Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 252

Olivia’s POV

"You’re pregnant."

The world stopped.

Just... stopped.

The words didn’t make sense. They were sounds without meaning, syllables strung together that my brain refused to process.

"That’s not possible," I heard myself say. "That can’t be right."

"The test is very accurate. But we can do a blood test to confirm if you’d like..."

"No. No, there’s been a mistake. I always take my pills. I can’t be... I’m not..."

But even as I said it, my mind was calculating. Three weeks since that day. The nausea. The fatigue. The dizziness.

Oh God.

A cold numbness spread through my body, starting at my chest and radiating outward until I couldn’t feel my fingers, my toes, anything.

I was pregnant.

Pregnant with a stranger’s baby.

A stranger who could be one of four men. Or was it Maxwell’s baby? From the night I’d taken advantage of his drunken state?

I couldn’t tell any more.

The room tilted slightly.

"Ms. Hopton, are you alright?" Yuki’s hand was on my arm, trying to steady me. "Do you need to sit down? Should I call someone?"

I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe properly.

Pregnant.

"Take your time," Yuki said softly. "There’s no rush. Just breathe. In through your nose, out through your mouth."

I focused on breathing. Just breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

Slowly, the numbness receded enough for me to think again.

"I’m okay," I managed. "I just need a minute."

"Of course. Take all the time you need."

But I didn’t have time. Maxwell was waiting outside. Maxwell, who could potentially be the father of this baby. Or not. I had no way of knowing.

I stood on shaking legs. "Thank you. For everything."

"Would you like information about prenatal care? Or perhaps you’d like to schedule a follow-up..."

"Not right now. I need to... I need to process this first."

Yuki nodded understandingly. "Of course. Here’s my card. Call if you need anything."

I took the card with numb fingers and somehow made it to the door.

Maxwell was exactly where I’d left him, scrolling through his phone, looking completely at ease while my entire world had just imploded.

He looked up immediately when I approached. Those intense eyes scanned my face, and I saw his expression shift. "Everything alright?"

"Fine." I lied. "Just stress and exhaustion. She recommended rest."

I watched his eyes narrow slightly, like he knew I wasn’t telling the complete truth. But he didn’t push.

"Good." He stood, pocketing his phone. "My appointment’s next. Will you wait?"

"Of course."

He studied me for another moment, then nodded and disappeared into an examination room.

I sank back into my chair, my hand unconsciously moving to my still-flat stomach.

There was a baby in there. A tiny cluster of cells that would become a person. My baby.

A baby whose father I couldn’t identify.

Twenty minutes felt like both seconds and hours. When Maxwell finally emerged with fresh bandages and a prescription bag, I had to force myself to act normal.

"How’s the wound?" I asked, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears.

"Healing well. Another week and the stitches can come out." He paused, studying me again. "Are you sure you’re alright? You look pale."

"I’m fine. Just tired like the nurse said."

"You look like you need a drink."

I almost laughed at the irony. "A drink?"

"Something to settle your nerves." His voice softened slightly. "Come on. The hotel lounge is quiet this time of day."

I should have said no. Should have gone to my room to process this alone. But the thought of being alone with this news was terrifying.

"Okay," I heard myself say.

******

The hotel lounge was clean and elegant, with plush seating and mood lighting that made everything feel slightly surreal. A pianist played soft jazz in the corner.

Maxwell guided me to a secluded booth in the back, away from other people sitting about.

A waiter appeared soon after. "Good afternoon. What can I get for you?"

"Whiskey. Neat," Maxwell said without hesitation.

The waiter turned to me expectantly.

Alcohol. I couldn’t have alcohol. Not anymore.

"Just sparkling water with lemon," I said. "Please."

Maxwell’s eyebrow rose slightly, but he didn’t comment.

When the waiter left, he leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving my face. "You’re sure you’re alright? You’ve been acting strange since you came out of that examination." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"I’m fine. Really."

"You’re ordering sparkling water."

"I’m being healthy."

"Since when?"

"Since the nurse told me to take better care of myself."

It wasn’t technically a lie.

Our drinks arrived, and I wrapped my hands around the cold glass, grateful for something to anchor me.

Maxwell took a sip of his whiskey, his expression thoughtful. "I’ve been thinking," he said finally. "About what you told me. About Oliver. About everything."

My heart rate spiked. "And?"

"And I have questions. Things that don’t add up." He set down his glass. "Why did you run away from my mansion that night? The night you drugged my security guards and escaped like you were fleeing a crime scene?"

I took a sip of water, buying time. "I was tired of lying. I couldn’t continue the deception anymore."

"Is that the only reason?"

"No." I looked down at my glass. "I’d gotten my salary. I didn’t see any reason to stay anymore."

"Wow." The single word was loaded with something I couldn’t identify. Hurt? Disappointment?

He was quiet for a moment, his fingers drumming against his glass. "That weekend at your family house. The Sunday where we all assembled for lunch. How were you there as Olivia when Oliver was also there?"

"That man wasn’t Oliver. His name was Ryan." The memory made me angry all over again. "He’d been stalking me, studying my mannerisms, trying to steal my identity and take my job. Kira and I caught him."

Maxwell’s entire demeanor shifted. His body went still and I tried to read his expression but couldn’t. "You caught him? How?"

I couldn’t help but smile at the memory despite everything. "It’s a story for another day. But let’s just say Julian was very... helpful."

"Julian." Maxwell’s eyes narrowed. "Julian from the office?"

"The same."

"Interesting. So Julian knew about you all these time and I didn’t." He took another sip. "That’s truly interesting. And this Ryan. What happened to him?"

"Julian paid him off to disappear. Made it clear what would happen if he ever came back or tried to expose anything."

"Smart." Maxwell leaned forward slightly. "Did you ever suspect that I knew? About your disguise?"

"Did you?" My heart was in my throat. "Did you know?"

"No." He shook his head. "I was too preoccupied with other things to suspect my assistant was living a double life. Too focused on..." He trailed off.

"On what?"

"On trying to figure out why I couldn’t stop thinking about Olivia when I was supposed to be maintaining professional boundaries with Oliver." His smile was wry. "Turns out they were the same person. That explains a lot."

I didn’t know what to say to that.

Maxwell continued asking questions, trying to check for loopholes in my story. Maybe trying to be certain if I was saying the truth or not.

I answered everything as honestly as I could.

He studied me like I was lying, but chose not to push. "And Alex? The whole reason you started this charade - are you still in love with him?"

"No." The answer came easily, honestly. "I haven’t been in love with Alex for a long time. I think I was in love with the idea of him more than the actual person."

"When did you realize that?"

"Gradually. Seeing him every day. He was just... a person. A good person, but not the fantasy I’d built up in my head."

Maxwell nodded slowly, processing. Then: "Kennedy came to me. Before all this. Before you confessed. He asked me to give you a job."

My breath caught. "He did?"

"As my personal assistant. Officially this time, as Olivia. With the plan to eventually promote you to junior associate once I can change the hiring policies."

"That’s... that’s what he told me he was going to do."

"Would you still want to work for me?" Maxwell’s voice was carefully neutral. "After everything? After how badly I treated you when I thought you were Oliver?"

I stared at him, trying to read his expression and failing.

"Are you still willing to give me a job after everything that’s happened?" I asked. "After I lied to you? After I committed fraud?"

"I’m letting it slide." He took another sip of his whiskey. "I wasn’t innocent either. I treated Oliver - treated you - terribly. I was cruel and demanding and pushed boundaries I shouldn’t have pushed. Kennedy pleaded your case very convincingly. Said his sister deserved a chance. That she was brilliant and capable and just needed someone to give her an opportunity."

"He said that?"

"Among other things. He’s very protective of you."

My mind was racing. A job. A steady income. Security.

I needed this. Especially now. Especially with a baby coming.

A baby I’d have to raise alone because I had no idea who the father was.

Unless...

"Would the offer include proper benefits?" I asked. "Health insurance? Maternity leave?"

Maxwell’s eyebrows rose. "Of course. Full benefits package. Why?"

"Just planning ahead."

He studied me intently. "You’re not pregnant, are you?"

The question was so direct, so unexpected, that I choked on my water.

"What? Why would you... no! I mean..." I stammered. "Why would you ask that?"

"You’ve been nauseous. Dizzy. Tired. You just asked specifically about maternity leave." His eyes were sharp, analytical. "It’s a logical question."

"I’m not pregnant," I lied, the words burning my tongue. "I’m just a planner. I like to know all the details before I commit to something."

Maxwell watched me for another long moment, then nodded. "Alright. Then do you want the job?"

I thought about my options. Thought about the baby growing inside me. Thought about needing stability and income and health insurance.

Thought about seeing Maxwell every day, working beside him, being close to him while carrying another fresh secret that could destroy everything.

But what choice did I have?

"Yes," I said. "I want the job."

"Good." He finished his whiskey.