The ringtone that dragged me out of bed that morning felt like a slap to the face. My head still carried the ghost of last night's confusion, but what really made me groan was Maxie storming into my room, phone in hand, waving it like it was an eviction notice.
"Sharon," she hissed, hair flying everywhere. "Mr. Kade just called. Our leave's been cancelled. We're to resume work tomorrow morning."
I sat up too quickly and almost toppled off the bed. "What? Our one-month leave?"
She nodded with the gloom of someone announcing a funeral. "He said no excuses. Something about restructuring."
"Restructuring my ass," I muttered under my breath. "What kind of boss cancels leave midway?"
Maxie shrugged dramatically and flopped onto my bed, stealing my pillow. "The type that doesn't know peace, obviously."
I didn't want to admit it, but maybe it was better. Staying at home meant more time to overthink him. And every time I closed my eyes, I could still feel his voice scraping against my skin, cold, teasing, merciless. That night in his room replayed in flashes, his refusal to touch me, the way he stripped me of my defenses with words sharper than knives, and the chilling look in his eyes when he whispered petty virgin.
I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to shake it off. Work might actually be my only escape.
---
The next morning, the office buzzed louder than usual. You'd think someone had announced free salaries. When Maxie and I walked in, Joel our colleague who was always too cheerful for his own good, skipped up to us like an eager puppy.
"Guess what?" he grinned.
"Don't," I warned, pulling my bag tighter. "Not before I get coffee."
He ignored me, of course. "We have a new CEO. She's already in the building. Mr. Kade says she's the one responsible for our leave being cut short."
Maxie and I exchanged a look. My stomach clenched. I didn't know why. Maybe I was still on edge from everything.
Ten minutes later, we were summoned to the conference hall for introductions. That was where I saw her.
Diana.
The same woman from the picnic. The one who had grabbed Aec's arm and pulled him away the very first time he and I clashed.
My jaw almost dropped, but I forced myself to recover. She looked different now: tailored navy-blue pantsuit that hugged her like it was custom-made, sleek black heels that tapped against the tiled floor like gunshots, and her hair pulled into a neat bun that screamed authority.
"Good morning, everyone," Diana began, her voice calm but clipped, like someone who had a meeting with destiny right after this. "I'll be your new CEO. And let me be honest: I don't tolerate laziness or inefficiency. This company is going to change under me."
She turned her gaze toward us, and I swore for a second it lingered on me. Did she recognize me? Or was I just paranoid?
"Mr. Kade," she said, "please give me a quick tour. I want to see what I'm dealing with."
That was how I, Maxie, and Joel ended up trailing along like interns behind Diana and Kade, pretending we weren't being evaluated with every flick of her sharp eyes.
"This office is too cluttered," she remarked as we walked past accounting.
"Too much chatter here," she said when we passed HR.
"Your filing system looks like a tragedy," she added when she stopped by admin.
Maxie and I kept trading glances, silently screaming at each other. Joel, on the other hand, nodded at every word like she was reading the gospel.
Then it happened.
As we approached the glass-walled CEO office, Diana turned to Kade. "I'll need to arrange a meeting with Lord Aec soon. There's a pending deal he and I discussed a while ago."
My heart stopped.
The name hit me like a bullet. My hands grew clammy, and I quickly looked away, praying no one noticed the tremor in my body. But Maxie noticed. She always did. Her hand brushed mine lightly as if to say breathe.
I forced myself to nod, to act normal, but my head was already spinning.
---
By lunchtime, we were released back to our desks, and I nearly collapsed in my chair. Maxie and Joel dragged their chairs to mine, gossip already bubbling.
"She's intense," Joel whispered.
"Intense?" Maxie snorted. "She's like caffeine with heels."
I tried to laugh but it came out hollow. "She's… different."
Joel leaned closer. "Different is an understatement. Did you see how Kade was practically wagging his tail around her? Bet he's already writing her name in his prayers."
We all chuckled softly, but my mind wasn't on Diana anymore. It was stuck on that cursed name: Aec. Why did it have to follow me everywhere?
---
At 4 p.m., an announcement went out: Mandatory office dinner tonight. A welcome party for Diana. Attendance compulsory.
I nearly groaned aloud.
"I'm not going," I whispered fiercely to Maxie while we packed our things.
"You heard the announcement." she whined
"I'll fake sick." I tried to make a faint face
"She'll see through it."
"I'll get run over by a bicycle." I cried out
"You'll survive, and she'll still drag you there.Girl get your flipping shit together"
I wanted to strangle her for being right.
---
Evening came too fast.
The dinner was held at one of those upscale restaurants with dim lighting, private booths, and a VIP section cordoned off for us. Everyone looked polished, glasses clinking, conversations flowing. Maxie wore a short emerald dress that glittered with every step, and Joel had on a crisp white shirt with rolled sleeves. I wore something simple a fitted black gown that hugged my curves but didn't scream for attention. Still, I felt naked under every flicker of memory from that night.
Mr. Kade and Diana sat at the head table, Maxie and Joel to one side of me. I kept my head down, poking at my food, praying no one would notice my silence.
Then the air shifted.
I didn't have to look up to know why. The sudden hush of whispers, the heavy footsteps, the aura that seemed to command the entire room.
Aec.
He slid into the seat directly across from me, his presence sucking the oxygen from my lungs. His gaze locked on mine instantly, and I froze like prey caught in headlights. He was dressed in a dark tailored suit, shirt unbuttoned just enough to show skin, his aura still that dangerous blend of cold and magnetic.
"Lord Aec," Diana smiled. "Glad you made it."
He nodded briefly, then leaned back in his chair, eyes still drilling into me.
My fork trembled. Maxie's hand brushed mine under the table, grounding me.
The conversation at the table flowed around me, but every word from him felt directed at me.
"So," Aec drawled at one point, voice low enough for only our side to hear. "Some people can't hold their liquor well, I hear. Ends up in strange places. Isn't that right?"
My breath caught. His words slid under my skin, sharp and mocking.
I swallowed hard. "Maybe some people should mind their business."
Joel blinked at me, startled. Maxie squeezed my hand, warning me to stay calm.
But Aec only smirked, eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Bold words from someone who begged with her eyes."
Heat flushed through me, equal parts shame and fury. My hand gripped the fork so tightly it hurt.
He leaned forward slightly, his tone deceptively casual. "Tell me, Sharon. Did you enjoy pretending? Or was the little virgin act real?"
The table went silent. I froze, blood roaring in my ears. He had just said it out loud, with that chilling smirk.
Everyone was staring and something in me snapped instantly
I slammed my fork down, the sound echoing like a gunshot. "You...!" My voice shook, rage spilling out. "You don't get to talk to me like that!"
Chairs scraped, whispers erupted, Diana's brows furrowed. Kade looked like he wanted to sink into the floor.
Aec only leaned back, calm as a storm. "Touched a nerve, did I?"
Before I could hurl the glass of water in his face, a firm hand gripped my shoulder.
"Sharon."
I turned, breath ragged. It was Marcus. I'd ask him to come earlier to pretend like I had an important issue so I could dodge the dinner but he was rather too late
He stood behind me, eyes dark and unreadable, but his grip steady and protective. He nodded to the table politely, then bent closer to me. "Come on. Let's get you out of here."
The heat of humiliation burned in my chest, but I let him guide me, my legs trembling as we walked out. I could feel Aec's eyes on me the whole way, cold and satisfied.
And deep down, I knew... I just knew