Chapter 15

Angela POV

My heart stopped. Had he somehow discovered the pregnancy?

The thought sent a wave of panic through me, making the crystal water glass in my hand tremble slightly.

"Christina's been back for over a week," he continued, his voice gentle but firm. "And the divorce... I had to hear about it all through office gossip. Angela, why keep all this from me?"

Relief flooded through me, followed immediately by guilt. Nathan had always been honest with me, yet here I was, keeping the biggest secret of my life from him.

"It wasn't intentional," I managed, setting down my glass carefully. "Everything's been happening so fast..."

"Like old times, isn't it?" His smile held a touch of nostalgia. "Remember those last days at Wilson Investment? The way we fought together, trying to save what we could?"

I did remember. Nathan had been barely twenty then, the youngest trader we'd ever hired, and the only one who stayed loyal through Wilson Investment's collapse.

I reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "Thank you, Nathan."

The sincerity in his voice made my throat tight. For a moment, I was tempted to tell him everything - about the pregnancy, about Sean's silence, about the impossible choice ahead of me. Nathan would understand. He might even help me figure out what to do.

But then I imagined his reaction. Nathan's protective instincts had only grown stronger over the years. If he knew I was carrying Sean's child, he would definitely get into a fight with Sean.

"Angela?" His voice pulled me back to the present. "Whatever's going on, you know I'm here, right? No matter what happens, I'll always be your strongest backup."

"I know." I managed a smile. "And I'm more grateful than you know."

"Then trust me enough to tell me what's really wrong." His eyes searched my face. "You've been different lately. Distracted. Is it the divorce? Or is there something else?"

Just then, both our phones buzzed. Emily was calling an emergency board meeting at 2 PM.

"We need to get back," After hanging up, we said in unison.

We caught each other's eyes and shared a laugh at our synchronicity.

The Shaw Group boardroom buzzed with tension when we arrived.

Sean stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding as ever. Apparently, he had cut short his lunch with Christina.

His eyes flickered briefly to where Nathan held the door for me, something hard and unreadable crossing his features.

The room erupted in murmurs as Sean began to speak about the Lawrence Capital deal.

"Angela." Sean's voice cut through the chaos. "You'll head the revised proposal team. We need a new framework by end of week."

"I'd like to join that team," Nathan spoke up immediately. "Given my experience with similar acquisitions at Wilson Investment-"

"Approved." Sean cut him off, his tone clipped. "Though some of us might question whether experience from a failed bank is relevant here."

I felt Nathan stiffen beside me.

The reminder of Wilson Investment's collapse was a deliberate jab, the kind of casual cruelty Sean rarely displayed in public.

"At least at Wilson Investment," Nathan's voice carried clearly across the room, "we knew how to properly care for our key personnel's health and wellbeing."

The implied criticism hung in the air. Several board members shifted uncomfortably, no doubt remembering my recent fainting spell.

Sean's jaw tightened, but his voice remained perfectly controlled. "Your concern for Mrs. Shaw's welfare is noted, Nathan. Though perhaps misplaced, given that she is, in fact, Mrs. Shaw."

The emphasis on my married name made something twist in my chest. How dare he stake his claim now, after spending the night with Christina? After ignoring my message about our child?

The meeting finally drew to a close. When it finally ended, Nathan touched my elbow gently.

"Dinner?" he asked, his voice deliberately pitched to carry. "We should discuss the proposal timeline."

I saw Sean's shoulders tense, his hand pausing in the act of gathering his papers.

"Actually," Sean's voice was arctic, "I need to speak with Angela privately. Nathan"

Nathan hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave me alone with Sean. "I'll wait outside,"

The boardroom emptied slowly, leaving Sean and me in a silence that felt charged with all our unspoken words.

"You and Nathan seem close," he said finally, still not looking at me.

"He's a valuable colleague."

"Is that all?"

"You spent the night with Christina," I said instead of answering. "I don't think you have the right to question my relationships with colleagues."

"She fell on the office steps," Sean's voice softened slightly. "Twisted her ankle badly. I had to take her to the emergency room."

"And staying the night was medically necessary?"

His jaw tightened. "Angela-"

His phone rang, Christina's name lighting up the screen. Of course. Her timing was always impeccable.

Sean glanced at the phone, then back at me. Something flickered in his eyes - regret? Frustration? But he answered anyway, turning slightly away as he spoke.

"Yes... No, don't try to walk on it yet... I'll have Peter bring the car around..."

I gathered my things, preparing to leave. Whatever he'd wanted to say to me clearly wasn't as important as Christina's needs.

"Wait." He caught my arm as I passed, his hand warm through the silk of my blouse. "Transfer the Lawrence project to Nathan."

"What? But you just assigned-"

"You're taking a leave of absence. Starting tomorrow."

"I don't need-"

"This isn't a suggestion." He said, "It's an order. You're clearly not well, and I won't have you collapsing again."

"Sean." I hesitated, my heart pounding. "Did you... did you get my message last night?"

His phone rang again before he could answer. Christina, again.

"Take the rest," he said, already turning away. "That's final."

I walked out of his office, my question still unanswered, the weight of all our unspoken words pressing down like lead in my chest.

Nathan waited by my office, concern etched on his features, but I couldn't bear his kindness right now.

"I need some air," I managed, heading for the elevator.

Sean must have seen my message from last night.

This sudden forced leave... was it his way of giving me time? Time to quietly get rid of the baby?

Otherwise, there was no reason for him to insist on my taking leave right now.