My CEO Wants Me In His Bed

The Unexpected Offer

Mara Collins POV

The sound his body made as he hit the floor was worse than everyone that had begun to scream.

Customers scrambled to move around, and some were yelling to call 911. I rushed with all my strength over his body, and knelt beside him. His face was gray, and his lips were turning blue. His eyes were open and unfocused, staring at the ceiling as if he wasn't hearing the commotion.

"Mr. Gerald, can you hear me?" I turned out of the chaos around me as tears began to form in my eyes. I'm so sorry, sir. I whispered more to myself than to anyone else as I began the chest compressions and breathing into his mouth.

I checked his pulse, but it was really weak and thready like Ethan's own was, and my heart was pounding, so hard I could feel it in my teeth. I kept on with the chest compressions as I yelled to Rosa.

"Someone should call the ambulance!"

"Already on it!!!" Someone yelled from somewhere, but I was too focused on this innocent man in front of me. Someone who didn't deserve this wickedness out of my desperation. It didn't matter if he was a good person or a bad person in the world where he came from, but this wasn't me. I had turned into a monster just to have my son live.

I was still doing CPR when he gasped and sat up immediately, gasping for more breath, and the relief that washed over me in an instant was enough to make me faint, but I stood straight, wiping my cheeks that were wet with tears.

"Mr. Gerald... Can you hear me?" I still knelt beside him, checking his pulse, his breathing, his eyes, and I could see that he was aware of his surroundings. "What happened? Was it a heart attack? I forgot to take my heart medication this morning, and the doctor said I could die at this critical time if I didn't take it early. Did I pass out?" He murmured, looking at me.

Heart medication? I watched as he fished out the bottle from his breath pocket, and it was the same as Ethan's own, only that it was higher in milligrams. Did I just accidentally save his life?

Before I could answer any further questions, the emergency response was here and the paramedics took over. I stepped back, and my arms were shaking, and my knees were wet with spilled tea.

“You saved his life,” one of them said. “If you hadn’t started CPR when you did—”

“Take him to Mount Sinai,” I said, and I wasn't even thinking clearly. “He has a heart condition. He needs Dr. Harlow in cardiology.”

The paramedic blinked in shock as he stared at me. “You know his medical history?”

“It is written there on his medication bottle." I pointed to the medication that he was still observing in his hands. They loaded him onto a stretcher, and someone asked if I was coming. This was my chance.

I grabbed Ethan immediately from the backroom and climbed into the ambulance.

*

I sat in a plastic chair in the hospital room with my arms holding Ethan tightly to my chest. Three hours passed before the doctor came out.

"He’s stable. It was close, but he’s stable. You’re the one who administered CPR?”

“Yes.”

“He’s asking for you.”

I swallowed as I nodded, standing and carrying Ethan with me as we entered the private room.

*

Mr. Gerald Voss was propped up in a hospital bed, wires trailing from his chest, monitors beeping quietly. His eyes were really sharp as he looked between Ethan and me.

“You,” he said immediately.

"Yes, sir." I answered respectfully as I stood rooted to the spot until he beckoned me over.

“Come closer.”

I walked to the side of his bed slowly, and Ethan had already woken up and was staring at him calmly.

“You saved my life.”

I shook my head, trying to act humble while the guilt was eating me up from the inside. “Anyone would have—”

“Nonsense.” His voice was firm. “They wouldn’t. I saw the security footage. No one moved except you. No one tried, but you? You didn’t hesitate.”

My blood went cold at the mention of the footage. I thought about when I slipped the crushed drugs in his tea. Did that get noticed too? But I was certain I had backed the cameras, but still...

"Actually, sir..." I gestured to my son. "My son here has heart conditions too, so I know one or two things about these issues."

"Oh," His face fell slightly, and he picked up the phone beside him to call someone. I didn't know who until his doctor appeared behind the door. "I'm sorry, uh... Mara, right? That's what it says on your name tag. I'm sorry, but would you mind if I take over his medical expenses from today? You saved my life, and I will repay you for life. Whatever is needed, the Voss empire will take care of it."

I couldn't believe my ears. Just like that? Just like that and Ethan's medical bills were covered? This sounded like music to my ears, but the guilt still pinched my chest.

"You don't have to—"

He waved his hands immediately, "Nonsense!" He looked towards the doctor. "Please, take a look at the child and get back to him. I want him to get the best treatment possible, okay?" Then, he turned back to me. "I would like to speak to you, Miss Collins."

The palm of my hands began to feel sweaty as I turned Ethan over to the doctor and inched closer to Mr. Gerald.

"Yes sir..." My voice was small.

“How much do they pay you at the bakery?”

I wasn't expecting that question, but I answered truthfully nonetheless.

His expression didn’t change. “I’m going to offer you something. I want you to listen before you say no.” He stared at me before he went on. "I went through your information and I realized that you schooled at my university, but you weren't able to graduate because of some 'gross misconduct' that the panel didn't look into."

I felt my blood turn ice in an instant. The owner of the school? Him? Was he the Gerald Voss everyone heard about but never saw him? Was this Damian's father? Damian, the man who went ahead and had me expelled before I could graduate?

"I'm sorry about that, Miss Collins, even if that was five years, a lot. You deserve a lot more than the life you're living. That's why I want to make you an offer." His eyes searched my face, but I said nothing, expecting... “I need a personal secretary. Someone competent, and your grades show me you are well capable of that… The salary is one hundred and twenty thousand a year with full medical benefits.”

One hundred and twenty thousand. I almost passed out on the thought of what that amount could do for my life and Ethan's. I can't even breathe properly right now.

“And there’s a catch,” he continued.

Of course there was.

“The position is under my son. He’s the CEO. I’m semi-retired, but I still handle certain personnel decisions. You’d report to him directly, but I will handle all decisions concerning your welfare in the company because my son can be a little... difficult."

“Your son,” I said quietly, hoping he had so many other sons, but no...

“Damien Voss.”

I felt my heart crashing in an instant, and I had to hold the bed railings to keep me standing.

“Is something wrong?” Gerald asked, a little startled at my reaction.

Yes. Everything. The man you want me to work for is the man I slept with five years ago. The man who called me a gold digger, threw me out of his room half-naked, and had me expelled in my final year after the last exams. The man whose son was currently battling a heart condition.

“When do I start?”