Summer Lancaster barely slept, spending the whole night thinking about that kiss. She woke up with dark circles under her eyes. When she went into the living room, she found Kenneth Yates sleeping on the couch. She was a little surprised. With his proud personality, why would he deign to sleep on a sofa? Summer walked over, and seeing the comforter had slipped down to his waist, she chuckled to herself. 'Even someone as cold and aloof as him can be as cute as a child sometimes. This is nice.' She gently pulled the comforter back up for him and stole a kiss on his forehead. Just as she was about to head to the kitchen to make breakfast, Kenneth suddenly grabbed her. In an instant, she was beneath him, with Kenneth on top.
"Y-You, when did you wake up?" Summer was thoroughly startled. 'He couldn't possibly know I just kissed him, could he? How embarrassing.'
Kenneth pretended to think. "I think I felt someone steal a kiss from me."
"No, no one kissed you. You must have been dreaming." She blushed, unable to look him in the eye.
"I... I'm going to make breakfast." With great effort, she struggled out of his grasp and hurried to the kitchen. A satisfied smile spread across Kenneth's lips. He probably didn't even realize how radiant his smile was in that moment. After a simple breakfast, Kenneth left while she was washing the dishes. She didn't think much of it. She finished getting ready for work. She had gotten a ride in Caleb Bell's car yesterday, so her own car was still at the company. 'No choice,' she thought, 'I'll have to take a taxi today.'
But when she stepped out of the apartment, she saw Kenneth's car. He was smoking. Seeing her, he rolled down the window.
"Get in." He extinguished his cigarette. 'Is he talking to me? Probably not,' Summer thought.
"Get in. Are you deaf?" Kenneth sounded a little impatient. Summer scrambled into his car. He was acting very strangely today; he never usually let her ride in his car.
"Aren't you happy?" Kenneth lit another cigarette.
"Huh?" Summer looked at him, then reached out and snatched the cigarette from his lips.
"Don't smoke while you're driving." She put out the cigarette. To her surprise, Kenneth wasn't angry at all. Instead, he smiled. Summer got lost in his smile. No matter how he had treated her in the past, she would go through fire and water just to see him smile.
The office was abuzz today. The reason: everyone knew Summer had arrived in the CEO's car, and they were all speculating about their relationship. The CEO himself seemed to be in a great mood. When employees greeted him with "good morning," he actually responded—something that had never happened before.
"Hey, Summer, the CEO's in a good mood today, huh? I can't believe you two actually have a thing going on! If I'd known, I wouldn't have fawned all over him in front of you," Serena Monroe pouted. She was one of Summer's few good friends at the company and the director of the sales department.
"No, you've all got it wrong. My car broke down, I ran into the CEO on the way, and he just gave me a ride." Summer was spouting utter nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
"Then how come he didn't give *me* a ride?" Serena said.
"Alright, alright, Serena. Time to get to work." Summer pushed Serena back toward her own office.
On her way back, she was told the CEO was looking for her, so she headed to his office. Everyone she passed on the way gave her suggestive looks, as if she and the CEO really were having an affair. The CEO was the object of desire for every woman in the company. 'I'm in for it now,' she thought. 'My days here are not going to be easy.'
"Sir, you called for me?"
"Ah, Director Lancaster. Go down to the Blue Jay Cafe and get me a cup of coffee." Kenneth had been looking over some documents, but he set them down when she came in. He couldn't say why he'd called for her. Maybe he just wanted to see her and, having no real reason, came up with the lame excuse of sending her for coffee.
Summer sighed. "Sir, isn't buying coffee something a secretary should do?"
"I'm the CEO, you're my employee. Is there a problem with that?" Kenneth argued petulantly, like a child. Summer knew she couldn't win against him.
"In that case, Sir, please wait a moment. I'll go right away."
Kenneth didn't know what had come over him. He didn't like this side of himself.