Chapter 1

~~ETHEL~~

I didn’t sign up for this.

When I got hired as the Personal Assistant of Keanu Martell one year ago, I didn’t expect delivering break-up souvenirs to become part of my job description.

And yet here I was.

I had just had a card and a box of chocolates delivered to the latest victim of my boss. The card simply read:

‘It was good while it lasted, but this is the end of our arrangement.’

Yep, that was Keanu Martell. He dated a different woman every other month, until he got tired of them. Then he would have a break-up souvenir sent to them to end the relationship.

This was the eighth break-up souvenir I had sent this year.

But well, what did I care? Those women knew exactly what they were getting themselves into, so I had no pity for them.

All I cared about was that I was paid for doing my job. And God knew I needed the money badly.

Shaking my head, I returned my attention to the report I was reviewing. Martell Corporation’s latest venture was killing it on the stock market.

Thirty minutes later, I was fully immersed in the graphs and charts when the sound of heels clocking briskly on the tiled floor drew my attention. I looked up to find a woman stalking towards my desk.

Nicky Curry. The blonde woman I had just sent the card and chocolates to.

I immediately let out a sigh knowing what I was about to deal with.

Without even bothering to spare me a glance, she attempted to go straight into Keanu’s office, but I quickly shot to my feet, blocking her path.

Her unamused glare fell on me. “Move. I’m here to see Keanu.”

“You can’t just barge into Mr. Martell’s office without an appointment and without checking with me first.” I said patiently. “Either way, Mr. Martell is not in his office.”

“You expect me to believe that?” She spat. “I know you’re trying to keep me from seeing him.”

Next thing I knew, she pushed me out of the way, nearly causing me to fall before She opened the door and strode into the CEO’s office.

My nostrils flared as I straightened myself and followed her in.

“Do you see now, or should I get you a brain so you can better comprehend next time?”

Spinning around to face me, she jammed her hands on her hips. “It was you, wasn’t it? It was you who sent me that stupid card!”

I fought hard to keep from rolling my eyes. “Yes, I did. On Mr. Martell’s orders.”

“I knew it. I knew it!” she pointed a finger at me, nearly poking me in the eye. “You were trying to make me believe that Keanu broke up with me, you bitch! You think I don’t see the way you stare at him? I know you badly want him to fuck you but he’ll never look at you because you’re nothing but a...lowlife secretary.”

This time, I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. “Not everyone is as desperate as you, Nicky. I will never sleep with a man like Keanu. Ever. I’d rather stay single forever.”

So what if Keanu Martell was one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever met with his patrician features, electric cyan eyes, and those bulging and rippling muscles of his?

I would be a fool to date someone like him.. It would be like putting my heart on a silver platter to be broken.

Not that it even mattered. I already had a boyfriend, Maximilian. And we’d been together for six months.

Besides, Keanu had no interest in me.

I let out another sigh. “Nicky, I have a lot of work to do so please just go.”

“I’m not leaving until Keanu returns.” Nicky stubbornly jammed her hands on her hips again. “I don’t believe he told you to send me that card. He told me I have the best pussy he’s ever fucked.”

I scrunched my nose. That was definitely a detail I could do without. And I knew she was lying to make herself look better.

“Oh, Nicky,” I shook my head mockingly. “I thought you would have a little bit of sense but I guess looks can be deceiving. ”

Her eyes blazed. “What are you insinuating?”

If she thought I was going to back down, then she had it coming.

“I’m not insinuating anything, Nicky. I’m telling you that you’re truly pathetic for basing all your worth on your pussy. No wonder Mr. Martell doesn’t respect you.”

I didn’t see Nicky’s hand move until it was inches from my face. I braced myself for the impact of the slap, but it never came. Keanu Martell had grabbed Nicky’s hand just in time.

His face was hard, his eyes cold enough to freeze hell.

“Keanu,” Nicky gushed.

“You show up unannounced to my office and try to assault my employee?”

He tightened his grip on Nicky’s hand, causing her to wince in pain.

“Let me explain. You’ll know she deserves it.” Nicky groaned. “You can’t believe what she did.”

Keanu finally let go of her hand, taking a step back. “Oh, really? What did she do according to you?”

“She sent me a stupid card ending the relationship between you and I.”

“Oh, yeah. Because I asked her to.” Keanu said without missing a beat.

“What?” Nicky looked like she had just been slapped. “Why?”

A breath of impatience left Keanu’s mouth. “Let’s not do this Nicky. It was not a relationship. It was an arrangement and you agreed to it. It could end any time either of us wanted.”

Nicky closed the distance between them, reaching for his collar as her lips stretched into a coy, seductive smile. “But babe, I thought after all the great times we’ve shared, you would change your mind.”

Keanu reached for her hand, pulling it away from his tie. “Well, you can clearly see now that you were wrong so if you wouldn’t mind, we have a lot to do here. This is a business, not a tantrum line.”

Nicky’s mouth dropped open, her cheeks turning redder than a tomato. I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from laughing.

“You’re a bastard Keanu Martell. But I promise you you’ll never find another woman like me.”

Keanu turned his back and moved away from her as he replied, “I hope not.”

I couldn’t help it. Snickers escaped my nose, and I had to cover my mouth. Nicky was fuming so much I could practically see smoke coming out of her ear before she turned and stormed out of the office.

“So you would rather stay single than sleep with me.” Keanu’s voice right behind me. I spun around, startled as I met his gaze.

Oh God, he heard what I said. Me and my big mouth.

I swallowed hard.

“What happened, Ethel. Cat got your tongue?” Keanu raised a brow. “So only desperate women allow me to fuck them, huh?”

“Mr. Martell...” I began to say but the rest of my words spiralled away because my boss had just stepped impossibly closer. Our faces were only inches apart.

“Are you saying there’s no way you would ever let me fuck you?” His voice was a whisper. Low. Breathy. Daring.

I could feel my heart begin to pick up pace, my breaths quickening as I replied. “Never.”

“Careful, Ethel,” the corner of his lips twitched as he brought his hand to my face, tacking a strand of hair behind my ear. “because I love challenges.”

His face drew ever closer, and my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. I could smell the cedar fragrance of his cologne, feel his breath on my face.

What the heck was he doing?

Was he going to kiss me?

In a second, his warmth was gone as he turned and slowly made his way to his desk, dropping nonchalantly into his swivel chair like he didn’t just nearly cause my heart to explode.

“You may return to your desk, Ethel.”

I didn’t wait to be told twice. I turned and made my way out of there, by legs wobbly for some stupid reason.

‘Careful Ethel, because I love challenges’.

What the hell did he mean by that?