My Boss’s Hidden Heir (Elara and Marcus) novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Chapter 75

58 Vouchere

Elara got to the location she’d asked Emeka and Mimi to meet her earlier. She thanked the driver, climbed out of the car, and walked inside the café they’d agreed on. It was one of those trendy spots in Manhattan with exposed brick walls and overpriced coffee that somehow tasted better because of the atmosphere.

She spotted them immediately at the far end of the café, sitting at a corner table and talking like they’d known each other for years. They were both Nigerian, so that bond was easy to form. That instant recognition and understanding that came from shared culture and experience.

“Hi, my loves,” Elara called out as she approached.

Mimi looked up first, her face breaking into a huge smile. Elara leaned down to peck her on the cheek. Emeka stood up immediately, practically jumping out of his seat to hug her.

“Girl, look at you!” he exclaimed, holding her at arm’s length to get a proper look. “What the hell? I can’t believe this is you. You’re glowing. Fuck, I’m so jealous.”

He dragged out a chair for her with theatrical flair, gesturing for her to sit like she was royalty. Elara laughed and settled into the seat while Emeka returned to his own chair across from her.

Emeka was a Black American guy, born and raised in Brooklyn but with Nigerian parents who’d made sure he stayed connected to his roots. He was actually very cute in that effortless way some people managed. When you said someone was cute, you were talking about Emeka. Clean-cut, well-dressed, with a smile that could light up a room and energy that was absolutely infectious.

“Firstly,” Elara started, reaching into her bag, “I got you something from Santorini.”

Emeka’s eyes widened. “What? Girl, you didn’t have to.”

“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.” Durrh.

She ruffled through her bag until her fingers closed around the small box she’d been carrying since she got back. The Gucci scarf she’d picked out specifically for him. She pulled it out, still in its original packaging, and placed it on the table in front of him.

Emeka gasped, his hand flying to his chest dramatically. “Girl, you’re now buying a designer for your friends? Look at you!”

He grabbed the box and opened it carefully, like he was handling something precious. When the scarf came into view, all silk and perfect stitching with that unmistakable Gucci pattern, he actually screamed.

“Oh my God, babe, this is so beautiful!” He covered his mouth with one hand, tears genuinely forming in his eyes. “Thank you, thank you!”

He jumped up again to hug her, giving her a loud kiss on the cheek before sitting back down and carefully arranging the scarf back into its packaging like it was a treasure he needed to protect.

Elara cleared her throat, smiling at his reaction. “So, how have we been? Erhm, Mimi, how have you been?”

Mimi started laughing immediately, that knowing laugh that said she had tea to spill and was barely containing herself.

Chapter 75

“What’s funny?” Elara asked, leaning forward. “Spill. I know you’ve been up to something.”

“Nothing ooo,” Mimi said, still grinning like an idiot. “It’s just that Dan has been so good to me. We went on a date yesterday and it was so nice. He drove all the way down to pick me up, like he basically is treating me like a queen. He really likes me, I can tell.”

“Slow down,” Elara said, trying not to laugh. “It’s been three days. Better calm down before you start planning the wedding.”

Emeka held up his hand, looking genuinely confused. Hold up y’all. “Please, who is Dan? You people are confusing me,” he said sarcastically.

“Dante,” both women said in unison, then burst out laughing.

“Wait, hold on again.” Emeka’s eyes went even wider. “Dante as in Dante the lawyer? Marcus the devil’s best friend? That’s the one you’re talking about and all smiling and blushing over?”

Mimi nodded enthusiastically.

“I’m shocked at how much these men changed after meeting y’all,” Emeka continued, shaking his head in disbelief. “Which brings me to you, Elara.”

He turned his full attention to her, his expression becoming more serious. “You said you were going to tell me how you met with the boss and got together, and ever since then you’ve been ghosting me. It’s been two months. Two whole months and I’ve gotten nothing but crumbs of information.”

Elara shifted in her chair, suddenly uncomfortable. She couldn’t tell Emeka about the contract. She couldn’t tell him that the whole marriage was fake, that she’d been paid to play the role of Marcus’s wife. That felt like too much, like crossing a line she wasn’t ready to cross.

“I told you it’s been something secret,” she started carefully. “We’ve been sneaking around for a few months now. We got really together in December, you know, and the rest is history.”

“Hmm, I see.” Emeka didn’t look entirely convinced, but he let it go. “So what about the news circulating yesterday on blogs that you were pregnant?”

Elara took a breath. This part she could be honest about. “Well, I am.”

“Shit!” Emeka covered his face with both hands, then reached over to touch her stomach gently. “Girl, I’m so happy for you. This is amazing.”

“But please,” Elara said quickly, “it’s like a private thing. You can’t tell anyone. We’re not announcing it yet.”

Emeka frowned at her. “Who will I even tell? I don’t know anybody in your business like that.”

“I was able to tell him last night about the pregnancy,” Elara mentioned.

“Well, that means we’re all good and sorted on that front, right?” Mimi chimed in,

Elara nodded, relieved that her closest friends now knew the truth even if the rest of the world couldn’t.

“And I have a last bomb I want to drop,” she said, her smile returning.

Both Emeka and Mimi’s eyes widened simultaneously, leaning forward in their seats.

14:57 Mon, May 11

Chapter 75

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