From Dictator to lover

The unlucky morning

The first thing I heard was the insistent buzzing of my phone. My eyes shot open, and for a split second, I was disoriented, staring at the pale light filtering through the blinds.

My phone buzzed again—loud and vibrating angrily on the nightstand. With a sinking feeling, I grabbed it.

7 Missed Calls: Nicholas Maxwell.

My heart dropped. My eyes darted to the clock on my phone, and I froze. 8:17 AM.

“Oh my God.” I bolted upright, my voice panicked. “I’m so dead. I’m so dead. He’s going to kill me!”

I scrambled out of bed, tossing my blanket aside like it had personally wronged me. My hair was a mess, and I was still wearing yesterday’s blouse. There was no time for a shower, no time for breakfast, and definitely no time to think about how bad this was going to be.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I muttered, running around my apartment like a tornado. “Why didn’t I set an alarm? Why didn’t I wake up? Oh my God, I’m going to get fired!”

Throwing on the first semi-decent outfit I could find—a pencil skirt and blouse that weren’t too wrinkled—I grabbed my bag, slipped into my heels, and rushed out the door.

Traffic, of course, was a nightmare. Every red light felt like a personal insult from the universe. I tapped the steering wheel nervously, muttering under my breath, “He’s going to kill me. I’m going to walk in there, and he’s going to be waiting, smirking like the devil himself.”

By the time I screeched into the parking lot of Maxwell Enterprises, it was already 8:45 AM. My heels clicked furiously against the marble floors as I sprinted toward the elevator, ignoring the curious glances from the receptionist and security staff.

The meeting was already in full swing when I burst into the conference room, my face flushed and my breath coming in shallow gasps.

Nicholas Maxwell was at the head of the table, looking every bit the composed and commanding CEO in his tailored suit. His piercing green eyes zeroed in on me as soon as I entered, and the room fell silent.

“You’re late, Miss Harper,” he said, his voice cold and clipped.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Maxwell,” I stammered, clutching my notebook to my chest like a shield. “It won’t happen again.”

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “We’ll discuss this after the meeting.”

I swallowed hard, nodding as I slid into an empty seat, trying to ignore the stares from my colleagues. My hands were shaking, but I forced myself to focus on the presentation in front of me, even as dread curled in my stomach.

He was going to make me pay for this.

The meeting dragged on, but it might as well have been in another language for all I could comprehend. My heart was pounding, and my palms were damp as I sat there, staring at the presentation slides while stealing glances at Nicholas Maxwell.

He didn’t look at me again after that first icy glare, but his presence was impossible to ignore. He sat with his usual confidence—back straight, hands clasped, his expression focused but calm. It only made me more nervous. The calm before the storm.

Every word that came out of his mouth was sharp and precise, as if he could slice through the tension in the room with just his voice. My stomach twisted every time he shifted in his chair, every time his gaze flickered in my direction.

“Miss Harper?”

My head snapped up, and I realized with horror that he was speaking to me. Everyone in the room was staring.

“Do you have the merger timeline ready, as I requested?” His voice was smooth, almost casual, but I could hear the steel beneath it.

The color drained from my face. I swallowed hard. “I—um—I’m still finalizing the details, but I’ll have it ready by the end of the day,” I stammered.

His lips pressed into a thin line. “I see.” He didn’t say anything more, but the weight of his disapproval was heavier than any reprimand.

The rest of the meeting passed in a blur. By the time it was over, I felt like I’d run a marathon.

“Miss Harper, my office. Now,” Nicholas said as everyone filed out, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated for a moment before following him. My heart felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my chest as I stepped into his office. He closed the door behind me with an ominous click, and I braced myself for the inevitable.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk.

I did as I was told, clasping my hands in my lap to hide the trembling.

He leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. “Care to explain this morning, Miss Harper?”

“I—” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat, trying again. “I overslept. I didn’t set an alarm. It won’t happen again, Mr. Maxwell. I swear.”

His gaze pinned me to the chair. “You overslept.”

“Yes,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He let out a low, humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Do you have any idea how unprofessional that is? You were late to an important meeting, Miss Harper. You’re supposed to be the one person I can rely on to keep things running smoothly. Instead, you waltz in here, completely unprepared.”

“I’m sorry,” I said again, my cheeks burning. “I’ll do better. I promise.”

He straightened, his expression cold and unreadable. “You’d better. Because if this happens again, there won’t be a next time. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” I said, nodding quickly.

For a moment, he just looked at me, his gaze unwavering. Then, to my utter shock, the corners of his mouth twitched. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it wasn’t the scowl I was expecting either.

“Get back to work,” he said finally, turning toward his desk.

I stood quickly, eager to escape, but as I reached the door, his voice stopped me.

“And, Miss Harper?”

I turned, my hand on the doorknob.

“Make sure you have that merger timeline on my desk by five.”

I nodded, slipping out of the office and letting out a shaky breath as soon as the door closed behind me.

Back at my desk, I buried my face in my hands, groaning softly. “Why am I still here?” I muttered to myself. But deep down, I already knew the answer.

Because no matter how infuriating, impossible, and maddening Nicholas Maxwell was, i needed money.