CEO And Secretary

Upside Down

Two weeks passed after Jordan Rodriguez bought Vesper Group and moved permanently to Country A.

The company had transformed almost overnight.

Employees became terrified.

Deadlines became stricter.

Meetings became colder.

And somehow, despite relocating across countries, Jordan still managed to control every room he entered with terrifying ease.

Meanwhile, Maureen Green tried her best to avoid him outside work.

Unfortunately, Jordan made that nearly impossible.

He assigned her directly under him again.

Demanded she attend private meetings.

And whenever she attempted maintaining distance, he simply stared at her silently until she gave up speaking entirely.

Tonight was worse.

Because they were returning to Country X together for a luxury business gala hosted by international investors.

And Jordan had personally declared—

“You’re attending as my partner.”

Not assistant.

Not secretary.

Partner.

Maureen nearly argued.

But Jordan’s cold stare ended that idea immediately.

—

The private jet landed in Country X shortly before evening.

Rain had stopped earlier, leaving the city glowing beneath golden lights.

Jordan stepped out first wearing a black tailored suit that made him look even colder and more dangerously attractive than usual.

Meanwhile, Maureen followed quietly beside him.

Several reporters instantly began taking photographs.

Whispers spread immediately.

“Isn’t that Jordan Rodriguez?”

“Who’s the woman beside him?”

“She’s beautiful.”

Jordan ignored every camera completely.

But his hand briefly settled against Maureen’s lower back while guiding her toward the waiting car.

The tiny gesture shocked her more than it should have.

—

One hour later, Jordan brought her to the most expensive designer store in the city.

The boutique immediately closed to the public the second he entered.

Employees rushed around nervously while bringing dresses, jewelry, and heels worth more than most people’s salaries.

Maureen looked overwhelmed.

“Mr. Rodriguez, this is unnecessary.”

Jordan sat calmly on the leather couch while reviewing his phone.

“Try the red one.”

A stylist immediately handed Maureen a dark crimson dress.

The fabric looked soft and dangerously elegant.

“I really don’t need—”

“The red one.”

Cold.

Final.

Exactly like him.

Thirty minutes later, Maureen finally stepped out of the dressing room.

Silence instantly filled the boutique.

Even the employees looked stunned.

The dress hugged her figure perfectly while the deep color made her pale skin look softer beneath the lights.

The slit along one side revealed just enough leg to become distracting.

Jordan slowly looked up from his phone.

Then froze briefly.

For the first time all evening, genuine surprise crossed his face.

Maureen suddenly felt self-conscious.

“It’s too much, isn’t it?”

Jordan stood slowly.

His dark gaze moved across her calmly.

Too calmly.

“No.”

The single word came out lower than usual.

Dangerously low.

The female employees exchanged knowing glances instantly.

Jordan approached her quietly before adjusting one diamond necklace against her throat himself.

His fingers brushed lightly against her skin.

Maureen’s breath caught immediately.

“You’ll wear this tonight,” he said calmly.

The stylist smiled nervously.

“They look perfect together.”

Jordan ignored the comment completely.

But he did not disagree either.

—

The gala that evening looked even grander than the previous one.

Crystal lights reflected across enormous marble floors while live music echoed softly throughout the ballroom.

The second Jordan entered with Maureen beside him, attention shifted immediately toward them.

Men stared openly at her.

Women whispered.

And Jordan noticed every single glance.

His expression became colder with each passing minute.

“You’re crushing my hand,” Maureen whispered quietly.

Jordan loosened his grip slightly around her waist.

Barely.

“You shouldn’t have worn that dress.”

She stared at him in disbelief.

“You chose it.”

“That was before every man in this room started staring at you.”

Maureen nearly choked.

Was Jordan Rodriguez… jealous?

Impossible.

Before she could process the thought further, another familiar voice interrupted smoothly.

“Well,” Bianca Laurent drawled while approaching them, “this is unexpected.”

Maureen stiffened immediately.

Bianca’s eyes moved across her appearance slowly.

Cold dislike flashed visibly across her face.

“You clean up nicely,” Bianca said sweetly.

Jordan’s expression remained emotionless.

“What do you want?”

Bianca smiled faintly.

“To say hello.”

Jordan clearly did not believe her.

Neither did Maureen.

Throughout the evening, Bianca repeatedly watched them from across the ballroom.

Especially whenever Jordan touched Maureen casually.

A hand against her waist.

Fingers brushing her back.

Quiet words spoken near her ear.

The jealousy in Bianca’s eyes gradually became impossible to hide.

—

Later that night, Maureen stepped outside toward the private garden terrace to escape the overwhelming noise inside.

Moonlight reflected beautifully across the decorative pool nearby while soft music drifted faintly from the ballroom.

For the first time all evening, silence surrounded her.

Then heels clicked softly behind her.

Maureen turned.

Bianca smiled coldly.

“You really think you belong beside him?”

Maureen sighed quietly.

“I’m not doing this with you tonight.”

Bianca stepped closer.

“You stole him.”

Maureen frowned.

“I didn’t steal anybody.”

Bianca’s eyes darkened.

“You’re just his secretary.”

Before Maureen could react—

Bianca shoved her violently.

Maureen’s eyes widened in shock.

Then suddenly—

Splash.

Ice-cold water swallowed her instantly.

Panic exploded inside her chest.

She couldn’t swim.

The deep water dragged her downward immediately while terror consumed her completely.

Her arms thrashed desperately beneath the surface.

No air.

No sound.

Just fear.

Then suddenly—

Another splash.

Strong arms grabbed her instantly.

Jordan.

He pulled her toward the surface immediately while fury radiated from him violently.

“Maureen!”

She clung desperately to him while coughing water painfully.

Jordan carried her out of the pool moments later.

His expression looked terrifying.

Deadly.

Several nearby guests gasped in horror.

Bianca’s face had turned pale instantly.

Jordan slowly stood while holding the trembling Maureen against him.

Then his cold eyes lifted toward Bianca.

For the first time since knowing him—

Maureen genuinely thought Jordan might kill someone.

—

An hour later, Jordan brought Maureen to a luxury hotel suite after the gala ended.

She still trembled slightly from shock while wrapped in one of his black coats.

Jordan handed her warm tea silently.

“You should rest.”

Maureen lowered her eyes quietly.

“…Thank you.”

Jordan stared at her wet hair briefly before looking away.

“I’m going to speak with Bianca.”

Maureen frowned immediately.

“Don’t do anything reckless.”

Jordan’s expression remained cold.

“She pushed you into a pool knowing you can’t swim.”

Then he left.

—

Bianca waited inside another private suite while holding a glass of wine nervously.

The second Jordan entered, tension filled the room instantly.

Bianca forced a shaky smile.

“Jordan, I—”

“You drugged the wine.”

Bianca froze completely.

Jordan’s voice remained terrifyingly calm.

“You used the same method Damien Cross used before.”

Fear flickered across Bianca’s face instantly.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that—”

Jordan stepped closer slowly.

“Stay away from Maureen.”

Bianca swallowed nervously.

Jordan grabbed the untouched wine glass calmly before placing it back onto the table.

Then without another word, he walked away.

But irritation and alcohol mixed dangerously in his system already.

His head pounded slightly while he entered the elevator toward the penthouse suites.

Unfortunately—

He entered the wrong room.

Because the hotel numbers had been mirrored upside down in his blurred vision.

Instead of Room 806—

Jordan walked into Room 809.

Maureen’s room.

She looked up from the bed in shock.

“Jordan?”

His expression looked darker than usual.

More exhausted.

More dangerous.

Before Maureen could fully react, Jordan suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

The emotions between them exploded instantly.

Weeks of tension.

Jealousy.

Fear.

Longing neither wanted to admit.

Everything collapsed completely that night.

—

Hours later, silence filled the dark hotel room.

Moonlight filtered softly through the curtains.

Maureen sat against the bed quietly while tears rolled silently down her face.

Jordan immediately noticed.

His expression hardened slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

Maureen hugged the blanket tighter around herself.

“I always imagined…” her voice cracked softly, “…that I’d give myself to the person I truly loved.”

Pain tightened inside Jordan’s chest unexpectedly.

“And marry him.”

Silence followed.

Maureen wiped her tears weakly.

“But everything became ruined.”

Jordan stared at her quietly for several moments.

Then finally moved closer.

His hand gently brushed against her hair.

Awkward.

Unfamiliar.

Yet strangely careful.

“Then marry me.”

Maureen froze completely.

Jordan’s expression remained calm.

Cold as always.

Yet his eyes looked unusually serious.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

Maureen stared at him silently.

Then slowly shook her head.

“No.”

Jordan’s brows lowered slightly.

“No?”

“You don’t marry somebody out of responsibility.”

Silence filled the room again.

Painful silence.

Maureen lowered her eyes quietly.

“You don’t love me, Jordan.”

For the first time in years—

Jordan Rodriguez had absolutely no response.