Chapter Two
752 Words
The hot water from the shower didn’t wash it away.
Not the memory of his hands gripping me,
not the hard, relentless thrusts driving in and out of my body. Not the way I had let myself forget everything for a few hours. And definitely not the words he threw at me this morning.
Most women who sneak out in the morning want something for their time.
I clenched my jaw, pulling my hair back into a tight bun. I didn’t want to think about him. I didn’t even want to remember his face. To him, I was nothing. Just another body in his bed.
I was already late for work. I slipped into my plain black skirt and white blouse, the safest things I owned. Nothing too flashy, nothing my stepmother could call provocative. Not that she needed an excuse.
I grabbed my bag, took one last look in the mirror, and whispered to myself, “You’re fine. It was one night. He’ll never see you again.
By the time I got to the office, my head was pounding again. The office was buzzing when I arrived, a low hum of excitement. People were standing near the coffee station, whispering, fixing their ties, reapplying lipstick. I slipped into my chair, hoping no one noticed I was late.
I slid into my chair, hoping to disappear behind my computer.
Tessa, my desk neighbor and the closest thing I had to a friend here, leaned over with wide eyes.
“You’re late,” she whispered.
“I know,” I muttered, booting up my computer.
“You picked the worst day for it.”
I frowned. “Why?”
She grinned like she’d been waiting all morning to share the news. “New CEO. He’s supposed to arrive today. People say he’s young, Handsome, ridiculously rich, in fact he is every girl's dream including me”
I snorted softly. “Sounds delightful.”
Tessa nudged me with her elbow. “Come on, aren’t you curious?”
“Not even a little.”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Rumor is, his family is pushing him to get married sooner”
Then maybe he should,” I said flatly, tapping on my keyboard. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of choice.”
Tessa gave me a strange look. “You sound bitter.
“I am bitter.”
She laughed, but before I could say more, the room shifted. It was subtle at first, people straightening in their seats, fixing their hair, lowering their voices.
Then the elevator dinged, and silence swept over the floor.
I didn’t look up. I didn’t care. I just wanted to finish my work and go home.
But when I finally glanced toward the doors, my whole body froze.
It was him.
The man from the hotel. The stranger whose touch I could still feel on my skin. The one who had looked at me like I was something he could buy and toss aside.
And now… he was here.
Walking into my office.
My stomach twisted so hard I thought I’d be sick.
Please don’t recognize me. Please don’t.
He didn’t look at me. Not yet. He walked straight toward the conference room, surrounded by managers who fell over themselves to greet him.
I tried to breathe. I tried to tell myself it didn’t matter. But all I could think was….if he remembered me, if he thought I was what he said I was…what if he fired me on the spot?
Tessa poked me. “Hey. Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I swallowed hard. “Not a ghost. Worse.”
“What do you mean?”
I hesitated, then whispered, “The new CEO. I… I know him.”
Her eyes widened. “You know him? How?”
My cheeks burned. I turned my face toward the screen, whispering so no one else could hear.
“I met him last night.”
Tessa’s jaw dropped. “Last night? Met him, how?”
I shook my head quickly. “Don’t ask. Just don’t ask. I wish I could forget it.”
She stared at me for a long second, then her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God. You didn’t….”
“Keep your voice down!” I hissed, glaring at her.
She clamped her lips shut, her eyes still huge. “You actually… with him? And now he’s your boss?”
I pressed my hands to my forehead.
- Writer
