THE CEO'S UNEXPECTED LOVE

As if her tiny girl knew she was coming, Scarlett pushed the door of the room next to hers.

She was grinning at Scarlett as she entered, up in her cot, saying, "Momma." She extended her small arms toward her.

Every time her tiny Munchkin called her that, Scarlett's heart jumped with delight. 'Momma' was the first word she said when she first began talking a few weeks ago; the other words were ones she had learned from everyone. Scarlett was initially taken aback, then her heart exploded with joy; she was a proud mother.

She grabbed her up as she walked over to her crib.

With a smile, Scarlett wished her a happy birthday, Ivy. "You turn one today."

Ivy laughed as if she had heard Scarlett's words. She was the ideal child, and her little Ivy was the best baby she could have asked for. Ivy was smarter than other babies her age and the most gorgeous baby ever.

Scarlett questioned how her birth parents could have abandoned her in such a way. She couldn't handle it. However, that is all in the past now. Ivy was now hers, and she loved her more and more every day. She would never stop loving her because she was so incredibly adorable and lovable, and most importantly, she was everything Scarlett could ever want. Scarlett had always desired a dimple on her left cheek, but she had never been fortunate enough to have one.

She was determined to make today's birthday as memorable as possible for Ivy. She was impatient.

________

About waiting, Maxwell pondered why Daniel Smith was taking so long.

He was running late because Bea's lawyer had requested to see him that day. He had questioned why Daniel wanted to meet him today of all days since his assistant, Claire, had given him his schedule for the day. When he became a widower a month ago, he was supposed to call, but he didn't.

Why now?

He pondered.

"Sir, Mr. Smith has arrived." The voice of his assistant boomed across the intercom.

"Let him in Claire." He stated,

After a minute, his office door opened, and Claire entered, Daniel trailing after. The majority of Bea's family's legal matters were handled by Daniel, a young and accomplished attorney. Daniel walked over to his desk and Maxwell got up.

"Sorry, I'm late." Daniel started "My last client got me tied up."

Maxwell extended his hand and firmly shook Daniel's.

"Please have a seat." Maxwell pointed to a chair in front of his desk. "Would you like my assistant to get you something to drink?" After Daniel was settled, he took a seat himself.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you. He stated, "Maxwell nodded to Claire, who was standing close to the door, and she understood. " She gave them solitude by leaving the office.

"Thank you for taking the time to see me." He said, "I know you might be wondering why I asked to see you."

"That I am," said Maxwell.

Daniel said, "Well, it is very important," which was clear.

"Why today?" He inquired.

Daniel said, "That is what you're about to find out," and he took out a brown envelope from his briefcase.

He adjusted his glasses and glanced at Maxwell.

"I was expressly instructed by your late wife, Mrs. Beatrice Edward, to present this to you on this day. I didn't intend to give you a day sooner or later, she said. Maxwell's brows wrinkled as he said, "I wonder why." He scrutinized the envelope in Daniel's fingers as he extended his hand to take it. He felt the weight of whatever was inside his chest, even though he thought it weighed almost nothing.

"You don't happen to know why?" Maxwell asked "Not a clue. My job is to deliver and not find out."

Maxwell gave a nod.

"I'll take my leave then," Daniel stated as he stood up and grabbed his briefcase.

Maxwell shook his hand and stood up too.

"Thank you, Daniel." "Just doing my job, Mr. Edward," he said. Then he departed.

After Daniel left his office, his eyes switched from the closed door to the envelope on his desk. After staring at the envelope for a time, he sat down and beeped Claire to let her know he didn't want to be bothered for a bit.

At last, he grabbed the envelope and ripped it open.

His curiosity would be satiated by whatever was within, but he was anxious about what he may discover. She could drop a bomb and then smile as if nothing had occurred since she knew Bea as well as he did.

A piece of neatly folded paper dropped onto his desk as he emptied the envelope. Not much more. On his desk, the white paper was on the verge of exploding. He picked it up and cautiously unfolded the paper.

It was either now or never.

He pondered.

When he saw Bea's writing on the paper, he moaned and tightened his chest as he carefully read what she had written.

Greetings, Maxwell

I'm no longer with you if you're reading this letter. I cared for you even though our marriage was devoid of love. I assume you are aware of that.

Yes, you showed it in a very peculiar way. Maxwell pondered.

I sincerely apologize for what you are going to learn. However, know that it is the truth, and I withheld it from you out of self-interest and a lack of courage when I realized I wouldn't survive.

I discovered I was pregnant a month before my departure. I chose to go because I had no idea how to inform you or how you would respond.

This realization caused Maxwell's eyes to expand, and he kept reading to see what in the world this woman was thinking.

Just saying, "Maxwell, we're having a baby," would have sufficed.

Maxwell pondered.

I wasn't prepared to have a child, and I wasn't sure if you were either.

The letter stated. He didn't, but is there ever a child's appropriate moment? He pondered. ...or if you were prepared for one, he would have agreed to it and they would have worked it out together. So, like I always do, I lied and fled. I carried the child and went into hiding because I couldn't force myself to get rid of it. I didn't want the media in particular to find out.

I was informed that I had finally given birth to a girl. I had instructed the nurses to take her away right away, so I was unable to see her. To be honest, I have no idea what happened to me following that. After I lost my postpartum weight, I intended to get back to you, but I went completely crazy. According to my therapist, I use drugs and alcohol because I feel guilty about leaving my child behind. Perhaps she was correct. Before you found me, the drugs and alcohol helped me forget about it and became a source of comfort.

Since then, I've guarded this sinister secret, knowing that one day I'd have to tell you. I also recognize now that I was a coward for not telling you as soon as you found me, now that I know I wouldn't make it.

Maxwell started crying and his vision went fuzzy.

I didn't want to spend my final days with you hating me, so I chose to send you a letter rather than telling you.

Maxwell is our child, and she's somewhere out there. Since it's her birthday today, I instructed Daniel to deliver this letter to you.

I sincerely hope you will pardon me for not telling you sooner; I wish I had. Together, we could have been with her. I apologize. I sincerely apologize. Maxwell, I hope you'll forgive me. Please, Bea.

Maxwell looked down at the letter in disbelief, and a tear fell on the white paper. No! "Shock" would be an understatement. He had been expecting this bomb, and it simply exploded in his mind.

What on earth could she have done to him, their child, or to them? The intractable questions started.

Could she? He didn't ask any specific person.

Bea wasn't there for him to scold her for doing anything sensible, so he wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to punch a punching bag because he was so angry with her. That's precisely what he did.

After telling Claire to postpone all of his plans for the day, he departed. After arriving home, he went to his room, undressed to his briefs, and put on a pair of black joggers. He then proceeded to his gym downstairs and punched the living daylights out of the punching bag while allowing his thoughts to run wild.

He was powerless to alter the past. The action was taken. He had no choice but to use every means necessary to find his daughter.

Thirty minutes later, he picked up his phone and called Tom, who picked up on the third ring.

He said to him, "Tom, I need you to find someone for me."

"Who?" Tom inquired.

Maxwell rubbed a towel down his neck and let out a deep sigh.

"I don't know." He said, aware of how foolish he sounded at the time.

On the other end of the telephone, Tom said nothing.

"Any detail about this person?" He inquired.

"I'm the only family she has." As though that would aid Tom in locating her, Maxwell remarked.

"All right. How much do you know about this woman or girl? His question was desperate.

"Today's her birthday...and she's my daughter."

Quietness

"Oh."

"Oh" was correct.