The CEO’s Bride

4

Rose POV

I finished my shift at 11:30 a.m., but I still had thirty minutes before I was supposed to meet the CEO.

The thought alone made me nervous.

At exactly twelve o’clock, I made my way down the hallway toward the elevator. My heart beat faster with every step as I pressed the button for the top floor—the place where the CEO’s office was located.

I had worked at Hilton Hotel for a while, but I had never had a reason to come up here.

The moment the elevator doors opened, I immediately noticed the difference.

Everything about this floor screamed wealth.

The hallway was quieter, cleaner, and more luxurious than the others. Even the walls and decorations looked like they belonged in a completely different building.

Then I saw the CEO’s office door.

I stopped for a moment.

Unlike the ordinary wooden doors throughout the hotel, this one looked completely different. It was larger, heavier, and more elegant. The dark surface had a sleek design, and there was a small security panel beside it.

I stared at it curiously.

Who needed a door like this?

It didn’t look like it was just meant to keep people out. It looked like it was designed to remind everyone who entered that they were stepping into someone else’s world.

A world I clearly didn’t belong to.

I shook off the thought and walked toward the receptionist.

“Hi, I’m here to see the CEO,” I said, placing my hands lightly on the large counter.

The receptionist looked me up and down.

Her expression immediately changed.

Disdain.

Disapproval.

I had seen that look before.

The look people gave me when they decided I wasn’t important enough to deserve their respect.

I ignored it.

“Who are you?” she asked coldly.

“I’m Rose, and I work here.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“As what?”

Her tone made it clear she already knew the answer.

“And why are you here to see him?”

My patience began to disappear.

“Don’t you think you’re asking too many questions?” I asked calmly. “Just call him and ask. I have an appointment at twelve.”

She hesitated before picking up the phone.

“Sir, a Miss…?”

She looked at me, waiting.

“Rose,” I reminded her.

“Sir, a Miss Rose said she has an appointment with you.”

There was a brief silence before his voice came through the phone.

“Yes. Let her wait.”

The receptionist’s lips curved into a small smile.

“He said you should wait.”

I frowned.

“But he told me to come at twelve. Maybe you should call him again—”

“He said you should wait,” she interrupted. “And that’s exactly what you’re going to do.”

I stared at her for a moment.

Arguing with her was clearly pointless.

With a sigh, I walked over to the couch in the waiting area and sat down.

My eyes immediately landed on the large screen mounted on the wall.

A fashion show was playing.

Models walked down the runway wearing beautiful outfits, their confidence shining with every step.

I found myself staring.

I had always dreamed of becoming a model.

My mother used to tell me I had beautiful legs and that I should show them off someday.

For a few minutes, I forgot where I was.

I forgot about the CEO.

I forgot about the expensive watch.

I forgot about everything.

Until the show ended.

I blinked and looked around.

Then I saw the clock.

4:30 p.m.

My eyes widened.

“Damn!”

I quickly stood up and walked toward the receptionist.

“Can I go in now? I’ve been waiting for hours.”

The receptionist looked exhausted as she picked up the phone.

“Should I let her in now?”

She paused, listening.

“Okay, boss.”

She hung up and turned to me.

“You can go in now.”

She handed me a card.

I stared at it.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

She looked at me like I had asked the strangest question in the world.

“That’s for opening the door.”

I nodded slowly.

I didn’t want to admit that I had no idea what she meant.

I came from a simple background. Things like this weren’t normal for me.

I walked toward the massive door and looked at the card in my hand.

There were instructions on it.

I was supposed to swipe it.

I placed it against the panel.

Nothing happened.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

I frowned and tried several more times.

The same result.

Then the card stopped working completely.

I stared at it in confusion.

First, I had a broken watch problem.

Now I had somehow managed to break a door card.

Was I cursed?

I turned around, ready to go back to the receptionist, but the door suddenly opened.

I froze.

Andre stood there.

Without saying a word, he stepped aside and gestured for me to enter.

I slowly walked inside.

The first thing I noticed was how different the office was from the rest of the hotel.

Everything was enormous.

The walls were painted a brilliant white, contrasted with black furniture and cushions that gave the room a luxurious yet intimidating feel.

At the center of it all was a massive desk.

It was large enough for ten people to sit around, yet somehow, with only Andre behind it, the room felt strangely empty.

I stood near the door, taking everything in.

This wasn’t just an office.

It was a statement.

My thoughts were interrupted by the CEO’s deep, impatient voice.

“Are you going to come in, or do you need an escort to walk you out?”

His tone was cold and unforgiving.

I snapped back to reality.

I was no longer admiring his office.

I was standing in front of the man who had threatened to make me pay for his expensive wristwatch—the same man whose door I had almost convinced myself I had broken.

I took a deep breath and walked toward him.

When I stopped in front of his desk, my body froze.

My heart was beating so loudly that I was sure he could hear it.

The office was completely silent.

So silent that I could hear my own breathing and the rapid pounding of my heartbeat.

“Sit.”

His voice was firm.

It sounded less like a request and more like an order.

For a moment, I wondered if I had heard him correctly.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“I said sit.”

This time, his voice was colder.

“Thank you,” I replied quietly.

I walked over and sat in the chair across from him.

The chair was unlike anything I had ever sat on before. It was sturdy yet comfortable, with soft padding that supported my back and neck perfectly.

But I couldn’t appreciate the comfort.

Not when the man in front of me was the reason I was here.

Andre leaned back slightly, studying me.

Then his voice cut through the silence.

“What’s your plan for paying me back?”

My stomach tightened.

“You don’t actually think I’m going to let this slide, do you?”

My mind went blank for a moment.

My hands became sweaty, and I swallowed hard.

Growing up, I had always been known for my courage. I was the person who stood up for myself, the person who refused to back down.

But sitting in front of Andre Hilton, I barely recognized that version of myself.

Still, fear was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

“I meant what I said,” I replied, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I don’t have that kind of money. I didn’t break your watch on purpose, and I have no way of paying you back.”

Despite how intimidating his stare was, I refused to look away.

I needed him to see that I wasn’t weak.

Andre rested his chin on his hand, tapping his nose lightly with his index finger.

“Hmm.”

A hint of sarcasm filled his voice.

“What now?”

I swallowed.

“You have a lot of money,” I said carefully. “If you let this go, it won’t affect you. But for me… it will.”

My voice softened.

“I barely manage to eat three times a day, and I haven’t even paid my rent. Please, can you let this slide?”

For the first time, I hated how close I felt to tears.

But Andre’s expression didn’t change.

Not even slightly.

No sympathy.

No anger.

Nothing.

He simply stared at me.

The silence between us stretched on for what felt like forever.

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Was he considering my situation?

Was he going to help me?

Or was he about to make things even worse?

Finally, Andre broke the silence.

“I have two options for you.”

I sat up straighter.

“Okay?”

My voice was filled with curiosity and uncertainty.

He leaned forward, placing both hands on the desk.

“Either you pay me the 2.2 million dollars by the end of this month…”

He paused.

My heart stopped.

I waited for him to continue.

His eyes remained fixed on mine.

“Or…”