2: Accidental Kiss

When Trevor exits Diamond Group with a happy demeanor, everyone looks at him because of the spread of his smile. But his happiness is abruptly cut short when he sees a familiar car.

He frowned and was about to continue walking but was interrupted by the car window being rolled down. A face he can never forget appears before him. She is fair-skinned, and even though she is already mature, she is still beautiful. She is wearing pearl earrings that match her gold necklace with pearls as well. Her short hair is neatly arranged, and her eyebrows are well-groomed. Her lips are thin and painted with red lipstick. However, her mean and arrogant attitude cannot be hidden.

"What is she doing here?" Trevor wonders, feeling a mix of emotions. Susana Alcrest, his stepmother. As Susana's car pulled up beside Trevor, he felt a knot form in his stomach. He hadn't

seen his stepmother in years, and the last time they had spoken, it hadn't ended well.

"My dear Trevvy, what a coincidence running into you here," Susana said in a mocking tone, rolling down the car window. Finley forced a smile and tried to maintain his composure.

"Hello, Susana. Yes, it's quite a surprise." Susana looked him up and down with a disdainful expression. "What brings you to Diamond Group.? Did you finally get a job?" Trevor's smile faltered, and he could feel his anger rising.

"Actually, yes, I did get a job here." Susana raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Really? I find that hard to believe. You've always been a bit of a loser, haven't you?" Trev gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"I may not have always had things handed to me on a silver platter like you, Susana, but I'm

doing just fine. And I don't need your approval or validation." Susana let out a laugh that made Trevor's blood boil.

"Oh please, you could never measure up to me. You're just a pathetic little man who will never amount to

anything." Trevor felt the anger inside of him reaching its boiling point, but he forced himself to

stay calm.

"I don't have to prove anything to you, Susana. And quite frankly, I don't

care what you think of me." Susana's smile faded as she glared at Trevor.

"You know, you're always so defiant. You should really learn to show some respect to your betters." Trev rolled his eyes.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." As he turned to walk away, Susana called out to him.

"Don't get too comfortable in your little job, Trevvy. You'll never be able to keep up with the likes of me."

"I suppose it's easy to call someone a pathetic little man when you're so insecure

about your own worth," a cold female voice suddenly interjected. Trevor and his

stepmother turned to see Helaina, who had just walked out of the company building.

"I don't usually wait for my driver out here, but every now and then I walk here and

get to witness something interesting. Like, for instance, a loud crash, followed by a bumper falling off," Helaina said in a serious tone, glaring at Susana. As if on cue, a new BMW M8 Gran Coupe collided with a black Bentley, causing a loud crashing sound. The two onlookers were stunned when the back bumper of the Bentley then fell off. "My car!" Susana shrieked. "What have you done!?"

"I didn't do anything. Perhaps my driver fell asleep at the wheel. Pure accident," Helaina

replied nonchalantly. "You did this on purpose! Are you friends with that bastard?" Susana accused.

"No, ma'am, I am not his friend. I am his boss. If you have any complaints about our

company and my management, you can visit the Diamond's website and leave a one-star

review." Helaina's tone was calm and collected, not caring a bit about Susana's angry

outburst.

The scene was chaotic, with onlookers gathering around the two cars. Helaina, however, remained unfazed, and quietly walked towards Trevor.

"Since you're not on good terms with my new secretary, I won't ask him to give you his contact number," she said, then pulled out her business card.

"Instead, you can give me a call and let me know all the expenses after repairing your car. I assume

your car has insurance, so you won't have any problems. But in case you suffer from

any mental health issues due to the trauma, feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to

add more to your problems," she added with a hint of sarcasm.

"Secretary? You hired him as your secretary?" Susana asked with a hint of disbelief.

"Yes, is there a problem with that?" Helaina replied calmly. Susana scoffed. "He's just a nobody. What makes him qualified to be your assistant?" Helaina's expression hardened. "He's qualified because I hired him. And as for your concern, it's none of your business. Or do you want to add more trouble for

yourself?" Realizing that she couldn't humiliate herself any further in front of Helaina, Susana

muttered a curse under her breath and stormed back to her car without taking Helaina's

business card, and sped off.

As nothing happened, Bryn shrugged, put her business card back into her purse,

then turned to Finley. "What's with that woman? There are plenty of people who want

to get my business card. Hmph! She's missing her only chance." Trevor chuckled. "I didn't know you still had that side to you." Helaina raised an eyebrow. "I didn't do it for free."

"Then what do you want me to do, Boss?"

"Looks like my driver fell asleep and is now unavailable. You're going to have to drive for me," helaina declared, taking Trevor's hand and leading him towards the slightly scratched BMW M8 gran coupe. Trevor scratched his head in embarrassment when he realized the driver's absence. "Is the driver some kind of ninja? He disappeared quickly," he muttered under his

breath. Helaina glared at him impatiently. "Hurry up!"

"Right away, boss!" Trevor quickly moved to the driver's seat and buckled his seatbelt. As they traveled slowly towards their destination, Trevor couldn't help but feel grateful

towards Helaina. "Thank you for standing up for me back there," he said, looking at her with admiration.

Helaina shrugged it off. "It's nothing. You're my assistant and I wouldn't let anyone disrespect you like that." They continued on their way, the slow and steady hum of the BMW M8's engine

filling the air. Helaina didn't show any interest in the earlier incident. It wasn't her nature

to pry into other people's lives, but she couldn't deny feeling uneasy about it. The

man seemed to be in a difficult situation, and the woman appeared wealthy. Based

on what she had heard, the woman was his stepmother. Helaina couldn't help but wonder if the man had suffered abuse at the hands of his stepmother. The thought made her uneasy, but since she's not a nosy person, she pushed it aside, focusing on the road ahead.

"We're heading to a club where I'll meet a few investors. I need you to be on your best behavior," she said after a moment. Trevor nodded.

"Got it. I'll try my best not to embarrass you." When Helaina and Trevor arrived at the club, the air was thick with the sound of thumping bass and the scent of perfume and cologne. People were packed onto the

dance floor, swaying to the music and laughing with their friends. Helaina led Trevor through the crowd, their feet shuffling to the beat, until they reached a private room. As they walked inside, the noise level decreased, and the investors greeted them warmly. "Ms. Diamante, you make it just in time. Come, we ordered plenty of drinks for everyone."

"Thank you,." Helaina nodded politely. They all settled into comfortable seats and began discussing Diamond Group of Companies. The investors were impressed with Helaina's knowledge of the tech industry and kept offering her drinks, but she politely declined, not wanting to risk dulling her senses

during such an important meeting. The investors continued discussing their interest in investing in Diamond Group. Helaina took the lead and presented their latest project, a new AI software that could

revolutionize the healthcare industry.

The investors were impressed, and Helaina felt confident that they would secure the funding they needed for the project. One after the other, the investors kept offering Helaina drinks, but Trevor couldn't help but feel uneasy about it, so he took the first few drinks, but thinking that he had to drive his boss home, he couldn't drink too much. "For the partnership's future success, I offer Ms. Diamanter another drink." One of the investors held a half-full cup of red wine and gave it to Helaina.

To please the investors, Helaina couldn't refuse it anymore, much to Trevor's dismay. But he kept a close eye on her, making sure she didn't go overboard. As the night went on, they engaged in discussions about investments and the future of the Diamond Group. Helaina was confident and poised, impressing the investors with her knowledge and expertise.

Trevor watched her in awe, feeling a newfound respect for her. He realized that there was more to Helaina than just a cold and calculating boss. She was driven, passionate, and willing to do whatever it takes to make the company successful. At the end of the night, Helaina was able to secure a deal with the investors, but Trevor noticed that she was already slightly drunk.

He could see it in the way she was slurring her words and swaying slightly in her seat. He knew it was time to call it a night. "Boss, I think it's time we headed back," he said, placing a hand on Helaina's arm. Trevor looked at him blearily. "What? No, we can't leave yet. I still have many drinks left."

"No, boss. You've already had enough, aren't you feeling dizzy?"

"Dizzy," she answered. "Then what are you?"

"Drunk!"

"Yes, that's right," Trevor chuckled, knowing Helaina wouldn't remember this conversation in the morning. He gently pulled her up from her seat and greeted the drunk investors before taking the contract and making their way outside the club. This was Helaina Diamante's occasional clumsiness, and Trevor wouldn't have known if he hadn't seen her get drunk once at a junior welcoming party in college.

When Trev helped Helaina into the passenger seat of the car, he could feel the warmth

of her body against his. Helaina's breaths became slower and deeper as the alcohol took hold. "

You know, Trevor," she slurred, "I'm really glad you came with me tonight." Trevor felt a surge of pride at her words but tried to maintain a professional demeanor.

"Thank you, boss. I'm happy to be here." While they drove through the city streets, Helaina's head rolled against the window. Finley grew increasingly concerned that she might injure herself, so he pulled over

multiple times to adjust her posture. Eventually, he found a parking lot and stopped the car to make Bryn more comfortable by adjusting her seat. As he did so, he could feel her heart beating against his chest, and he couldn't help but feel a growing attraction towards her.

'Why are you so beautiful?' he asked in his heart. 'So mesmerizing that I couldn't help

getting attracted. What should I do?' He sighed, started the car and drove off.

It was already in the middle of the night when the car pulled up in front of Helaina's

apartment. Fortunately, her address was already recorded in the navigation app, so Trevor had no trouble finding it. He helped Helaina unbuckle her seatbelt, and in a moment of clumsiness, his lips brushed against her cheek.

He felt a jolt of electricity run through his body, causing his heart to skip a beat. He was acutely aware of the softness of her skin and the warmth emanating from her body. For a split second, he was lost in the sensation, and he felt a flutter in his stomach. It was a feeling that he had never experienced before, and it left him feeling slightly lightheaded. As he pulled away, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Helaina's

face.

Their eyes met for a moment, but both said nothing.

"Goodnight, Helaina," after a while Trevor said, helping her out of the car and up to her apartment. "Goodnight, Trevor," she replied. Then, he left in a hurry. After making sure that the man had left, Helaina slid down her apartment door and held her now-red face.

In her 23 years of life, aside from her father, this was the first time someone had kissed her on the cheek! Although it was accidental, it was still a kiss nonetheless. But it was kind of nice, and she couldn't help but want to feel that sensation again. She shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the thought.

"You're a grown woman, Helaina! Get a hold of yourself!" She reprimanded herself like a crazy person.

"But...it was indeed nice." She took a deep breath and stood up, trying to compose herself. While she walked towards her bedroom, she couldn't help but wonder if there would be a second

accidental kiss. 

--- 

Trevor lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was consumed by thoughts of Helaina and the accidental kiss that had left him feeling both exhilarated and confused. He traced his fingers over his lips, remembering the feel of hers against them. The vibrant neon lights of the city outside his window cast an eerie glow over his darkened room, adding to his sense of loneliness and confusion. He couldn't shake

off the intense feeling that had consumed him since their kiss. Despite his confusion and mixed emotions, Trevor couldn't deny that he liked what had happened between them. It was new and exciting, and his admiration for Helaina had reached new heights. As he lay there lost in thought, a change suddenly came over him. The shy, timid guy who had stood in front of Helaina vanished, and in his place stood a wolf.

A wolf that had locked eyes with its prey and was about to pounce. "Trevor Alcrest," he muttered in a hoarse voice, a dark smile forming on his lips.

"You're doomed."