CHAPTER 001

STELLA

I could feel his eyes on me again, just like every other time. It was like a snake slithering up and down my body, causing me to shiver in response as I shifted from one foot to another.

“That brings us to the end of the meeting. Any questions?” I asked as I glanced around at my colleagues, who were busy writing things down in their books.

“Everyone can leave; the meeting has ended,” James said as he stood up from his chair, and everyone filed out of the office except me.

“What else is on my schedule, Stella? I'm exhausted already.” He muttered as he took off his coat and I took it from him before picking up his things.

“If I'm not mistaken, it's just nine am. Getting tired when it isn't noon yet is very suspicious. What did you do all night?” I asked, even though I knew better than to probe into his private life.

“You wanna know what I did? Sure, I'll tell you. I fucked with a pretty bimbo all night. Her energy was unmatched!” He replied with a grin and I froze in my tracks as he walked past me before he stopped and turned to look at me.

“Don't you think you should stop fucking around? You could get into trouble if the media finds out about this. Sleeping with a different girl every night doesn't make you a better man. You should settle down soon.” I mumbled softly and he observed me for a while before a scoff of amusement escaped his lips.

“Wow. I would give you a round of applause, except I don't remember asking for your advice. You're just my secretary and you should keep your job as that. Moreover, if the media finds out about it, it's your job to deny it, isn't it? Unless… you're jealous and want to sleep with me too.” He said with a smirk on his lips as he walked up to me but I quickly moved past him and walked to the door.

“Sorry, Mr James, but you're not my type,” I mumbled as I walked out of the office, leaving him there with a look of fury and annoyance on his face.

What the hell did I just do? I could lose my job by saying those words to him. But I knew better. 

He wanted me too. I couldn't help but feel like he slept with those girls and flirted with them just to get on my nerves.

I could feel it in the way his eyes undressed me all the time. The way he bit his bottom lip whenever I showed up at his office in a tight dress. He wanted me badly but I've never given him the green light.

Not because I didn't want him. No. But because…

“Stella? What are you zoning out for? Your phone has been ringing in your office all day.” My best pal, Shayla, said as she shook me out of my reverie and I raised a brow at her.

“My phone? Who could that be?” I muttered under my breath as I walked to my office which was right beside James’. 

He called it the perks of being his secretary. But it felt like hell to have our offices next to each other. Because he could bring in any girl and they'd go on for hours while I had to bear with the sound of the pleasures.

Being on the top floor had its advantages and disadvantages. But the disadvantages were more, given that there were only two offices on this floor: mine and James'.

“Let's talk during break; I have to get something done,” Shayla said, and I nodded in response as I picked up my phone to see that it was James' mother who called.

The phone buzzed again and I quickly swiped on the green button.

“I didn't pay you to work beside my son so that you could ignore my calls!” She yelled in anger the moment I picked the call and I flinched even though she wasn't in front of me.

“I'm sorry, ma'am. I was in the meeting room. Is there anything I can do for you, ma'am?” I asked softly and she let out a heavy sigh.

“Tell James that I'm waiting for him downstairs. It's very important. He won't answer his calls and the security won't let me come upstairs!” Her voice was filled with exasperation as she spoke and I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

“I'll get him to come to you now, ma'am. My apologies.” I said and she hummed in response before hanging up. This family won't be the death of me.

I returned to James' office where he stood by the window, watching the traffic by the roadside.

“Mr James, your mother wants to speak with you.”

“I don't want to speak to her. Go and tell her that.”

He was such a child sometimes, I just wanted to grab him by the ear and pull him downstairs.

“What are you, a child? Avoiding your mother like you stole a cookie from her jar. If I tell her that, then I'll lose my job and no one would be able to handle your temper like me.” I threatened and he turned to glare at me for a moment before he finally walked out of the office.

At least, he values my presence.

I returned to my office and sat down as I stared at the thin wall that separated my office from James’. I could hear everything that he did in there. Even when he touched himself while calling out my name, I heard everything.

And I knew that he knew that I heard it all.

He was so damn unfiltered that I sometimes wondered what went on in his head. 

Minutes passed after he went downstairs and I decided to immerse myself in the paperwork sitting on my desk before it piled up.

My door suddenly barged open and James stepped in, causing me to shoot up from my seat as I glanced at him in confusion.

“What's wrong, Mr James?” I asked and he approached with an expression I couldn't read on his face.

“Do you have a boyfriend? Fiance? Husband?” He asked, but that only fueled my confusion even more as I shook my head, and he smirked in response.

“That's good.” He said as he suddenly placed his hands on my face and pulled me close before kissing me deeply while I stood there frozen in shock.