CHAPTER 1

The look on his face had been the only thing I needed to ruin my day. 

I sat steadily and alone on the right side of a long rectangular conference table while the rest of the executive committee was on the left, unproudly looking at the presentation flashed on the screen in front. 

He stood there firmly, his right hand clenched into a fist. “You only have one job!” 

I avoided his gaze. I couldn’t handle the heat it brought to my face. Reddened by embarrassment, I murmured, “I am so sorry, boss. It was an honest mistake!” 

But it didn’t take him a second or two to spit back. “Your honest mistake just caused the company millions!” The loudness of his voice ricocheted on all walls of the conference room, sending chills even to the members of the committee. 

“Son, calm down. We can figure this out. There has to be a way that we can make up for this loss in the coming weeks,” the retiring Julius Johnson reasoned out. 

Spencer gathered the pieces of papers on the table in front of him and walked toward my direction. When he reached me, he slammed it on my lap. “Figure that shit out! Do not ever dare show up to my office unless you offer me a solution!” 

Just like that, he exited the room, leaving the entire committee in great shambles. 

I watched as they left the room one by one. The last to leave was Mr. Johnson — well, the ‘kind’ and the ‘better’ Johnson. The founder of SPA Network Incorporation. The old man who will be retiring soon. 

“I'm sorry if he had to act like that.” I felt a tap on my shoulder. “He was not prepared for this, you know? But he's my only son. Therefore, he had no choice but to take over,” he grunted. 

“I understand, sir,” I replied as I watched him hold the door. “I fucked up. He has all the right to blame it on me.”  

The old man smiled as he closed the room behind him. 

Confused about how to pick up where I left off, I collected the papers on my lap and placed them on top of the table. I fished for my phone in my pocket and opened it, checking for any notifications.  There were none. 

But just when I was about to keep my phone back into my pocket, a notification popped up on the screen. 

*SOMEONE SWIPED YOU RIGHT. TAP TO VIEW*

It was from an online dating app I managed to try last week but didn't really pay much attention to. Upon opening the notification, it brought me to someone's profile. 

To my surprise, a photo of a familiar man flashed on the screen. French cropped hair, sharp jaw, alluring eyes— all details so vivid that I did not have to look at the name to tell who it was. 

Spencer Salazar. My Boss. My ruthless evil boss. 

Panicking, I tried my best to ignore what I saw and close the app but instead my fingers twitched and accidentally swiped his profile right. 

*YOU'RE NOW A MATCH*

DID I JUST ACCIDENTALLY LIKE SPENCER SALAZAR BACK?!

“Oh my God, Oh my God! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” I knocked my head several times to the table. 

And the phone bleeped again. A message had been received. 

“Come to my office. Now!” 

I gathered myself together at the same time I collected the papers. I can already tell this is not going to be a good one. 

*****

I pretentiously prompted the sliding door as if my nerves were made of steel. Upon entering, the first thing I saw was him. Suit on the floor. Feet on the table. Hands on the back of his head. It was as if he had long been anticipating my arrival. The smirk on his face was the most annoying thing in sight. 

“Couldn't resist, could you?” 

I swallowed. “In my defense, boss,” there was a slight emphasis on the word boss, “I did not mean to swipe right. It was my fingers. They accidentally did it.” 

Spencer rolled his eyes as he removed his feet off the table. “Accident or not, I know you would like it.” He maneuvered his chair to pick up the suit and throw it to the couch. “Lock the door. Come over here.” 

As I felt the pounding of my heart, I reached for the door and slid it close. For a short period of time, the room had been filled with awkward silence. My legs wiggled as I walked closer to him. 

“I assume you haven't found a solution to the problem yet?” He whispered as he pressed a button from the remote on the right edge of the table. It prompted the curtains to close. 

I avoided his gaze. “Sorry, boss. I haven't read through the reports yet. Give me an hour and I promise to come up with a plan.” 

He stifled a laugh. He paced closer to me, his left hand reaching for my collar. I thought he was going to choke me to death but he only fixed the collar instead. 

“Relax. I was just playing around.” He smiled. “When did you start working here? I haven't seen you before.”

“Technically, I'm starting next week,” I answered, quivering. I can't stand to look at him straight to the eyes— not especially when our faces were only inches apart. “But your dad called me yesterday, saying I should just start in advance. His secretary had an emergency that's why I had to take over.” 

“And I assume she left all the work undone,” he spoke in an undertone. 

“Yes, boss. I had no idea how to manage the remaining tasks. I only worked on those I thought I understood.”

“It's good that you know how to take initiative.” He cracked his knuckles. “But I still think you need to pay the price.” 

He grabbed my arm and pinned me against the wall. His veiny arms cupped my waist and I struggled to break free.

“Boss, what are you doing?”

I felt the warmth of his breath as he leaned his face closer to mine. “I'm doing you a favour.” 

He loosened my neck tie and gradually took it off. All of a sudden, our eyes locked onto each other. As much as I wanted to break the staring game, I just could not. A part of me was telling it was worth a try. 

Just in time when our lips were about to touch, his phone rang.