The CEO'S Forbidden Secret

Laura’s Point of View

I made my way to my tiny office. My desk is piled with papers, sticky notes, and an old coffee mug from yesterday’s marathon of errands.

A few weeks passed, and I got used to working at Premium Trust. It’s supposed to be a place where my dreams come true, but for me, it felt like a list of tasks.

The phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Ms. Thompson, the executive assistant.

"Laura, could you please get Mr. Finch a latte? Make it a double shot with extra foam. Oh, and grab something for yourself too," Ms. Thompson said cheerfully.

"Sure thing, Ms. Thompson. I’m on it," I replied, trying not to sound pissed. I didn’t want to meet the CEO. I had heard that Mr. Finch is strict and never smiles. No one wants to get on his bad side, especially not me because it was hard to get this job.

After waiting in a long line at the coffee shop, I returned to the office and knocked on my boss’s door. I heard a cold voice saying, "Come in."

I opened the door and stepped inside, gasping at how beautiful the office was. Polished wood floors, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city, and sleek, minimalist furniture, it screamed power and authority. This was my first time inside Mr. Finch’s office.  

"Are you going to stand there until my coffee gets cold?" His sharp tone snapped me out of my daze.  

I quickly walked to his desk, placing the coffee on his table. "Here you go, sir. I—"  

He raised a hand to silence me, his piercing blue eyes meeting mine for the first time. My breath hitched.

He was… well, there was no polite way to put it, intimidatingly gorgeous. Strong jawline, short dark hair, and a presence so commanding it felt like the air had shifted in the room.  

"Sit down, Laura," he commanded curtly, motioning to the chair opposite him.  

My heart beat in my chest as I obeyed. He leaned back in his chair, picking up the coffee and taking a slow sip before placing the cup down.  

"This is your first day, isn’t it?"

"No, Mr. Finch. I've spent ten days in this company, " I replied softly, unsure where this was going.  

"Interesting," he murmured, his tone laced with mockery. 

"You’ve managed to cause more chaos ten than some employees do in a year."

I blinked, my stomach dropping."I....what do you mean, sir?" 

His jaw tightened. He picked up a file from his desk and slid it toward me. "This. Tell me you didn’t think it was a good idea to send this to Vanguard Industries."

I froze. My eyes darted to the file, recognizing the quarterly strategy report. My heart stopped as I realized my mistake. "I… Oh no. I… I didn’t mean to—" I stammered.

"Didn’t mean to?" His voice rose, and I shrank in my seat.

"Do you think I have time for excuses? That report contains information we’ve spent months developing. Now it’s in the hands of our competition."

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. He shook his head, disgust evident on his face.  

"I don’t care if you’re new, Laura. This is unacceptable. Do you know how much damage this could cause?" He stood, towering over me, his presence suffocating.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn’t fire you right now."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. My hands clenched into fists as I forced myself to look him in the eye. "Because I can fix it, sir. Let me fix it."  

His eyebrows rose, and for a moment, he seemed surprised. Then his expression hardened again.  

"You’ve got until the end of the day," he said coldly, returning to his seat. "If I don’t see results, you’re done. Now get out."

I nodded quickly, rising from the chair. "Yes, Mr. Finch. Thank you for giving me a chance." 

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me. "And Laura?"

I paused, glancing back nervously. "Don’t make me regret this or you lose your job." 

I nodded again and hurried out of his office.

The day went on and on with me running errands, making copies, and organizing files. I was able to clear all my mistakes, and hopefully, I won't make any mistakes again throughout my stay in this office.

That evening, Kora texted me, insisting we celebrate at a club called 'Sin City'.  

“I don’t do clubs,” I protested.  

“You do tonight. It’s my birthday!” she replied.  

Reluctantly, I agreed, knowing I couldn’t say no to Kora.

I couldn’t argue with her. You can never win against Kora. And maybe I did need a break, even if it meant stepping out of my comfort zone.

The day went on and on with me running errands, making copies, and organizing files. I’m the one who keeps everything running smoothly without any recognition.

At five o’clock, I quickly packed up and headed home. After a shower and a quick dinner, I headed over to Kora’s place.

"I got us entry passes to one of the most luxurious and exclusive clubs in the city," she said excitedly.

"A club?" I asked, shocked.

"Sin City is worth it, babe. I’ve heard nothing but good things. Have you seen their strippers online? It’s trending, and I managed to get us in. It’s my birthday, you can’t say no. Remember, you agreed to celebrate," she said, bouncing with excitement.

"You might even meet someone to finally pop your cherry," she teased.

"I’m not giving myself to a total stranger," I said defensively, and she laughed.

"Kora, I don’t feel comfortable in places like that," I muttered, adjusting my glasses.

"Oh, come on. You’ll have a great time, I promise," she urged me, giving me those puppy eyes no one could resist.

"Fine, but I’m not staying long," I said, and she got so excited I almost changed my mind.

Kora couldn’t stop talking about the male strippers at the exclusive club.

"Sin City," even the name sounds mysterious and a bit scary.

We arrived at the club late. The loud music and flashing lights made me feel out of place.

I noticed couples making out and dancing close together. The place wasn’t too crowded since it was an exclusive club. I even spotted a few famous faces. I almost asked Kora how she got the tickets, but I was too shocked by what I saw next.

The waiters and waitresses were practically naked, only wearing small pieces to cover the front. They had masks on their faces, and I couldn’t hide my surprise.

On stage, a female stripper was dancing sensually on a pole as the crowd cheered.

"Welcome to Sin City!" Kora yelled excitedly, laughing. I was glued to the scene in front of me.

“I’ll get us drinks,” Kora yelled, disappearing into the club.  

The lights dimmed, and the crowd roared as a male performer took the stage. Dressed in a mask and leather pants, he moved with an intoxicating move. Water poured from above, glistening on his chiselled body as he danced. The dance looks very sexual and attractive.

For reasons I couldn’t explain, my eyes stayed glued to him. There was something magnetic about him, something… familiar.  

After the show, curiosity got the better of me. I found myself backstage, my heart racing as I followed him to a dressing room.  

He walked into one of the dressing rooms, and it seemed like he knew someone was following him. I hid behind a dressing table, holding my breath. He came out and went into another room.

I quietly followed and entered the room after him. He must have felt my presence because he turned around, but this time without his mask.

As he turned around, my breath caught.  

“Mr. Finch?”

I stumbled and almost fell from who I was seeing in front of me.

It was none other than my boss, the CEO of Premium Trust "BRYAN FINCH."