My CEO My Mistake

The Golden bachelor's claim

The air in the luxurious room grew still, heavy with a silence that seemed to press down on Elira’s shoulders. Her pulse pounded wildly in her ears as Mr. Caros, the bald but elegant man in his sixties, leaned forward slightly, his voice a mixture of warmth and curiosity.

“What’s your name? How old are you?” he asked gently.

His tone was soft, almost paternal, yet there was something beneath it, a layer of desire that he could not mask. The gleam of the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist only reinforced the aura of wealth and authority that surrounded him. It glinted under the chandelier’s golden light, whispering silently of a fortune so vast that even the smallest gesture of his could change a person’s life.

Elira bit her lip hard, too nervous to answer. The taste of iron filled her mouth as she lowered her eyes. She wished desperately to vanish, to melt into the floor and escape all these gazes that burned into her like fire.

Just as the silence grew unbearable, a harsh, mocking voice cut through it.

“Hey, he’s asking you a question. Just now you were deaf, and now you are mute?”

The words made Elira flinch. Her throat tightened.

“Tonny, stop scaring her,” Mr. Caros chided, turning his head with a frown. His voice was still gentle, but now it carried a shade of irritation. His gaze flickered back to Elira, full of sympathy, as if he saw her fragility and wanted to shield her.

Another voice this one silky, charming, and dripping with playful ,laziness, floated across the room.

“What, Mr. Caros adores her very much?”

Elira dared to raise her eyes and saw the speaker, Mr. Lewiston, lounging carelessly as if the entire room belonged to him. His lips curved with a hint of ridicule, and yet, when his gaze locked onto hers, a sharp pang of unease stabbed through her chest.

Mr. Caros chuckled awkwardly, embarrassed by the tension. “I…”

But before he could finish, another voice boomed, low and commanding, slicing through the noise like a blade.

“Come here.”

It was Haron’s voice. His tone was calm, but beneath it simmered unmistakable displeasure.

For a moment, Elira froze. The way he spoke made it clear he was referring to her. A chill ran down her spine. Without daring to question, she slowly got up and walked toward him, her legs trembling with every step.

Mr. Caros frowned deeply, suspicion flickering across his features. “What? Does Mr. Lewiston know this girl?”

The thought pierced him like a thorn. This girl reminded him of his first love, her innocence, her timid beauty. For him, it was as if the years had rolled back, stirring long-buried emotions. But the way Haron summoned her, the authority in his voice, it spelled danger.

Haron’s eyes glimmered like ice. “Tell them, what do you call me?”

Elira’s throat locked. She could feel the pressure of every gaze on her, waiting. Finally, with her voice trembling, she stammered, “Un… Uncle!”

A wave of shock rippled through the room. Everyone was stunned into silence.

“Mr. Lewiston, this is your niece?” Mr. Caros’s voice was laced with disbelief.

Haron’s lips curved into a mysterious smile. He hadn’t expected her to call him uncle in front of everyone. Amusement glimmered faintly in his eyes.

“My niece is quite the rebel,” he said smoothly. “She’s rebelling against my sister.”

Without hesitation, he stood, pulling her into his arms. The sudden closeness made Elira inhale sharply. The hard plane of his chest pressed against her delicate frame, and the scent of his cologne sharp, clean, intoxicating, swallowed her.

“You came to this place to become a bunny girl? How naughty.” His voice was low, hoarse, restrained, as though he was holding back emotions too dangerous to unleash.

Elira bit her lip harder, panic flooding her. She didn’t know how to respond. Her silence only deepened the storm brewing in the room.

Mr. Caros’s expression shifted instantly. The faint spark of admiration he had felt for her died like a flame snuffed out. Disappointment clouded his features. “How could she be Mr. Lewiston’s niece!” he thought bitterly. His newfound affection was shattered in an instant.

“All right,” Haron said coldly, his arm tightening around Elira. “You guys continue. I’ll bring her back first.”

“Mr. Lewiston, wait, we haven’t finished discussing the terms of our contract!” Mr. Caros called out in haste.

“It’s only a billion dollars,” Haron replied with a faint smile. “We can talk about it tomorrow.”

A soft, sorrowful feminine voice interrupted, trembling with reluctance. “Haron…”

It was Paige, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Denny, send Miss Becky home,” Haron commanded indifferently.

“Yes, Mr. Lewiston.” Denny, his secretary, nodded quickly, stepping forward with practiced efficiency.

Paige tried to follow, but Denny blocked her path with a flawless smile. “Miss Becky, I’ll send you home.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. She stomped her foot in frustration, watching helplessly as Haron disappeared with Elira.

Once outside, Elira finally dared to whisper, “I… I can’t leave.” Her timid voice barely reached him.

He stopped walking and looked down at her. For two silent seconds, his piercing gaze examined her, making her chest tighten painfully. Then, his lips curved faintly. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to leave Mr. Caros?”

Her eyes widened. “No, it’s not like that!” she blurted out hastily. “I’m doing this for my friend. If I leave so suddenly, she won’t get her salary…”

The harshness in his eyes softened slightly. He exhaled, his brows relaxing. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she gets paid.”

Before she could respond, he draped a thin jacket over her bare shoulders. The warmth of the fabric and the subtle scent of him clung to her, sending shivers down her spine. Without giving her any chance to argue, he took her hand firmly and led her away.

Downstairs, Risa was waiting. She had been squatting by the door, anxiety written all over her face. When she saw Elira, she ran over, relief lighting her features, only to freeze in her tracks when her gaze landed on the man holding Elira’s hand.

He was devastatingly handsome. Otherworldly. His noble aura radiated wealth, elegance, and power, as though he stood on a pedestal unreachable by ordinary people.

“Risa, I…” Elira tried to explain, but the words tangled on her tongue.

“You can get your salary now,” Haron said coolly, cutting her off.

“Me?” Risa’s eyes widened in shock.

Elira nodded quickly. “Risa, head upstairs first. The manager said she won’t pay you short. I… I…”

But before she could finish, a sleek Hummer pulled up. Haron’s security guard opened the door, and in a swift, decisive motion, he pushed her inside.

“Risa, I’ll explain another day!” Elira called desperately as the door shut.

The engine roared, and the Cayenne shot forward, leaving Risa frozen in disbelief. Her mind whirled. That man… could it really be the Legendary Golden Bachelor?

Inside the speeding car, Elira clutched her seat belt tightly, her knuckles white. The city lights outside blurred into streaks of color, their beauty lost in her terror. Her face had drained of all color.

“Un… uncle, can you drive a little slower?” she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Haron’s eyebrows arched, his gaze sharp as he glanced at her. His lips curved in a cold, mocking smile. “Why, are you scared? You didn’t seem afraid when you were in a bunny costume.”

Her cheeks burned crimson. Shame and anger collided in her chest. She opened her mouth, but no words came. His cutting remark struck too close to her deepest humiliation.

“Top student of Moon Academy working as a bunny girl,” he drawled, his tone laced with mockery. “Just how short of money are you?”

“Whether I’m short of money or not has nothing to do with you!” she snapped, her voice louder than she intended.

Her angelic face flushed red with fury, eyes blazing with indignation. “Who does he think he is?” she fumed inwardly. “Why does he care what I do? What does any of this have to do with him?”

Suddenly, the car screeched to a violent stop. Elira’s heart lurched, and she was thrown forward, saved only by the seat belt cutting into her chest. Her breath caught painfully as her pulse thundered.

“Come again?” Haron’s deep voice was dangerously calm as he turned toward her, his hands gripping the steering wheel. His dark eyes bored into her with such intensity that she shrank instinctively into her seat.

The weight of his gaze was suffocating. She realized too late how blunt her words had been. Panic clawed at her chest. What if he remembered who she truly was? Then she would be finished.

Swallowing hard, she forced her voice to soften. “Well, about that, uncle… I already explained. I was only helping my friend. The manager promised there wouldn’t be any… shady deeds.” Her initial confidence crumbled like fragile glass.

“I… I won’t go to that kind of place anymore,” she added quickly, desperation leaking into her tone.

The car fell into silence. Only the soft strains of a romantic melody filled the confined space, weaving together with the sound of his steady breathing.

Elira’s temperature rose unbearably. The closeness, the silence, his presence, it all pressed down on her until she could hardly breathe. Her trembling hands clutched his jacket tighter over her chest, as if it could shield her from the storm raging within.

Haron’s gaze lingered on her face, then he brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead with his long fingers. His touch was feather-light, yet it set her entire body ablaze.

“And?” he murmured.

Elira’s breath hitched. Her body trembled. She avoided his eyes, whispering, “Don’t… don’t tell him. I won’t go there anymore, okay?”

When she finally looked up, her fearful eyes met his unreadable ones.

After a long moment, he looked at his watch, then back at her. His voice was calm, but edged with authority. “Don’t let it happen again.”

Relief washed over her instantly. “Thank you, uncle…” she whispered, gratitude trembling in her voice.

“Where’s your address? I’ll send you home.”

Her instinctive response was to refuse. “It’s okay, I can go by myself. Taking a bus is convenient”

He cut her off with a cold glance. “Are you sure you’re going to take the bus wearing that?”

Her eyes dropped to herself, and she froze. She had forgotten, she was still in the bunny outfit, his jacket barely covering her. Heat rose to her cheeks in mortification. He was right. She couldn’t possibly walk around like this.

“Then… thank you, uncle,” she murmured softly, almost inaudible.

Haron cleared his throat, his jaw tightening. Women, he thought, sometimes tempt without even realizing it. That was the most dangerous kind of temptation.

For now, he would let it rest. There was no rush.