The CEO'S RULEBOOK

A Cruel Reminder

Mila's POV

When I walked into the office that morning, the remnants of what had happened between Angel Harris and me still lingered like a suffocating fog. Every step I took felt heavier, the weight of it threatening to pull me under. But today wasn't about me. It was about the job. I would push my emotions aside, force them into a box where they couldn't hurt me. At least, that was the plan.

Then Alexis walked in, eyes fixed ahead, a perfect picture of cold indifference. She stormed past my desk without a glance and went straight into Angel's office. My instincts screamed to stop her, but before I could make a move, she was already inside.

And there he was.

Kissing her.

My chest tightened, a vise clamping down on my ribs. The pressure was unbearable, a rush of heat rising to my face as my breath caught in my throat.

Angel's eyes flicked to mine, amusement dancing in his gaze, a cruel glint that made my stomach churn. He didn't even flinch. Was this some twisted game to him? Was he doing this to hurt me, to make me squirm?

The thoughts circled in my mind like vultures, relentless and suffocating, as I stood frozen, paralyzed by a mix of anger and heartbreak. I couldn't look away, couldn't tear myself from the scene unfolding before me.

His lips, the same ones that had once caressed mine, now pressed against hers. The hands that had once held me, touched me in ways that still haunted me, were all over her now. Each touch felt like a knife twisting in my gut, pulling me apart from the inside out.

But I wouldn't let him see my weakness. If this was his game, then I'd play it too. I had to. For my sanity.

I cleared my throat softly, just enough to announce my presence. But they didn't break apart. Their kiss deepened, a brutal reminder of everything I'd lost.

My heart sank. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced out the words.

"Good morning, Sir."

My voice was sharp, controlled, like a weapon.

Angel pulled away, just enough to acknowledge me, but his expression was one of annoyance, as if my interruption was a minor inconvenience.

"Miss Brown..."

His voice was clipped, dismissive.

I fought to keep the tremor out of my voice, to keep my emotions locked away.

"Your schedule for today, Sir."

My tone remained steady, my gaze unwavering. I forced myself to look at him, not at Alexis, who still clung to his side, her presence burning like acid in my veins.

His eyes flickered, unreadable for a moment as I handed him the file. But that moment dragged on, an unspoken tension crackling between us. I couldn't let it break me.

He's my boss. That's all he could ever be. I had to remember that. Anything more would be foolishness. Even if the memories of his touch still burned through me, even if they ached in ways I couldn't describe. The path I was walking was a dead end, and expecting anything else was just a cruel delusion.

He broke the silence, his tone dripping with irritation.

"So, you couldn't wait for me to finish with my guest before bombarding me with paperwork?"

I ignored the scorn in his voice, the bitterness in his words. Shifting my weight from one leg to the other, I swallowed hard, forcing my emotions back down.

"This is important, Sir."

My gaze shifted briefly to Alexis. She didn't look at me. But I could feel her eyes on me, cold and venomous. I could almost hear the mocking tone in her mind, and it twisted something deep inside me.

But I didn't react. I couldn't afford to.

A heavy silence hung in the air before Angel pulled Alexis closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he muttered,

"See you tonight, love,"

before kissing her again, a final kiss that cracked something fragile inside me.

I looked away. My heart ached in a way that words couldn't capture.

But I wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Angel turned back to me, his eyes scanning me with that familiar, unreadable look before dismissing Alexis with a cold gesture.

"You can leave as well, Miss Brown," he said, his tone clipped and final.

I nodded, gathering my strength as I turned to leave. The moment the door clicked shut behind me, I let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

Finally, I could breathe again.

But I couldn't shake the feeling of him, the way his kiss had felt, how it had burned into me. I had promised myself I wouldn't let him have the upper hand. But how could I keep playing this game when I was losing? He was my boss. That was all he was ever going to be. Anything else was a fantasy, a dangerous one.

I buried my feelings and threw myself into work.

Later that night, I returned home, but my mind refused to stop. The events of the day played in a never-ending loop, each replay stabbing deeper than the last.

When I walked through the door, the warm scent of freshly baked chicken hit me, a temporary reprieve from the storm raging in my mind. My mother was in the kitchen, humming softly to herself.

"Mummy," I called out, peering into the room.

She turned with a smile that lit up her face.

"Honey, you're back."

I nodded, but my eyes betrayed me.

She crossed the room in an instant, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her fingers brushing through my hair as she searched my face for answers.

I couldn't tell her the truth, that the man who consumed my every thought, who had ruined my peace, had left his mark on me again. That it was his kiss still burning on my skin. So I settled for something easier.

"It's nothing," I said, forcing a smile. "Just a long day at work."

Her eyes softened, but she didn't push.

"Okay, then. Go freshen up. Dinner's almost ready."

She paused before adding,

"Oh, and Maya is waiting for you in your room."

I nodded, grateful for the distraction, and headed upstairs.

Maya was sitting on my bed, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"So," she began, voice dripping with sarcasm, "why didn't you tell me about your romantic getaway with your boss?"

I rolled my eyes, already tired.

"It was a business trip. Nothing more."

Maya raised an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh. If you say so."

She grabbed my arm, pulling me down onto the bed beside her.

"So... tell me everything. How did it go?"

I hesitated, then let out a deep sigh. The weight of everything crashed over me, the confusion, the anger, the heartbreak. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I told Maya everything, the trip, the kiss, the mess with Alexis.

"Damn," she said, her voice filled with sympathy. "Your boss is a jerk."

"I'm not suing him," I muttered, dismissing her suggestion before it even took root. "I'm not playing that game."

Maya didn't argue.

"Okay, okay. He's safe for now."

"Thank you," I said, pulling her into a hug. "It's good to talk to you."

She smirked, squeezing me tighter.

Suddenly, we heard my mom's voice from downstairs.

"Dinner! Now, or face my wrath!"

We both burst into laughter, the tension momentarily lifted as we rushed downstairs to join her.

Dinner was a temporary escape, but deep down, I knew nothing could pull me from the mess I was in. Tomorrow would bring more of the same. More of him. More of Alexis. And I'd be there, caught in the middle of it all, pretending to be strong.

The next morning, my routine felt like a never-ending cycle. Coffee in hand, I walked to the elevator, bracing myself for the chaos.

But when the elevator doors opened, my heart stopped.

There they were.

Alexis.

On my desk.

Straddling Angel Harris.

Not my desk.

My pulse thundered in my ears as I froze, unable to tear my eyes away.

Then my coffee cup slipped from my hand and crashed to the floor, breaking the moment.

"Sorry," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

Angel quickly disentangled himself, his face a mask of indifference. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, but instead, I swallowed the lump in my throat and bit my tongue.

"Ms. Brown," he said flatly, without a hint of apology. "Get my schedule for today and hold all my calls this morning."

I nodded, my body moving on autopilot as I worked to regain control.

And there was Alexis, her eyes burning with pure malice as she sneered,

"You know your place, Miss Brown. You're just an assistant. Remember that."

She turned and left without another word, her words cutting deeper than she could ever know. I stood there, my chest tight, but I refused to let her see me falter.

Not now.

Not ever.