The Surrogate He Discarded

Claire was the last person to enter the boardroom.

The spacious room could easily accommodate more than two dozen people. A long polished conference table dominated the center, surrounded by senior executives and department directors. Conversations died down as she stepped inside, the sharp click of her heels echoing across the room.

As one of Aioryx’s directors, she was accustomed to being noticed.

Today, however, her attention was elsewhere.

She had no idea what the meeting was about.

Her gaze swept across the room as she made her way toward the only vacant seat.

Then she froze.

A young woman in a tailored navy-blue suit sat beside the CEO.

So that’s her.

The newly hired executive assistant.

Claire studied her openly.

The woman possessed delicate features, fair skin, and large black expressive eyes. Although undeniably attractive, there was still a softness to her appearance. Her cheeks retained a slight roundness from her pregnancy but that gave her an innocent, almost youthful look.

A smirk tugged at Claire’s lips.

Pretty enough. But a little chubby for my taste.

The judgment came instinctively.

Like every beautiful woman, Claire had spent years comparing herself to others.

Then her gaze shifted to the man seated beside Isobel.

And her breath caught.

Morgan.

Even after all these years, the sight of him still had the power to unsettle her.

He looked exhausted today.

The dark circles beneath his eyes suggested several sleepless nights, and the faint stubble shadowing his jaw made it obvious he hadn’t bothered shaving for days.

Yet somehow, the roughness only made him more attractive.

More dangerous.

The perfectly groomed executive image he usually projected was gone.

In its place sat a man who looked worn down by life and responsibility.

And devastatingly handsome.

The unshaven jaw sharpened his features.

The loosened collar of his dress shirt revealed a hint of his neck.

The fatigue in his eyes only deepened the masculine edge that made women helplessly drawn to him.

Claire unconsciously crossed one leg over the other.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the folder in her lap.

How unfair, she thought.

Even exhausted, he still looks better than every man in this room.

For a brief moment, her imagination wandered down paths it had no business exploring.

Then Morgan’s voice cut through the room.

”Everyone.”

The boardroom immediately fell silent.

”I would like you all to meet Isobel Lancey.”

Dozens of eyes instantly shifted toward the young woman seated beside him.

”Today is her first day as my executive assistant. She graduated at the top of her class from Novare State University.”

A faint murmur spread throughout the room. Several directors exchanged surprised glances.

Graduating at the top of her class was impressive.

Being personally introduced by Morgan Ashford was even more impressive.

Caught under the sudden scrutiny of so many people, Isobel stiffened.

She could feel every gaze in the room evaluating her.

Some curious. Some skeptical. Some openly hostile.

The attention made her skin crawl.

Still, she forced herself to stand.

Suppressing her nervousness, she offered everyone a small bow.

”Good morning, everyone,” she said politely.

Her voice was soft but clear.

For a moment, silence lingered.

Then Claire leaned back in her chair and watched the young woman carefully.

The girl looked nervous and out of place.

Like a lamb that had accidentally wandered into a den full of wolves.

A slow smile appeared on Claire’s lips.

This was going to be far more interesting than she had expected.

The Aioryx officers welcomed her with a round of applause.

Morgan talked about plans for the week and then he dismissed his leadership team.

Unlike the other directors, Claire did not immediately leave the boardroom after the meeting adjourned.

Instead, she rose gracefully from her seat and made her way toward Isobel.

Most of the executives had already filed out.

Morgan had left moments ago with Cindy trailing behind him, discussing the next item on his schedule.

Now that the CEO was gone, Claire no longer had any reason to hide her curiosity.

Or her hostility.

”Hello there.”

Her voice was warm and friendly. The perfect voice of a welcoming colleague.

She extended her hand with a dazzling smile.

Anyone watching would think she was simply introducing herself to the company’s newest employee.

Isobel hesitated briefly before accepting the handshake.

The moment their hands met, Claire tightened her grip.

A sharp pain shot through Isobel’s fingers.

Her brows furrowed.

Claire continued smiling as though nothing was wrong.

”Welcome to Aioryx.”

The pressure increased. Isobel bit down on her lower lip.

This wasn’t a greeting. It was a challenge. A warning.

Claire’s eyes swept over her from head to toe.

The closer she looked, the more irritated she became.

Katherine had been right. The girl was beautiful.

Not the glamorous beauty cultivated by expensive cosmetics and designer wardrobes.

A natural beauty. The kind Claire hated the most.

Isobel’s skin was flawless, smooth and luminous without a single visible blemish. Her large eyes were bright and expressive, framed by naturally long lashes.

Claire narrowed her eyes.

She leaned slightly closer.

She wore no foundation, no concealer, no contour, no lipstick.

Yet her complexion appeared more radiant than women who spent thousands on skincare treatments every month.

Even her lips possessed a naturally soft pink color.

The realization made Claire’s smile stiffen.

How annoying.

Meanwhile, Isobel shifted uneasily beneath her scrutiny.

Being stared at so intensely made her feel like an insect pinned beneath a magnifying glass.

”Miss...”

She paused awkwardly.

Claire had forgotten to introduce herself.

”Please let go. You’re hurting me.”

Claire finally released her hand. But not before giving it one last painful squeeze.

Isobel sucked in a quiet breath.

”Oh!”

Claire covered her mouth dramatically.

”I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize I was squeezing that hard.”

Her apology sounded sincere but her eyes said otherwise.

”By the way, my name is Claire. Claire Landers. One of Aioryx’s directors.”

Someone far above her position.

Claire’s gaze drifted downward.

Then stopped.

A strange gleam flashed through her eyes.

For a brief second, satisfaction appeared on her face.

”There it is,” she thought.

A weapon.

”Oh my goodness!”

Her voice suddenly rose several octaves. The exaggerated reaction instantly attracted attention of those who lingered in the room.

Several directors who had not yet left the room stopped in their tracks.

Claire pointed toward Isobel’s blouse.

”Your blouse...”

She lowered her voice as if embarrassed to say more.

”What happened?”

Confused, Isobel instinctively followed Claire’s gaze.

The moment she looked down, her face turned crimson.

A pale stain had begun spreading across the front of her blouse.

Her heart nearly stopped.

She was leaking.

The realization struck her like lightning. In her rush to start her first day at work, she had completely forgotten the possibility.

A wave of humiliation washed over her.

The room suddenly felt too hot. Too crowded. Too suffocating...

Around her, whispers began to spread.

And standing directly across from her, Claire watched the color drain from Isobel’s face.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

The kind of smile that appeared when a hunter finally saw a trace of its prey.