Obsessed With My Boss.

The New CEO

Chapter Two – Vanessa POV

The shrill sound of my alarm tore through the quiet of my apartment, but by the time I managed to pry my eyes open, the red digits on the clock glared at me like a death sentence.

7:20.

My heart nearly stopped.

“Oh, no… no, no, no.” I bolted out of bed, tripping over the pile of files I’d brought home the night before. A shower was out of the question. Makeup? Forget it. I barely managed to throw on a blouse, skirt, and heels before I was out the door, hair barely tamed into a bun.

By the time I sprinted through the revolving doors of Cole & Myers, my chest was heaving, and sweat clung to my back. Not exactly the picture-perfect secretary.

And of course, the moment I reached the executive floor, I caught the low murmur of voices clustered near the reception desk.

Did you hear?” someone whispered, excitement buzzing in their tone. “There’s a new CEO.”

I slowed, frowning. “New CEO?”

Another voice chimed in, hushed but eager. “Yeah. william Cole’s son. Ethan. Effective immediately. Apparently, he’s taking over certain divisions while his father focuses on other businesses.”

For a moment, I just stood there, blinking, trying to process. Ethan? The cocky billionaire who’d been lounging in william’s chair yesterday like he owned the world… was now officially in charge?

My stomach sank. This had to be some kind of cruel cosmic joke. One william Cole was bad enough, but Ethan—arrogant, smug, and dangerously charming—was the last person I wanted to be answering to.

I forced my legs to keep moving, my heels tapping against the floor as I reached my desk. Maybe it was just a rumour. Maybe—

“Late again.”

The voice slid over me like silk, low and amused. I turned, and there he was. Ethan Cole, leaning against the frame of his office door, tie loose around his neck, as though rules had never applied to him. His smirk was infuriatingly confident.

I swallowed hard, trying to mask my irritation with professionalism. “It won’t happen again.”

“Funny,” he said, tilting his head as he studied me, eyes glinting with mischief. “That’s exactly what you said yesterday.”

Heat rose to my cheeks, part embarrassed, part fury. He wasn’t even subtle about enjoying this—watching me squirm, cataloguing every mistake like he was already planning his next move.

“Relax,” he added, straightening and stepping closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “You’ll learn quickly. Around here, I’m not just Mr. Cole’s son anymore. I’m your boss.”

And just like that, the rumours were no longer rumours. Ethan Cole was officially the new CEO.

My chest tightened. This job had already been hard enough. Now, it had just become a minefield.

And judging by the smug curve of his lips, Ethan knew it.

-

Ethan’s POV

I hadn’t planned on taking the role so soon. Being CEO wasn’t on my list of morning hobbies, right between fast cars and expensive whiskey. But Father had insisted, and honestly, part of me liked the idea of shaking things up around here. The firm was too stiff, too predictable. It needed someone like me—someone unafraid to break rules.

And then there was Vanessa.

I noticed her the second she stumbled in, breathless, cheeks flushed, hair pulled into a messy bun that somehow made her look even more irresistible. Late. Again. She thought she was hiding it, that no one could tell she’d rolled out of bed twenty minutes ago and raced across town. But I saw everything.

I leaned against the doorframe of my office, enjoying the sight of her trying to look composed while her world tilted. The whispers in the office were spreading fast: the new CEO had arrived. Me.

She heard it, of course—I saw the way her eyes widened, the way her shoulders stiffened as if the news had just pulled the rug out from under her. She hated it. The thought of answering to me. Which made it all the more delicious.

“Late again,” I said, letting my voice carry just enough so she’d hear the amusement in it.

She spun around, trying to look professional, chin lifted high. Brave little secretary. “It won’t happen again.”

I smirked, savouring the moment. “Funny. That’s exactly what you said yesterday.”

Her cheeks burned, and I couldn’t help the thrill that went through me. She wanted to snap back—I could see it in the flash of her eyes—but she swallowed it down, choosing restraint over fire. For now.

stepped closer, lowering my voice, letting the truth slip in just for her: “Relax. You’ll learn quickly. Around here, I’m not just Mr. Cole’s son anymore. I’m your boss.”

The way her lips parted, the tiny hitch in her breath, told me everything. She despised the idea. Which meant this was going to be fun.

Vanessa thought she could keep her walls up, thought she could outlast me with professionalism and grit. But sooner or later, she’d learn the truth.

In this office, I always get what I want.

And right now, what I wanted—was her.

She stood there, shoulders stiff, pretending my words hadn’t just thrown her off balance. The stubborn set of her jaw almost made me laugh. Vanessa —my father’s new secretary—wasn’t going to crumble easily.

Good. I hated easy.

I let the silence stretch between us, watching the way she shifted her weight, trying to avoid my gaze. She didn’t realize how transparent she was. The quickening pulse at her neck. The way her fingers tightened on the folder she carried. She wanted to escape this moment, but I wasn’t about to let her.

Vanessa,” I said finally, my tone smooth, practised, the kind of voice that left little room for argument.

Her eyes flicked up to mine, hesitant but sharp. “Yes… sir?”

I leaned back against the desk, crossing my arms, deliberately relaxed. “Bring me the Morrison file. It should be in the archive cabinet outside.”

Her brow furrowed. “The Morrison file? That’s… senior-level casework. Shouldn’t—”

“Exactly,” I cut in, my smile tilting. “Which is why I want to see if you can find it quickly. Consider it… a test.”

The spark in her eyes flared, irritation flashing before she smothered it under a polite mask. “Of course.”

I watched her walk away, heels clicking against the floor, spine straight as a ruler. She hated me for this—I knew it. And maybe that was why I did it. I wanted to see how far she’d go before that fire finally burst free.

And when it did… oh, it would be worth the wait.

The moment Vanessa disappeared through the door in search of the Morrison file, I leaned back in my father’s chair, allowing myself a grin. She hated the way I ordered her around, but she did it anyway. That stubborn streak of hers was going to keep me entertained for a long time.

My phone buzzed on the desk. Vera.

Of course.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose before answering. “Vera.”

Her voice was as smooth and sharp as a blade. “So it’s true. You’re really at the firm now? CEO already? Didn’t take you long to swoop in, Ethan.”

I smirked even though she couldn’t see it. “Father insisted. You know how it is.”

“You could have told me.” She dragged out the words, part accusation, part seduction. “I had to hear it from someone else. Do you know how humiliating that is?”

I swivelled the chair slowly, staring out at the city skyline. Vera was beautiful, no doubt—elegant, always perfectly dressed, the kind of woman who thrived on being seen. But lately, her voice had started to feel more like background noise.

“Vera,” I said, “you know I don’t broadcast my moves. That’s not my style.”

There was a pause. Then, a laugh— then she said “Just don’t forget who was by your side before you decided to play CEO. Don’t forget what you owe me.”

Before I could reply, the office door opened. Vanessa stepped back inside, clutching the thick Morrison file in her arms. Her eyes flicked briefly to the phone in my hand, and for the tiniest second, I caught it—the flicker of curiosity, or maybe… something else.

Interesting. Very interesting.

“Later, Vera,” I said smoothly and hung up before she could protest.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk as Vanessa approached. She set the file down, chin high, refusing to meet my eyes.

I smiled. She might not say it, but she’d heard. And something told me she didn’t like the idea of me having a girlfriend.

Good.