Chapter 2

Elle's POV

It took a lot for me to show up at work the next day but I couldn't skip it, it was all I had going for me and I needed the money to begin my new life as a divorcee.

One thing I was grateful for was that no one knew I was married at work and naturally no one knew I was recently divorced too. Plus Richard and his new mistress worked in a different department and we almost wouldn't cross paths except there was a general meeting which rarely happened. I was seated in my cubicle buried in office work and drowning in my sorrows when I began to hear the heated chatter from my colleagues.

“I heard the management of the company is going to change following the passing of the old CEO, his grandson will take over his position”

“Joanna, where did you hear that from? Don't spread false rumors and get yourself in trouble”

“I’m serious, you know my friend is the CEO's Personal assistant, I heard everything from her. I also heard that the new young CEO is ruthless and rebellious so we are going to be in for a ride. He was supposed to take over the company a while ago but he was still too irresponsible. Now that his grandfather is dead, he has to step up naturally”

“Really? That means we are going to be called for a general meeting one of these days to introduce him. I really hope I don't get on his bad side”

***

I listened to their conversation involuntarily and sighed, I was more worried about the general meeting than anything else, I would die if I had to see Richard and his mistress. Although I remembered Richard had mentioned something about the next successor of the company being the opposite of his grandfather, he was fearfully respected by the management of the company even though no one had really seen him before.

The sound of phones pinging from notifications distracted me from my thoughts, everyone brought out their phones to check and I did too. It was a message requesting an urgent general meeting in the front hall…

Today must not be my lucky day…

I contemplated skipping it and hiding in the restroom but I could get a query and I couldn't risk that. Everyone had already begun leaving for the meeting so I reluctantly stood up and followed too. We got to the hall that was already crowded with other employees and I hid myself in their midst with the hope that I wouldn't see Richard.

“My apologies for calling for a meeting on such short notice but I was appointed to as the matter at hand is of great urgency” Melody had stepped up to speak once everyone gathered and quieted down.

“We are all aware of the CEO's passing a month ago and now it is time to introduce the new CEO of the company, his name is Mr Raymond. A round of applause as he comes in…” she urged and everyone began clapping and cheering.

To the shock of everyone, I included, the supposed new CEO walked in and it was none other than the manager that I had slept with yesterday. Yes! The same one I took advantage of to get my husband's promotion signed.

My jaw was hanging wide open for god knows how long, I was too in shock and I struggled to process my thoughts. Other coworkers, especially the department he was manager of, were also left stunned. I unconsciously searched for Richard and I could see that color had drained from his face like he was seeing a ghost.

But how was he the new CEO? That meant he was the late CEO's grandson. His name was supposed to boring Ben with a common personality, all the time we talked he never gave anything away. Come to think of it, I had flirted so absent mindedly and didn't notice he never really told me much about himself. Even to the point where we had sex, I didn't care enough to get to know him better. To think I treated the CEO like that, it was worse than I thought.

I was so ashamed and worried at that point. What if he had figured I was using him? That automatically meant the end of my employment and I might even get arrested. Was he angry at me? We haven't spoken since yesterday. I had planned to break up with him politely when I saw him but now I didn't know what to do.

“Hello everyone. I'm Raymond Jefferson and most of you already know me as the manager of the accounting department. I had to take an alias and join the company to get more direct experience with its workers. You have nothing to fear, nothing is changing so please go on as you were. I am a simple minded person and I will only be difficult when you cross me. Trust me, you don't want to see the other side of me, you will not like it. With that said, let's work better together from now on” he addressed us with a loud firm voice. While he was technically the same person, I felt his countenance had become more refined, assertive and firm. He truly gave the air of a CEO, calm but dangerous when crossed and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt it.

I gulped unconsciously because that meant I was in more trouble. Sadly, the man who I did it for didn't even appreciate it.

Everyone clapped, shook hands with him and muttered their welcome, he was just about to get off the stage when he returned and his eyes fell on me, then he said “Miss Elle from the tech department, please see me in my office”

He had a blank look on his face so I couldn't gauge his reaction, but publicly mentioning me brought everyone's attention to me. Our relationship wasn't really a secret before, I was the one who always shunned him from seeing me during work hours but he still adamantly brought me lunch most times. I could tell from my co-worker that they were questioning with their eyes if I had known who he really was.

The crowd was soon dismissed and I made my way to his office, the CEO's office, with my mind prepared for the worse. I was going to end it with him with a lie that I just wasn't interested anymore, I didn't want to lead him on anymore especially with his new standing.

As soon as I entered, I was engulfed into a passionate hug to my surprise. I didn't even have the time to process it or speak when he spoke up and said, “I’m so sorry, Elle. For lying to you about my identity and not reaching out after yesterday. I shouldn't have stood you up like that and I know you must be angry. I promise you that nothing has changed, I am still interested in you and in fact I would like to take it a step further by asking you to marry me”