Chapter 3 - Temptation in a Suit

Maya looked at him like he’d sprouted two heads. “What?”

He sat back in his chair, arms crossed across his chest. “You’re being promoted.”

She erupted with a laugh. “You’re kidding.”

Maya’s hands were balled at her hips. “You called me a gold digger, and now you want to promote me? Why?”

Xander gave her a pained look. He who had never been one to explain himself to his friends not even his subordinates found himself explaining.

“One, I never called you a gold digger.”

She balled her hands into fists at her sides. “You implied it.”

Xander exhaled through his nose, clearly restraining himself.

“ And two, Mrs. Camilla is sick. She won’t be returning anytime soon. I require someone who knows how things are done here.” His gaze locked onto hers. “You’re the best option.”

Maya blinked. “I’m going to have to turn this down. They are other more qualified people other than me”

“If you do, you’re fired.”

Her stomach dropped to the floor.

What! Was this guy so arrogant. Who forces a promotion on someone.

“Your pay would be doubled”

What! Really! Maya was very money minded. As someone from an average family she could not miss any chance to make money. She was clearly happy about the pay increment, but she put on a sad expression and gritted her teeth. “Fine.”

A smile twitched on his lips. This woman clearly couldn’t resist the bonus, but she was making it look like she was forced to work. He didn’t care as far as she did what she was told.

“Good. You start now.

His voice lowered slightly. “And Maya?”

She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze.

“Next time you talk to your boss with such disrespect you’ll be fired”

Her hands were bunched into fists. She wanted to slap that proud look on his handsome face.

Maya spun on her heel and stormed off, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The door shut behind her with more force than necessary, rattling the silence in the room.

Xander was stunned. Normally others would be afraid of him when he used that tone, but she even looked like she wanted to beat him up.

For a long moment, there was nothing but the hum of the AC.

Then—

Derek let out a low whistle. “Damn. That was intense.”

Xander shot him a warning look.

Derek laughed. “So… who is she?”

Xander rubbed his temples. “Maya Thompson. I met her at a club.”

Derek’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait. The girl you had a drunken night with? Man, what are the chances? She just so happens to work for you too?”

Xander smiled. “Yeah. Coincidence, right?”

Derek studied him for a while, arms folded, as if waiting for Xander to admit something. When he didn’t, Derek chuckled. “You know, I couldn’t help but notice the chemistry between you two.”

Xander scoffed. “You must be blind. There’s no such thing.”

Derek arched an eyebrow. “Really? Because from where I was sitting, it looked like something else entirely.”

Xander’s gaze flicked toward the door where Maya had disappeared minutes ago. “I’m not interested, Derek. It was just a fling. I was drunk. It happened. That’s it.”

“Uh-huh,” Derek drawled. “That’s why you promoted her instead of firing her.”

Xander’s jaw tightened. “She was better qualified for the position.”

Derek let out a laugh. “Yeah. Tell yourself that. If you don’t want to… I’ll just go for her myself. She’s my kind of girl. I mean, you already have Camilla.”

Xander’s expression darkened at the mention of her name. “I hate everything about that girl, but my mother is persistent. Maybe you should take that one. That would be a breather for me. I’ll match make both of you together.”

Derek snorted. “No way. Your mum would kill me for stealing her son’s bride.”

****

Maya had barely cooled off from the argument when she was called to HR.

She ignored the curious stares from her colleagues as she made her way there.

Maya stared at the letter in her hand. This guy was really efficient. In less than five minutes she had been promoted to his secretary. She wished it was a joke. But the paperwork was real, the official transfer was signed, and by lunch, she was officially relocated to her new desk inside Xander’s office, much to the murmurs of her colleagues, but she ignored them. She had bigger problems—like the mountain of files staring back at her.

Xander walked out of his office. “You’re here. Good. Get me a cup of coffee—three and a half spoons of milk, exactly two cubes of sugar.”

Maya blinked. Was he serious? For God’s sake he couldn’t even allow her settle into the job first. Was this why he gave her the job, so he could boss her around as revenge for her outburst. Besides who the hell measures coffee like that. Despite that she kept a neutral and even humble expression on her face.

“Okay sir, What am I to do about the files”, she asked.

“Summarize the points and send them to me by email.”, he instructed leaving for his office.

Maya ground her teeth but got up to make the coffee.

Luckily there was a coffee machine, and she didn’t have to go down to the break room. After she dropped his coffee at his office she sat down to the load of work before her.

The day dragged on very slowly. Maya spent the whole morning scheduling meetings, making non-stop calls, and running errands.

It was all Xander ordering around and her running around to carry out the instructions.

By the time the office emptied, the clock read 7:45 PM. Maya was still at her desk, rubbing at the ache in her head firmly convinced that her brain was burnt. Everyone else had left hours ago, but she was still there.

With a sigh, she reached for her third cup of green tea. She had started drinking it to stay alert. By the end of the day she had no less than 13 cups.

She took a deep sip, letting the slightly bitter taste settle on her tongue as the thought nagged at her—was this how her life was going to be from now on? She might soon commit suicide.

As the days blurred together, Maya became used to the routine. Late dinners, day-and-night meetings, a mountain of papers, and constant running around.

Yet, none of it compared to the real struggle—being around him.

He was professional. He never brought up their night together again after that, never so much as hinted that anything had happened between them and yet, Maya couldn’t shake the awkwardness.

She became hyper-aware of his presence and no matter how hard she tried, she kept remembering that night.

She didn’t want to, didn’t understand why it lingered in her mind. It wasn’t like she was a virgin. She had been with other men before, but sex had never felt like that.

It had never been so intense. It had felt different. Right, even. And that scared her.

Worse, she kept catching herself staring at him.

With a sigh she reached for her green tea, taking another sip.

"I never knew the job of a secretary could be so demanding."

She stole a glance at the clock. 8:43 PM. Her shift should have ended hours ago, but Xander had kept her here. She couldn’t leave till he said so.

The intercom buzzed.

“Miss Thompson,” Xander’s deep voice came through, “Where’s the marketing report? It should have been on my desk already?”

Maya inhaled sharply, pushing away her exhaustion. “I sent it twenty minutes ago to your email.”

Silence. “Then, Bring it to my office.”

She clenched her jaw. Why does he need me to bring it when he can just open the damn email?

She stood, smoothing her blouse, grabbed the printed copy, and marched toward his office.

Maya knocked twice before pushing the door open.

Xander sat behind his desk, his attention locked on his laptop screen. Even in the dim glow of the office, he looked effortlessly composed— tie slightly loosened but still handsome. Her gaze stayed on his face then drifted lower.

God, those lips…

A sudden warmth spread through her, and she jolted upright, tearing her gaze away.

What the hell am I doing?