"Scandal Shocker! Donovan Corporation’s CEO Allegedly Fathered an Illegitimate Son!"
"Lawrence Donovan Spotted with Mystery Child—Secret Marriage, Hidden Affair?"
"Golden Bachelor CEO: Unmarried and a Dad? Who’s the Mother?"
On a bright and bustling morning in the city of Hartford, tabloids, blogs, and social media platforms exploded with sensational headlines about Lawrence Donovan, the elusive CEO of Donovan Corporation, and his alleged illegitimate child.
Meanwhile, within the sprawling Donovan estate, Mia Gordon, impeccably dressed and perched elegantly on a sleek leather couch, scrolled through her newsfeed with growing exasperation. “Honestly, it feels like CEOs can’t hold onto their titles these days without someone accusing them of secret love children,” she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Across the room, Rosy Richards, who was meticulously applying the finishing touches to her lipstick, glanced over. “Lawrence Donovan, huh? Isn’t he the one people are always whispering about? Some folks say he’s, you know, playing for the other team.”
Mia snorted, almost dropping her phone. “What? You’re telling me the guy’s got a boyfriend and he conned some poor woman into carrying his child? That’s low, even by today’s standards. What’s next, a fake wedding to keep up appearances?”
“Could be,” Rosy replied with a nonchalant shrug, her sharp glance flicking toward Mia. “But forget about him for a second—why are you dolled up like you’re about to walk a red carpet? I’m the one with a blind date today, remember?”
Mia waved a dismissive hand, her irritation barely concealed. “Don’t look at me. My mom told me to dress like I’m meeting royalty, but she wouldn’t say why.” She shifted her focus back to her phone, her eyes narrowing as a new social media post caught her attention. Her breath hitched, and her heart seemed to stop for a split second.
Theo Donovan: "Blind date today. Family’s breathing down my neck—should I just marry the next person I see?"
“What the hell?!” Mia’s voice shot up an octave as she shot to her feet, clutching her phone like it was a lifeline. “Theo just got back from overseas, and now he’s going on a blind date? I didn’t even get a chance to make my move!”
Before Rosy could respond, Eleanor, Mia’s elegant but formidable stepmother, descended the sweeping staircase. “Mia,” she began in a tone that brooked no argument, “you’ve got a blind date today at noon. Your father arranged it before he passed.”
Mia froze mid-panic, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. “Mom, I’m only twenty! Are you seriously invoking Dad’s memory to guilt me into this?”
Eleanor’s stern gaze didn’t waver. “It was his final wish, Mia. And, for your information, the man you’re meeting is from the Donovan family—you know, the ones who lived next door to us years ago.”
Mia’s reaction was instantaneous. Her wide eyes lit up like fireworks, and an uncontrollable smile broke across her face. “Oh my God, Mom, yes! I’ll go—I’ll definitely go!”
Eleanor blinked, clearly unprepared for this level of enthusiasm. “Wait, I didn’t even tell you who it is—”
“I already know,” Mia cut her off, practically glowing with excitement. “Mom, you’re the best stepmom in the world. Now tell me—where’s this blind date happening?”
Still somewhat bewildered but relieved at her stepdaughter’s unexpectedly positive response, Eleanor sighed. “It’s at The Savoy Bistro at twelve o’clock sharp.”
Mia didn’t need to hear anything else. Grabbing her bag, she bolted out the door, shouting over her shoulder, “Wish me luck! I’ll bring back good news!”
Rosy, still mid-makeup, stared after her in stunned silence. “She’s running off like her life depends on it, and it’s not even nine in the morning. I’ve never seen her move this fast.” She paused, her brow furrowing as a realization dawned on her. “Wait a second. The Donovans? My blind date’s with someone from the Donovan family too... Oh God, don’t tell me it’s Lawrence!”
Eleanor, her voice cool and cutting, broke the silence. “Let’s not get carried away, Rosy. Lawrence Donovan is the head of a multi-billion-dollar corporation. Why would someone like him waste his time on you?”
Rosy winced at the bluntness of the remark but nodded reluctantly. “Yeah, fair point. I’m way out of his league.”
As the door swung shut behind Mia, Eleanor allowed herself the faintest of smiles. In a quiet voice, almost as if speaking to herself, she murmured, “The one Mia’s meeting is him.”
The delicate compact clicked open, and with a horrified gasp, Rosy realized the damage—her foundation was utterly destroyed. Across the city, while Mia rushed to meet her blind date, she could never have anticipated that Eleanor’s words earlier that morning carried a shocking twist.
What Eleanor had said was simple enough: "Your blind date is related to the boy from next door—the Donovan family, remember? But now, he’s grown into the CEO of the Donovan Group, Lawrence Donovan."
Unbeknownst to Mia, at that very moment in the Donovan family’s grand estate, tension crackled in the air. The elder Donovan struck his cane against the polished marble floor, his expression etched with frustration.
“This is getting out of hand,” he growled, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. “If you can’t bring the mother of that child back within three days, your position as CEO will be ripped out from under you. Our ancestors left clear instructions, and every head of the family has followed them without fail. And now? I never imagined you’d be the one to break tradition!”
Lawrence Donovan, with his sharp suit and sharper gaze, stood unmoved, his hands clasped behind his back. His lips curled into a thin, dispassionate line. “The child doesn’t have a mother,” he replied coldly. “It’s just me. And frankly, clinging to outdated rules doesn’t suit the modern world.”
“Don’t you dare dismiss this so lightly!” the old man thundered, his grip tightening on the dragon-headed cane. “This isn’t just about tradition—it’s about power. Someone is using your situation to undermine your authority. The fact that the press got wind of your so-called illegitimate child wasn’t an accident. It was sabotage from within the family!” He paused, glaring daggers at Lawrence. “If you can’t find the child’s mother, I’ll make the arrangements myself.”
Lawrence’s eyes glinted with icy resolve as he raised a brow. “Let me guess. You’ve already arranged some absurd blind date for me.”
The elder Donovan coughed, straightening his back. “Regal Feast Tavern. Noon. Today.”
“Wonderful,” Lawrence replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “And who’s the lucky woman?”
“You don’t need to ask,” the old man muttered quickly. “It’s Miss Gordon. Your father made a deal with her family years ago. His last wish was for you to marry her.”
At this, Lawrence froze, his posture stiffening. When he finally spoke, his voice was a venomous whisper. “So my father believed either I or this family was worthless enough to require a bargain for marriage? Let me make one thing clear—if anyone should feel blessed by such an arrangement, it’s her. But as for me…” He turned sharply on his heel, his cold aura practically crackling in the air. “I’ll go. But don’t expect anything beyond that.”
The butler standing nearby flinched at the palpable tension. Once Lawrence was out of earshot, he whispered nervously to the elder Donovan, “Sir, do you think the young master will find out it was us who tipped off the media?”
The old man smirked, a calculating gleam in his eyes. “And if he does? He’ll still have to do what I say. He may be cunning, but this time, I’m one step ahead.”
The butler swallowed hard, wondering how long this power struggle could hold before someone went too far.
Mia arrived at the Regal Feast Tavern clutching a small box tied with twine—the bitter almond cake she’d baked during her part-time shift that morning. She couldn’t help but feel a flutter of nerves as she approached the elegant entrance.
“Hello,” she began, her voice soft but steady. “I’m Miss Gordon. I believe there’s a reservation under the name Donovan?”
The hostess, dressed impeccably in a crisp uniform, immediately straightened. “Ah, Miss Gordon! Welcome. Mr. Donovan has reserved the entire restaurant for your lunch. Please, right this way.”
Mia blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing slightly. Reserved the entire place? She hadn’t expected such extravagance for a simple blind date. The Donovan name clearly carried more weight than she’d imagined.
As she stepped inside, Mia was momentarily stunned. The restaurant had been transformed into a floral wonderland—wisteria blooms draped gracefully from the ceiling, soft rose petals blanketed the polished floor, and vibrant bouquets lined every surface. The air was thick with the scent of champagne roses, sweet yet overwhelming.
For a moment, Mia’s lips quirked into an amused smile. A blind date? This looks more like a proposal!
Yet, as she stood there taking in the breathtaking scene, a nagging feeling crept into her chest. Something about this setup felt… off. Before she could piece it together, the click of polished shoes against the marble floor echoed behind her.
Mia turned, her breath catching as a tall, striking figure stepped into view. Lawrence Donovan’s piercing gaze locked onto hers, and in that instant, she realized this was no ordinary blind date.
What exactly had she walked into?
What secret lies behind this meeting? And what will Mia do when she learns the truth about Lawrence's intentions?
