로그인"It was my idea. I customized the menu myself—I had no idea you’d turn out to be allergic to... whatever exotic ingredients the private chef sourced tonight. I sincerely apologize, Jessa. Though I hope the diamond necklace compensates for the inconvenience."Jessa’s furious expression instantly melted. The anger in her eyes vanished, replaced by the calculating shine of a woman who knew the exact market value of the platinum-and-diamond piece resting in the velvet box on her lap."Well..." Jessa purred, a triumphant, slow smile spreading across her lips. She reached over, her manicured hand resting lightly on William’s broad shoulder as she leaned in close. "That would certainly be enough for the trouble, darling. I have to admit, your boring little secretary actually has magnificent taste. I like the necklace so much."William stared down at her hand on his shoulder, his dark blue eyes remaining dead cold despite the small, polite smile fixed on his lips.She doesn't have magnificen
A faint, high-pitched gurgle echoed from somewhere beneath her silk gown. It sounded suspiciously like an outboard motor struggling to catch a spark. Jessa’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, her posture snapping straight up as a light sheen of cold sweat instantly broke out across her forehead."William, darling," she squeaked, her voice suddenly two octaves higher. "Where... where is the powder room?""Right down the hall, second door on the left," William replied, his jaw twitching.Jessa didn't walk; she practically levitated out of her chair, her backless gown fluttering behind her as she power-walked out of the dining suite at a speed that defied high heels.Not thirty seconds later, the kitchen doors swung open, and Jane stepped in carrying a fresh bottle of sparkling water, her expression an absolute picture of innocent, dutiful secretarial concern.Smirking triumphantly behind William's back, Jane didn't wait around to face the impending nuclear fallout. She darted
William stood up from his chair, his tall frame looming over the desk as he stared at her rigid spine. The dark satisfaction he had felt all afternoon suddenly tasted like ash in his mouth. He had wanted to provoke her, to break through her icy professional shell, but seeing the quiet, guarded hurt in her eyes felt like a self-inflicted wound."Make sure..." William began, his throat tightening as he struggled to find the words without completely surrendering his pride. "Make sure you stay until the setup is completely finished."Jane didn't turn around. "Of course, Mr. Reynold. It's my job."She stepped out and closed the door behind her—not with a slam this time, but with a quiet, hollow click that echoed much louder through his empty office.By 6:45 PM, the executive private dining suite on the 40th floor looked like the set of a high-budget romantic drama.Jane stood in the doorway, her arms crossed tightly over her yellow suit, eyeing the room with a look of pure, malicious calcu
She slammed a ceramic coffee mug onto the granite counter with enough force to send a micro-fissure rippling down its side. Her stomach let out a loud, miserable growl—the deadly combination of a lingering hangover, pure fury, and complete starvation finally catching up to her.Without a single shred of hesitation or corporate decorum, Jane marched over to the executive fridge, yanked it open, and snatched the artisanal smoked-turkey-and-avocado sandwich William’s private chef had delivered for his lunch two hours ago.She didn't care if he asked about it later. She didn't care if he launched an official internal investigation. She ripped open the parchment paper and shoved half the sandwich into her mouth like a starved cow, chewing aggressively while pacing in her rumpled yellow suit."Jane, breathe," Allan sighed on the other end of the line, the sound of a coffee grinder whirring in the background of his apartment. "You're going to choke on his luxury turkey.""I hope I do choke!"
"Right away, Jane!" Julia squeaked, yanking the door open so fast she nearly pulled it off its hinges."Working on it now, sir!" Emma added frantically, and within half a second, both women bolted out into the hallway, leaving the double doors to slam shut behind them once again.The heavy silence returned to the executive suite, thick, suffocating, and charged with electricity.Jane didn't break eye contact for a single second. She slowly smoothed down the front of her wrinkled yellow suit jacket, adjusted her clip, and gave him one final, icy nod."If that is all for your brand strategy, Mr. Reynold... I’ll go draft your ex-girlfriend's offer letter.""Good," William said, his baritone practically dripping with dark, mocking satisfaction. "Make it quick. And while you're at it, arrange a private dinner date for Miss White and me later tonight. Somewhere exclusive. Add some dramatic ambiance—a quiet corner table, red roses, champagne—and order a diamond necklace from our flagship jewe
William ran both hands over his face, a deep, quiet exhale escaping his lips as he looked down at his bare feet and his rumpled, tie-less shirt.He was the CEO of a global conglomerate, a man who negotiated billion-dollar acquisitions without blinking, yet he had spent the last thirty-six hours acting like an unhinged, possessive teenager—stalking her neighborhood, throwing thousands of dollars at late-night delivery apps, and letting her snore like an engine on his leather sofa just to keep her near him.He walked slowly over to the glass wall, looking out over the Manhattan skyline.The cold, unforgiving armor he had worn since discovering the red card had finally shattered, but the pride that kept him from dropping to his knees was still very much alive.







