Chapter 3 The new boss

I woke up the next morning with a terrible headache. My body was aching too, as if I had run a marathon. I winced and rubbed my aching back as I fluttered open my eyes. The first thing I saw was the handsome stranger sleeping beside me.

I froze instantly, my hand flying to my chest. Last night’s memories rushed into my mind- Richard’s cheating, going to a bar and getting drunk, and then seducing this handsome stranger.

‘Oh, God.’

I pressed my fingers against my lips. I actually slept with a stranger last night. This thought made my stomach flip. Some intimate scene flashed in the back of my mind, and I shuddered.

Panic set in as I realized what I had done. I had never been reckless like this before, and the thought of it now filled me with shame and confusion. My stomach twisted into knots as I tried to process the events of the previous night.

Despite my unease, I couldn't help but steal glances at the stranger's chiseled physique. I blushed when I saw his 8-pack abs. Every male sought it, and every woman fantasized about having a boyfriend like this. When I thought I had sex with him last night, my stomach fluttered. At that moment, I forgot to leave and kept looking at him, admiring his beauty.

Noel’s POV…

The subtle movement on the other side of the bed disturbed my slumber and I immediately knew the lady beside me was awake. Oh, this woman was so fucking good in bed. I enjoyed last night with her and wanted to taste her once again.

I reached out to pull her toward me. She suddenly pushed me away, startling me. With a grimace on my face, I raised my head slightly and gazed at her in bewilderment. She was the one who wanted to sleep with me and now she pushed me away. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

She quickly grabbed her clothes and started to put them on.

“Hey…”

“I am sorry. I am getting late,” she said.

Confused and annoyed, I propped myself up on my elbows and watched her quickly dress and prepare to leave.

Then she did something that I had never expected. She took out some hundred-dollar bills from her purse and slammed them on the bed, saying, “This is a tip for you.”

“What? Tip?” Before I could ask her anything, she was out of the room. “What the fuck?” I groaned, glaring at the closed door. “How dare she?”

She tipped me for sleeping with her! What was she thinking about me? She treated me as a gigolo.

“Do I look like a man whore?” I grumbled.

My anger boiled over, and I felt like chasing her down and confronting her. I threw off the covers and jumped out of bed, determined to deal with her.

Ring-Ring-Ring…

Just then, my phone rang. It was my beta.

I quickly answered the call. “Hello.”

“Alpha. I called you to remind you that you need to reach the new office at nine o’clock,” My beta’s voice came out of the phone.

I grimaced and rubbed my forehead. I remembered that it was my first day at the company I had recently taken over. I couldn’t be late.

“Yeah, I’ll be there on time,” I said.

Beep…

As I headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day, I couldn't shake off the feeling of frustration and anger that lingered inside me. I made a mental note to track down the woman and teach her a lesson for her insolence.

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Adelynn’s POV…

I dragged my exhausted body to the office. After graduation, I got a job in this company. I progressed in my career as a result of my hard work and dedication. I'd already lost my partner, but I couldn't afford to lose my job as well.

The new CEO would arrive today and take up his role. I couldn’t be late and anger my manager.

As I rushed into the elevator, I encountered Jennifer. My blood pressure rose as I remembered the upsetting events of the previous night. I didn’t want to be with her for a second and decided to walk out, but the elevator already started moving.

“You are still in the previous day’s clothes,” Jennifer scoffed, looking her up and down disgustingly. “You were fucking around all the night,” she mocked and laughed.

I couldn't stand it any longer. I wanted to smack her and tell her what a bitch she was. Just then the elevator halted and the door swished open. I realized I had already gotten to my floor. But I wouldn't go until I gave her an appropriate response. I turned to her and opened my mouth to say something.

“Adelynn…” My manager called me out.

I turned around and saw her standing right outside the elevator. “Thank goodness, you have arrived. Come with me.”

She practically dragged me out of the elevator. I glared at Jennifer, my insides burning with rage.

"Hey, Adelynn, the CEO will think you're stinky. Don't get too close to him," Jennifer cynically said.

“You…”

“Adel, don’t pay attention to her,” my manager said, dragging me away. “You have better things to do other than arguing with her.”

As we walked down the hallway, I couldn’t stop thinking of Jennifer's cynical remark about the CEO thinking me "stinky", making me feel self-conscious and anxious. I tried to brush it off, focusing instead on preparing myself for the meeting with the new CEO.

My manager took me to her cabin. “The CEO will be here at any time. The responsibility to welcome him is given to our team, okay? I am confident that you will execute everything flawlessly. And you look messy," she said as she examined her closely. "Didn't you get a good night's sleep?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. My world had crumbled around me last night. My hopes and dreams had been shattered. How could I tell her that I caught my boyfriend cheating on me with Jennifer?

“We don’t have much time,” the manager continued anxiously. “Go and make yourself presentable. If you want, use my bathroom and freshen up.”

I had left the hotel in such a hurry that I couldn't take a bath. I had only washed my face in a public toilet before heading to the office. And now I felt the need to freshen up first.

“So kind of you, Lara. I’ll get ready quickly.” With that, I dashed into the bathroom.

I quickly got ready and went to welcome our new boss. I stood at the entrance with my team, led by Lara. A sleek black car pulled up in front of the office building. Everyone was staring at the car, anxious to see the new CEO. It seemed each person was holding their breath.

I was curious, too, to know who this enigmatic person was. His identity was kept hidden from the employees. All I heard was that a very rich and powerful man had taken over this company. The air itself seemed to become standstill in anticipation.

At long last, the passenger door swung open, and a towering figure dressed in a black suit emerged. He quickly opened the back seat door. I craned my neck and peered over the heads of those in front of me to see the CEO. The tall, dark figure that emerged was none other than the new CEO, and his impressive stature commanded attention. Dressed in a tailored grey suit, he exuded an air of sophistication and power that was impossible to ignore.

Everyone gasped as they finally saw the new boss of this company. Even I couldn’t help but gasp.

Wait…

‘Why do I feel like his handsome face is familiar?’ I wondered.

Shit…

It was him – the man I had shared a passionate night with just hours ago.

My expression froze.