LOGINRose never expected her biggest challenge at work to be her arrogant CEO. When she’s forced into a business trip with her controlling boss, their strictly professional relationship quickly begins to blur. What starts as tension and constant clashes slowly turns into something far more complicated. As hidden emotions surface and unexpected moments bring them closer, Rose finds herself caught in a dangerous mix of hate, attraction, and undeniable chemistry. But when his past suddenly returns, threatening everything between them, she must decide if this steamy office relationship is worth the risk… or a mistake she should have avoided from the start.
View MoreRose hated being bossed around.
Unfortunately, she worked for the most arrogant boss in the entire company.
The company she worked for was one of the biggest firms in the city, known for handling important international projects. It was the kind of place where everyone moved quickly, spoke carefully, and tried their best not to make mistakes.
Because mistakes rarely went unnoticed.
Especially by Jason Carter.
A few days earlier, the company had received a major industry award. To celebrate the achievement and discuss upcoming projects, the management team had gathered in one of the executive conference rooms for a meeting.
The meeting had lasted longer than expected.
Rose sat quietly at the end of the long table, her notebook open in front of her as she finished writing the final notes from the discussion. Around her, senior executives were already standing up, gathering their laptops and files as the meeting came to an end.
As soon as the CEO dismissed everyone, people began leaving the room.
Rose quickly closed her notebook and packed her files into her bag. She stood up, hoping to slip out before anyone stopped her with more work.
She had taken only two steps toward the door when a deep voice stopped her.
“Miss Rose.”
The sound of that voice froze her in place.
Rose slowly turned around.
And there he was.
Jason Carter.
Her boss.
Jason was the kind of man people noticed immediately when he entered a room. He was tall, confident, and carried himself with the quiet authority of someone who knew exactly how powerful he was.
His sharp suit fit him perfectly, and his dark eyes were fixed on her with their usual serious expression.
Most people in the company respected him.
Some feared him.
Many admired him.
Rose simply found him irritating.
“Yes?” she replied, raising her eyebrows slightly.
Jason glanced down at the report in his hand.
“You didn’t complete the assignment I gave you yesterday.”
Rose frowned immediately.
“That’s not true,” she said calmly. “I sent everything to your email last night.”
Jason leaned back slightly against the table, studying her with a skeptical look.
“Well,” he said slowly, “the client disagrees.”
Rose felt a small wave of irritation rise inside her.
The way he spoke made it sound like she had been careless, and she hated that.
“I double-checked the numbers,” she replied firmly. “There shouldn’t be any issue.”
Jason held her gaze for a moment, as if trying to decide whether he believed her.
Then he spoke again.
“There’s an official work trip next week,” he said.
Rose blinked.
“A work trip?”
Jason nodded once.
“Australia.”
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Australia?
Before she could say anything, Jason continued.
“And you’re coming with me.”
For a second, Rose thought she had heard him wrong.
Her heart sank.
Of all the people in the office…. why did it have to be him?
Jason was admired by almost every woman in the company. Some of them openly flirted with him whenever they had the chance.
But Rose was not one of them.
To her, Jason Carter was arrogant, controlling, and far too confident in himself.
Unfortunately, he was also her boss.
“I hope that won’t be a problem,” Jason added, his lips curving slightly as if he already knew she had no choice.
Rose forced a polite smile.
“Of course not.”
Inside, however, she was already dreading the trip.
A week later, they were standing at the airport.
The departure hall was crowded with travelers pulling suitcases and rushing toward different gates. The sound of rolling luggage echoed across the polished floor while announcements filled the air every few minutes.
Rose stood near the boarding gate, holding her phone and pretending to check her messages.
Jason stood beside her, calm and relaxed, as if traveling across the world for work was something he did every day.
“You look nervous,” he said suddenly.
Rose glanced at him.
“I’m not nervous.”
Jason raised one eyebrow slightly, clearly unconvinced.
“First international business trip?” he asked.
Rose hesitated for a moment.
“No.”
Jason watched her for a few seconds longer, but he didn’t say anything else.
Soon, the announcement for their flight was called.
They boarded the plane and took their seats.
The flight was long, and the silence between them felt heavy and uncomfortable.
Rose spent most of the journey staring out the window, watching the clouds drift slowly beneath the plane.
She tried her best to ignore the man sitting beside her.
Jason, however, seemed completely relaxed. At one point he opened his laptop to review documents, occasionally typing notes while the dim cabin lights glowed around them.
Hours later, the plane finally landed.
When they stepped outside the airport, a car from the company was already waiting to take them to the hotel.
The city lights glowed brightly outside the window as they drove through the busy streets. Tall buildings stretched toward the sky, their glass windows reflecting the lights of passing cars.
Rose watched the unfamiliar city quietly, trying to focus on the view instead of the man sitting next to her.
Eventually, the car stopped in front of a large luxury hotel.
They entered the lobby, where warm golden lights and soft music filled the space.
The receptionist smiled politely as they approached the desk.
After checking their reservation, she handed them their room cards.
“Two rooms,” she said.
Rose felt a small wave of relief wash over her.
At least she wouldn’t have to spend the night in the same room as Jason.
They took the elevator upstairs and walked down the quiet hallway together.
“Rest well,” Jason said briefly before turning toward his own room.
Rose nodded and entered hers.
She closed the door behind her and let out a long breath.
This trip was already exhausting.
The next morning, Rose stood in front of the mirror in her hotel room.
She wore a fitted blue blouse and a pencil skirt that hugged her curves neatly. After fixing her hair, she applied a light touch of makeup.
She wanted to look confident and professional.
Today’s meeting was important.
When she stepped into the hallway, Jason was already waiting.
For a brief moment, his eyes lingered on her.
Then he cleared his throat.
“Ready?” he asked.
Rose nodded.
They headed downstairs together and left for the meeting.
The conference room overlooked the busy streets below. Several executives from the partner company were already seated around the long table when Jason and Rose entered.
The presentation lasted for hours.
Jason spoke with calm confidence as he explained the company’s plans and answered every question the clients asked.
Rose hated to admit it, but he was extremely good at his job.
When it was her turn to speak, she stood up and presented the financial report clearly and professionally.
For a brief moment, she noticed Jason watching her.
Not with criticism.
Almost with approval.
By the time they returned to the hotel that evening, both of them were exhausted.
Jason walked her down the quiet hallway toward her room.
When they stopped in front of her door, neither of them spoke.
The silence between them felt different now.
Heavier.
Jason stepped a little closer, his gaze fixed on her face
Rose could feel the warmth of his presence and the faint scent of his cologne.
“You’re impossible,” he said quietly.
Rose crossed her arms.
“And you’re arrogant.”
A faint smile appeared on Jason’s lips.
Before she could react, he suddenly reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her closer.
Then he kissed her.
The kiss was sudden.
Intense.
Completely unexpected.
Rose’s heart pounded wildly as she tried to understand what was happening.
Jason deepened the kiss slightly, his hand resting against her waist.
For a moment, Rose forgot everything—her anger, her frustration, and the fact that he was the man she claimed to hate.
Then reality rushed back.
She pulled away, breathing hard.
Neither of them spoke.
But one thing was certain.
This business trip was about to become far more complicated than either of them expected.
Rose immediately felt uncomfortable sitting at the table with Jason and Sophia.The words “we were engaged” echoed in her mind, repeating themselves in a way that made it impossible to focus on anything else. No matter how hard she tried to remain calm, her thoughts refused to settle.She kept her face neutral, but inside, everything felt unsettled.Sophia looked completely at ease, as though she hadn’t just dropped something heavy into the conversation. She smiled, spoke casually, and even laughed lightly at something Jason said.Rose tightened her grip on the fork in her hand.It bothered her.More than it should.She lowered her gaze to her plate, pushing the food around without eating. Suddenly, she had no appetite at all.Why am I reacting like this? she asked herself.Jason was her boss. That was all.His past had nothing to do with her.And yet, the thought of him being engaged to Sophia—that Sophia—made something twist uncomfortably inside her chest.She couldn’t sit there any
Rose barely slept that night.Every time she closed her eyes, the scene from dinner replayed in her mind. Sophia’s confident smile, Jason’s unreadable expression, and the strange tension that had filled the table kept returning again and again.She turned over on the bed and sighed quietly.This trip was becoming far more complicated than she had expected.When Jason first told her she would be traveling with him to Australia, she had only been annoyed. She thought the worst part of the trip would simply be spending several days with her arrogant boss.But now things were different.Now there was Sophia.And the more Rose thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt.The memory of the kiss Jason had given her outside her hotel room suddenly flashed across her mind.Her heart started beating faster.Rose quickly pushed the thought away and stared at the ceiling.“This is ridiculous,” she muttered softly to herself.Jason was her boss. That was all.Nothing about this trip was supp
Rose stood beside Jason, trying to keep her expression calm, but inside she felt uneasy.Sophia stood close to Jason, holding his arm comfortably as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The way she leaned toward him made it obvious that they knew each other very well. Watching them together made Rose feel like a complete stranger.They were laughing and talking about old memories, and Rose felt out of place standing there. She wished she could disappear or leave the place as soon as possible.A strange feeling slowly crept into her chest. She couldn’t explain it clearly. It wasn’t anger, but it also wasn’t comfort. It felt like a mixture of embarrassment and jealousy.Sophia laughed softly and lightly tapped Jason’s arm while talking. Jason responded with a small smile.Rose forced a polite smile, but inside she was becoming more uncomfortable with every second that passed.After a while, Sophia finally turned to her.“It was nice meeting you, Rose,” she said with a bright s
For several seconds after the kiss, neither of them moved.Rose stood frozen in front of Jason, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Her mind struggled to process what had just happened.Jason, on the other hand, looked calm. Too calm.His expression was unreadable as he watched her reaction.Rose finally stepped back, creating some distance between them.“What was that supposed to mean?” she demanded, her voice sharp with irritation.Jason crossed his arms casually.“You were talking too much,” he replied.Rose blinked at him in disbelief.“You kissed me because I was talking too much?” she repeated.Jason gave a small shrug, as if it wasn’t a big deal.Rose felt heat rush to her face.This man was unbelievable.“You’re completely impossible,” she said, shaking her head.Jason simply stared at her, the faintest hint of amusement appearing in his eyes.That only made Rose more annoyed.Without another word, she turned and hurried into her room. She shut the door behind her and lean






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