Being My Boss’s Desire

CHAPTER 1

IVY

"We have invested so much in your education, the least you can do is make us feel it was worth it!" my father barked. "It has been almost two years, and there's still nothing to show for it."

This is exactly why I dread coming home.

With a deep sigh, I cast a sharp look at my sister Gwen. She's the only reason I agreed to attend this evening, my parents' wedding anniversary, which has somehow morphed into a heated discussion about my lack of employment.

I'm not even living with them anymore, and I shudder to think what would happen if I ever decide to move back in.

Gwen cleared her throat. "It's not Ivy's fault she hasn't found a job yet. I'm sure something will come along soon."

Mum scoffed. "You graduated just a few months ago and you're already working at the best law firm in the country. Why should it take her so long? Why isn't she as successful as you? Why should her situation be any different?"

Dropping my fork noisily on the ceramic plate, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I already applied for a job at KEC Companies, and I'm just waiting for their response," I said, hoping this would calm the storm.

"Like that's going to make any difference," Dad retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Just like every other time, you're clearly not going to get the job."

"That's a mean thing to say, Dad," Gwen interjected sharply. "Are you laying a curse on her or what?"

"How about she just stops being so stubborn and marries him?" he snapped back, his voice rising. "He's ready to give her the world and completely change our lives. Why is she acting like the evil force hindering the blessings of our family?"

"I am not getting married to Nixon," | stressed, hoping that for the umpteenth time, it would finally sink into their heads. "I do not like that man one bit, and I do not see myself ever getting married to him."

"If you don't have to like him," Mum stressed, her voice taking on a more intense tone, "then like his money and the things he has to offer!" She dropped her fork with a clatter and turned to face me directly, her eyes narrowing. "Do you know that he bought your father a brand-new car?"

My eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "You guys are accepting gifts from him?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't see why not."

I am absolutely done with these people.

Pushing my chair back with a loud scrape, I stood up abruptly. "I don't know why you accepted a gift from him, but that's on you, not me," I said, my voice rising with frustration. I snatched my bag off the table with a swift, decisive motion.

"Where are you going?" Dad demanded, his voice gritting with anger.

"Away from this hellhole," I shot back, not bothering to hide my disdain.

"Ivy," Gwen called out in a chastising tone.

I shot out my hand towards her. "Please don't, Gwen," I pleaded, my voice strained with frustration. She has absolutely no idea what it feels like to be me. My parents complain about everything when it comes to me. When I chose to study marketing, I was almost kicked out of the house, and now this. "Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad, but I have to leave."

"Don't wish us anything when you clearly do not have any gift with you," Mum grumbled, her words biting and dismissive.

Right.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I walked out of the house, banging the door behind me with a loud thud.

**********

Instead of taking the bus or a taxi, I decided to take a long walk to try and shake off the anger and frustration building up inside me, all thanks to my parents. The cool evening air did little to calm my racing thoughts.

My phone chimed in my pocket, interrupting my brooding, and I pulled it out to see a message.

"ARE YOU STILL COMING HOME TODAY?"

It was my friend and roommate Chloe. I was supposed to spend the night at my parents' place, but well, they ruined it as usual.

I typed a quick reply: I AM ON MY WAY HOME.

Shoving the phone back into my pocket, I halted right in front of a bar. Maybe a glass or two would help me feel better, or at least numb the frustration for a while.

Without a second thought, I walked in, headed straight for the bar, and plopped down on the sofa.

"A shot of clean vodka, please," I said, my voice weary.

As I waited, my phone vibrated again. Thinking it was Chloe, I reached for it, but saw Gwen's number on the screen instead.

Exhaling heavily, I dropped the phone screen-down on the counter, not ready to deal with more family drama just yet.

"Bad day?" a voice inquired.

Lifting my head, I blinked at the young man seated right beside me. His eyes were kind and curious.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked, caught off guard by the unexpected conversation.

"I'm Ryder," he introduced himself, stretching out his hand for a handshake.

I blinked at his outstretched hand. "I'm Ivy, and I'd like to enjoy my drink in peace and quiet," I said, hoping to signal my desire to be left alone.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, his eyes roamed over my body with an unsettling intensity.

"Truth or Dare?" he asked, lifting his glass and taking a sip while keeping his gaze locked on me through the rim of the glass. His voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet edged with a playful challenge.

The bartender placed my drink on the table with a soft clink. I glanced back at Ryder, trying to gauge what he was playing at. I shouldn't be engaging with a stranger like this, but I had nothing else to occupy my time, and the evening had already taken a turn for the absurd.

"Dare," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Ryder's lips curled into a smirk, his head tilting slightly as his dark, daring eyes danced around my face. "Dare, huh?" he repeated, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

Why does it seem like he could see right through me? I nervously licked my lips, trying to steady my nerves.

"Yes, Dare," I confirmed, bracing myself for whatever might come next.

"I dare you to do something completely out of character," Ryder said, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

My eyes widened in shock at the audacity of his dare, but I quickly composed myself. Maybe I should have just ignored this man. This game clearly wasn't going to end well for me.

He smiled, a dimple forming on his left cheek—a surprisingly charming addition to his features. "I can only imagine how boring your life must be if you can't even rise to a simple dare."

I scoffed. "You don't know me." My life is anything but boring.

"I can try to describe you," he rasped, his arrogant smirk never faltering. "You're someone who always sticks to protocol, never straying from what's expected.

You say only what you're allowed to say and keep to your curfews like clockwork."

I hated that he was so spot-on. It was infuriating.

Taking a deep breath to center myself, I pushed my chair back and stood up, my frustration giving me a false sense of courage. I walked over to him, and stopped right in front of him, looking him squarely in the face.

He watched me wordlessly, his eyes twinkling with a silent dare. He wanted me to push my limits, to act on that wild impulse in my head.

Reaching for his glass, I gently placed my hand over his, which was still holding the drink. His smile widened at the contact.

I averted my gaze towards the glass, but then he suddenly placed his finger under my jaw, lifting it to force me to look directly at him. "Keep your eyes on me," he mouthed, his voice low and commanding.

I licked my lips out of reflex, suddenly aware of how dry my throat had become. His eyes followed the movement of my lips, a predatory gleam in his gaze.

Locking my gaze on him, I seized his glass and gulped down his drink in one swift motion. His smirk grew even wider. "I was still drinking that."

I shrugged, a teasing glint in my eyes. "And now it's gone."

For a moment, he just stared at me, his gaze shifting between my eyes and my lips. "Can I take it back if I can have you back?" he asked, his voice playful yet suggestive.

What is he talking about? The drink is already down my stomach right now. "Yeah," I replied, still holding his gaze, "if you can take it back, you can have it."

He chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes, then leaned in abruptly and kissed my lips. I stood frozen, completely caught off guard by his spontaneous act.

His tongue brushed slowly over my lips before he pulled away. Breathless, I exhaled a shaky breath, trying to process what had just happened. "What did you do that for?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"You had some scotch stain on your lips," he said with a nonchalant shrug, "and you said I could have my drink back if I could. So, I figured I'd help you out."

Who is this man? I thought, feeling my cheeks flush with heat. My heart raced, and my mind struggled to catch up with the turn of events.

Blushing deeply, I decided to keep the game going.

"Truth or Dare?" I asked, trying to regain some control.

He arched a brow, slightly surprised and amused by my continued interest in the game. "Dare," he replied, his tone suggesting curiosity.

"I dare you to throw caution to the wind." I want to see what he's like when he breaks his limits.

He bit his lower lip and ran his gaze lazily over me, eyes gleaming with challenge. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his voice low and daring.

I nodded. "I hope you don't regret it, 'cause I won't."

I knew what he intended to do, but I didn't bother stopping him. "I won't." What's the worst that could happen in my life right now?

His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer before slamming his lips on mine. The kiss was fierce, filled with a passion that surprised me. Maybe I was doing this to spite my parents, or maybe to spite Nixon, but either way, I didn't care.

Our lips moved in rapid succession, biting and nibbling at each other. He groaned into my mouth as things became even more heated between us. His hands roamed, exploring, and as one crept into my shirt, I suddenly snapped back into consciousness, remembering that we were in a public place.

Breathless, I pulled away from the kiss. "We can't do that here," I whispered, trying to regain my composure while glancing around to see if anyone had noticed our intense exchange.

He licked his swollen lips, his eyes dark with desire.

"How about we take this to my hotel room? It's right across the road."

"Sure," I whispered, still struggling to catch my breath, my heart pounding with anticipation.

He pulled out his wallet, dropped a generous wad of cash on the counter, then stood up, grabbed my hand, and led me out of the bar.

************

That open mind led me to a room with a complete stranger. All we knew about each other were our first names, and that was enough for us.

Our lips crashed together as he fumbled with the key card, trying to unlock the door. When he finally succeeded, he lifted me into his arms, and I wrapped my legs around him, lost in the moment.

Ryder carried me effortlessly to the bedroom and gently deposited me onto the bed. Before I could even catch my breath, he was right there, cradling my body and continuing to kiss me with a fervor that left me breathless.

I had never felt such an overwhelming urge to give myself so completely to someone so quickly, but with Ryder, it was different. Perhaps it was because he seemed to know exactly what he wanted and how to make me feel that way.

As he finally pulled away, I looked into his striking blue eyes, trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling into confusion about what was happening. "Just so we're clear," I said, "this is a one-time thing." I wanted to make sure we were on the same page. "You're not going to stalk me or act like you know me if we happen to run into each other later."

He smiled, revealing a charming dimpled grin. "That used to be my line," he said, his eyes playfully dancing over my face. "And don't worry, I'm no stalker. I'm far too busy for that."

I licked my lips, feeling a bit nervous. "So we're on the same page, right?" I asked, looking at him intently.

He nodded, a playful smile on his lips. "Now, can we please stop talking? I have so many things planned for us tonight that don't involve talking."

Giggling, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, trying to push aside any lingering doubts. I hoped this impulsive act of recklessness wouldn't come back to haunt me come morning.

*********

When I opened my eyes the next morning, the suite was empty. I was actually relieved that he was gone; his absence didn't upset me at all. What did anger me, however, was the wad of cash he had left on the drawer, accompanied by a note that read:

"THANK YOU FOR THE NIGHT"

The gesture felt more insulting than kind. In my entire life, I have never felt as degraded as I do right now, all thanks to a deranged psycho named Ryder.

My phone chimed and I reached for my purse, brought it out and clicked on my email. My eyes widened with shock and excitement as I read the message.

Subject: Employment Offer at KEC Companies

Dear Ivy,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the position of Marketing Associate at KEC

Companies. Your skills and qualifications align perfectly with our team's needs.

Please review the attached employment contract and let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Best regards,

HR Department

KEC Companies