Secretly Claimed By the Billionaire CEO

Secrets and Margaritas

Elena woke up slowly, cocooned in the softest black silk sheets she had ever felt. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then the memories flooded back — the windows, the desk, the bed, the shower, the kitchen island at 2 a.m.

Her body ached in places she didn’t know could ache.

She turned her head. The other side of the massive bed was empty, but a single white rose lay on the pillow next to her with a small handwritten note.

Stay as long as you want. Breakfast is in the kitchen. Don’t be late to the office — I’ll know. - D.

Elena rolled her eyes even as a stupid smile tugged at her lips. “Arrogant prick,” she muttered, but she picked up the rose anyway and inhaled its scent.

She showered in his ridiculous marble bathroom, using the expensive body wash that smelled like him. When she emerged wrapped in one of his soft black robes, she found a full breakfast spread waiting on the kitchen island — fresh fruit, avocado toast, eggs Benedict, and a perfectly made latte.

A note next to the coffee read: Eat. You’ll need your strength later.

She blushed hard.

By 8:15 a.m. she was dressed in yesterday’s clothes (thank God she kept emergency outfits in her work bag) and heading downstairs. The same driver from last night was waiting.

The ride to the office felt surreal.

She spent the morning buried in actual work, trying to act normal. But every time her phone vibrated, her heart jumped.

Damian (10:47 a.m.): My office. Ten minutes.

Elena: I have a team meeting.

Damian: Cancel it. Or I’ll come pull you out myself.

She canceled the meeting.

When she stepped into his office this time, he didn’t even look up from his laptop. “Lock the door.”

She did.

“On your knees.”

“Damian, it’s the middle of the workday—”

He finally looked at her, eyes cold and arrogant. “I didn’t ask for a discussion. I told you to get on your knees. Now.”

Elena hated how instantly wet she got. She sank between his legs under the massive desk. He unzipped his pants and guided her mouth onto him without another word.

He worked while she sucked him — typing emails, taking a phone call, all while his free hand rested possessively in her hair. When he finally came down her throat, he barely made a sound.

“Good girl,” he murmured, stroking her cheek. “You can go now.”

Just like that.

She spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between fury and lingering arousal.

At 5:45 p.m., her phone rang. This time it was Sophia.

“Hey babe! I’m downstairs in the lobby with emergency margarita supplies. You’ve been ghosting me for two days. We’re doing drinks whether you like it or not.”

Elena smiled for the first time all day. “Give me ten minutes.”

Sophia was waiting exactly where she said, looking gorgeous in a red sundress with two giant margaritas in to-go cups. Her best friend since freshman year lit up when she saw Elena.

“There she is! My favorite corporate slave.” Sophia pulled her into a tight hug. “You look… well-f****d. Spill.”

Elena nearly choked on her first sip. “Soph!”

“What? You have that glow. The ‘I got railed within an inch of my life’ glow. Who is he?”

They started walking toward their favorite rooftop bar a few blocks away. Elena’s mind raced. She couldn’t tell her. She shouldn’t tell her. But Sophia was the one person who could read her like an open book.

“It’s… complicated,” Elena said carefully.

Sophia raised an eyebrow. “Complicated how? Married? Criminal? Your boss?”

Elena’s silence was too long.

“Oh my God.” Sophia stopped dead in the middle of the sidewalk. “It is your boss, isn’t it? The hot, terrifying CEO everyone whispers about?”

“Keep your voice down!” Elena hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her into a quieter side street.

Sophia’s eyes were wide with delight and horror. “Damian Sterling? Elena, are you insane? That man eats interns for breakfast!”

“It just… happened. And it keeps happening.”

They found a quiet corner table on the rooftop. The city sparkled around them as the sun began to set. Sophia took a long sip of her margarita and leaned in.

“Okay. Details. All of them. Is he as rude in bed as he is in the boardroom?”

Elena buried her face in her hands for a second, then spilled almost everything — the conference room, the office, the penthouse, the arrogance, the way he made her feel completely out of control.

Sophia listened with growing concern. “Babe… this sounds hot as hell, but also incredibly dangerous. He’s your boss. He could ruin your entire career with one email.”

“I know,” Elena whispered. “But when I’m with him, I can’t think straight. He’s so… commanding. And rude. And somehow that makes it hotter.”

Sophia reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. Keep it secret. And if he ever makes you feel small outside the bedroom, you drop his ass immediately.”

“I promise.”

They talked for almost two hours — about work, about Sophia’s latest dating disaster, about Elena’s fears that she was losing herself in this whirlwind. For the first time since the conference room, Elena felt grounded again.

Her phone buzzed while they were laughing about something stupid.

Damian: Where are you?

She ignored it.

It buzzed again.

Damian: Answer me.

Elena: Out with my best friend.

Damian: I didn’t say you could do that.

Elena: You don’t own me.

Damian: Don’t test me, Elena.

She put her phone on silent.

Sophia noticed. “Him?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell him to f**k off for one night. You’re mine tonight.”

They ended up at a small karaoke bar after a few more drinks. Elena sang terribly on purpose. Sophia crushed a Taylor Swift song. They laughed until their stomachs hurt.

At 11:20 p.m., Elena finally checked her phone. Twelve missed calls from Damian.

Her stomach dropped.

She said goodbye to Sophia with a tight hug. “Thank you. I needed this.”

“Be safe, babe. Text me when you’re home.”

The black Mercedes was waiting outside the bar. Of course it was.

When she stepped into the penthouse twenty minutes later, Damian was waiting.

He looked furious.

“You ignored me,” he said coldly, standing in the middle of the living room like a storm about to break.

“I was with my best friend.”

“I don’t care. When I call, you answer. When I want you, you come.”

Elena’s temper flared. “You don’t get to control every second of my life, Damian. This was supposed to be a secret, not a prison.”

He crossed the room in three strides, backing her against the wall. His hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

“You don’t understand yet, do you?” His voice was low and dangerous. “You belong to me now. Every hour. Every minute. I say when you eat. When you sleep. When you come.”

He kissed her then — hard, punishing, possessive.

Elena fought it for half a second before melting.

He lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bedroom.

“You’re going to learn tonight exactly who owns you,” he growled against her neck.

And for the next three hours, he made sure she didn’t forget.