Chapter 1

“Please be professional, sir. I’m only here to help with the work assigned to me as your personal assistant and that’s it. I’ll appreciate it more if you were to conduct yourself in a professional manner.” He seemed taken aback by my words, eyebrows raised, lips pursed in a light frown.

He huffed lightly. “I only asked if you have someone waiting for you at home, considering the fact that we are going on a business trip out of the country for three days and might need to come back abruptly or perhaps extend our stay. I’m not asking for your hand in marriage, Ms. Monroe. I promise, if I were going to make advances at a lady, it definitely won’t be you.” His voice came out short and snappy, eyes boring into mine as though daring me to speak further. I bit back my tongue from saying something sharp back at him. Inhaling deeply and exhaled.

“May I be excused.”

“You’re excused.” I wasted no time in leaving his office. Aaron fucking Carlsen, barreling into the company like he owns it. Well, technically he does own it but still, How dare him?

I stomped my foot outside his door, gritting the sole of my heels against the marble floor, glaring hard at the door even though he wasn’t there nor could he see me. He thinks he’s all that, in his black two piece Versace suit and slicked honey blonde hair, his perfect and stupid face.

“If you keep glaring at the door it might just catch fire and then spread around the building and boom, the entire Carlsen co-operation goes down in flames and they find out you’re the cause of it, you are arrested and go to jail for causing fire in one of the most prestigious companies around.” Sasha says.

I turn to look at her, face visibly irritated by the nonsense she just spewed out of her mouth. You see, Sasha is a very imaginative person.

“What?” She snapped, dropping the files she had in her hands on my table. “I’m just saying. It could happen” she shrugged. I rolled my eyes, walking into my office.

“Boy problems?“ she asks, sitting down on the edge of my table. I groaned as I plopped down on my chair. “More like Aaron Carlsen problem. God, I can’t stand that man and his fake humble facade.”

“Fake humble facade? What do you mean?” Sasha asked, I raised my eyebrows, looking at her perplexed.

“Did you eat well? Please go home soon. Are you okay? Do you want coffee?” I mocked in an extremely tiny voice, matching it with a silly facial expression.

“Aren’t you just reaching, Lana? He’s a genuinely nice person, at least. That’s what he’s shown us.”

“Oh please. That’s just him trying to warm his way into our hearts. He’s nothing but a lying two-faced dick.” I snapped and she raised her eyebrows.

Sighing dramatically “Okay, what did he do this time?”

I opened my mouth and began to unload all my pent up frustration, everything he did that morning that already pissed me off.

At the end of my rant, Sasha was looking at me with an unreadable expression.

“So let me get this straight. You’re pissed off because he said you aren’t his type?” She says incredulously, I groaned, allowing my arms fall limply beside me. An exasperated expression crossed my features.

“What? of course not! That’s not it. How is that only what you got from my rant?.”

“Well, if I listened properly to what you said then, you ranted about him asking you if you have someone waiting for you at him, he got offended, rightfully so,” she chipped in, I rolled my eyes but she ignored me and continued "He told you that you aren’t his type, you are very pissed because he said you aren’t his type. Is that right?” She asked and I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t care if I’m not his type, I don’t even want to be his type. He’s Arrgh…” I didn’t get to complete my sentence because the person standing right in front of my door was the devil himself.

"You don’t care if you’re not my type? Seems pretty debatable if it’s got you all riled up. Don’t you think, Ms. Emma?” Fucking Aaron Carlsen stood by the door, directing his question at Sasha who by the way was off the table as fast as lightening.

“I um..please excuse me sir.” She squeaked and literally ran out. Coward!

“Can I help you sir?” I refuse to back down in shame. Oh how stupid could I have been? Speaking so freely and loudly in the office and now he heard me complaining to Sasha.

He raised his eyebrows, hands tucked into his pocket. “You’re one hard nut to crack, Ms. Monroe.” He says sarcastically and walked away.

So he didn’t want anything. He just wanted me to know he heard what I was saying just to make me feel embarrassed.

I groaned, plopping down against my sit for the second time today dramatically. Why in the world did Mr Eugene decide to retire now? Why did I even think of signing that contract? Now I’m bound to work beside this hard headed doofus who by the way is Mr Eugene’s son.

I should’ve outrightly refused when the old man called me into his office and literally pleaded that I help his son with his job. My stupid ass thought it would be the second son. Why did I think it would be his second son?

Simple, I didn’t want to think a smart and reasonable man like Eugene would put his first son, Aaron Carlsen , the unrepentant womanizer. ‘The classiest play boy’ The most eligible bachelor in all of NewYork as the next company’s president. I signed the contract, stating I would be working with the company for the next three years,

well, my monthly income was raised significantly but now I’m stuck.

It’s been a week working for/with Aaron and that man had gotten on all of my buttons. He has successfully made me want to throw his coffee at his face. He’s made me want to throw a pen on the floor and watch him slip and break his hip.

Ellie says I just need to open my heart more and see how 'good’ of a person he is. She says I have to let go of the grudge I have against him even before he started working here, considering the fact that I have to be here, working beside him for the next three years, I have to get used to him.

Sasha, my other co-worker and friend says I have to release some sexual tension. Yeah, I know, she’s crazy. She’s deluded herself into think I, Lana Monroe, 23 year old who graduated with a first class degree from Oxford, prides myself with being diligent and hardworking is into Aaron and is just denying it.

Saying it makes me want to puke.

Okay, maybe I speak about him a lot but that’s only because he keeps frustrating me. He’s out for me and it’s taking every single ounce of blood in me to not lash out.

“It’s lunch time, wanna come grab something to eat while listening to Sasha’s latest catch?” Ellie propped her head into the office, her blonde hair shining bright, brown eyes staring at me expectantly.

“Sure.” I say, grabbing my phone from the table. I stood up, adjusting my brown pleated skirt.

I stepped out of the office, my mood still sour from the fact that Aaron heard everything I was telling Sasha. Dumbass.

~~~

I sat in the middle, unwrapping my sandwich as Sasha told us about her date. Ellie on the other hand was totally engrossed in the story Sasha was saying. I groaned as soon as she began to spill details I would rather not know.

“Can you not? I’d like to come back here with my head held high.” I say. Sasha rolled her eyes and Ellie snorted, earning a disapproval glare from the table beside us.

“Well, that’s what you get for telling me the full details of Logan groping your ass and literally sticking his finger—.” This time I was the one getting the disapproval glare and maybe some other dirty look from the waitress passing

“Well, who’s being unhinged and embarrassing us now?” Sasha sneered, earning her a slap on her arm.

“Anyways, I’ve heard enough of you whoring yourself over the weekend. How about you Lana? When should we be expecting some whoring details?” Ellie asked just as I chewed my sandwich. I rolled my eyes at the expectant look they were giving me.

“You know, I have no time to do that, I-“

“-I am very focused on work and would like it to remain so-“ they say in unison with me. I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my drink.

“That’s the 65788282 times I’ve heard you say that. I promise we have it stuck in our brains but you know what?” Ellie asked

“We don’t care. You’re literally in your early twenties but you’d prefer to spend every minute of your day and life working?” Sasha voiced out.

I sighed, it’s the usual conversation we have every two-three days. It’s nothing new.

“Anyways, I’m leaving work early today. I have to go pack for next three days I would be traveling to Greece with you-know-who”

“You can just say his name. Mr Aaron.” Ellie says, taking a bite of her burger.

“You didn’t tell us you’re traveling with mr tall, smart and handsome.” Sasha says. I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time today.

“Oh please, he isn’t all of that so maybe stop simping over your boss.” I blurted, it came out a little snarky.

Keep it in your pants, Lana fucking Monroe.!

“So you don’t think that Aaron Carlsen is one fine ass man? You don’t think he is a whole, edible and delicious snack? You don’t think he is like one of the most sexiest men to exist?” Ellie asked, leaning closer to me, her eyes boring into mine. I felt uncomfortable sitting there while they stared at me, I felt myself squirm in the seat, swallowing hard and nodded.

“Sounds like you might need a visit to the ophthalmologists.” Sasha says dismissively as Ellie clicked her tongue in agreement.

“You never can say, this trip might just change your mind about him.” Sasha says but I opted to keep quiet and gently sip my boba.

“Can you imagine that? Lana comes back from Greece after three days and is in love with the one person she can’t stand? That would be epic” Ellie bursted out laughing but I didn’t see what was funny.

It was a very unfunny joke.

“You should probably cancel your subscription with w*****d. It’s making you delusional.” I sneered at Sasha who made the joke as she wiped the tears that leaked from her eyes away.

“What? I’m just saying. It’s impossible especially since you don’t find him attractive. How can you fall in love with someone you don’t find attractive and besides, you have that thing.” She defended.

“What thing?” Ellie asked, taking a sip of her mango juice.

“Principles.” Sasha replied

She was right. Things like that only happen in those fictional stories and movies. This is real life. It can’t happen. Right?

“Hey, stop over thinking it. Things like that don’t happen in real life. You’re good to go, especially with how much you hate his guts, you’d probably end up fired at best.” Ellie says. I sighed, letting my head fall limp. How is that supposed to comfort me? I’ll loose my job.

“It’s true. You aren’t attracted to him, remember. It can’t happen.” Sasha says and moved on to the next topic, leaving me battling my thoughts.

Do I find that asshole attractive? Maybe? I mean, he’s easy on the eyes and I’m not blind but I’m not attracted to him. I could never be attracted to him.

My phone dinged, alerting me of a new message and pulling me out of my thoughts. I unlocked the phone to see a message from the devil himself.

'I need my coffee in five minutes. I can’t wait any longer than that.’ The message read. That son of a biscuit! Who does he think he is ordering me around like that? He only takes coffee from Starbucks and he very well knows this is my lunch break. He knows how far Starbucks, but still.

I decided to do what I do best. Ignore him.

My phone dinged again and I checked

'I know you’re reading this, Ms. Monroe. I’d hate to complain to my father about how incompetent you are. You have four minutes left.’

I take it back. I don’t think that bitch ass, wimp is attractive, not even in the least.

I could never find someone as annoying as him attractive.

~~~

I placed the coffee on his table, suppressing the urge to slam the paper cup against the table. He quirks an eyebrow up, lips pulled into a smirk.

“You were two minutes late.” He deadpanned, taking the coffee on the table and sipped it a bit. His nose scrunched in irritation? Annoyance? Disgust?

Dear Mary, Jesus and Joseph. I may not fuck with you but please give me strength.

I gulp the tightness in my throat, clutching the IPad in my hands tightly.

“It’s cold. I don’t drink cold coffee, in-fact, I’m not sure anyone drinks cold coffee. Can’t you do your job properly, Ms. Monroe or is it too much to ask? Huh?”

“Maybe next time you stand up and actually get your coffee yourself. I’m your assistant and definitely not a maid. I know my Job, Mr. Carlsen. I think you might’ve forgotten yours, though.” I bit back snarkily.

I watch as he dumps the cup into the waste bin even with the coffee in it, his eyes not leaving mine. My grip on the IPad tightened the more, watching this over privileged fucker throw away the coffee I spent my break getting.

I had to rush out of the restaurant, leaving Sasha and Ellie there and ran blocks away to get that coffee.

He stood up, dusting the imaginary spec of dust away from his suit, walking towards my direction, he stopped right in front of me, his brown eyes staring me down, his cologne engulfing my nostrils.

This close, I can see the freckles spread out against his nose and cheekbones. The Sun made itself known in that moment, shining brightly against his honey gold skin, accentuating his brown eyes. In that moment I couldn’t help but wonder how nice it would be running my hands against his cheeks. Is his skin just as soft as it looks? I watch as strands of hair fell to his forehead, bouncing lightly in slow motion. How nice it would be to run my fingers through his hair. How full his lips-

Wait, what the fuck? His lips? Why the hell am I thinking of his lips? Oh Jesus, what are these thoughts?

I instinctively took a step back allowing a bit of space between us, gulping the pile in my throat, wondering why he had to come this close to me. Invasion of privacy, I say.

Coming into my space just so I could notice these things about it. Yeah. That’s it.

“I like my coffee hot, Ms. Monroe.” He says and I nod, taking another step back.

“May I be excused?” I ask, wanting nothing more than leaving his presence and forget the thoughts that ran through my head few minutes back.

He clicked his tongue, eyebrows quirked-up, "Take the rest of the day off, seems like you need it, besides we are leaving for Greece tomorrow and I want you better than today." He tells me. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes but I’m not sure how successful I was, considering the look of irritation doubled up in his face.

“Thank you, Mr. Carlsen. I’ll be eternally grateful for what you’ve done for me and will spend the rest of my days thanking and thinking of what you’ve done.” I say, smiling a little too sweet.

He stares at me blankly before sighing, gesturing at the door. “You’re excused.” I wasted no time in leaving his office, defying the urge to slam the door hard and maybe blow up his eardrums.

Fucking hell…