like they were going to give out any second, but I forced myself to keep walking, one step at a time.

Then I walked out, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. One thought ran through my mind as I pushed open the exit door and stepped into the crisp evening air

I’m in for a big ride..

Dominic's Point Of View

The boardroom hummed with the sound of ambition, proposals, graphs, projections all being shoved down my throat by an overeager junior executive. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen where his meticulously prepared presentation played. My patience was thinning by the second.

“…and if we focus on expanding our Asia-Pacific operations..”

“Enough of this charade,” I interrupted, my voice cutting through the room like a blade.

The room fell silent. I let the quiet hang, savoring the discomfort that settled over the table. The junior executive swallowed hard, his face paling. I didn’t break eye contact, watching him squirm.

“This is a waste of my precious time,” I said coldly. “If I wanted to hear some half-baked strategies, I’d attend a college lecture. Sit the hell down.”

He stumbled back into his seat, avoiding my gaze. Pathetic. I turned my attention to my assistant, Carla, who stood by the door like a sentry. She nodded subtly, signaling that the next item on the agenda was ready to begin.

But before she could say anything, my phone buzzed on the table. I never allowed interruptions during meetings. Carla knew that, and for her to let this call come through meant it was important.

I picked up the phone and glanced at the screen. The hospital’s number glared back at me.

A cold sensation crept into my chest. I had made a discreet arrangement months ago, one that no one outside my inner circle knew about. The only reason the hospital would be calling was if something had somehow gone wrong.

“Excuse me,” I said sharply, standing and leaving the room without waiting for a response.

In the hallway, I answered the call. “Dominic Hale,” I barked.

“Mr. Hale,” the voice on the other end said hesitantly, “this is Dr. Andrea calling from…”

“I know who you are,” I snapped. “What is it?”

There was a pause, and I could hear the weight of bad news in her hesitation.

“There’s been… an incident,” she said finally. “It appears there was a mix-up during one of our routine checkups, and…”

“Get to the damn point,” I demanded.

“You’ve been matched with a different surrogate than originally planned. The woman is not part of the agreement.”

For a moment, I was silent, processing her words. A mistake. They had made a mistake. The enormity of it sent a rush of fury through me, cold and sharp.

“How the hell does something like this happen on your watch?” I growled.

“Mr. Hale, I deeply apologize… ”

“Apologies won’t fix this, Dr. Andrea,” I interrupted, my voice low and venomous. “You’ve jeopardized months of careful planning. Do you understand what’s at stake here?”

“I do, Mr. Hale,” she stammered. “But there’s more. The woman involved, she’s expressed interest in terminating the pregnancy.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Terminate? Terminate my child?

“We’ve tried speaking with her, but she’s adamant about not wanting to continue with the pregnancy,” Andrea continued. “She wasn’t prepared for this.”

“Prepared?” I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping me. “You’ve thrown my plans into chaos, jeopardized my reputation, and you’re worried about whether this girl is prepared? Let me make myself clear, Doctor, that child is the last viable heir I have. If she thinks she can get rid of it, she’s sorely mistaken.”

“Mr. Hale..”

I ended the call without waiting for her to finish. My hand tightened around the phone, and for a brief moment, I considered throwing it against the wall.

I couldn’t allow this. I wouldn’t.

The boardroom door opened, and Carla stepped out cautiously. “Sir?”

“Cancel the rest of my meetings,” I said curtly.

Her eyebrows raised slightly, but she didn’t question me. “Yes, sir.”

“And have the car brought around front.”

The ride to the hospital was tense and once I arrived, I strode through the corridors, ignoring the curious glances from staff and patients. My presence wasn’t exactly subtle, sharp tailored suit, polished shoes, and an aura that screamed “don’t fuck with me.”

I found Dr. Andrea’s office at the end of the hallway. The receptionist barely managed a stuttered “Wait..” before I pushed the door open.

Andrea was sitting at her desk, her face pale and drawn. She looked up, startled, as I entered.

“Mr. Hale,” she began, rising to her feet.

“Sit down,” I said coldly, closing the door behind me.

She obeyed, her hands trembling slightly as she clasped them in front of her.

“You have five minutes,” I said, leaning against the desk. “Convince me why I shouldn’t sue this hospital into oblivion for your incompetence.”

“Mr. Hale, I..”

“Four minutes.”

Her breath hitched, and she scrambled to respond. “The mistake was unintentional. Elora Grayson was here for a routine checkup, and her file was mixed up with the surrogacy records. By the time we realized the error, the procedure had already been completed.”

“And you didn’t think to inform me immediately?”

“We were trying to resolve the issue internally before involving you,” she said.

I laughed darkly. “Resolve it? By letting her terminate the pregnancy?”

Andrea flinched. “She’s… she’s struggling with the situation, Mr. Hale. This wasn’t something she chose.”

“Neither did I choose for my child to be in the hands of an irresponsible stranger,” I said, my voice rising. “But here we are.”

Andrea looked down, clearly at a loss.

“Does she know who I am?” I asked.

“Yes!,” Andrea said quietly.

The rage I had been holding back boiled over. “Then she’s going to have to change her mind,” I said, my tone icy. “Set up a meeting. I want to see this woman.”

Andrea hesitated. “Mr. Hale, I don’t think that's..”

“Do it,” I said, cutting her off. “Or I will ensure this hospital is shut down permanently.”

Andrea’s face crumpled, but she nodded.

“I’ll arrange it,” she said softly.

“Good.”

I turned on my heel and left the office, my mind already racing. This woman wouldn't see what's coming.

Elora’s Point Of View

There’s something about waiting that turns minutes into an eternity. I sat in the dimly lit restaurant, fingers nervously tracing the rim of the water glass in front of me. My heart pounded so loud it felt like the entire room could hear it. I was early, far too early but I couldn’t sit still at home knowing I was about to meet Dominic Hale.

I kept glancing at the door every time the bell rang, my stomach twisting tighter with each new arrival. What had I gotten myself into? All I wanted was my life back, quiet, simple, unremarkable. And now, thanks to a hospital’s mistake, I was carrying this stranger’s child.

When the door swung open again, my breath caught. Dr. Andrea walked in first, her shoulders hunched as if she were bracing for a storm. And then he walked in behind her.

I’d seen pictures of him before, but they didn’t do him justice. Dominic Hale was the kind of man who commanded attention without trying. His tailored suit fit him like a second skin, his every movement radiating power. His cold eyes swept across the room before landing on me.

I froze.

Dr. Andrea approached first, offering a nervous smile. “Elora,” she said softly, “thank you for coming.”

“Dr. Andrea,” I managed to say, though my voice came out shaky.

Dominic walked up to the table, pulled out the chair across from me, and sat down in one fluid motion. He didn’t say a word, just stared at me with those ice-blue eyes that felt like they were peeling away every layer of my soul.

I opened my mouth to speak, to greet him, but he interrupts.

“You must me Miss Grayson,” he said, his tone sharp enough to cut glass.

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that sent chills down my spine, I nodded.

“Dr. Andrea has informed me about your… intentions,” he continued, his gaze never leaving mine. “Let me make one thing clear, you will not terminate this pregnancy.”

I flinched at his bluntness, my fingers tightening around the glass in front of me. “Mr. Hale, I didn’t ask for this, I can't..”

“I don’t care what you can or can't,” he interrupted, his voice cold and steady. “The fact remains that you are carrying my child and you will not terminate it”

I felt the sting of his words, tears threatening to spill over. “It’s not that simple,” I whispered. “Please understand...”

His laugh was humorless, a sharp exhale that felt more like a slap. “Life rarely cares about what's simple, Miss Grayson.”

I glanced at Dr. Andrea, hoping for some kind of support, but she kept her eyes fixed on the table, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

“I… I can’t do this,” I stammered, my voice breaking.

“You don’t have a choice,” Dominic said, leaning forward slightly. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating. “If you think you can make this decision on your own, let me assure you, you can’t. I will bury the hospital into the ground, and you? I’ll make sure you never have a peaceful second in your life.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him he had no right to dictate my life like this. But I was scared… scared of the power he wielded, scared of what he could do.

“Please,” I said, my voice trembling. “This is also my life...”

Dominic’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, it grew colder. “Your life is irrelevant,” he said. “The only thing that matters is the child you’re carrying. My child.”

Tears spilled over, and I quickly wiped them away, humiliated. “I don’t know how to do this,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Then you’ll learn,” he said simply, as if it were that easy.

I looked at Dr. Andrea again, hoping for some intervention, but she remained silent. I realized then that no one was going to save me from this man.

“You’ll move into my house,” Dominic said suddenly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I blinked at him, stunned. “What?”

“You’ll live under my roof,” he repeated, his voice firm. “I need to ensure that my child is safe. That means no room for surprises, no room for… decisions you might make without my knowledge.”

“You can’t be serious,” I said, my voice rising slightly. “You expect me to just uproot my life and move in with you?”

“I don’t expect it,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I’m demanding it.”

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. “This is insane.”

“What’s insane,” he said sharply, “is thinking you can walk away from this unscathed. Do you understand the consequences of defying me, Miss Grayson? Because I assure you, they will not be pleasant.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. This man, this cold, terrifying man wasn’t going to give me a choice.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked finally, my voice breaking. “Why does this matter so much to you?”

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same icy glare.

“That’s none of your concern,” he said.

Torn between my pride and my fear, I glanced at Dr. Andrea once more. Her apologetic expression said everything I needed to know, this wasn’t a fight I could win.

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I placed them on the table. “Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll do it.”

Dominic’s expression didn’t change, but I thought I saw a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Good,” he said, standing. “I will pick you up tomorrow”

As he walked away, I felt the weight of my choice settle over me like a heavy blanket. I wasn’t just agreeing to move into his home. I was agreeing to step into a world I didn’t understand, a world that terrified me.

And I wasn’t sure if I’d survive it.