Chapter 3 The confrontation

Chapter Three: The Confrontation

Maya had never felt smaller than she did standing outside the steel and glass fortress that was Carter Enterprises. The building towered above her like an accusation, daring her to walk in and face the man who unknowingly changed her life.

She pressed a palm to her belly, flat, still unnoticeable, but alive with possibility. You can do this, she told herself.

Inside, everything gleamed. Polished marble floors, minimalist art, a chandelier that probably cost more than her entire life savings. Her sneakers squeaked against the pristine tiles as she walked up to the front desk.

The receptionist gave her a glance, tight-lipped, uninterested. "Do you have an appointment?"

"I need to speak to Mr. Carter," Maya said, her voice stronger than she felt.

"Mr. Carter doesn't take walk-ins," the woman replied with a mechanical smile. "You'll need to schedule through his assistant."

Maya inhaled. "Tell him it's about something personal. Urgent."

The receptionist sighed but picked up the phone. "Name?"

Maya hesitated. "Just... Maya."

The receptionist narrowed her eyes but made the call. There was a pause, then her eyes widened. She glanced at Maya again, this time more curious than dismissive.

"He says send her up."

Maya's heart stuttered.

He remembered me.

The elevator ride felt eternal. She stared at her reflection in the mirrored walls, adjusting her sweater and trying to make her face seem less... panicked.

When the doors opened, she stepped into a space too sleek, too cold. Glass offices lined the walls. At the far end, through an open door, stood a man in a tailored suit, tall, broad-shouldered, and devastating.

Jaxon Carter.

He turned slowly, like he'd been expecting her.

"You came," he said.

"I wasn't sure if you'd remember me."

A smirk ghosted across his lips. "Hard to forget."

Maya's throat tightened. He looked the same, better, even. Confident,Calm and Dangerous.

"You said it was personal," he said, stepping closer. "I assume this isn't just a social visit."

She swallowed and licked her lips "It's not."

He watched her, like a hawk watching a prey, waiting.

"I... I'm pregnant," she said.

Silence.

Then...."What?"

"I'm pregnant, Jaxon." She hated how her voice trembled. "It's yours."

His jaw clenched, and something flickered in his eyes. "You're sure?"

"I haven't been with anyone else. It was one night, but..."

He raised a hand, stopping her. His expression unreadable now. "And you just decided to show up here?"

"I didn't know how else to contact you," she snapped. "You left before I woke up. No number, no note. I didn't even know your last name until I Googled the club."

He exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. "Christ."

Maya's heart dropped. This was a mistake. She should've stayed away.

"I'm not here to beg you for anything," she said quickly. "I just thought you should know. I don't expect money. I don't expect..."

"Stop," he said sharply. "You don't get to decide what I do or don't expect."

She froze.

Jaxon stepped toward her, his tone softer now. "I didn't know. And yeah, I left, because that's what one-night stands are. No strings, right? But this, this isn't just a night anymore."

Her chest tightened. "So... what does that mean?"

He studied her. "It means I want to do the right thing. Whatever that looks like."

Maya blinked. She hadn't expected that. Anger, sure. Denial, maybe. But this?

"I'm not asking you to marry me," she said, almost laughing. "We barely know each other."

"I'm not offering marriage either," he replied. "I'm offering involvement. I want to be part of this child's life."

She looked at him, really looked at him. And despite the tension, the confusion, the chaos, something in her softened.

"Okay," she whispered. "But this doesn't mean we suddenly become something."

He nodded once. "Understood."

But his gaze lingered on her longer than it should have. And she knew, this wasn't going to stay simple.

That night, Maya lay awake in her apartment, staring at the ceiling again. The confrontation had gone better than she'd imagined, but worse in some invisible, complicated way.

Jaxon wanted to be involved.

But how involved?

Would he call? Visit? Would he try to take control? Did she even want him in her life?

More than that, was she safe with him in it?

And beneath all that, there was another question clawing at her gut,

Why did her heart skip when he said he remembered her?

You're not falling for him, she told herself. You don't even know him.

But her body remembered his touch. Her lips remembered his kiss.

And now, she'd never forget him, not for the rest of her life.

The next morning, Maya's phone buzzed.

Unknown number: "Good morning. We need to talk more. Lunch?"

Her pulse jumped. She knew exactly who it was.

She stared at the message for a full minute before replying.

Maya: "Fine. One hour. Somewhere public."

She didn't trust him, but she was curious.

And curiosity, she was starting to realize, could be just as dangerous as desire.