Hating the CEO

Chapter 3: Tonight

Lila's POV

I didn't sleep. I laid on my back staring at the cracked ceiling as though it had answers. Xaden's voice replayed in my head endlessly.

Tonight.

That one word felt like a ticking bomb in my chest.

My mind raced.

Mom lay helplessly on her hospital bed. Tubes taped to her skin.

Twelve years ago, Dad was behind the courtroom glass, his hands trembling and his face pale.

Xaden watching me break from across the aisle.

I detested him. He knew exactly where to attack and I hated that. I hated that he was right.

It was 6:47 am and I received a text. My phone buzzed.

I didn't actually need a fortune teller to know who it was.

From: x.vale@valeinnovations.com

Subject: Your decision

Decide before 10AM.

That was all. No salutations. No justification. No explanation. No humanity.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. I switched off the phone’s screen. Switched it back on. Then off again.

I was going through the worst dilemma I've ever had in my life.

I shouldn't think of myself. I couldn't. Not anymore.

Mom's next hospital treatment was in three days. Three days. I've got no funds for that.

I picked up my phone, my hands trembling. I was typing more slowly than ever.

I'll do it.

I forced my thumb down after hovering over the send button for a full minute.

The message moved out, my heart sank.

His response came in instantly, thirty seconds later like he'd been waiting.

Good. Today you'll move in.

My breath hitched.

Today.

I stared at the screen, everything blurring for a second.

Today you'll move in.

My heart kicked so hard. I pushed myself upright in bed.

Suddenly, a second message buzzed in before I could breathe.

UNKNOWN: A car will arrive for you in one hour. Pack only what you need.

Only what I needed?

I didn't even know what that meant anymore.

I got up from the bed, my legs shaky, rushing to the window. Outside, the street looked the same as always. Early morning vendors prepping, a jogger passing by. And just like that, my life has been rewritten with just a text message.

My phone buzzed again.

UNKNOWN: Mr. Vale expects punctuality.

That one nearly made me throw the phone.

I moved to my closet, yanking open the door. What would someone even bring when moving into the penthouse of the man she hated?

I stared at the closet before moving

Clothes.

Toiletries.

My sketchbook.

Mom’s bracelet.

My hands moved automatically, even though fear filled my body.

An hour.

I had one hour.

When the final message came, I swallowed the lump in my throat.

UNKNOWN: Your car has arrived.

I exhaled, grabbed my bag, and stepped toward the door.

I wasn’t ready.

I wasn’t prepared.

But I was going.

Because I said yes.

Because I had to.

And Xaden isn't someone that takes back answers.

I stepped outside my apartment and saw the black car waiting. The driver stepped down from the car and then opened the backseat door. That kind gesture was unexpected and new to me.

I nodded awkwardly to the driver then I got into the car with my bags. My belongings looked pathetically small in the backseat.

As the car drove by, passing the streets, it felt like I was taking steps into my new life. Risky steps.

My thoughts escalated. My anxiety, building in. I didn't know what to expect when I'll get there.

As the car moved, I watched as the neighbourhood transitioned to “wealthy territory.”

After a thirty minute drive, the car slowed down and I was able to see a very tall glossy building. The car finally stops. Before I could touch the door, a doorman opened my door, waiting for me to step out.

I stepped down from the car with my bags, then a Valet came over to take the car.

My eyes were glued to the luxurious entrance filled with lights. Wow. Just the entrance carried this much luxury, it was such a new sight to me.

I entered the lobby, marble-floored, huge chandeliers, and a concierge desk. The air smelled like expensive perfume and money.

“Good morning,” a man in a suit distracted me from my thoughts. He stood behind the desk.

“Miss Hartley?” He looked at his desktop.

“Yes,” I replied.

“We’ve been notified of your arrival. Follow me.” He led me.

He leads me past the lobby, to an elevator with mirror doors.

He tapped his card and the doors opened.

“The elevator will go directly to the penthouse level. Just step inside. It's already authorized for you.”

I nervously stepped in and turned around to face the man.

He gave a light smile and a curt nod.

“Welcome to Vale Tower.” the door closes.

My brows furrowed. Should I be happy?

I cleared my throat, my heart racing as the elevator moved up. I gawked at the mirrored walls. Everything about this place was luxury. Ever since I stepped into this building, I've felt like I was trespassing into another life.

The elevator stopped and my heart skipped a beat. I wasn't ready, not yet. The doors slid open to a private foyer. Dark marble floors, tall glass walls, a metal artistic sculpture that just screamed money.

I walked in. It was quiet. Too quiet. Was I alone?

The hallway stretched ahead, leading to the penthouse. I walked past the sculpture, my heart pounding. I walked into the living room.

The living room was breathtaking but I didn't have the time to look around cause Xaden was seated on the couch, waiting.

I halted on seeing him, calm, in shirtsleeves, probably already aware that I've arrived.

“You came,” he looked at me.

Yeah, obviously.

“Let's get this over with, shall we?” He opened the folder on the table.

I stood still, staring at him. I honestly couldn't believe that I was here, at his home, about to make a deal with the man I swore to hate my whole life.

He raised his head up and looked back at me when he noticed I wasn't coming.

“I reckon you can't see the paper from there, Hartley.”

I clenched my jaw before dragging my feet towards where he sat. I hated that I had no other choice but to do this.

“Here's the contract,” he slides the folder to my side.

I picked up the paper from the table and looked at it. Not that I read every wording, I just skimmed through the conditions.

Appearances, events, no media scandals. Timeline— a year. Boundaries— no physical involvement unless agreed.

I scoffed.

In return, Grace Hartley's medical bills paid, House mortgage paid, debts paid, a quiet reopening of Thomas Hartley's case.

My heart clenched as I read my father's name. He didn't do anything all those years now he comes here to play hero but with a stupid contract?

“You think I'll play along like one of your corporate puppets?” I looked at him.

“I think you'll do what you must do, like always,” he stared at me.

My blood, my temper, I don't know the amount of what just got high within me. I felt so infuriated.

“You're not gonna control me Xaden. If you think you will, then you're wrong,” I spat.

He quietly slides the pen towards me on the table.

“It's your choice Hartley, I'm not controlling you, am I?” He adjusted his watch without sparing me a glance.

My hands were already into a fist. He knew what he was doing and he sure was good at it.

I sighed before snatching the pen away from the table. He watched me.

I bent over and placed the tip of the pen on the paper. I hesitated. I told myself over and over, this was for mum and for dad. I had to. Keep out personal feelings for now.

My hands trembled as I signed the contract, slowly.

“Here you go,” I stomped the pen on the table when I finished signing.

“Happy?” I folded my arms. He collected the paper.

“Good,” he muttered.

His eyes moved to my bags that were on the floor.

“Vienna,” he called.

I looked around. Was there someone else here?

“Yes, Mr Vale,” a lady walked out from the hallway. She looked a bit in her late forties.

“Lila, this is Vienna. She'll lead you to your room and….ask her for anything you need. She can show you around as well” Xaden said.

The lady gave a polite smile towards me and I just gave her back a forced smile.

“Come on, Miss Hartley,” Vienna said.

Oh, she knows my name already.

I picked up my bags and followed her.

She led me to a hallway, a luxurious one. My sandals clinked with the dark marble floors as I walked. I gawked at the artistic paintings that hung besides each other on the wall. I loved paintings. I loved art. It excited me but knowing whose walls these paintings were on, I didn't get that much of an excited feeling.

“Over here,” I didn't know when she stopped in front of a white door. I took my eyes off the walls and approached her quickly.

She stood aside and let me open the door. I nudged the door open and the prettiest of rooms I have ever seen in my entire lifetime showed before me.

I scoffed in disbelief as my legs walked me in.

A huge bed laid at the center of the room. A dangling chandelier on the ceiling, a big couch on a side with a dressing table. The ceiling-to-floor windows were covered with tall wine red curtains, dimming the light that penetrated from the window.

I sighed. I can't imagine living here.

“Any problems Miss Hartley?” Vienna walked in the room.

“Um….no. Thank you” I said with a smile.

“Okay, you want a tour around the house?”

I shook my head, “No, I'm fine. I think I'll just rest for a while”

“Okay, if you need help with anything you can just um call me, I'll come right up” she said and my eyes darted around confusingly.

“Call you? How?”

“I'm Vienna, just call my name from the hallway, I'll hear you and come over right away,” she explained.

I didn't know how she expects me to treat an elder like her that way. I can't imagine yelling her name like she was a maid.

“Okay,” I breathed out.

She gave me one more smile before heading out, closing the door behind her.