Chapter 3

Once I discovered Victor's secret, the job I'd hated suddenly became a lot more exciting.

Late that afternoon, Victor sent my plan back again.

He tagged me in the group chat and tore into me without mercy: "Ella, this competitor analysis looks like an intern's homework. Do it again. If you can't turn it in by the end of the day, you'll spend the weekend at the office."

I looked at the screen and scowled.

He chewed me out again? Fine.

I quietly took out my phone and switched to our chat.

"K, that psychotic CEO rejected my plan again. He's making me work this weekend! I'm furious. If he talks to me like that again, no matter how well he treats me, I'll quit."

Ten seconds later, he replied, "Baby, don't be angry. Once I've saved enough money, I'll buy your company and make him serve you all day."

I nearly doubled over trying not to laugh. Then I went in for the kill.

"You're the best, hotshot."

"By the way, I went shopping yesterday and bought you a pair of stockings for men. The tracking says they were just delivered. They're pink with polka dots and little bears."

"Will you wear them under your suit at tomorrow's meeting? I want to know if you'll think about me every second you're wearing them."

Two full minutes passed with no reply.

I could almost picture Victor sitting in his office, staring at the words "pink polka dots and little bears" in horror.

The man was obsessed with perfect tailoring and expensive clothes. This had to be torture.

Finally, K replied hesitantly, "Baby... could we try a different pair? Would black do?"

Hmph! He barked at me in the office, and now he wants me to cut him some slack. Not a chance.

I immediately turned up the pressure.

"No. If you don't wear them, it means you don't love me. If you don't love me, I'll dump you and block you. You've been warned."

K's survival instinct kicked in.

He instantly replied, "I'll wear them! Don't be angry, baby. I promise I'll wear them tomorrow!"

I knew he wouldn't back out. K always kept his promises.

The next morning was the company-wide quarterly review meeting.

Victor sat at the head of the enormous oval table.

He wore a sharp charcoal three-piece suit, with every strand of hair perfectly combed back. His entire presence screamed, "Stay away."

But something was definitely off.

Normally, Victor sat through meetings with his legs crossed, looking relaxed and arrogant as he listened to everyone's reports.

Today, he kept both legs stiffly together.

Every few minutes, he shifted uncomfortably. His brows were furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line, as if he were suffering in silence.

I sat nearby, struggling to keep a straight face.

When it was my turn to present, I stood up and deliberately dropped my pen beside Victor's chair.

"Sorry, boss. Let me get my pen."

I crouched down. Hidden by the table, I glanced straight at Victor's ankle.

He'd shifted just enough for his trouser leg to ride up.

Between the dark-gray fabric of his trousers and his black sock garter was a bright flash of pink.

I could even see one tiny cartoon bear ear peeking out.

"Pfft."

A laugh escaped before I could stop it.

Victor's body went rigid.

He jerked his leg back, his shoe scraping sharply across the carpet.

"Does picking up a pen take this long?"

His icy voice came from above me, each word forced through clenched teeth.

I picked up the pen, stood, and met his icy gaze.

He was ready to eat me alive. But I could see the red slowly spreading from his neck to his ears.

"I'm sorry, boss."

I kept a perfectly straight face, though my eyes were full of laughter.

"It's just that your socks are very vibrant."

Victor stopped breathing for a second.

He stared hard at me. His throat bobbed, and his grip tightened around his pen until his knuckles turned white.

At work, he worked me to the bone.

Online, I made him wear pink bears.

I'd won, hands down.