Chapter 1

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," my father had always ranged these words into my ears. Now, sitting on the edge of my bed and staring at the poster of the words, with the worst hangover of the year, I realized fear had been holding me back—from breaking up with Damien, from breaking free from all the restrictions around me, from having the best night of my life with a stranger.

As I wallowed in my thoughts and hangover, my phone broke the silence. "Tessa!!!" I lifted the phone from my ear with swift speed. "Are you insane? Where are you?"

"At home, Chloe," I said nonchalantly. "And why the hell did you leave me alone at the bar?" I scoffed. "Backstabber."

"Babe, we’ll talk about that later. Didn't you get the company message?" She paused, trying to catch her breath. "We are expected to resume at 8, for the inauguration of the CEO's son."

I frowned as I placed the call on hold and started scrambling through my email, my eyes widened in panic as I found the email. "Fuck, how didn't I see this?" I stood up swiftly from the bed, rushing to get ready. "Cover for me, Chloe, I'll be there in no time."

Cutting the phone, I sprinted to gather all my necessary things, showering and dressing up with such speed I didn't know I had. The hot water pounded on my back, washing away the memories of last night. My head was still throbbing, but fear began to take over.

I glanced at my phone. Chloe was calling again. Glancing up at the time—8:45. I'm so doomed if I don't get there before 9 a.m.

"Babe, I'm on my way already. I'm leaving now," I said, locking my door and sprinting out into the bustling streets of New York. The air was thick, filled with the scents of coffee and fresh pastries from a nearby bakery.

“Be quick, Tessa. He is already asking for his assistant,” she whispered. “You were his father's assistant, so it's just logical for you to be his assistant. Hurry.”

I stared at my phone. “Did she just end the call without allowing me to speak?” I scoffed. “I'll deal with her.”

9 a.m. I said as I got out of the taxi and into the company building. The towering structure always made me feel little as I made my way to the elevator, The hard marble floors echoing my hurried footsteps. 

Stepping out of the elevator, Chloe was patiently waiting for me at the front of my office, pacing up and down like a paranoid duck. 

“Babe,” she exclaimed as she pulled me into my office.

“What? What?” I asked repeatedly, my hands gesturing wildly. “Is the inauguration meeting over?”

“Yes, it is, and you owe me a lot for covering up for you.”

“I’m still really pissed at you, nevertheless.” I folded my arms. “You left me at the club, Chloe.”

“Is that what you're worried about now, Tessa?” she said as she sat on my office seat, exhausted. “You were literally flirting with a stranger and paid no attention to me when I said I wanted to leave, so I left.”

“That’s a quick, nice explanation,” I said, leaning my elbow on the table, my backside shooting back. “I slept with a stranger.” I watched as she gasped. “What about Damien?”

“I broke up with him. That fucking bastard almost beat me to death.” The memory resurfaced, a cold shiver running down my spine.

“Moving on, the stranger is so fucking hot, and his positions were heavenly. Damien never touched me, but this man made me feel so good.” I snickered as I felt a flush of heat spreading across my cheeks.

“God, his cock was like a rod. Just thinking about it makes me so horny,” I began explaining and smiling giddily like a child.

Chloe nodded and listened attentively but all of a sudden her expression changed and she kept on distracting me with a swift hand across her throat, I looked at her confused. I didn't realize Chloe had stiffened as my office door opened.

She had panic in her eyes and her eyes were telling me to stop speaking but I was too caught up in explaining the most pleasant night of my life to care. “He then bent me down like this,”

I demonstrated as I bent low on the desk, smiling from ear to ear, my ass stretched out, Chloe looked as if she was about to faint. When I started demonstrating the forward and backward shot the stranger had given, something stopped me.

 My ass ground against a hard surface. I stopped in my tracks, my eyes widening as I slowly turned around. 

My gaze traveled up to a very appealing man, his face devoid of a smile. I gasped as I stepped away from him in shock, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

My legs trembling, I stared up at him once more. He stared right back at me, his eyes cold and piercing. As I began to process what I had just done, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I had not only ground my ass on this man-my new boss--but I had also been caught recounting my wild night to my friend.

The night I had just had with none other than the person standing right in front of me.

The stranger I had a one-night stand with was no other person than my new boss.

Fuck!!!!