The CEO’s Bride

Rose POV “Ouch!” Rose hissed as she pulled the sharp piece of glass from her leg. She glanced down at the small cut, then at the broken cup scattered across the hotel hallway floor. “Great. Just great,” she muttered. Her heart sank as she quickly gathered the pieces, carefully avoiding the remaining shards. If anyone saw this, she was in trouble. The hotel had strict rules, and the last thing she needed was another problem. She was already struggling to keep up with her bills, and losing this job was not an option. She grabbed the final piece of glass and stood up, ready to leave before anyone noticed. That was when she collided with someone. The impact sent her stumbling backward, and she landed on the floor with a gasp. Something fell from the person’s wrist and hit the marble ground with a sharp c***k. For a moment, the hallway went silent. “Argh, what the actual f**k?” Rose groaned. She looked up, ready to apologize, but the words died in her throat. The first thing she noticed was his shoes—polished, expensive, and clearly worth more than anything she owned. Her gaze slowly traveled upward. The man standing before her looked like he belonged in a world completely different from hers. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. His appearance was intimidating, not because he tried to be, but because confidence seemed to follow him everywhere. His dark brown hair was neatly styled, and his sharp features made him look almost unreal. Then she met his eyes. A deep shade of blue stared back at her, cold and unreadable. Beautiful. Dangerous. “Are you planning to stare all day?” he asked. His deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Rose immediately looked away, embarrassed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—” She stopped when she noticed what he was looking at. The watch. Her stomach dropped. The expensive-looking watch that had fallen from his wrist was now lying on the floor, cracked. “Oh no.” She quickly picked it up. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to break it.” The man stared at the damaged watch, then at her. His expression didn’t change. Not anger. Not frustration. Nothing. That somehow made it worse. “Do you know how much that costs?” he asked. Rose swallowed. “No, but I’m sure it’s a lot. I’ll find a way to fix it.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “You’ll find a way?” The question made her feel smaller than she already did. “I said I’m sorry,” she replied quietly. For a brief second, something unreadable flashed across his face before disappearing. Before he could respond, a voice called from behind. “Andre!” The man turned. Rose blinked. Andre. So that was his name. A man in a black suit approached them, looking slightly hurried. “The clients are waiting inside. They’ve already arrived.” Andre glanced back at Rose. His gaze fell on the broken watch in her hand. “You’ll pay for this.” Rose’s eyes widened. “Pay for it? Do you have any idea how much that costs?” “That’s your problem to solve.” Her mouth opened slightly. “I don’t have that kind of money.” Andre reached into his pocket and handed her a card. She stared at it. His card. Why would he give her this? When she didn’t take it immediately, his expression hardened. “Take it.” Rose hesitated. A second later, he dropped the card onto the floor. “Call when you’re ready to settle the payment.” With that, he walked away. The man in the black suit followed after giving Rose a brief, dismissive look. She remained standing there, staring at the card on the ground. Who exactly was Andre? And how was she supposed to pay for something she could never afford?