Oops, I Blocked the Billionaire CEO

Chapter 3

I sent the model draft to David's email.

Right after I hit send, my phone lit up.

V: [What's for lunch?]

V: [I've got a long meeting this afternoon. Already dreading it.]

If this was yesterday, I would've stolen a few minutes during lunch to chat with him. But now, those two lines just made me queasy.

I glanced toward David's office. He was inside, scratching his head in front of his computer, clearly cramming the data I'd just sent him so he could bluff through the executive meeting.

Stealing your subordinate's work with one hand, flirting with your phone in the other.

The click of high heels echoed through the office.

The sound of typing around me softened, almost in unison.

I looked up. Elena Howard had walked into the finance department.

She was David's wife. From a moderately wealthy New York family. Everything she wore was designer, current season. David had his manager position mostly thanks to her family's connections. She showed up at the company every now and then, always carrying herself like she was inspecting her own territory.

David spotted her through the glass door and immediately got up to greet her, his anxious expression replaced by a practiced, steady smile.

"What are you doing here?" David asked, his voice dripping with eagerness.

"I was in the neighborhood for lunch, thought I'd check on you." She handed him a paper bag with a high-end restaurant logo on it. "You've got that presentation for the top floor this afternoon. Didn't want you skipping a meal."

"You're always thinking of me." David took the bag.

They stood less than ten feet from my desk. Elena stepped back, looked David over, and her eyes landed on his chest.

"That dark red tie clip looks great on you." Elena reached out. "That cut is unusual. Finally decided to wear it? I thought it would just sit in your drawer gathering dust."

David's face froze for a split second. He recovered quickly. "The executive meeting is important. Thought I'd wear something with taste for once."

"It suits you." Elena pulled her hand back, satisfied. "About time you learned to pick decent accessories yourself."

A few coworkers nearby chimed in, complimenting David's taste.

I watched the perfect couple. Elena, polished and proud. David, putting on his respectable corporate face.

The man who called me "baby" every night on w******p, who whispered filthy things that made my skin tingle — was the same man who rode his wife's coattails and stole credit from his employees.

And I'd fallen for his act for five whole months.

My stomach lurched. I shoved my chair back so hard the legs screeched against the carpet.

David and Elena both turned to look at me.

"Chloe? Is something wrong?" David frowned, slipping back into manager mode.

"Bathroom."

I walked to the farthest stall in the restroom and locked the door.

I leaned against the door, my fingers ice-cold.

I came from nothing. I worked my ass off at this company every day so I could stand on my own two feet. I never tried to take shortcuts. I never went near married men.

And yet, I'd let the most disgusting man I know play me for five months.

I looked at my phone. w******p was still open to the message V sent ten minutes ago.

I bit down hard on my lip and opened the chat.

[We're done.]

Send.

Then I left w******p, opened my contacts and every connected social app, and blocked V's account. Deleted everything.

When I was done, I splashed cold water on my face at the sink.

I looked pale in the mirror. Five months of a stupid online fling. I'd just close my eyes and pretend it never happened. From now on, David was just my boss. I'd collect my year-end bonus and quit as soon as I could.

*****

2:30 PM.

The finance department was quiet, nothing but keyboards clicking. Then David came running in from the hallway, out of breath.

His usual composed manager act was gone. His voice cracked as he shouted. "Everyone stop what you're doing! Clear your desks now. All reports go to A-level security filing!"

The whole floor froze. Amy stood up. "David, what's going on? Aren't you supposed to be at the executive meeting upstairs?"

"The meeting's not upstairs anymore." David gasped. "The man at the top... Mr. Victor Sterling cut his trip short. He's coming down to inspect our department in ten minutes."