Chapter 2

I glanced over the document and said calmly, "I have no problem with this. You're the CEO. All it needs is your signature."

It wasn't my blueprint anyway. Why should I care?

Thinking I had finally backed down, Brandon boldly signed his name across the page. He immediately issued a public statement claiming that the designer had agreed to waive all liability.

Because of the scandal, our reputation plummeted, and our cash flow completely dried up.

Desperate to secure a lifeline, I pulled every string imaginable to book a dinner meeting with Mr. Harrison, the chairman of the leading conglomerate in our sector.

Yet Brandon had the nerve to show up late. Mr. Harrison checked his watch repeatedly, his expression souring by the minute. I scrambled to keep the conversation afloat, pitching industry forecasts and future expansion plans.

Heaven knows how much time passed before Brandon finally strolled into the private dining room, bringing Chloe along. She was wearing pink bunny pajamas and fluffy slippers.

A splitting headache slammed into my temples. The moment Mr. Harrison saw her, his patience snapped.

"Mr. Hayes certainly is a devoted family man. Bringing your daughter to a high-stakes business dinner?"

Chloe, completely tone-deaf, puffed out her chest with pride.

"Bunny isn't his daughter! Bunny is a big girl now!"

I hurriedly cut in and signaled the waitstaff to serve the dishes.

Just as the table was nearly set, Chloe decided to put on another show. She snatched a heavy serving platter from a waiter. "Let me carry it! I'm a super strong bunny!"

Of course, she twisted her ankle almost immediately. The platter crashed onto the table, shattering glass and showering sharp shards across every single dish.

"I'm sorry! Bunny doesn't know what happened, Bunny’s hands just shook all of a sudden!"

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. Mr. Harrison adjusted his jacket and stood up. "It’s clear you have zero sincerity. I don't see any reason for us to partner with a circus!"

I rushed to stop him. "Mr. Harrison, please wait just a moment! We specially prepared a bottle of vintage wine from a master vintner just for tonight."

Knowing he was a passionate sommelier, this was my final ace in the hole.

His interest was piqued. But just as I thought I could breathe a sigh of relief, Chloe swapped out the vintage red wine and crystal glasses for a plastic pitcher of tap water and paper cups.

"Mr. Harrison, take Bunny's advice! Alcohol is super bad for you! Plain water is much healthier!"

Mr. Harrison’s face turned icy. He stormed out of the room.

"Enough! We're done here! What an utter waste of my time!"

Chloe pouted innocently. "Bunny tried her best! Today I was an eco-friendly bunny, the best bunny of all!"

Panic surged through me. I chased after Mr. Harrison and grabbed the door of his town car just as he went to shut it. The heavy car door slammed brutally onto my fingers.

Looking at my swollen, bruising hand, Mr. Harrison relented slightly, offering me one last chance.

"Are you up for joining me for a seafood feast?"

When my assistant found out, she called me in a panic.

"Natalie, aren't you deathly allergic to seafood?!"

I popped an antihistamine from my bag. "I'll be fine."

During dinner, an acute allergic reaction nearly sent me into anaphylactic shock. An ambulance rushed me to the emergency room.

Seeing how far I was willing to go, Mr. Harrison was deeply moved and agreed to sign the partnership.

But that brush with death hadn't been an act of reckless bravery on my part. Someone had swapped the allergy medication in my purse with multivitamins.

"Ms. Lewis," the ER doctor said gently, "you're pregnant. You cannot afford to be this reckless with your body."

I was still debating whether to share the news with Brandon when I walked into our living room and found him all over Chloe on the sofa.

Seeing me enter didn't stop them in the slightest.

I stared straight at Chloe.

"You're the one who swapped my allergy pills for vitamins, aren't you?"

"I'm calling the police. You’d better start thinking about how you're going to explain this to them."