CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

The journalist from one of the most influential TV stations had already set the room with lights, mics, and cameras. They had transformed an office with breathtaking view into a studio in a matter of minutes.

When Nate had walked in, they were ready.

«Is it okay?» he asked.

The woman in charge of the interview nodded, listening to what the technicians were saying with one ear and Nate with the other.

«We'll be ready to register in half an hour at most. The lights are good, sound seems clear. We'll edit and publish tomorrow at the latest.»

«There's no rush,» Nate said. «Just, I'd prefer to have the entrance cleared earlier so that clients and partners can come here and do their job.»

«We'll do our best,» the reporter said. She fixed her blouse and let the make-up artist retouch the eye shadow. «Let's review the questions one last time. Is the list sent yesterday okay?»

«It's fine. Also, feel free to ask something not in that list as long as it won't hurt Lara. And edit out the question if we choose not to answer. These are my conditions to allow the interview.»

«Clear. Is Miss Clayton going to be present as well?»

«Yes, she is. But she will come down when it's time. There's no need to expose her to more pressure than she already is.»

«Sure!»

They waited a few minutes more for the technicians to fix the last details. When everything was ready, Nate nodded to one of the girls following the team of the television. The secretarial department was the first to reply when he had asked for help with that matter.

To his surprise, he had found a group of single - and not single anymore - wolf girls ready to defend Lara from any threat. Including ill words and glares.

Lara reached then when it was time, and she sat on the small sofa next to Nate. She observed the improvised set with amusement painted on her face. The office was unrecognisable!

«Let's do it,» she said, surprising the journalist with her bright smile.

She didn't look like a woman on the verge of a breakdown. Not even worried, to be honest. She was as calm as one could be with Nate Woods by their side.

«Let's start,» the woman said. «One, two, three... Cameras are on.»

She read the introduction in front of the camera with her business smile, and then the focused moved on Nate and Lara. The two were holding hands and sitting close, just like a married couple.

«First question is: how long are you two together?» the woman asked.

Lara and Nate exchanged a glance, realising they hadn't agreed on who was going to answer trivial questions. When she smiled and nodded, Nate realised he would have to be the one working hard.

«About six years,» he said. «Even though it hasn't always been as clear as now. We met six years ago and then lived apart for years. If you're asking since when we're actively dating and living together, it's a little more than two months. And we're engaged since five days ago.»

The reporter couldn't stop a chuckle. He had given her the dates with such precision, telling their whole story in a few sentences. There was so much she could ask, but she didn't want such an available Nate Woods to feel haunted and disappear, letting his usual cold business tone reappear.

«There are some articles about children you two are said to have. Is it true?»

«We have two,» Nate confirmed. «A boy and a girl, twins. You have seen my son in the pictures published a couple of days ago. His name is Jaden, and he's as calm as to be frightening.»

«Oh, his name is Jaden,» she repeated. «And the girl?»

«Scarlet is a little hurricane. I'm sure you'll see her too, sooner or later. Right now, she's cutting the articles with Lara's or my pictures. She likes making collages with those. Jaden must be building the model of a train.»

«They sound adorable.»

«They are,» Nate said. «It's a pity I couldn't be there for them since the beginning, but now I am. That's what matters at this moment.»

«I guess so. And can we know the reason why you weren't there?»

Lara patted on Nate's knee, taking it from there.

«It was my fault,» she said. «I didn't tell Nate.»

«Why?»

She shook her head.

«I'm not sure. I was afraid of his reaction, maybe. Or I simply thought there was no point in telling him. I tried contacting him a couple of times and failed, so I decided it was fate for me to have this child alone. I should have tried harder.»

«And what made you change your idea now?»

«Chance,» Lara said. «I met Nate by chance, and that's when it started. I couldn't and didn't want to hide the twins from him, especially when he said he would be their father. I was so happy when I heard that.»

«And what about your relationship? Was it an effect of sharing the twins?»

«Oh, no,» Lara said. «It's almost unrelated to them. We love each other, and that's why we date and now are engaged. It's more correct to say that we had kids because we're together, not the other way around. It's like any regular love story, isn't it? We just got the order wrong.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

We had kids before getting married.»

«It's not that strange. Many couples don't marry before forming a family. It's less an exception than it might sound right now.»

«I guess so,» Lara said.

«And when will the marriage take place? Have you chosen a date yet?»

«Not yet,» she said. «It might sound off, but we are in no haste. We have our family already; there's no need to hurry get a certificate.»

«Then why getting married at all?»

«Because it's what we want,» Nate said, interrupting the two women. The conversation was going in a direction he didn't like, so he took control of it. «It's just that. We would like to call ourselves husband and wife.»

«It's so romantic.»