EVERYTHING STEVEN

**Christine’s POV**

Living in the city was a whirlwind of excitement. It pulsed with life and intrigue, a stark contrast to the tranquil, uneventful countryside where I had grown up.

After wrapping up the meeting plan for Steven’s business associates, I shut my laptop and slipped into my office attire, ready to take on the day. The moment I stepped into the office, however, I was met with a storm: Steven’s anger loomed large.

“What could possibly have him so worked up?” I wondered, making my way to him.

“Good morning, sir,” I said, trying to keep the mood light.

“Where are the files, Christine? I told you to be here by 8 a.m.!” His voice was sharp, cutting through the morning air.

“I’m so sorry! I was busy fixing the errors this morning. Cut me some slack, Steven. I was only 15 minutes late!” I shot back, feeling the tension rising.

He gave me that all-too-familiar cringy look, and I sensed that we had moved on from the missing files to something more personal.

“Do you have a boyfriend, Christine?” he asked, unexpectedly.

I choked on my spit, completely taken aback. Where on earth was this coming from?

“No!” I replied, wide-eyed. I searched his face, curious about the curiosity sparking in his eyes.

“Why would you think that?” I pressed, trying to keep my composure.

His expression softened, but he quickly turned his gaze away. “Well, because you’re never around anymore. Remember that dinner I treated the entire management team to after that successful deal? You skipped it because you had a date.”

Wow. I had no idea he was keeping tabs on my life. Was he... jealous?

I stared at him, and despite his scowling demeanor, his body language spoke volumes.

Oh, please let him be jealous.

“Are you jealous, Steven?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

His eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked it with irritation. “Never! I was just curious. And if you have a boyfriend, I advise you to drop any unhealthy relationship that could affect your work. If not, I might have no choice but to fire you. Consider this a warning.”

With that, he practically bolted from the room.

If there’s one thing I could read like a book, it was Steven. I had harbored feelings for him for ages, and his jealousy was a glimmer of hope. Did that mean he might have feelings for me too?

I found myself lost in thoughts about him for the rest of the morning, replaying our conversation in my head. I resolved to apologize for my earlier reaction and explain the night of the dinner.

As the hour for the meeting approached, I headed toward his office, determined to clear the air. But when I arrived, I stumbled upon a scene that shattered my heart: Steven was wrapped around a woman—Mabel, looking provocative as ever. Their lips were locked, and her hands roamed his body, igniting an overwhelming wave of despair within me.

I froze, my heart plummeting as tears welled in my eyes. The moment our gazes met, I bolted, my legs carrying me away as fast as they could.

Packing my belongings in a whirlwind, I left the office, feeling utterly broken. He had been my everything, and watching him with her felt like he had ripped my heart out. He had promised he didn’t like her, yet here they were.

Once again, my hopes of knowing whether he liked me were dashed, leaving me in tears. I cried through the night, anger and sorrow swirling inside me. Why would I expect him to reach out? He wasn’t my boyfriend; he was my boss.

The next morning brought a new clarity. I resolved to quit. If Steven wasn’t for me, I needed to move on. At 26, it was time to face reality.

Just as I was about to send away my resignation letter, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and there he stood: Steven, in all his glory, holding a bouquet of red roses and flashing that irresistible smile.