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1854 Words
Nicole’s knees were still trembling even though thirty minutes had already passed since they landed. She couldn’t believe that her boss hadn’t even bothered to brief her that he was a pilot before taking her on this flight. Because of that, instead of enjoying her first time riding a helicopter, she had spent the entire trip filled with anxiety. She felt like a helpless child watching her boss casually maneuver the aircraft, pressing buttons and flicking switches as if he were simply playing with a remote-controlled toy plane.
"Hey, relax, okay? We're safe. We're already in Palawan."
Her boss’s slightly irritated voice snapped her out of her thoughts as he handed her a bottle of water. With shaky hands, she reached for it, still feeling weak and unsteady. As she tried to twist open the cap, she realized her fingers were trembling too much to grip it properly. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't open it. Letting out a sigh of frustration, she placed the bottled water on the table, holding onto it tightly with one hand while using the other to rest her chin.
A few moments later, she nearly jumped in surprise when, without a word, her boss, Alexander Montefalco, abruptly grabbed the bottle from her and effortlessly twisted the cap open.
Nicole could only stare at him in shock, choosing to remain silent and simply letting him do it. She didn’t want to risk annoying him further, but more than that, her throat was so dry that she desperately needed the water.
So, they were in Palawan. But why, despite the beauty of their surroundings, did she feel so disconnected from it all? Perhaps the lingering anxiety from the helicopter ride was clouding her ability to appreciate the breathtaking view.
They were currently in what appeared to be a luxurious resort, the same place where their helicopter had landed. From what she could tell, the entire place screamed wealth and exclusivity.
Nicole let out a deep sigh as she wondered just how rich her boss, Shawn Alexander Montefalco, truly was. He could do things she couldn’t even dream of achieving.
"Woah, that’s deep. Here’s your water."
Nicole turned to face her boss when he spoke again, handing her the now-open bottle of water. She couldn't help but smile before taking it from him.
Who would’ve thought? Her boss, whom she had initially assumed was cold and ill-tempered, was actually capable of small acts of kindness. Maybe the first time they met at the coffee shop, he had just been in a bad mood. After all, everyone had their moments. People could be rude when they were going through something, feeling exhausted, or for any number of reasons.
Then again, maybe that wasn’t the case at all. In her experience, no matter how many times her Aunt Norma had scolded her or knocked sense into her, she had never once lashed out at anyone. Meanwhile, her boss had seemed irritated with her almost every day when she had first started working as his Executive Assistant.
Nicole hadn't even realized that she had been staring at her boss for quite some time now.
He looked just as handsome as the pictures she had seen earlier in the phone he had given her. But up close, he was even more striking.
His smooth, sun-kissed skin, perfectly aligned white teeth, and thick, naturally red lips were impossible to ignore. His sharp jawline, well-defined cheekbones, straight nose, and slightly hooded yet captivating eyes only added to his appeal. And, of course, there was his Adonis-like physique—one that seemed strong enough to pick her up effortlessly and throw her onto his soft bed.
Wait—what?!
Nicole quickly shook her head, snapping herself out of her indecent thoughts. How did her mind even end up there? And why was she staring at the CEO in the first place?
It was possible, wasn’t it? That she had a crush on him? It wouldn’t be surprising—after all, the CEO was undeniably handsome, muscular, intelligent, and, on top of all that, incredibly wealthy. He probably had women coming in and out of his house every day.
At the thought, Nicole’s face twisted into a frown. But why should she care if he brought different women home all the time? It wasn’t any of her business. She had no reason to dwell on such things.
Shaking her head, she tried to clear away the inappropriate thoughts invading her mind. Was it really inappropriate, though, to imagine Alexander lifting her up—his broad, bare chest against her, her hands running over his firm muscles as he carried her toward the bed, where he would gently lay her down and—
“Oh my god, Nicole!”
She scolded herself out loud, immediately regretting it when her boss turned to her with a questioning look.
“Are you okay, Lorenzo?”
Alexander’s furrowed brows and concerned tone only made Nicole’s cheeks burn hotter. Was he actually worried about her?
She wanted to slap herself, hoping it would somehow quiet her racing heart. What was wrong with her? She had never felt like this before, and it unsettled her.
“Hey, are you okay? You’ve been zoning out. What’s wrong with you?”
His voice was louder this time, snapping her back to reality. They were in a restaurant within the luxurious resort, waiting for their food. Seated across from each other, there was nowhere for Nicole to hide from his intense gaze.
“Ah, y-yes, sir. I-I’m just a little dizzy. That’s all. Sorry.”
She stuttered, avoiding eye contact as she forced out her response.
“It’s almost 5 PM. We don’t have anything scheduled until tomorrow morning when the business meetings start. You can rest after dinner.”
His tone was casual, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, as he gestured toward the restaurant’s counter.
Nicole nodded repeatedly, eager to avoid further questioning. She grabbed her bottle of water and gulped down the remaining contents in one go. Alexander simply watched her, shaking his head slightly, which only made her more flustered.
Even during the meal, Nicole couldn’t settle down. She kept her head down, staring at her plate as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. She avoided looking at Alexander at all costs, even when he spoke to her. She knew he was getting annoyed by her behavior, but she didn’t know how to stop herself.
More than anything, she couldn’t understand why she was feeling this way. This wasn’t just a simple crush—she had had crushes before, back in college, but they had never made her feel like this.
Taking a deep breath, Nicole tried to calm herself down. She took another sip of water from the large glass beside her plate.
“Hey, are you really okay? You don’t seem fine, and you keep spacing out.”
Nicole nearly dropped her glass at the sudden sound of Alexander’s voice. She hesitantly looked up at him, only to find him staring at her intently, his thick brows furrowed in concern.
She quickly nodded in response, forcing a smile that ended up looking more like a grimace.
They finished their meal in silence before Alexander led her into the grand hotel within the resort. Nicole’s eyes widened in shock as the staff immediately bowed upon their entrance.
“Boss, the presidential suite is ready for you. We’ve also prepared rooms for the UK delegates, but unfortunately, we’re fully booked tonight, so we’re short by one room for your... Friend.”
Nicole was stunned by what she heard from the man she assumed was a hotel employee. She immediately became worried because it meant she had no room to sleep in.
She didn’t even bother thinking about her suspicion that her boss’s family owned this place. It wouldn’t be surprising—her boss was wealthy, and this could easily be just one of his family’s many properties.
What concerned Nicole more was the room situation. What if her boss made her sleep somewhere completely inconvenient? That would be a disaster.
“That’s alright, my EA and I can just share a room.”
Her boss spoke so nonchalantly, but Nicole’s eyes widened even more at his words.
“W-What? Sir, I don’t think that’s appropriate. I mean—uh—”
She tried to protest, but Alexander simply rolled his eyes and shot her a sharp look.
“You are not my type, okay? So there’s no reason for you to overthink this. If you’re that uncomfortable, you can sleep in one of the open cottages outside for the entire week.”
His tone was slightly irritated, making Nicole instantly shut her mouth. She decided not to argue anymore—if she pushed too much, he might actually make her sleep outside in the cold.
A few moments later, the hotel employee from earlier escorted them to the entrance of what was clearly a VIP suite. In front of the luxurious maroon door—made of expensive wood and thick glass—was a sign that read "Presidential Suite." Below that, written in gold ink, was the name "Alexander Montefalco."
Nicole remained silent as her boss opened the door, but as soon as she stepped inside, another problem arose.
There was only one bed.
She didn’t even bother admiring the grandeur of the suite—the floor-to-ceiling glass wall showcasing a breathtaking view of small mountains and a crystal-clear lake. Her focus was solely on the fact that she would have to share a room with him.
“Go take a rest.”
Nicole turned to look at her boss, who was busy unpacking their suitcases. She hadn’t even realized they had been brought up to the room, nor did she know how they got there so quickly.
“You said you weren’t feeling well, right? Then go rest.”
His forehead was slightly creased as he pointed toward the massive bed. Nicole swallowed hard, her face heating up as she caught sight of him unbuttoning his long-sleeved shirt.
Before he could completely take it off, she quickly jumped onto the bed, lying flat on her stomach.
Even though she desperately wanted to peek at him while he changed, she resisted the urge.
She cloded her eyes and sbsentmindedly turned to him snd said.
"Do you really need to change here?"
Alexander let out an amused chuckle at her exaggerated reaction. "Relax, Lorenzo. I’m just changing my shirt, not putting on a show."
Nicole squeezed her eyes shut, willing her heart to slow down. It was ridiculous how her mind was running wild over something as simple as her boss taking off his shirt. But could anyone blame her? The man was built like a Greek god.
"Just rest," he repeated, his voice carrying that usual authoritative tone, as if she had no choice but to obey.
Nicole buried her face into the plush pillows, silently groaning to herself. How was she supposed to survive a whole week in the same room as this man?
- Writer
