Chapter 2: The CEO Behind The Apron
Chapter 2: The CEO Behind The Apron
Ryan Anderson had spent the entire morning trying to convince himself that he had heard wrong.
Emma Carter.
The name kept repeating in his head.
It couldn't be her.
It wasn't possible.
The Emma Carter he knew was a woman who cried when he accused her of chasing his family's money.
A woman who begged him to believe her when she told him she was pregnant.
A woman who stood outside his apartment in the rain, holding an ultrasound picture, while he refused to open the door.
That Emma Carter couldn't possibly be the CEO of Carter Global.
The woman who controlled billions of dollars.
The woman his entire company was now desperate to meet.
"Ryan?"
His assistant's voice pulled him back.
"Are you listening?"
Ryan looked at the documents in his hand.
Carter Global's logo was printed across the top.
The same company that could save Anderson Enterprises.
The same company that could destroy them.
"Set up the meeting."
His assistant hesitated.
"With Ms. Carter?"
Ryan nodded.
"Yes."
He paused.
Then asked quietly:
"Do we know anything about her?"
His assistant shook his head.
"Almost nothing. She keeps her personal life completely private. No interviews. No social media. No public appearances."
Ryan stared at the name on the document.
Emma Carter.
A strange feeling appeared in his chest.
Something he hadn't felt in years.
Fear.
Inside the mansion kitchen, Emma prepared breakfast as if nothing had happened.
The sound of footsteps approached.
Ryan.
She didn't turn around.
"Coffee is ready."
Ryan stopped.
He looked at her back.
For the first time in seven years, he actually looked at her.
Not as a maid.
Not as someone beneath him.
But as a person.
"Emma."
Her hand paused for half a second.
Then continued pouring coffee.
"Yes, Mr. Anderson?"
The cold formality in her voice bothered him.
Seven years ago, she used to call him Ryan.
With love.
With warmth.
Now...
She sounded like a stranger.
"I need to ask you something."
Emma placed the coffee cup on the table.
"What is it?"
Ryan studied her face.
There was something different about her.
The way she stood.
The way she looked at him.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
"Do you know anything about Carter Global?"
Emma slowly turned around.
For a brief moment...
Their eyes met.
And Ryan felt something he couldn't explain.
Like she already knew exactly why he was asking.
"Carter Global?"
Emma repeated calmly.
"Why would I know anything about them?"
Ryan looked away.
"I don't know. I just thought..."
He stopped.
Because saying it out loud sounded ridiculous.
That the maid standing in front of him could secretly be a billionaire.
Emma almost smiled.
Almost.
"I think you should focus on your meeting."
Ryan frowned.
"How did you know about my meeting?"
Silence.
A small mistake.
A tiny crack in the perfect mask.
Emma looked at him.
Then answered:
"Everyone in the house knows your company is struggling."
Ryan narrowed his eyes.
But before he could say anything, Victoria entered.
"Ryan, darling."
Her voice immediately softened.
"I heard Carter Global finally agreed to see you."
Ryan nodded.
"Yes."
Victoria smiled.
"This is wonderful news. They are the only ones powerful enough to save us."
Then she looked at Emma.
Her expression changed.
"Emma, don't just stand there. Clean the dining room."
Emma lowered her eyes.
"Of course."
Ryan watched.
Something felt wrong.
His mother had insulted Emma for years.
But suddenly...
He wondered.
Why had Emma never fought back?
Why had she never complained?
Why had she stayed?
That afternoon, Ryan entered the Carter Global headquarters.
The building was enormous.
Glass walls.
Hundreds of employees.
Security everywhere.
The kind of place only powerful people entered.
He adjusted his suit before walking inside.
"Mr. Anderson?"
A receptionist greeted him.
"Ms. Carter is waiting."
Ryan followed her toward the executive floor.
Every step made him more nervous.
The doors opened.
A large conference room appeared.
Several executives sat around the table.
But the CEO's chair was empty.
Ryan sat down.
Minutes passed.
Then the door opened.
Everyone stood.
Ryan stood as well.
And then...
Emma Carter walked in.
Not wearing a maid uniform.
Not carrying a cleaning cloth.
Not lowering her head.
She wore a perfectly tailored black suit.
Her hair was styled elegantly.
Her confidence filled the room.
The woman who had spent years being ignored...
Now had everyone standing when she entered.
Ryan couldn't breathe.
His mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing.
Emma walked to the head of the table.
She placed a folder down.
Then looked directly at him.
No anger.
No hatred.
Just calm.
"Mr. Anderson."
Ryan stared at her.
His voice barely came out.
"Emma..."
The executives looked confused.
They had no idea about their history.
Emma sat down.
"Shall we begin the meeting?"
Ryan remained frozen.
Then finally whispered:
"You're the CEO?"
The room became silent.
Emma looked at the man who once abandoned her.
The man who left her alone while she carried his child.
Then she answered softly:
"I always was."
Ryan felt the world collapse around him.
Because in that moment...
He realized something terrifying.
He hadn't lost a poor woman who needed him.
He had abandoned the one person who could have saved him.
But Ryan still didn't know the biggest secret.
Emma had not returned to the Anderson mansion by accident.
She wasn't there for revenge.
She wasn't there to prove her worth.
She was there because seven years ago...
Someone had lied about what happened to her baby.
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And she was finally ready to uncover the truth.
To be continued...
