LOGINELYSIA. Groaning, I stretched my stiff limbs and opened my eyes. The room wasn't very bright. I turned, but saw Zane sitting in silence, staring at me... watching me. "Ahh!" I shrieked, falling off the bed in startlement. I winced, sitting up slowly. Zane was still on the spot, unfazed by the little drama I just showcased. My brows creased in anger. "What is wrong with you? Must you always act like a creep? You didn't have to sneak up on me like that." I snapped. "I haven't scolded you for going to a party without my permission and almost getting yourself raped." My jaw dropped, and I looked around; my brows shot up when I realized I wasn't in my room. It wasn't the guestroom in Zane's guesthouse either. The memories of last night came rushing back like a gush of wind with an eye-blinding migraine. The last thing I could recall was telling Nova I was drunk and the hazy silhouettes of men. I couldn't remember what happened after that, but with how pissed Zane looked, I'm sure he
ZANE. Stepping into the silent hallway, I narrowed my gaze. I stopped at the end of the corridor, pushing the door to the last room open. Bryan jerked, turning with his brows creased. His expression changed in a split second when he saw me. His eyes widened in shock. "What?" He huffed. "How did you get here?" A FEW HOURS EARLIER...I had been busy at the business meeting when I received a photo from the guard I had placed to keep an eye on Elysia. Was she having lunch with Bryan? I left the client I was speaking to when I got the information about her and Nova taking an Uber to Bryan's club. I know Bryan; he's an asshole who grabs whatever opportunity he gets to fuck a woman. He's unimpressive in bed, so he preferred to drug them before taking advantage of them. He invited his friends, five of them. They split themselves, three-to-one. Bryan was supposed to go first with Elysia, since, as rumor may have it, he hated sharing. The other two were still waiting for him in the loun
Elysia. Working as Zane's secretary for the last four days has been... Sigh. Exhausting, exasperating. I wonder how long Dahlia had been working for him before she got dismissed. His annoying personality was always intact, unmovable. But when he's in for business, he's in. Nothing questionable has happened over the last few days, and if I hadn't witnessed what I did a few weeks ago, I'd think Zane was just another regular CEO. And what I noticed was how oddly organized he was. And I'm not talking about him going through all of his daily routines and appointments without missing a beat or postponing anything; I'm talking about how in place all of his stuff is. His suit jacket would always be on the rack, in the same position. His pen container had all the pens covered and pushed to an orderly corner; there wasn't a single day I would come into his office and find anything out of place. Plus, the cleaner comes to the office three whole times in a day. It's always the same lady; s
ELYSIA. "Look at the bright side of it all." Nova's voice resonated through the phone's speakers. "An increment of your paycheck. It's a huge deal bagged effortlessly if you ask me.""You don't get what I'm trying to say." I groaned, wrapping my hair in a low bun. It was my first day going to the company as Zane's newest secretary. Of course, it's still absurd to me, but Nova doesn't think it's all bad, especially because there was a pay increase. If only she knew Zane way beyond his annoying personality and handsome appearance. If only she knew. I tusked. "How can I get multiple promotions from being a junior analyst, almost unknown, to being a secretary?" Plus, it happened all while I thought he had left me alone, or even forgotten about me. "You said it yourself; your supervisor put in a good word about you, and that alone is believable and enough. Maybe he's seen your potential and figured out it's not something to be kept in the dark."I rolled my eyes at Nova's blind reas
ZANE. "What do you mean I'm your secretary? What happened to Dahlia?" Elysia had her hands on her waist demandingly. "She's been doing her job diligently, hasn't she?"Sure enough, I had expected this, but she delivered it a little more dramatically. I didn't want to smile, even if I was enjoying her outburst. "The last time I checked, I'm the CEO of this company. And I decide who leaves and who stays, and also who'll be my secretary, and that's you.""What if I choose not to be your secretary?""You have no choice, doll, but there is an option though." I raised a brow; the side of my lips curled up. She looked both interested and suspicious. "And that's leaving the company entirely."She groaned. "Why are you like this? How can I jump from being a junior analyst to your secretary within just a month? What kind of promotion is that? It's not like you have any idea how I've been--" "Of course I do." I cut in. "You heard the heartfelt speech I gave about how good you've been at your
ELYSIA. Bryan scoffed; of course he was unwilling to stand. I gave him all the eye signals there were, but he didn't move. Instead, he looked up at Zane, who was still giving him a chilly glare. Shouldn't the glare make him realize he was treading on a lethal line? But no, it was either he was too ignorant, or he really had no idea what he was getting himself into. Immediately, I remembered what happened last night; Zane was giving Bryan the same look. "Bryan, that's his spot," I said softly. "You can sit here instead--""Don't make a move, doll." Zane cut in, making me halt. "Sit your ass back down."I had initially wanted Bryan to take my spot, but I sat down at Zane's command. Goosebumps appeared all over my body, and all I wanted to do at the moment was to make sure Bryan didn't get the same fate as Mr. Roger. "I have no idea what's making your boss cranky, but I guess it's a cue for me to leave." Bryan stood up and smiled at me. "I still have your contact; I'll call you, and
ELYSIA. Reluctantly, I got into the car. Partly because I was sure I wouldn't be able to get a taxi anymore and mostly because it's already embarrassing enough that my enemy had to see me like this, and the other people I'd passed with tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes?I didn't ask how Zane knew
ELYSIA. Oh no! I shut my eyes immediately, my hands flew to my face to block what I just saw. "I-- I'm sorry," I stuttered. "I didn't mean to barge into your room, I'm just here on an errand, mom asked me to call you... for breakfast.""What?""I mean, I didn't mean to see you naked--" my cheeks h
ELYSIA. In the next two days before Mom's wedding, I was choked up. I helped Mom out with her fittings, organized the seat charts, helped out with choosing flowers, went for cake tastings, I was practically buried in busy schedules, phone calls, and checklists. Nova helped out as much as she coul
ELYSIA. That rude man from the day before... He's Mr. Steele's son? His hazel orbs were on me lazily, and he had an indifferent expression. Should I say the universe is truly against my happiness in my mom's home? Why would this man of all people be my stepbrother? Slight annoyance was starting t







