CHAPTER 5: MEETING THE NEW CEO

Mirabelle

I woke up in a gigantic bed that definitely wasn’t mine. I blinked at the ceiling and looked around. Where was I?

Then it came back. The club. The kisses. Him.

I was in his private suite.

I sat up fast. My head still spun a little. The last thing I remembered was holding him and kissing him and then...nothing.

I gasped at the thought. Did we still have sex?

I let out a breath. There was no way I would forget If we slept together. And yet, every way he touched me replayed in my mind, right?

Crap. It had to be the alcohol. I wasn’t drunk at all. I felt like myself, yet it still did a number on me.

I threw the sheets off and looked down. I was still wearing Tania's red sequin dress. Maybe that was a sign that nothing else happened.

I was going to give myself to a man for the first time, and I wanted to feel every second of it.

I got up and my eyes searched the room. I walked to the bathroom and pushed the door open. It was empty.

He wasn't here.

My eyes drifted back to the bed. A white note caught my attention on the pillow, with a hundred-dollar bill placed right beside it.

"For the drink."

That was all he wrote. He didn’t leave his name or his number.

I stared at the money. He thought I needed paying? I grabbed a twenty for Jenna’s drink and left the rest on the bed.

The door opened.

A woman walked in with two maids behind her.

"Don't you have any shame?" She marched to the window and pulled the curtains open. Sunlight flooded the room and hurt my eyes.

"Good morning to you too." I squinted against the light. My head was pounding now. "My memory is pretty foggy from last night. Could you tell me where he is...please?"

I'd messed up. I had no idea what his name was even though he knew mine.

"I know your type. You seduce them at night and wake up in a billionaire’s bed by morning with the same story, claiming you don’t remember what happened and refusing to leave." She folded her arms. "You’re all the same. So don’t bother pretending. The sun’s already up."

Wait a minute.

I checked my phone.

Oh my God!

Today was my first day at work. And I was already late.

I ran to the bathroom in the suite and washed my face. I grabbed a new toothbrush and brushed as fast as I could, then snatched my purse and rushed out.

"Wait right there! You have to sign a paper before you leave," the woman called after me, but I didn’t stop.

I went straight to work.

Everyone stared as I walked down the hallway.

Jeez…I heard them whispering.

"Isn’t she one of the new interns?"

"She’s definitely coming from a club."

"The guy probably picked her up and ran."

"She got dumped."

"She’s so irresponsible."

The whispers didn’t stop as I walked. I didn’t know what gave me away, my messy hair, my smudged makeup, or the red sequin dress I was still wearing, perfect for a club, disastrous for an office. They all knew where I was coming from. I wasn’t dressed for my first day at work. I felt completely exposed. But as uncomfortable as it was, I joined the rest of the interns in the conference room.

A woman in front of the room paused her speech when she saw me.

"I'm Miss Amelia, your supervisor." Her eyes trailed down my dress with disapproval. “You’re late.”

“I’m so sorry that I’m late. I had an…emergency,” I lied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Amelia.” I forced a smile, even though I had a lot on my mind, but the frown on her face immediately wiped it away.

I found a spot to sit.

The door opened. Sam and Tania walked in like they owned the building. They didn't look the least bit sorry for being late.

Oh no. As if my day wasn't already off to a bad start.

"Right on time, Tania." Amelia smiled at her.

Tania smiled back. "Aren't I always?"

She walked over and sat next to me. “Hey Belle,” her eyes narrowed as she sat down. "Why are you still wearing my same dress from last night?"

I didn't answer.

"I hope you're not still upset that Sam and I are together." She leaned closer and studied my face. "Come to think about it, you seem different. What happened last night?"

Tania's eyes dug into me, waiting for an answer.

Sam sat down right after her. “Did you even look in a mirror before coming out, Belle? How embarrassing.” He leaned forward, eyes fixed on me. “Where did you spend the night?” He demanded to know like he had any right to ask.

But I didn't have to give either of them an answer.

They didn't deserve anything from me.

I turned away and stared at the table. My hands gripped the edge.

"Mr. Wilder is already on his way." Amelia's voice rang out.

I felt nervous. This was my first day. I was about to meet the CEO, the man who’d decide my future. I needed to forget about last night and focus on making a good first impression.

The door opened.

I lowered my head and took a deep breath as the CEO walked in.

The strong scent of his cologne hit my nose. That can’t be right. I’d buried my face in my hot billionaire’s neck last night, breathing it in.

I looked up.

My pulse raced.

It was him. The man I'd had a steamy encounter with.

My mind spiraled back to last night, his tongue, moving in circles, driving me wild. His strong hands held my thighs apart when I tried to close them. The pleasure he gave me was endless, overwhelming.

I dropped my head again. My hair fell forward, covering my face. Hopefully, he wouldn’t remember me.

"Welcome,” he greeted, professional. Nothing like the hungry voice from last night. "You're all in

this room because you're the best of the best. You will learn and grow here."

I watched him from the corner of my eye. He stood at the head of the table, hands in his pockets, radiating power. His expensive suit fit perfectly. His confidence was so…sexy.

“By the end of the week, I’ll select one of you to work directly with me until this internship ends.”

That was my goal, working directly with the CEO. But now, after last night, I’d probably ruined my chances.

“You’ll constantly have to prove why you deserve to remain at this company. Remember, may the best man or woman win.”

Everyone clapped.

Girls around the table whispered, glancing at him like he would even notice them. I glanced at them too. Jealous. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way about my new boss. I needed to forget last night, but I couldn’t.

Their words flew around the table.

“He’s so handsome.”

“Look at his shoulders.”

“I heard he’s single.”

“I hope he picks me.”

“Watch it,” Tania snapped, silencing them. “That’s my father.”

What?

I was with Tania's dad last night?

Crap!

It all clicked.

James Wilder was the CEO of Wilders Corporation. And the CEO was Tania’s dad. My hot billionaire from last night was her father.

Oh no.

Things just got way more complicated.

I lifted my head slowly, hoping he was already leaving the room without noticing me.

Our eyes met.

My heart stopped.

He stared right at me. His gaze burned into mine with hunger and intensity, like he was remembering last night too, seeing me beneath him all over again. Like he wanted to cross the room and take me right here, right now, on this table.

He growled, shocked. “You?”