Sweetheart

Chloe and Mia called to show me the view of the countryside. Soon enough, I forgot the scene with my uncle and got immersed in their talks when my phone chimed with a new email. The moment I opened it, excitement shot through me.

“Guys, my internship placement just came in!” I squealed.

“No way! Where did you get posted to?” Chloe asked eagerly.

I scanned the email quickly. “It says I'm assigned to the Aurora Corpor..” My breath caught in my throat. “… isn't that the huge ass marketing company?”

Mia gasped. “That's a major company! You're so lucky!”

We ended up shifting the discussion to our internship placements before we disconnected the call. I couldn't keep my excitement to myself and rushed to inform my mom, who only smiled and congratulated me.

“I know you will do well. Welcome to the real world temporarily,” she commented, giving me a high five.

“Take this fruits to your uncle, he’s in his room. You both can eat that while you catch up with him.” She shoved a tray in my hands and started packing for work.

Did she just send me to the lion’s den? How was I put up with the tension between us?

I entered his room to see him packing his bag at the edge of the room. He definitely didn’t expect me in his room.

“Mom told me to bring you some fruits,” I slid the tray on the table.

I leaned back in the chair right in front of him, stretching just enough for my t-shirt to ride up my thigh slightly. I caught his gaze flickering down before he masked it with indifference.

“Guess I'll finally have the house all to myself again,” I began. “Not that I minded your presence, Uncle.”

His eyes raked my bare legs slightly, but he kept his face neutral. “Don't go around behaving like this with other men, Cassie.”

I let out a short laugh. “And why not? You don't get to control me.”

He tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips as he approached me. His face was just a few inches apart from mine as his tall frame towered over me where I was. My heart, which I thought was hardened, began to beat against its ribcage uncontrollably.

“I love disobedient and stubborn ladies. They're the most fun to break because I can fuck them into submission.”

I swallowed hard, my body betraying me at his words. I hated how easily he could make me feel this way.

“You think I’m one of them?” I chuckled lightly, trying to mask my feelings

His hand slowly stroke my face, causing me to gulp down a thick wad of spit. It reminded me of the sinful night, all details vividly playing in my head.

“Take care of your fears first. You are trying too hard to hide them.”

His words stung me. I didn't say another word and just jumped up, turned on my heels, and stormed out of the room. His words were echoing heavily in my head, and the reaction was damning; my panties were soaked already. I needed a distraction badly.

***

I couldn’t get the encounters with my uncle off my head. Ever since he left, his scent and memories were everywhere. The sitting room smelled like him, anytime I open the fridge, it felt like he would pin me on the counter like the other night.

“You need to get this off your head,”

I kept repeating to myself and immersed myself in other activities, just to close that chapter of my life and move on.

The following week, Alex pulled up in front of the massive building to drop me off like my mom instructed. I tendered my internship letter, and it was confirmed immediately by the HR. My acceptance letter was printed, and I signed it before the HR boss also signed it. She signaled for one of the employees to direct me to my new office.

She led me to the elevator leading to the top floor of the building as I looked around.

“Lucia”

Immediately, I returned the pleasantries and responded with “I’m Cassie.”

She took me person in charge of the office we got to and introduced me as the new intern that was posted to her floor.

“I see you are assigned here. The office of the CEO's secretary is currently vacant. With your educational background, you should be able to fit in perfectly. Liz will fill you in what it takes and your desk is right beside the CEO's. I trust you to handle the job well,” the boss explained with a thin smile.

“You can follow me,” the person who I suspected to be Liz motioned to me and led me to the other side of the office.

“Your seat is here, right in front of the CEO’s office and you can go through the manuals on the table. It contains your work schedule and tips on the CEO’s preferences. Once you can follow them, he’s not hard to serve.”

I listened with rapt attention and engraved all she had said in my brain. I settled in my seat after the necessary steps had been taken, and it occurred to me that I hadn't introduced myself to the CEO.

With my straightened navy blue skirt, I headed to the door and pushed it open. I walked into the CEO's office to see him buried in work at the end of the room.

His cologne filled my nose, calling back a certain memory I didn’t want to remember but life is full of coincidences so I never imagined Nicholas being my boss.

The CEO sat behind the massive desk, casually flipping through a file as I walked to the front of his table.

“Good morning, sir.” At that moment, his sharp eyes looked up to meet mine. My legs froze and my body turned ice-cold, but he wasn't shaken.

His lips curled into a slow smirk.

“Surprise? Sweetheart.”