Then he turned again and drew her close to him. “I’m sorry.” He said and landed his lips on hers again.
He lifted her this time and found his way to the bedroom adjourning the dining area.
He placed her on the bed carefully. She had this puppy look on her face. She was dangerously beautiful.
Shawn was hot now. He couldn’t stop. Coupled with the fact that he was drunk. All he wanted was to be inside Cheryl.
He unbuttoned his ma shirt as Cheryl watched him. He shouldn’t be doing this.
His lips landed on her again as they both burned in passion. It was an unforgettable night for Cheryl.
*
*
*
Grrrrrgggg….the loud sound from Cheryl’s woke up her. As she groaned and stretched on the unfamiliar bed. She looked around and then by her side. Shawn! He was freaking naked in bed with her.
The ringing from the phone persisted and she picked up her bag from the nightstand and took out her phone.
“Where are you, Cheryl!” That was Abby’s angry voice at the other end.
“In hell.” She said, her eyes fixated on Shawn’s sleeping figure.
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“I’ll explain later,” Cheryl said and cut the line.
She turned to Shawn’s sleeping figure again. Last night. She Palm slapped herself. She’s fucked. She stood up quickly and located their clothes that were scattered in the room in a state of passion.
Passion? More like lust.
She quickly dressed up and left the room.
*
*
*
“What?!” Abby shouted in shock. She stared at her best friend who sat on the sofa in their living room.
“You slept with your boss? What happened to the No dating policy at work?” She moved close to Cheryl and sat with her.
Cheryl rolled her eyes. “It was a mistake. And we are not dating.”
“So it’s like a one-night stand?”
“You can call it anything,” Cheryl murmured.
“Why do you look so down?! You should be happy, right?”
“I don’t know, Abby.” Cheryl was looking downcast. This might be a dream come true for her but she wasn’t sure about her boss.
“You know how Shawn is, this might just be another fling to him. I might even lose my job.”
“Oh, God. Cheryl.” Abby said, now it dawned on her.
“Forget it, Abby. I need to be alone.” Cheryl said and walked to her room while her best friend watched her. “You don’t have to go to work today,” Abby screamed after her.
“I know dummy. It’s Saturday.” Cheryl said without much enthusiasm.
*
*
Cheryl breathed and knocked lightly on the only thing that was separating her and Shawn.
The large door that led to his office.
“Come in.” A deep bass voice came from within.
She opened it and walked in. He was looking dangerously as usual. He focused on his computer.
“Good morning. Boss”
“Cheryl.” He said without looking at her. Cheryl bit her lips as she stood for a while without saying a word. This was getting awkward, what was she supposed to do though?
“How was your weekend, boss?”
He looked up at her now. “Great.” He wasn’t smiling. Cheryl nodded while Shawn still has eyes fixed on her. She just stood and stared at him.
“What?” He asked.
“Ugh?”
“Why are you standing there without saying anything?”
Jerk! Cheryl’s mind screamed. How can he behave nothing happened. She expected his call throughout the weekend but nothing came from him. And now he was giving her cold shoulders?
“Oh… I want to submit your schedule for today.” She said quickly and dropped a file on his table.
“Okay. You can leave now.” He said and turned to his computer again.
“Okay.” She bit her lips and turned to leave.
“Cheryl.”
She smiled inwardly and turned to him. “Yes, boss.”
“Get me the head of finance.” He said and turned back to his computer almost immediately.
“Oh. Alright. Sure.” A disappointed Cheryl said and walked out sluggishly.
She got to her office and stared at the computer.
“Arghhh!” She screamed in anger.
But what was she expecting though? She knew better.
*
*
*
It was a few weeks after their one-night stand and Shawn hasn’t brought it up. Cheryl would always pray he does but he never behaved as if they once had a night of pleasure.
“We’re here.” Cheryl turned off the engine as she swirled into her Shawn’s mansion. It was one of the biggest in the country.
“Sorry for troubling you, the driver had to leave early,” Shawn said when he got off the car.
“No problem boss.” She said as she handed him the keys. She made to leave but Shawn stopped her.
“Cheryl.” He called out while she turned. “Have some tea before you leave.”
Did she hear right? Her boss was inviting her in? Of course, this wasn’t the first time in his mansion. But he was officially inviting her in. This was different.
Or was it because of the other night? Will he finally reciprocate her feelings? This felt like a dream. She couldn’t get her hopes high.
“There’s no need for that boss.” She said and turned.
“Are you mad at me?” Shawn asked as she turned.
“Mad?”
“You’ve been giving me cold shoulders, Cheryl.”
“I didn’t realize,” Cheryl said. You deserve more than that. Her mind screamed. How can sleep with a girl and pretend nothing happened the next day? She wanted to ask.
“Oh come on, Cheryl. I’ve known you for years and I know for sure that you’re mad at me.”
Cheryl eyed her boss. She was truly mad. He knew her reasons. But why was he pretending and asking her dumb questions? She should be smacking him instead.
“You’re wrong, boss.”
“Prove it.”
“How?”
“Come in for tea.”
“I’m not interested.”
“A few minutes won’t kill you, Cheryl. If you insist, it implies you’re mad.”
Cheryl sighed.
“Sure. Boss”
They walked into the gigantic building. Of course, the Mystic Mansion was the most beautiful building she has ever seen but its beauty hits differently tonight.
“Sit. I’ll get your tea.” He said when they got to the living room. Cheryl nodded as Shawn strolled off.
This doesn’t feel real. What was his trying to play this time? Cheryl thought.
Does he want her in his bed again? No way that will happen. She thought painfully.
“Thank you,” Cheryl said when Shawn handed her a cup of tea.
He took his seat opposite her and watched as she drank from the cup. She was nervous. He knew that. After their one-night stand. He couldn’t get her off his head. It was like he was under a spell. Everything happened so fast and now he’s in a dilemma. He knew what Cheryl wanted, but he couldn’t give her.
“Ah…” Cheryl started nervously. “I should get going, boss. I’m done with the tea.” She stood up. She hated the silence. If he wasn’t going to talk about it then she had better leave. The look he was giving was uncomfortable.
“Already?”
Cheryl gave a confused look. “Yes, boss”
“Right.” He nodded. “You should.” He completed curtly and stood up. He walked up to her. She was looking at him now. Run Cheryl! Her mind screamed. But her heart wanted his arms around her again. Was she stupid or just in love?
“Cheryl.” Shawn made to touch her but she stepped backward.“If there’s nothing else, then I’ll take my leave.” She made to leave when Shawn drew her back“I still find it hard to believe you’re not mad at me.” Their faces were inches away from each other.Cheryl's lips curved into a cocky smile. “What reason do I have to be mad at you? boss?”“Beats me.”“You’re playing dumb.”“Was it about the other night?”“The other night?” Cheryl scoffed. She hated the way he said it casually.“Oh come on, Cheryl. We had fun and that was it.”Cheryl couldn’t believe her ears. She shook her head, picked up her bag, and barged out without looking back. He was crazy. She wanted to hate him badly but she couldn’t. She loved him too much but she was nothing to him. It hurts.***Cheryl stared at the blank computer, her mind wandering back to last night. He didn’t realize Shawn was such a jerk. But she couldn’t blame him. This was how it was with other women. But she doesn’t want to be another woman
Shawn stared at Cheryl, feeling the weight of his decision press down on him. He knew what he had to do, but deep down, he wanted to make a different choice, one that would benefit them all. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He sighed and brushed his hands through his hair, feeling the tension build. "Let's talk when you're calm," he said, hoping that they could find a way out of this situation together. But Cheryl wasn't done. "We have nothing to talk about, Boss," she said, her anger palpable. "I will never kill my child. And it's fine if you don't want to take responsibility, we'll do fine without you." Shawn's heart sank. He knew that this was going to be a difficult conversation, but he hadn't expected it to be this hard. He struggled to find the right words to say, to make Cheryl understand that he wasn't shirking his responsibilities. "Cheryl, I..." he started, but she cut him off. "Leave, Boss," Cheryl said, almost in a whisper. Shawn felt his frustration and helpl
Six Years Later As the sun's rays filtered through the curtains and fell on his face, Shawn slowly opened his eyes. His surroundings were unfamiliar and he scanned the room, taking in his nakedness. He was in a hotel room, which could only mean one thing - he had been with someone last night. Shawn let out a sigh and rubbed his temples as a headache throbbed. This had been his routine for the past six years. Sleeping around with women in an attempt to forget about Cheryl and move on, but it never seemed to work. His phone interrupted his thoughts, and Shawn reached for his pants to retrieve it. He answered without checking the caller ID. "Shawn Antonio here," he said. "Boss, where are you? Something came up at the office," his secretary's thick voice echoed from the other end of the line. "What happened, Jeff?" Shawn asked, his voice betraying his concern. "It's over, boss. The Romanos are going to pull out from the deal. I got a call from Mr. Rio's secretary earlier this morning
Shawn sat at his table, eyes fixated on Cheryl as she chatted with an unknown man at the far end of the restaurant. He stood up, intending to walk over to her when his lawyer, Sam, stopped him in his tracks."He's here, boss," Sam said, his voice urgent.Shawn frowned, his attention still on Cheryl. "What?""Boss, his secretary is here," Sam repeated, gesturing to a smartly dressed lady in her twenties who had just walked into the restaurant.Shawn nodded absently, barely registering the woman's presence as he continued to stare at Cheryl. She was engrossed in her conversation, oblivious to his presence. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her."Hi Mr. Antonio," the secretary said, smiling at him.Shawn barely acknowledged her greeting, his mind consumed with thoughts of Cheryl. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time stood still. They stared at each other, lost in their own world.But the moment was fleeting. Sam's urgent voice called out to him again, breaking the spell. Shawn tore h
Shawn knew he was about to receive some unsettling answers, but he braced himself and asked Jeff anyway, “Go ahead, Jeff. Tell me everything you found out about Cheryl.”“She became the owner of Castle Corp just three years ago, months after Mr. Bill died,” Jeff started.“Does that mean he’s her father or something?” Shawn asked.“Yes, boss,” Jeff replied, to which Shawn laughed incredulously. “Cheryl is an orphan,” he countered.“The Cheryl you know is an orphan, boss. This one has a father,” Jeff said, and Shawn's heart tightened. How many more secrets did Cheryl have? Had she been lying to him all this time? He stared at Jeff. “So, you are trying to say Cheryl has been lying to me?”“No,” Jeff replied.“Then what?” Shawn was growing impatient.“Permit me to ask, boss, but is Ms. Cheryl more than a secretary to you?” Jeff asked innocently, and Shawn narrowed his eyes.“Mind your business, Jeff. Just answer the damn question,” Shawn seethed, and Jeff nodded. “So sorry, boss.”“Go ahe
As Shawn approached Andrew and the group of people, he felt a sense of excitement. He had finally found him. After he found out Cheryl had a son, he had wanted nothing but to meet him as soon as possible. “Hey Champ. Where did you run off to? I was looking for you everywhere," Shawn said as he knelt down in front of Andrew, beaming at him.Andrew looked at him with confusion. This man claimed to be his father with such confidence, but Andrew didn't recognize him. Before Andrew could say anything, Shawn placed a finger on his lips and whispered, "I'm trying to help here. Let's pretend you know me, okay?"Although hesitant, Andrew decided to go along with it. "I'm sorry, papa. I ran off because I was so excited to show you to my friends. I guess we missed each other," Andrew said with a cunning smile directed towards Carl."Now, are you happy?" Andrew asked, feeling triumphant. Carl rolled his eyes and scoffed, calling Andrew a loser. He and his father, along with John and his father,
Shawn swiftly turned and crouched down to the little girl's level, his face stern. "Katherine Darling, how many times have I told you not to call me 'daddy' randomly?" He rubbed his cheek, his gaze fixed on her."But I..." Katherine began to protest."Katherine!" Another woman, who had been chasing after her, called out as she reached them."Oh, Shawn," the woman exclaimed upon seeing him.Katherine hurriedly made her way to the woman and hugged her tightly. "Mummy," she cried, holding onto her. The woman glanced at Shawn with a questioning look."Daddy Shawn got mad because I called him 'papa'," Katherine complained, while Amy looked down at Katherine with concern and then back at Shawn. "I'm so sorry, Shawn. She must have inconvenienced you," Amy said, her expression filled with worry.A smile curved on Shawn's lips. "No, not at all. Don't blame her, and it's fine," Shawn reassured, his previous anger dissipating. Cheryl had misunderstood the situation, thinking Katherine longed for
"Castle Corp?" Shawn raised an eyebrow, perplexed by Jeff's statement."That's Cheryl's company, right?" Shawn's secretary nodded in confirmation.Shawn leaned back in his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. It seemed like fate was toying with him."When is the shareholders' meeting scheduled?" he inquired, his mind racing with possibilities."It's on the 10th of next month," Jeff responded, his voice laced with concern.Shawn considered the timeline for a moment, weighing his options."That should give us enough time for..." he trailed off, his thoughts interrupted by a sudden voice at the door."What's enough time for what?" A vibrant brunette entered the room without bothering to knock, holding a file in her hands. It was Amy.Amy glanced between Shawn and Jeff, curiosity etched on her face as she settled into a chair opposite Shawn's desk."What's with the long faces?" she asked, placing the files on the desk and fixing her gaze on the two men.Shawn sighed heavily, feeling the weigh