I DON'T LIKE YOU, BOSS

CHAPTER 1 The Worst First Impression ALYA ZANE Monday mornings should be illegal. Especially when you’re running late. I hurried through the glass doors of Villano Holdings, nearly tripping over my own shoes as I tried to balance my coffee, laptop bag, and the stack of documents pressed against my chest. “Excuse me—sorry!” I squeezed between two employees entering the elevator. The doors were already closing. “Hold the elevator!” A hand suddenly appeared between the doors. They opened again. I sighed in relief. “Thank you!” I stepped inside without looking at the person who had stopped the elevator. Big mistake. Because the moment I looked up, I froze. A tall man in a perfectly tailored black suit stood in front of me. He had neatly styled dark hair, sharp features, and an expression that could make an entire room go silent. His eyes moved from my messy hair to the coffee in my hand, then to the documents I was desperately trying not to drop. Then he looked at my shoes. One shoelace was untied. Great. Just great. “Are you finished?” he asked. His voice was calm, but somehow intimidating. I blinked. “Finished with what?” “Staring.” My mouth fell open. I immediately looked away. “Excuse me?” He pressed the button for the executive floor. “Nothing.” Oh. So he was one of those people. I rolled my eyes and faced the elevator doors. “Some people really need to learn how to be polite.” “I heard that.” “Good.” The elevator suddenly became very quiet. I could practically feel his stare burning into the side of my face. I refused to look at him. The doors opened several floors later. He stepped out. Before leaving, he glanced at me one last time. “Fix your shoelace.” Then he walked away. I looked down. My shoelace was still untied. I wanted the elevator to swallow me whole. --- By the time I reached the marketing department, I was already exhausted. My best friend, Camille, looked up from her computer. “You’re late.” “I know.” “You look like you fought someone.” “I almost did.” She raised an eyebrow. “Who?” “Some arrogant guy in the elevator.” Camille laughed. “You’ve been here for five minutes and already found someone to fight?” “He started it.” “What did he do?” “He called me a starer.” She stared at me. “You were probably staring.” “I was not!” “You were.” “I was assessing the situation.” “Sure.” I dropped my bag onto my desk. Before I could say anything else, our department manager walked in. “Everyone, conference room. Now.” The entire department exchanged confused looks. Camille leaned toward me. “Emergency meeting?” “I hope not.” We followed our manager into the conference room. Around fifteen employees were already seated. Our manager stood at the front, looking unusually nervous. “Before we begin, there’s an important announcement.” The door opened. Every conversation immediately stopped. The same man from the elevator walked into the room. My eyes widened. No. Absolutely not. It couldn't be. He walked to the front of the room. Our manager straightened. “Everyone, please welcome our new Chief Executive Officer, Lucas Villano.” My heart stopped. The man from the elevator. The arrogant man. My arrogant man. My eyes widened as realization hit me. Oh, no. Camille slowly turned toward me. Her eyes were enormous. “You know him?” she whispered. I swallowed. “Unfortunately.” Lucas looked around the room. His gaze stopped on me. For one terrifying second, neither of us said anything. Then the corner of his mouth lifted. Not a smile. More like a warning. “Good morning.” Everyone greeted him. I stayed silent. Our manager continued introducing him. “Mr. Villano has returned from managing the company’s international operations. He’ll be personally overseeing several departments, including marketing.” My stomach dropped. Personally? Overseeing? Marketing? No. Please, no. Lucas picked up a folder from the table. “I've reviewed the department's recent reports,” he said. “There are several areas that need improvement.” His voice was professional now. Cold. Controlled. Nothing like the man who had told me to fix my shoelace. “I expect everyone here to meet the new standards.” His eyes moved across the room. Then landed on me again. “And I don't tolerate excuses.” I raised an eyebrow. I don't tolerate arrogant CEOs, I thought. Unfortunately, he seemed to read my expression. “Ms. Zane.” I sat straighter. “Yes?” “Since you seem to have something to say.” The room went silent. Camille looked at me as if silently begging me not to start a fight. Too late. I smiled politely. “I was just wondering what exactly you expect from us.” Lucas leaned against the table. “Excellence.” “That's a little vague.” A few people shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Lucas studied me. “What would you prefer?” “Clear instructions. Realistic deadlines. And maybe a little respect for the people actually doing the work.” Silence. Someone coughed. Camille covered her face. Lucas didn't react immediately. Then he nodded. “Fair.” I blinked. I wasn't expecting that. “But respect,” he continued, “is earned.” My eyebrows shot up. “And how do we earn yours?” His eyes met mine. “By proving you're worth respecting.” I clenched my jaw. There it was. The arrogance. “Challenge accepted.” A few employees looked at each other. Lucas's expression barely changed. But there was something in his eyes. Amusement. “Good.” He closed the folder. “Because starting today, you'll be working directly with me.” My heart sank. “I'm sorry?” “You heard me.” “But why me?” “Your presentation from last month was the strongest in the department.” I paused. That was... actually a compliment. Then he added: “Your attitude, however, needs work.” There went the compliment. I crossed my arms. “And your people skills could use some improvement.” Someone at the back of the room quietly whispered, “She's going to die.” Lucas heard it. I was certain he did. But instead of getting angry, he simply looked at me. “Ten o'clock. My office.” I stared at him. “For what?” “Your first assignment.” “And if I'm busy?” “You're not.” “How do you know?” “Because I'm your boss.” He walked toward the door. Then stopped. Without turning around, he said, “And Ms. Zane?” “Yes?” “Your shoelace is untied again.” The room erupted into quiet laughter. I looked down. Unbelievable. Lucas left the room. Camille immediately grabbed my arm. “Alya.” “What?” “You're doomed.” I stared at the closed door. I couldn't believe my first day with Lucas Villano had already turned into a disaster. And somehow, I had a terrible feeling this was only the beginning. I tied my shoelace tightly. Then I stood up. “Fine.” Camille looked at me. “Fine what?” I grabbed my notebook. “If Lucas Villano wants a challenge…” I smiled. “I'm going to give him one.” Because there was absolutely no way I was going to let some arrogant CEO intimidate me. Even if he was my boss. Even if he was ridiculously confident. And even if, unfortunately, he was the most annoyingly handsome man I'd ever met. I hated him already. At least... That's what I told myself