Chapter 13Vanessa's POV:An hour ago, that bothersome jerk had called, insisting on seeing me. I refused because I had just settled the first payment days ago, and we agreed to meet next month for the next one. I continued to complain and curse him under my breath as I lifted the crates of drinks the delivery man had left moments ago.Feeling like I had been watched, I stared at the road momentarily and found everyone engrossed in their daily activities. I then focused on my work of taking the drinks inside.After taking them in, I wiped the fridge clean and proceeded to place the bottles in. Just then, Lisa, another waitress at Savory Bites, walked in. Her face was a mix of shock and excitement.She shook my arm, "Wow, Vanessa, you didn't tell us that you had a billionaire boyfriend; he looks dreamy.""My boyfriend?" I asked and then muttered to myself, "I don't have a boyfriend, not any that I remembered.""He's outside and asked me to call you," Lisa said before walking away. It c
Chapter 14Vanessa POV:The office atmosphere was tense as I faced the boss's crude assistant, Stanley. He was searching for something, checking the drawers one after the other."I heard you'd be working here soon." He said, more like asking."I'm sorry, Ms. Williams, my boss can be sometimes reckless and not mean the things he says. We won't pay you $10,000 monthly. We both know you have no diploma to back that up."I couldn't help but let my anger creep into my voice "Are you trying to con me? You're not the one I'm going to be working for, Stanley." I sneered.Stanley merely replied with his usual calm, "Please be understanding, I don't like to repeat myself." I was baffled by how he maintained his composure despite being such a nuisance.Just as I was about to retort, the door opened, and there he was—the man I had come to despise. He slouched onto his chair with an air of exhaustion, his eyes briefly shutting before snapping open. "Did you just arrive?" he asked, his gaze landing
Chapter 15 The day had taken an unexpected turn, leaving me more frustrated than I could have imagined. I followed Stanley into the office, and the moment he saw me, his facial expression darkened with his brows furrowed."Go back and knock on the door properly," he ordered, his voice dripping with authority. I glanced between Stanley and the closed office door, baffled about who he was addressing. Stanley's raised eyebrows, making it clear—he meant me."But, it wasn't me who opened the door," I protested, my frustration evident."Do as you have been told, Ms. Williams, quit being stubborn," Stanley said.I sighed, Mr. Arrogance was at it again, this time with a new command. I complained inwardly and then took steps back until I was out of the room, knocked once, and waited for a response, which never came. So, I proceeded to enter."Did I ask you to come in?" His icy words met me as I stepped inside."Go back, and this time, wait for my reply," he ordered. I obeyed, knocking again,
Chapter 16**Andre's POV:**After Ms. Williams left, I thought about where to put Stanley. Ms. Williams was going to be working for me, and the office was already crowded.I recalled how Stanley got his job as my assistant. Five years ago, he came to the company for another job but was denied the position after the interview. I was having a bad day, but I saw how good he was at helping me organize my stuff, so I hired him as my assistant.I knew he wanted a better job, so now was the time. I waited for him to come back to the office before telling him the good news.He looked weary as he walked in, fixing the documents from today's presentation on the shelf before coming to stand in front of me and give reports. "Sir, I extended the meeting date with the investors. We have more time to finish the project, and also, you have a meeting with the governor relating to the demolition on Friday.""Ok," I said. He had always been good at his job, and I didn't know why I was replacing him with
Chapter 17Vanessa's POV:I slinked out of the boardroom, feeling like I'd just been put through a meat grinder. The humiliation from the presentation was still fresh, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of incompetence that had settled over me like a dark cloud. Why couldn't I do anything right? I asked myself and then remembered that I have never worked in a place like this and then thought of how not to be harsh with myself by reminding myself that nothing here was my fault; he's just doing all this to torture me for ruining his car.Back in the office, I sat on the white plush sofa in the room, my mind reeling from the mocking faces I'd seen in the board room a while ago. I couldn't help but wonder if I could survive working here. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, Stanley, the boss's ever-watchful assistant, appeared in the office with a scowl on his face."Ms. Williams, You wasted a lot of the boss' time today, do you know how much he hates tardiness?" Stanley s
WARNING ⚠️⚠️⚠️ This chapter contains drug use.Chapter 18Vanessa's POV:I held the shirt in my hands, frustration bubbling inside me. How did I end up in this situation? First, I gave a poor and embarrassing presentation, leaving me anxious about facing the judgmental boardroom. Then, my clumsiness led to me spilling coffee on his white shirt. It seemed like everything I did only made things worse.Gosh, how did I end up working here? I complained, stumping my foot on the floor while ruffling my hair.I needed to find a way to remove the coffee stain from that expensive white shirt without a trace. I took a deep breath and turned to Stanley, who observed the situation with a neutral expression. "Hey, do you have any suggestions on how to remove the stain?" I asked, hoping he could offer some insight to salvage the situation.Stanley sighed and approached the boss's desk, rifling through some files before selecting a few and leaving. He was quite an arrogant individual, seemingly unca
Chapter 19Andre's POV:In the dimly lit, luxurious car, I gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled fury. My frustration with Vanessa's refusal to accompany me spilled over, and I angrily slammed my hand onto the horn, the noise cutting through the stillness of the street.I then called on the secretary to cancel my remaining schedule for the day as I was going back home. Not necessarily back home, but to a place where I can cool my mind and then think of ways to silence the little imp. For real this time. I couldn't shake the thought of what she'd done as I drove. The anger and irritation gnawed at me, and, in my fit of rage, I hit the steering wheel again. The horn blared, giving voice to my simmering anger. Vanessa was pushing my limits, and it was time for her to learn a lesson.As I continued driving, I suddenly felt something wet under my nose. I touched it, only to find my hand smeared with red stain, blood. Cursing my misfortune for not having rested properly before rece
Caution: This chapter isn't meant to criticize the police or give a bad impression about them. The work is solely fictitious. Enjoy.Chapter 20 Vanessa's POV:"How do you like my weekend gift, Pompom?" His voice sounded excited over the phone. This was all his doing. Victor didn't know him at all; they'd never met before, yet he chose to punish my brother."You're quiet; got nothing to say?" He asked, and I stayed silent because I couldn't figure out my feelings."I warned you, Ms. Williams, but you thought I was joking and went to the police to report me, just to prove how courageous you can be." He tsked pitifully. "Let's see how they help you get out of this mess.""Why are you doing this?" I asked, "Please, just let my brother go. He doesn't know anything. You can do whatever you want with me.""Why? Does going to jail bring back old memories?" He chuckled. He wanted Victor to experience going to jail again."Sir, my mother will go crazy if she hears about this. Please, release h
Chapter 60Vanessa's POV:I sat stiffly at the round table, the heavy silverware shining under the warm glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers. The conversation between Mr. Garcia and his business partners flowed smoothly, but I felt like a decorative piece—smiling when expected, nodding politely, and pretending that I belonged here.I tried to stay invisible, focusing on the perfectly cooked steak on my plate and avoiding too much eye contact. But of course, things never stayed simple around him.As I reached for my glass of water, Mr. Garcia leaned forward slightly, a playful look in his eyes as he assisted, passing the water to me.“Ah, young love,” Mr. Laurent mused, smiling as if he’d just discovered our biggest secret.I nearly choked.I set my glass down quickly and glanced at my boss, hoping—begging—he’d correct the misunderstanding.Genevieve chuckled softly and placed her hand over her husband’s. “It’s lovely to see Andre with someone who makes him… human. You bring a softness
Chapter 59Vanessa's POV:Later that night, back at the hotel, I tried to keep my distance. But he was everywhere, partially suffocating my space.I was barely out of the shower when there was a knock at the door. I wrapped the robe tighter around me before opening it slightly, only to find him standing there, hands in his pockets.“Did you forget about the dinner?” he asked, his eyes scanning me briefly before stepping inside without invitation. “You need to get dressed.”I gestured to the dress I had already picked out. “I’m wearing this.”The dress I had chosen was a simple black one—elegant but modest.He gave it one look and dismissed it with a shake of his head. “No.”Frustration bubbled. “What’s wrong with it?”Instead of answering, he lifted the shopping bags with him. I blinked. He had lots of bags, and I wondered if he picked half the store."I got more than five dresses. Try them on.”“You expect me to try all of these?" He didn't respond, so I started opening the bags and
Chapter 58Vanessa's POV:He smelt of cigarettes. Sounded like the “something important” was smoking. My lungs were a bit relieved that he was considerate enough to do it outside.He paused in the doorway, expression unreadable, staring with lazy eyes, and in a nonchalant voice said, “What are you doing?”“Sleeping,” I said, fluffing a pillow.He let out a dry laugh. “Get up.”“I’m fine here.”His voice sharpened. “You're not allowed to do that here. We're sharing the bed, and that's final.”He did look serious. I swallowed. There was no room for argument. Slowly, I stood.I climbed into the bed, keeping as much distance as humanly possible from the other side. He disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of the running shower lasted minutes before the door clicked open again.I couldn't help myself. My eyes flickered over to him, despite my best intentions to look anywhere else. And there he was—standing shirtless, with a towel tucked loosely around his waist and another in his hand,
Chapter 57Vanessa’s POV:The moment I stepped onto the plane, I knew something was wrong.Or, more accurately, something was too right.First-class? I had mentally prepared myself for the stiff seats, the cramped legroom, and the congested space. But here I was, standing in front of a seat so luxurious I almost didn’t want to touch it. Plush cream-colored seats, ample space, and an actual menu? This wasn’t just an upgrade. This was a full-blown Cinderella moment—except my fairy godmother was a sadistic CEO who got a kick out of seeing me squirm.I turned sharply to face Mr. Garcia, who was already settling into the seat beside mine like he owned the entire plane. Which, knowing him, he probably did.“You didn’t tell me we were flying first-class,” I asked, arms crossed.He gave me a slow, lazy smirk. “Would it have made you come willingly if I did?”I clenched my jaw. He didn't tell me he was kidnapping me in luxury.“This is unnecessary,” I muttered, gripping the armrest like it mig
Chapter 56 Andre's POV:The door opened, and she walked in. The intern followed closely behind her, holding her hand, and then departed the moment my eyes lingered.He walked away from her side to stand beside his team manager. My fingers curled into my palm as I watched her approach. She leaned toward me slightly, her voice a soft whisper."Sir, coffee."I took it without a word, refusing to acknowledge the warmth in her tone. I took a sip, and somehow, it tasted more bitter than usual. I frowned and pushed it back to her."Get me a new one," I ordered.She passed me a pissed-off glare before leaving the room.Soon, the meeting ended, and everyone gathered their documents and left. Vanessa moved to pick up my copy of the proposal, but I stopped her. I got up, trapping her between the table with my hands."Sir?" Her voice was low, cautious, and her face held a frown.I tilted my head, watching her carefully. "What? You didn’t have this face downstairs when you laughed at whatever tha
Chapter 55*Obsession-2*Andre’s POV:I ran a hand down my face as she stormed off, exhaling heavily. A part of me felt relieved watching her go—like shedding dead weight. There was no passion, no real connection. Just another failed attempt at something that was never meant to be.Signaling the waiter, I ordered a bottle of whiskey. Tonight, I needed to drown in something stronger than my thoughts.The moment I dropped the bottle, my phone buzzed, and I picked up without checking."How's your date going?" Ethan's voice carried amusement. I exhaled. Sounded like he called just to mock me. I didn't respond, just sighed a second time."Come on... Tell me about it, Andre..." Ethan dragged."Fucked. I broke up with her, and she left."Ethan laughed. "I knew it would end this way. You're that ass who doesn’t know what he wants.""And you do?""Better than you do." He jeered."You alone?""Still at the restaurant, yeah.""Let's drink together then."I leaned back in my seat. "And Sarah?""S
Chapter 54By the time evening rolled around, Vanessa gathered her things and stepped out of the building.Andre stood in front of the glass window, arms folded, watching her leave. The sight unsettled him in ways he refused to acknowledge. The way she carefully balanced the box in her arms, her delicate fingers gripping the edges as if afraid to drop it—it held his attention longer than it should have.She was almost at the gate when someone stepped into her path.The intern from earlier.Andre’s jaw tightened. His eyes sharpened, drinking in every detail of the interaction between them.Vanessa said something, and the guy laughed. His smiling face grated on Andre’s nerves. Then, without hesitation, the intern reached out, offering to take the box from her. Vanessa hesitated for a moment before handing it over, a small, appreciative smile tugging at her lips.Andre's fingers curled into a fist, something dark and restless brewing inside of him.What the hell is she doing?His vision
Chapter 53Andre’s POVI should fire her.The thought came as I leaned against my desk, tapping my pen against the glass surface.It had been hours since I handed Vanessa the reports, and there had been nothing but silence—no updates, no questions, no remarks.A part of me expected her to come running, maybe complaining that she still didn't understand the corrections, but she hadn't.Curiosity won over patience, and before I could talk myself out of it, I stood and made my way out of the office. She had her small desk a few steps away from my secretary Grace's desk in the second office.I pushed the door open and found her there.Head down, resting on her desk.Asleep.I stepped closer, the irritation I'd been preparing slipping through my fingers.Her chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm, her long lashes casting shadows over her cheeks. Strands of hair had fallen over her face, and her lips were slightly parted, as if she had fallen asleep mid-thought.She looked... soft.A far
Chapter 52Vanessa’s POVThe car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the company building. Mr. Garcia stepped out first, not even glancing in my direction. He walked ahead, his long strides confident with his expression unreadable.I stayed seated for a moment, gripping the strap of my bag tightly. I inhaled. Exhaled. I could do this. I had spent the last few weeks away from here, so much so that I almost didn't remember what it was like to work in this kind of setting.After my small mental prep, I finally stepped out—only to meet his gaze, pinning me in place."Scared of going in?"I shook my head quickly and got out of the car. His warm hand found mine, his fingers slowly pressing against my cold ones. "Let's go."The air around me shifted. Everything felt blurry as I tried to understand why he was holding my hand, walking beside me so naturally. But I found no reason.The moment we stepped into the lobby, everything seemed to pause. Conversations lowered to whispers, eyes turned t