Found Love in a Hopeless Way

Derek, the CEO of the company where Leslie worked as a junior editor, was a powerful figure in the office. Leslie, with her innocent face, perfect body, brown wavy hair, brown eyes, and light tanned skin, was a fresh addition to the workplace. One morning, Leslie found herself running late and rushed into the elevator, only to discover Derek already inside. Unaware of his identity, she greeted him with a cheerful "Good morning!" and flashed him a warm smile. She pressed the button for the 20th floor and impatiently checked her watch, growing frustrated with the slow-moving elevator. "Ugh, what the hell is wrong with this elevator? It's so slow! They better fix this old thing," Leslie muttered in annoyance. Unbeknownst to her, Derek stood quietly in the background, wearing his shades and looking dapper in his tuxedo. A smirk danced across his lips, but he chose to remain silent. As the elevator finally reached the 20th floor, Leslie prepared to exit. However, Derek walked past her, casually remarking, "I'll fix this old thing, but you might want to fix your shirt first." Confusion washed over Leslie as she glanced down at her shirt, only to realize that three buttons had come undone, revealing a hint of her cleavage. Flustered, she quickly buttoned them up and hurriedly stepped off the elevator. As Leslie made her way to her cubicle, her curiosity got the better of her, and she discreetly glanced in the direction Derek was headed. To her surprise, she saw him entering the CEO's office. It was the first time she had seen him in person since she joined the company. Derek rarely made appearances at the office, so Leslie hadn't recognized him earlier in the elevator. A wave of embarrassment washed over Leslie as she recalled the incident with her undone buttons and the revealing glimpse of her cleavage. She couldn't believe that the CEO had witnessed that moment. To make matters worse, she remembered her frustrated complaints about the slow elevator. She scolded herself for not realizing who Derek was and for her impulsive remarks. She couldn't help but berate herself for her impulsive remarks and lack of awareness. "You should go and apologize, Les," she scolded herself. "You are so stupid! Why would you say those things? The elevator has been that way ever since. Why did you complain? Ugh!" Derek couldn't help but steal glances at Leslie throughout the day. He couldn't move on from what he had seen earlier - Leslie's unbuttoned shirt and her cleavage. At that time, Derek had a reputation as a bit of a playboy, and he saw this as an opportunity to indulge in his flirtatious nature. Unable to resist his curiosity, Derek called his assistant and asked her to arrange a meeting with Leslie in his office. He wanted to see if there was a possibility of exploring the attraction he felt towards her. His assistant promptly contacted Leslie and informed her about the meeting. Leslie, unaware of Derek's intentions, felt a mix of nervousness and confusion as she made her way to his office. She wondered why the CEO wanted to meet with her. Had she done something wrong? Or was it about the elevator incident earlier? As she entered Derek's office, she noticed his gaze lingering on her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Leslie couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, unsure of what to expect from this unexpected meeting. "So, now that you've fixed your shirt, I think it's time for me to fix the elevators," Derek said, teasing Leslie with a playful smile. Leslie felt a mix of embarrassment and relief as she realized Derek was lightening the mood. "Uh, um yeah, about that. I didn't mean to say those things. I was just running late, and I let my frustration get the best of me. I'm sorry," Leslie stammered, feeling a bit nervous as she stood in front of Derek's desk. "I'll forgive you, but you have to agree to have lunch with me later," Derek said to Leslie, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness. Leslie was taken aback by the unexpected invitation. She couldn't believe that the CEO was asking her to have lunch together. Part of her wanted to decline, feeling unsure about the implications of such a meeting, but she also wanted to make amends and move past the awkward elevator incident. "Okay," Leslie replied, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Derek smiled, sensing her hesitation, and asked for Leslie's number. "I'll text you the name of the restaurant," he added. Leslie felt a twinge of disappointment, wondering why he didn't offer to pick her up or invite her into his car. She couldn't help but think that he was being a bit of a jerk, but she agreed nonetheless. A couple of hours later, Leslie glanced up from her desk and saw Derek emerging from his office. He made his way towards the elevator and locked eyes with her for a brief moment. Leslie's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. As Derek stepped into the elevator, Leslie felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text from him, revealing the name of the restaurant where they would be having lunch. Panic washed over her, realizing that the lunch date was imminent. Feeling the need to freshen up and make a good impression, Leslie hurriedly made her way to the restroom. She untied her hair, allowing it to cascade down her shoulders, and quickly touched up her lipstick. She wanted to look her best for this unexpected lunch with the CEO, hoping to leave a lasting impression. As she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, Leslie took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She reminded herself to be confident and enjoy the lunch, despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. Leslie was about to leave the restroom. However, something compelled her to return to the mirror. She looked at her reflection and made a decision. With a sense of boldness, she reached up and took off her eyeglasses, revealing her captivating eyes. Feeling a surge of confidence, Leslie admired her appearance. Her white fitted shirt accentuated her figure, and the black pants added a touch of sophistication. Derek was surprised when Leslie entered the restaurant. He was taken aback by her changed look. Her hair was down. her eyeglasses were gone, revealing her captivating eyes. Derek couldn't help but feel attracted.