CEO's Dilemma

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

LUNA'S POV.

I decided to show up at work today and I have sworn never to absent from work the way I did these past days. I've been working since morning, preparing financial records and audits. Right now my head is just cramped and heavy. I'm tired and hungry and above all sleepy. I'm going to go home immediately when I'm done with what I am doing. I will do the rest of the work at home.

My office door opens and l my breath seizes when I see my mum walk in. She is the last person I want to see right now. I have been avoiding her calls and refusing to go home for visits because I don't want her insisting to know who is responsible for my pregnancy. She is going to scold me severely if she finds out that Ace is the one responsible for it.

"Seriously Luna?, A one night stand with an engaged man?!"

BAAM!

Mum asks furiously as she throws her handbag on the couch and stands akimbo waiting for me to say something.

"Mum I can explain"

"Like hell I want to listen to that explanation and mind you young lady, it had better be something reasonable" She warns and I just bow done my head and play with my fingers. Whoever spread this news to her has succeeded in humiliating me. "Will you stop playing with your fingers answer me!"

She scolds and I jump in fright. The last time mum got so mad and scolded at me was when she caught me drinking alcohol when I was seventeen. I got grounded for one week. I wonder what she is going to do now.

"Mum I'm sorry, I...it just happened. We met at the high school reunion party and things just took off from there. He wasn't even engaged by then" I try to defend myself.

"Where were your morals?, everything I thought you!"

"I'm sorry mummy" I say pouting as tears start streaming down my cheeks. My mum scolding at me is the worst thing ever.

"That's why you've been avoiding me, that's why you kept evading the question about who is responsible for your pregnancy because you knew it will give me a heart attack!"

"Mum" I cry harder.

"Luna to be honest I'm not mad at you for getting pregnant, I'm mad at the fact you are pregnant for an already taken man. I'm mad because his mother now thinks she can call you names. Only God knows how much I kept holding myself from hitting her today when she kept labeling you a whore"

"How did you two meet?" I as surprised.

"She was at my office earlier today and it didn't go well"

"Mum I'm very sorry for getting you involved, look it's not as serious as it seems. Ace and Sophia are still together, he's only trying to be there for the baby, nothing else"

"Well she doesn't see it that way and she wants you to stay away from her son"

"I wish I could, I honestly wish I could but Ace won't let me be. He is the one who keeps coming around"

"And that's not a bad thing. He is a responsible man and he knows he needs to take responsibility for his actions, but then I know Christine, she never gives her words in vain. I don't want her to hurt you Luna. I would die if anything happens to you."

"Nothing is going to happen to me, I'll talk to Ace about this and he's going to sort this out. I promise"

She shakes her head as she sits on the sofa and heaves out a heavy sigh of frustration. This is just the tip of an iceberg. When my father learns about this whole charade, everyone's going to go down for it. Include me.

Especially me.

I am so dead.

"Your father is going to be very angry. This isn't going to end well. I should've accepted his proposal a long time ago, all this would not be happening" She says as she covers her face with her palms. Now I'm confused.

What proposal is she talking about?. I quietly walk over to the sofa and sit by her side.

"Mummy what proposal are you talking about?"

"When you turned eighteen, your father and Asher's father wanted to do and arranged marriage between you and Asher" She explains and I open my eyes wide in shock.

"What the hell!"

"Yeah, they wanted you and Asher to get married already but Asher's mother and I refused. We wanted the two of you to grow, get mature and make your choices yourself, but right now I regret ever thinking that way"

"Mum, please don't say that"

"I have to, all of this doesn't make any sense from Seven who never valued you to getting pregnant for Ace who is engaged to someone else. None of this would've been different and perfect"

"Mum you are not so sure of that, if you ask I'd say it was a good thing to let us grow and make our own choices"

"Horrible wrong choices, Asher is such a sweet guy and I have always rooted for the two of you to be together but you are always choosing other guys over him. It's so annoying"

"Mum, I know this is disappointing but I do believe in things happening for a reason. I'm very sorry for disappointing you but I'm begging you to give me a chance to fix this"

"Luna you are about to bear a child who is going to be illegitimate. Just that fact stabs my soul Luna, you deserve better"

"I'm sorry mummy"

"Come here" I snuggle into her arms and she cradles me. "Luna I want you to promise me one thing"

"What mummy?"

"When all of this is over and Asher ever proposes to you, don't turn him down. He is a good man Luna, you are not going to realize this now but sometime in the future you'll understand why I want you to end up with Asher. If only I could turn back the hands of time, I would let your father hand you over to Asher. After your brother Kyle, he's the next guy I admire most in this entire world. So can you promise me that Luna?"

"Yes mother, I promise that if Asher ever proposes to me again, I'll give him a chance"

"Thank you baby" She says as he kisses my forehead and cradles me in her arms.

"Just give Asher a chance and if doesn't work, blame me for every negative thing that has ever happened to you"

"Mum stop already, I have heard you"

"Good, have you had lunch?"

"Not yet"

"Come on, let's go get you something to eat, I don't want you or my grandchild starving"

"You still like the idea of me being pregnant, don't you?"

"Well... I do, but I would have love it more if you were pregnant with Asher's child"

"Ugh!, let's go have lunch already"

"That lawyer would have already hired an entire army to protect you wherever you go"

"You think the CEO hasn't tried to do that?, Ace even threatened to stop me from coming to work"

"You can't blame him, he's a man of power, he doesn't want his rivals getting to you"

"Him being over protective is just suffocating I need my freedom"

"You should have thought of that before you got pregnant for him"

"Mum, can we just go and eat lunch already?, Please?"

"Alright, fine. Let's go"