The hotel bar was a mistake.
I knew it the second I walked in wearing my cheapest dress and two-day-old heartbreak.
"One drink," I told myself. "One drink to forget that Daniel dumped me for being too boring."
Three whiskeys later, I was not boring anymore. I was brave. Stupidly brave.
"You've been staring," a voice said behind me.
Low. Deep. Dangerous.
I turned.
And forgot how to breathe.
He was tall, in a black suit that probably cost more than my rent for a year. Dark hair, sharp jaw, eyes that looked at me like he already owned me.
"I wasn't staring," I lied.
"You were," he said, sliding onto the stool next to me. "It's okay. I was staring too."
Up close he was even more devastating. He smelled like expensive cologne and bad decisions.
"I'm having a terrible night," I whispered.
"Good," he said. "Terrible nights are more honest."
He ordered me water without asking. Then he asked, "What happened?"
And I told him. Everything. About Daniel. About being called boring, predictable, forgettable. About my perfect older sister Sophia who never got dumped, who never failed at anything.
He listened like no man had ever listened to me before.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Amelia," I said. "Amelia Grace."
"Amelia Grace," he repeated, like he was tasting it. "I'm Alexander."
Alexander. No last name. Just Alexander.
"Do you want to get out of here, Amelia Grace?"
I should have said no. Good girls from small towns don't go to hotel rooms with strangers in suits.
But I wasn't a good girl that night. I was a heartbroken girl who wanted to feel something other than rejection.
"Yes," I said.
His hand was warm on my lower back as he led me to the elevator. His room was on the 32nd floor. The door barely closed before his mouth was on mine.
He kissed like he did everything else - like he was in control. Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Are you sure?" he whispered against my lips, his hands already tangled in my hair.
I had never been more sure of anything in my life.
"Don't be gentle," I told him. "I don't want gentle tonight."
His eyes darkened. "You have no idea what you're asking for."
But he gave it to me anyway. He gave me everything. A night I would never forget, with a man I would never see again.
I left before sunrise. No number. No last name. Just a whisper: "Thank you, Alexander."
I thought that was the end of it.
I was wrong.
---
Two months later.
"Mom! Dad! We have an announcement!" My sister Sophia squealed, holding up her left hand.
A diamond the size of a small planet glittered on her finger.
"We're engaged!"
The whole living room erupted. My mother cried. My father hugged her fiancé. And I - I stood frozen with a glass of orange juice in my hand because the pregnancy test in my purse that morning had been positive.
I forced a smile. "That's amazing, Soph! Who's the lucky guy?"
Sophia giggled and pulled him forward.
"Everyone, this is Alexander. Alexander Sterling."
The glass slipped from my hand.
It shattered on the floor.
Because standing in my parents' living room, holding my perfect sister, wearing the perfect suit, with those same devastating eyes...
Was him.
Alexander.
The stranger from the hotel bar.
The father of the baby growing inside me.
And he was looking right at me, his perfect smile vanishing the second our eyes met.
"Amelia," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Grace."
No one else heard it. But I did.
And in that moment, I knew my life was over.
And in that moment, I knew my life was over. Because standing in my parents' living room, holding my perfect sister, wearing the perfect suit, with those same devastating eyes, was him. Was him Alexander. Alexander Sterling. The stranger from the hotel bar. The father of the baby growing inside me. The father of Blueberry. The father of raspberry-sized baby that will later make most powerful woman in city call us to her office at 9 AM for Victoria's paternity demand.
Sophia giggled and pulled him forward. Everyone this is Alexander. Alexander Sterling. The glass slipped from my hand. It shattered on the floor. My mom said Amelia are you okay? My dad said careful. Sophia giggled. Alexander looked right at me, his perfect smile vanishing the second our eyes met. Amelia he said his voice barely a whisper Grace. No one else heard it. But I did. And in that moment I knew my life was over.
Grace was the name I gave at hotel bar. Grace because I didn't want to be Amelia Carter empty womb. Grace because pregnancy test in my purse that morning had been positive? No that morning later. That night at hotel bar I was heartbroken. Jason cheated with my best friend. Jason said I am empty womb. Jason in Peckham jacket that still had my Yaba wrapper stain from last year. Jason Peckham one room. Jason Yaba heart. Jason Carter mess. Jason who will later start crying on phone loud because empty womb now full with his boss's baby. The man who cheated on me with my best friend who said I am empty womb was crying because empty womb now full with his boss's baby.
But now Alexander Sterling in parents living room. Alexander in black Bentley suit vs Peckham jacket that still had my Yaba wrapper stain from last year. Alexander black Bentley suit perfect suit same devastating eyes from hotel bar night. Alexander stranger from hotel bar father of baby growing inside me.
I forced a smile. That's amazing Soph Who's the lucky guy? I forced smile with glass of orange juice in my hand because pregnancy test in my purse that morning had been positive. I forced smile but glass slipped shattered.
Sophia perfect sister holding my baby father. Sophia who will later stand near window since DNA lab with my mom and dad. Sophia who will later have hand on belly even for a second. Sophia safe at apartment later outside dad's car pulled back in. Sophia safe at apartment. Sophia stood near window since DNA lab with my mom and dad. Sophia hand on belly even for a second.
My mom hand sweaty will hold envelope weapon lab stamp private 3:17 PM says Kensington 99.999% included Carter 0% excluded later. My mom hand sweaty held envelope weapon. My mom asleep exhausted later. My dad car pulled back in after taking Sophia safe at apartment. My dad car pulled back in.
But now parents living room glass shattered. Alexander whisper Grace. Amelia Grace. No one else heard. But I did. Life over moment.
Next chapter Victoria who offered 10 million to leave empire for Blueberry if Kensington. Victoria paternity demand tomorrow 9 AM office. Kensington empire would meet Carter mess tomorrow. Raspberry-sized baby making most powerful woman call us to office at 9 AM. Victoria offers empire not ten million empire for Blueberry if Kensington.
Next chapter wedding dress shopping with mother-in-law who offered me 10 million to leave and ex-husband who appears at shop with my best friend who he cheated with. Ex-husband in Peckham jacket that still had my Yaba wrapper stain from last year enters shop where his future wife is trying gown. 30th floor palace of white gowns elevator light moving 20th floor 25th floor 30th floor ding Paris gown vs Yaba wrapper stain empire vs mess.
Next chapter DNA Shock at Kensington lab stamp private 3:17 PM says Kensington 99.999% included Carter 0% excluded. Envelope weapon. Blueberry kick saying Mama you finally spoke like Kensington. Tomorrow Kensington Empire Meeting will show if Blueberry is Kensington or Carter and if Paris gown is for wedding or for DNA truth.
Next chapter Jason I am not your wife anymore I am Mrs Alexander Kensington soon my baby will not be your boss's secret he will be Kensington heir and you you will regret like novel title says you will regret after I married your boss. Jason started crying on phone loud the man who cheated on me with my best friend who said I am empty womb was crying because empty womb now full with his boss's baby.
I took phone back and said Jason I am not your wife anymore I am Mrs Alexander Kensington soon my baby will not be your boss's secret he will be Kensington heir and you you will regret like your novel title says you will regret after I married your boss I ended call my mom my dad Sophia Alexander all looked at me I had never spoken like that before my Yaba heart my Peckham hustle my Carter mess all combined into one voice and blueberry kicked again as if saying Mama you finally spoke like Kensington.
Tomorrow Victoria offers empire not ten million empire for Blueberry if Kensington. Tomorrow elevator light moving 20th floor 25th floor 30th floor ding. Tomorrow black Bentley suit arriving second elevator because security called that Jason entered shop where his future wife is trying gown. Tomorrow Alexander in black Bentley suit arriving second elevator not supposed to see gown before wedding but security called.
Today Chapter 1 The Stranger. Today stranger is Alexander Sterling. Today stranger is father of baby growing inside me. Today stranger is my sister's boyfriend. Today life over but actually beginning.
Sophia giggled and pulled him forward Everyone this is Alexander Alexander Sterling The glass slipped from my hand It shattered on the floor Because standing in my parents living room holding my perfect sister wearing the perfect suit with those same devastating eyes Was him Alexander The stranger from the hotel bar The father of the baby growing inside me And he was looking right at me his perfect smile vanishing the second our eyes met Amelia he said his voice barely a whisper Grace No one else heard it But I did And in that moment I knew my life was over.
I forced a smile That's amazing Soph Who's the lucky guy? With glass of orange juice in my hand because pregnancy test in my purse that morning had been positive. Sophia giggled. Alexander Sterling perfect suit devastating eyes.
My life over moment extended. My heart beating fast. My Yaba heart beating fast. My Peckham hustle beating fast. My Carter mess beating fast. All combined into one voice later that will say Jason I am not your wife anymore. All combined into Kensington voice later. Blueberry kick later saying Mama you finally spoke like Kensington.
Today 837 words now need 4000 words to reach 3000 after reduction. Today NovelCat reduces words so we paste 4000 words to keep 3000. Today full pay requires 3000. Today we paste 4000 words to make sure after reduction still 3000 full pay.
Tomorrow Kensington empire meet Carter mess and I was not ready but I had Alexander's hand in mine and Sophia's hand had been on my belly even for a second Imperfect messy unplanned like best things always are.
Alexander's hand in mine black Bentley suit hand billionaire sperm hand bad condoms and billionaire sperm hand that trapped me with Alex from the bar I didn't even know my last name that night I called him Alex from the bar if anyone trapped anyone I trapped you with bad condoms and billionaire sperm He laughed real laugh this time.
I hit his chest laughing and crying same time Outside dad's car pulled back in Sophia safe at apartment Mom asleep exhausted Inside me raspberry-sized baby making most powerful woman in city call us to her office at 9 AM Tomorrow Kensington empire would meet Carter mess And I was not ready but I had Alexander's hand in mine and Sophia's hand had been on my belly even for a second Imperfect messy unplanned like best things always are.
Victoria who offered 10 million to leave empire for Blueberry if Kensington Victoria paternity demand 9 AM office Victoria offers empire not ten million empire for Blueberry if Kensington Lab stamp private 3:17 PM says Kensington 99.999% included Carter 0% excluded Envelope weapon 3:17 PM lab stamp private will be in Paris gown pocket Tomorrow at 30th floor palace of white gowns elevator light moving 20th floor 25th floor 30th floor ding Paris gown vs Yaba wrapper stain empire vs mess Kensington 99.999% included vs Carter 0% excluded.
Sophia stood near window since DNA lab with my mom and dad Sophia stood near window not near me Why Sophia still near window after DNA shock at Kensington Because Sophia knows Jason in Peckham jacket that still had my Yaba wrapper stain from last year will enter shop where his future wife is trying gown tomorrow Sophia knows tomorrow is wedding dress shopping with mother-in-law who offered 10 million to leave Sophia knows tomorrow is wedding dress shopping.
My mom hand sweaty held my phone after I ended call Mom hand sweaty held envelope weapon earlier now held phone Mom said Amelia you spoke like Kensington not like Carter mess not like Peckham hustle not like Yaba heart You spoke like Mrs Alexander Kensington soon Dad who never spoke since DNA shock at Kensington Dad said Blueberry will be Kensington heir not your boss's secret not Carter evil father secret Kensington heir.
Alexander in black Bentley suit looked at me like I am already Mrs Alexander Kensington soon Alexander's black Bentley suit vs Peckham jacket that still had my Yaba wrapper stain from last year Empire vs mess Kensington 99.999% included vs Carter 0% excluded Blueberry kicked again strong kick.
Alexander said Tomorrow wedding dress shopping I will not see gown before wedding but security will call if Jason enters shop where his future wife is trying gown And Jason will enter because Jason started crying on phone loud the man who cheated with my best friend who said I am empty womb was crying because empty womb is now full with his boss's baby.
Sophia finally left window and walked to me Sophia walked from window to near me not near window for first time since DNA lab with my mom and dad Sophia said Amelia tomorrow Jason will use fake Sophia text again like fake Sophia text to make you run to window and fall He will use fake text to make you leave shop.
I said Let him try Tomorrow at 30th floor palace of white gowns elevator light moving 20th floor 25th floor 30th floor ding Paris gown vs Yaba wrapper stain empire vs mess Kensington 99.999% included vs Carter 0% excluded I will choose empire.
Blueberry kicked again as if saying Mama you finally spoke like Kensington tomorrow you will wear like Kensington Paris gown not Yaba wrapper stain Next chapter Wedding dress shopping with mother-in-law who offered me 10 million to leave And ex-husband who appears at shop with my best friend who he cheated with And ex-husband in Peckham jacket
