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Chapter 5
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2025-04-21 12:30:23Madison was still reeling from the unexpected encounter with Sebastian in the boardroom earlier that morning. Even after hours of paperwork, back-to-back calls, and a tedious client report, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease—and that stupid, lingering heat that spread over her skin whenever she remembered the way his eyes lingered just a moment too long.
"Earth to Madison," Des’s voice cut through the fog in her head. She was leaning against Madison’s cubicle, one brow raised and a paper cup of coffee in hand. "You’ve been spacing out for like five minutes. Spill."
Madison blinked, cheeks flushing. “Huh? Spacing out? Hindi naman.”
“Oh, come on. I saw you walking out of the executive boardroom kaninang umaga. You looked like you just survived a hurricane.”
“Des, please,” she said in a hushed voice, glancing around. “Lower your voice.”
Des leaned in, eyes gleaming. “Don’t tell me... it was him?”
Madison sighed, slumping into her chair. “It’s him.”
Des’s mouth dropped open dramatically. “Si CEO Sebastian Sanford?! Girl, anong ginawa niyo?!”
Madison shot her a warning glare. “Nothing happened! Well—hindi ngayon. I mean... just... he knows. Na ako ‘yun. From that night.”
Des froze for a second, then took a long sip from her coffee. “Put—okay. So, what now? You’re working for the guy you accidentally slept with, and he turns out to be your new boss. Did I miss anything?”
Madison groaned, covering her face. “That’s everything. And I don’t know what to do. I just want to forget it happened.”
Des sat down on the edge of her desk, her tone suddenly gentler. “Mads, you’re not the type to let things slide. Alam ko, feeling mo parang ikaw ang may kasalanan, pero hello—he’s a grown man. He knew what he was doing.”
“But it was supposed to be one night. Just one night,” Madison muttered. “Tapos na sana ‘yun. I’m not even that kind of girl.”
Des gave her a pointed look. “No one’s judging you. You’re allowed to make mistakes—or to have fun. But now that the past is sitting in a corner office, what’s your plan?”
“I’m just going to do my job,” she said firmly. “Professional. Walang kahit anong drama.”
Des nodded, but the doubt in her eyes was hard to miss.
Later that afternoon, Madison tried to lose herself in the routine. She worked quietly, diligently, but when her inbox pinged with a calendar invite, her stomach dropped.
Meeting Request: One-on-One Review From: Sebastian Sanford Time: 4:30 PM
She stared at it for a solid minute. He hadn’t sent anything else—no email, no memo, no indication of what it was for.
With a deep breath, she accepted the invite.
The office hallway leading to Sebastian’s private floor felt colder than usual, the ambient hum of air conditioning pressing against her already tense shoulders. When she reached the large glass doors of his office, she paused, steeling herself.
She knocked once.
“Come in,” came the familiar deep voice.
Madison stepped inside.
Sebastian was standing by the tall windows, hands in his pockets, gazing at the skyline like he had all the time in the world. He looked too good in that navy suit. Too composed. Too... unaffected.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” she asked, carefully polite.
He turned, and for a moment, his expression softened. “Please, have a seat.”
She obeyed, sitting straight and folding her hands neatly on her lap.
He walked over to his desk, sitting across from her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence buzzed with tension, each breath dragging.
“I wanted to apologize,” he began quietly. “For this morning.”
Her brows lifted. “Apologize?”
“I shouldn’t have surprised you like that. I imagine this is... uncomfortable for you.”
Madison took a steady breath. “It is. But I understand. We’re in a professional setting now. I intend to act accordingly.”
Sebastian’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Good. That’s what I want, too.”
But he didn’t sound very convinced.
There was another pause before he leaned forward slightly, his tone lower. “But I need to ask—what happened that night... was it just a mistake to you?”
Madison stiffened. “It was a one-time thing.”
“I know. But did you regret it?”
Her breath hitched. “Why does that matter?”
“Because I haven’t stopped thinking about it,” he said, eyes locking onto hers. “About you.”
Madison looked away, panic creeping into her chest. “Please don’t do this.”
“I’m not trying to complicate your life,” he said gently. “But I want to be honest. It wasn’t just nothing to me.”
She stood up suddenly, the chair scraping softly against the floor. “I think this conversation is crossing a line.”
“You’re right,” he replied, standing as well. “I’m sorry. I won’t bring it up again.”
Madison gave a small nod, heart pounding, and left the room before she could unravel any further.
She managed to avoid Sebastian for the next two days, burying herself in projects and ignoring the way her skin buzzed anytime she passed by the executive floor. But her peace was short-lived.
On Friday, she was assigned to accompany Sebastian to an out-of-town site visit for a proposed expansion project. She stared at the email, horrified.
“Road trip with the CEO,” Des said, reading over her shoulder. “This is a fanfic waiting to happen.”
Madison groaned. “This is a nightmare.”
The drive to Batangas was quiet at first. Madison sat stiffly in the passenger seat of the company SUV, pretending to read through the project proposal. Sebastian, driving with calm ease, glanced at her a few times.
“You don’t have to pretend to read,” he said finally.
“I’m not pretending,” she replied without looking up.
He chuckled softly. “You’ve been on the same page for fifteen minutes.”
She closed the folder with a sigh. “This is inappropriate. All of this.”
“We’re going to a project site,” he said mildly. “Completely appropriate.”
“You know what I mean.”
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he turned the radio on—low volume, soft jazz playing in the background.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, Madison. I meant what I said. I’ll stay professional.”
Madison glanced sideways. “Then why bring it up again?”
“Because I’m not a robot. And I think you’re worth the risk.”
She swallowed hard, her heart thudding. “This isn’t just about risk. You’re my boss. There’s a power imbalance.”
“I know. And that’s why I won’t act on anything unless you want me to. Unless you're the one who makes the first move.”
That shut her up for the rest of the ride.
At the site, Madison found herself distracted. The sun was hot, the walk around the construction area exhausting, and the engineers’ questions nonstop. But more than that, she couldn’t stop replaying Sebastian’s words in her head.
“Unless you’re the one who makes the first move.”
It was infuriating. And unfair. Because he knew she wouldn’t. She couldn’t.
By the time they were heading back to Manila, the sun had dipped low, casting golden hues across the highway. The SUV was filled with silence once again—this time, heavier, more contemplative.
“I used to think I knew exactly what I wanted,” Madison said suddenly. “Before all this. Before you.”
Sebastian glanced at her. “And now?”
“Now I’m not so sure.”
He didn’t respond, but his hand tightened on the steering wheel.
They drove in silence for a few more minutes before he pulled over at a quiet roadside café, dimly lit with string lights and the scent of coffee wafting through the open windows.
“Let’s take a break,” he said.
Madison followed him inside, the cool air a relief after the long day. They sat in a corner booth, far from the few other patrons.
Over coffee, neither of them spoke at first. But then, Sebastian looked at her with something softer in his gaze.
“You don’t have to figure everything out now, Madison,” he said. “I’m not asking for anything. I just want you to know... I see you. I respect you. Whatever happens next, that won’t change.”
And for the first time in days, something inside her unknotted.
Maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t a mistake after all.
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Madison stared into her coffee cup, the swirls of cream and espresso echoing the confusion in her head. The soft lighting of the roadside café, the distant hum of a ballad playing from the speakers, and the occasional clink of cups felt too intimate. Too quiet. Like the world had slowed down just for them.Sebastian didn’t push. He just sat there across from her, sipping his coffee slowly, watching her with that frustratingly unreadable expression. For once, the intensity in his eyes wasn’t intimidating—it was patient. Steady. It made her heart beat louder than she wanted it to.“I don’t even know what to say,” Madison admitted, voice barely above a whisper.“You don’t have to say anything,” Sebastian replied. “Not until you’re ready.”“But you’re still here,” she said, lifting her gaze to meet his. “Waiting.”He smiled faintly. “You said you’re not sure about what you want anymore. That’s okay. I can wait. I just don’t want you to run away from it just because it’s complicated.”She
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It was a slow build, that shift. Neither Madison nor Sebastian rushed into anything, but the air between them had undeniably changed. The professional barriers they had clung to so tightly began to feel more like a formality than something they needed. When they got back from Tagaytay, their interactions had a new depth.At work, they still maintained their roles, the CEO and his employee. The meetings, the projects, the tasks—they didn’t change. But when their eyes met across the conference table or when they passed each other in the hall, there was something unspoken, something that seemed to vibrate just beneath the surface.Madison found herself thinking about him more than she wanted to admit. She had always been someone who kept her emotions in check, someone who could compartmentalize and push aside anything that threatened to interfere with her career. But this? This was different. Every time her phone buzzed with a message from Sebastian, her heart raced in a way she hadn’t e
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The days that followed felt like they belonged to a different world—a world where the rules that Madison had carefully constructed for herself no longer applied. Her mornings were filled with meetings, presentations, and the usual whirlwind of office tasks, but her mind kept drifting back to the moments she spent with Sebastian. It was as if the connection they shared outside of work had a life of its own, one that was steadily creeping into her professional world.And yet, the tension between their personal and professional lives was impossible to ignore. At the office, they were still CEO and employee, business partners navigating the delicate balance of ambition and authority. But outside of it? The chemistry between them was undeniable. Every glance, every touch, every conversation left her heart racing, a silent whisper of something much larger than either of them.Madison had always been pragmatic, controlled. She had kept her emotions buried deep, focusing on her career, on get
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The weeks that followed felt like a slow burn. The tension between Madison and Sebastian simmered under the surface—never quite breaking, but always present. Their interactions were a mix of professional distance and something far more intimate, something Madison wasn’t sure how to navigate.Every glance they shared felt loaded, as though every smile was a silent admission of the chemistry they couldn’t ignore. But in the office, they maintained their professional personas. When the day was over, Madison would leave with the weight of their unspoken words following her, but she never reached out first. She couldn’t—she was still trying to figure out what all of it meant.One Evening at the OfficeIt was a Thursday evening when Madison found herself staying late at the office, going over the new project briefs for the upcoming quarter. The office was quieter than usual, with most people having already gone home for the day.She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to stay focused a
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The days that followed were a mixture of moments that seemed ordinary yet carried weight. Madison had come to terms with the fact that her connection with Sebastian wasn’t just a fleeting attraction—it was something deeper, something she couldn’t quite put into words. It was as if, little by little, their interactions were beginning to peel back the layers they both kept hidden.Madison had always been the kind of person who kept her emotions tightly guarded, never letting them spill over into the professional world. But with Sebastian, it was different. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the shared vulnerability between them or the way he made her feel safe to be herself, but the guard she had spent so long building was slowly beginning to crumble.A Surprise VisitOne Friday afternoon, the office was buzzing with end-of-week energy. People were wrapping up their tasks, preparing to leave for the weekend. Madison was at her desk, reviewing some reports when her phone buzzed with a
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The days that followed their weekend getaway were a blur for Madison. The office felt different when she walked in that Monday morning, as though the walls themselves could sense the shift in her emotions. She wasn’t sure if it was the memories of their time away that weighed on her or the awareness that things had become more complicated between her and Sebastian. Whatever it was, it seemed like every interaction was charged with an energy she hadn’t anticipated.Madison tried her best to maintain her composure at work, but the looks Sebastian gave her across the conference room table, the subtle touches when their hands brushed while exchanging files—it was all becoming too much to ignore. The professional distance they had once kept was now blurred, and neither of them seemed willing to take a step back.That afternoon, as the office emptied out for the day, Madison found herself alone in the elevator with Sebastian. The tension between them was thick, suffocating even. Neither of
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The days following their conversation were a blur for Madison. Every time she passed Sebastian in the office, there was a quiet, unspoken acknowledgment of the shift that had occurred between them. The atmosphere, once professional and cool, now carried an undercurrent of something more—a delicate tension that neither of them dared to speak of aloud.Madison tried to focus on her work, but it became increasingly difficult to ignore the way her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She was afraid of what it meant, afraid of the risks involved, but there was also a part of her that felt alive in a way she hadn't in a long time.Her decision to take things slowly seemed like the right choice, but every time their eyes met, it became harder to stick to that resolution. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t let this affect her career, that she wouldn’t let the growing feelings for Sebastian cloud her judgment, but the lines between personal and professional were starting to blur in a wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 13
The days following their conversation were a blur for Madison. Every time she passed Sebastian in the office, there was a quiet, unspoken acknowledgment of the shift that had occurred between them. The atmosphere, once professional and cool, now carried an undercurrent of something more—a delicate tension that neither of them dared to speak of aloud.Madison tried to focus on her work, but it became increasingly difficult to ignore the way her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She was afraid of what it meant, afraid of the risks involved, but there was also a part of her that felt alive in a way she hadn't in a long time.Her decision to take things slowly seemed like the right choice, but every time their eyes met, it became harder to stick to that resolution. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t let this affect her career, that she wouldn’t let the growing feelings for Sebastian cloud her judgment, but the lines between personal and professional were starting to blur in a wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21
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ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 30
The early morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across Madison's office. She sat behind her desk, fingers hesitating over the keyboard. The quiet of the office was a welcome contrast to the storm of emotions she had been wrestling with the past few days. The photos had circulated like wildfire, and the whispers, even in the supposedly professional atmosphere, were unavoidable. Some employees had been kind enough to avoid bringing up the topic directly, but others weren’t so subtle. She could feel the eyes, the curiosity, the judgment.It had been days since the gossip broke out, but the weight of it still lingered.She’d tried to bury herself in work, focusing on the spreadsheets and the meetings, pretending everything was fine. But it wasn’t. And it certainly didn’t help that Sebastian, her boss, had been unusually distant. His once warm, piercing gaze now felt more guarded whenever he passed by her office. The warmth between them had turned into an unspoken
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 29
The week flew by in a flurry of emotions, with Madison grappling with the knowledge that meeting Sebastian’s family was now unavoidable. It was one of those moments she had both anticipated and dreaded. She had heard Sebastian talk about them on numerous occasions, his love for them unmistakable in his words. But she had also heard the underlying tension in his voice at times—his desire to break free from their expectations, the weight of their influence over his life.She knew the stakes were high. Family was everything to Sebastian, and although he had never pressured her to meet them, the timing felt significant. This was a new chapter in their relationship. No longer was she just the woman he spent time with in secret or at casual coffee shops. Now, she was about to step into the world that had shaped him, a world she could never fully understand but wanted to try to be a part of.Madison stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress for the fourth time that evening. It was a
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 28
The days following their heart-to-heart conversation at the café passed in a blur of emotions and uncertainty for Madison. Despite the calmness that seemed to settle between her and Sebastian, there were still many unanswered questions, lingering doubts, and insecurities she couldn’t shake. She had agreed to take the chance with him, but the weight of her decision was heavier than she had anticipated.She was still unsure of how she fit into his world. It wasn’t just about Sebastian—it was the world he came from, his family, the expectations, the glitz, and glamour of it all. Madison had always been grounded, simple, and she had always kept a steady distance from the excesses that came with wealth and privilege. But Sebastian wasn’t asking her to dive into that world; he was simply asking her to be with him, to be part of his life in the most intimate way possible.It was the intimacy, the vulnerability, that scared her. The thought of letting someone so deeply into her life, allowing
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 27
The next few days passed in a haze of emotions for Madison. The conversation at the restaurant with Sebastian had left her feeling both lighter and heavier at the same time. She had spoken her truth, confessed her fears, and yet, somehow, it didn’t feel like it had changed anything. They were still caught in the same cycle of uncertainty, both hesitant but yearning for something more. Despite her resolve to take it slow, Madison knew that avoiding the situation was no longer an option.She could feel herself being drawn closer to him with every passing day, and it both thrilled and terrified her. What Sebastian was offering her—his sincerity, his commitment—was something Madison had always longed for but had never thought she’d find, especially not in a man like him. The question that plagued her, though, was simple: Could she really allow herself to fall for him, given all the complications that came with his world?Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of her phone, the screen l
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 26
The following days felt like a blur to Madison. She had avoided Sebastian’s calls at first, giving herself the time and space she had so desperately needed. The emotions from that night at the Sanford family dinner had left her in a state of chaos, and she didn’t trust herself to respond in a way that felt right. She could still hear his words from the phone call echoing in her mind: “Take your time. I’m not asking for anything more than what you’re willing to give. I just want you in my life, Madison.”But what did that mean? What exactly did Sebastian want from her? And more importantly, what did she want from him?Her days were filled with long hours at work, keeping her mind distracted with the steady hum of office life. But when the workday ended, and she found herself alone in the quiet of her apartment, the questions always came rushing back. Her mind wandered to the quiet moments they had shared—those stolen glances, the heated kisses, the gentle conversations—and the more she
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 25
Madison’s fingers brushed against the cool surface of the doorknob as she quietly exited the grand estate, a sense of relief washing over her as the weight of the Sanford family’s scrutinizing gaze finally faded into the distance. The sound of the door clicking shut behind her felt like a small victory, though the anxiety that had settled in her chest throughout the evening remained. Her heels clicked sharply against the stone walkway as she made her way to the car, the night air cool against her flushed skin.She had never felt more out of place. The expansive, opulent mansion, the eyes of Sebastian’s family on her—it had all felt like a test. She wasn’t sure she had passed, but it was clear from the moment they sat down to dinner that she had failed in some way she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She had tried to smile, to answer their questions with the politeness expected of a guest, but underneath it all, she felt like an outsider in a world she could never truly belong to.Wha
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 24
The invitation had come unexpectedly—Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the line, warm but with an edge of something Madison couldn’t quite place.“Madison, I want you to meet my family,” he had said. “Tomorrow night, a casual dinner. You’ve been a part of my life for some time now, and it feels right. Are you free?”Madison, caught off-guard by the sudden shift from their usual professional exchanges, had hesitated. Their encounters had been a whirlwind of stolen moments, secret meetings, and mounting tension, but the thought of stepping into Sebastian’s world felt daunting. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.“I’ll be there,” she had said, a quiet resolve settling in her chest.And so, here she was—standing at the entrance of the elegant Sanford family estate, a striking contrast to her modest apartment. The expansive mansion before her loomed with grandeur, the elegant stone pillars casting long shadows across the entrance. She felt small in comparison to the opulence s
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 23
The message was a cold reminder that things were far from over. Madison sat at her desk in her small apartment, her phone resting in her palm. The words were etched in her mind: “I know what you’re up to. You won’t get away with this. I’ll make sure of it.”Who could it be? She ran through the possibilities in her head—was it someone from her past? Maybe someone who had been hurt in the process of her unexpected involvement with Sebastian? Or worse, was it someone who knew too much about them, someone who wanted to exploit their relationship for their own gain?She wanted to confront Sebastian right away, but after their conversation the day before, she didn’t know how to explain the new twist in her life. She wasn’t sure if she could handle more secrets or complications in their already delicate dynamic.Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should she respond to the anonymous message? Ignoring it might be a form of surrender, but acknowledging it could potentially put her—and Sebas
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 22
The days after the leak felt like they dragged on forever, each one a battle with both internal and external forces. Madison had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. The constant barrage of public judgment, the whispers at the office, and even Sebastian’s protective gaze made everything feel heavier.But what weighed on her most wasn’t the scandal—it was the creeping feeling that something had changed between her and Sebastian. Not in the way she had hoped, but in the way she feared.One afternoon, Madison found herself in her favorite coffee shop, nursing a cappuccino as she stared out the window. The hum of conversation around her felt distant, almost surreal. Her phone buzzed in her bag, and for a moment, she considered ignoring it, but she knew better.It was Sebastian. His name flashed on the screen, and she hesitated before answering.“Madison,” his voice sounded tense. “I need you to come to the office.”“I’m not sure if I’m ready to face it all again, Sebastian,” she replied,
