My Boss's Baby Contract

The office floor was almost empty, the kind of quiet that only came after nine at night. Most of the lights were off, but Olivia Carter's desk remained illuminated, a small island of brightness in a sea of shadows.

She stared at the spreadsheet on her screen, blinking hard as her eyes burned. Numbers swam together, but she forced herself to focus. This report mattered. The board meeting was in less than twelve hours, and if anything went wrong, the blame would fall on her.

As usual.

Olivia straightened her posture and continued typing, fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. She had learned early that hard work was her safest armor. No family name. No powerful connections. Just discipline, competence, and silence.

A soft knock broke the stillness.

Her shoulders stiffened.

No one knocked this late unless

"Ms. Carter."

That voice.

Olivia stood immediately, heart jumping. "Mr. Kane."

Alexander Kane stepped fully into her workspace, tall and impeccably dressed despite the late hour. His dark suit jacket was still perfectly pressed, tie loosened just enough to suggest control rather than fatigue. The CEO of Kane Enterprises never looked anything less than composed.

Except his eyes.

They flicked briefly to the clock on the wall, then back to her. "You're still here."

"Yes," Olivia replied. "The revised projections weren't aligning with the Q4 forecast, so I-"

"I know," he interrupted calmly. "That's why I stayed too."

That surprised her.

Alexander rarely stayed past eight. He valued efficiency, expected the same from everyone else, and never lingered without reason.

He moved closer, stopping beside her desk. The faint scent of his cologne-clean, subtle, expensive-made her inhale without meaning to. She quickly stepped back, clasping her hands together.

"I've completed most of it," she continued, professional tone firmly in place. "I just need to double-check the overseas numbers."

"Show me."

She hesitated for half a second, then turned the screen toward him. Alexander leaned in, his arm resting lightly on the desk. The proximity made her uncomfortably aware of him-his height, his warmth, the quiet authority he carried without effort.

They reviewed the data in silence.

"You caught an error here," he said after a moment, pointing. "If this had gone to the board, it would've raised questions."

Olivia nodded. "That's why I stayed."

His gaze shifted to her face. "You always do."

The comment wasn't sharp. It wasn't praise either. Just an observation. Somehow, that made it heavier.

"I take my job seriously," she said.

"I've noticed."

Another pause settled between them. Not awkward-just... charged.

Alexander straightened, rolling his shoulders slightly. "You should go home once you're done. You've been here since early morning."

"I will," Olivia replied, even though she knew she wouldn't leave until the report was flawless.

He studied her again, longer this time. The silence stretched.

Then, unexpectedly, he asked, "Why do you push yourself this hard?"

The question caught her off guard.

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You don't miss deadlines. You don't make excuses. You never complain."