The Real Me

Chapter Three – “The Real Me”

Maya’s POV

When I opened my eyes, I didn’t know where I was.

The room was strange. The bed was big. The lights were dim. For a few seconds, I thought I was dreaming.

But then I felt it… warm skin beside me.

I turned my head slowly and saw a man… the same man from last night.

He was sleeping beside me. Calm. Peaceful.

But my heart was beating fast.

I sat up quickly, pulling the blanket over my chest. My head was still hurting. My body felt strange… like it remembered everything even if I didn’t want to.

Tears filled my eyes as the memory of last night came back. The drink. The way I had begged Bryan not to throw me out. The cold night. The man who helped me. And then… me losing control.

I felt sick.

I looked at the man one last time and slowly got off the bed. I found my clothes on the floor, quickly dressed, and grabbed my phone.

There was only one person I could call.

Tasha.

She answered at once. “Maya?”

I broke down crying. “Can you come get me? Please… I’m at a hotel. I’ll send you the address.”

She didn’t ask questions. She just said, “I’m on my way.”

Tasha arrived in less than thirty minutes. When I stepped outside the hotel, she ran to me and hugged me tight.

I was shivering.

She held my face. “Tell me what happened.”

I told her everything… the wine, the drug, Bryan, the woman, being thrown out like trash, the stranger who helped me… and what happened between us.

Tasha didn’t say a word for a while. Then she said gently, “Maya, you didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t ask for this. And he had no right to treat you like that.”

“I feel ashamed,” I whispered. “I feel so useless…”

She held my hand. “You’re not useless. You’re powerful. And today, we have that big meeting, remember? The one you’ve waited months for.”

I wiped my tears. “I don’t have anything to wear. I don’t even have shoes.”

She smiled. “Then let’s go fix that.”

We stopped at a boutique. Tasha picked out a simple but beautiful cream-colored dress for me. Something soft, elegant. I took a quick shower there and changed.

When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself.

No more the weak wife thrown out of her own home.

Now, I looked like the CEO I truly was.

We got into the car, and Tasha held my hand. “You ready?”

I nodded.

“I’m scared,” I said honestly. “What if I can’t face him?”

She smiled. “Then fake it until you can. You’ve hidden for too long. Today, Maya, you take your place back.”

When we reached the company, all looked okay from the outside.

But indoors… it felt like the whole building was waiting with bated breath.

People were scurrying about. The boardroom was already full of managers and employees. Bryan was there too, in his suit, acting like he owned the joint.

He didn't see me at first.

But when I came in with Tasha, his eyes widened.

He rose. "Maya?"

I looked at him but did not say anything.

He looked confused. "What are you doing here? This is not a place to discuss personal matter with your friend"

Still, I did not say anything.

The room became quiet as the clock chimed the hour.

Then… the main door opened.

The CEO of the company we were signing the contract with walked in.

And my heart stopped.

It was him.

The man from the hotel.

He walked in self-assuredly, in a tailored black suit. His hair was slicked back, his face serious—but when his eyes met mine, a small smile came out.

He walked past Bryan, past the others, and stopped right in front of me

.

He too was taken aback to see me and he bent in just a little and whispered, "Didn't expect to see my mystery woman here."

My face burned.

I looked away quickly. Shame wrapped itself around me like a heavy blanket. I was small. Weak. Vulnerable.

What would he think of me now?

What would Bryan do if he knew the truth?

I wished I could run out of the room. I did not belong there.

But Tasha stepped forward and broke the silence.

She coughed.

"There's something I have to say before we sign anything."

Everyone turned to her.

"I am not the CEO of Denim Group," she stated emphatically. "The real CEO is right here next to me."

She looked at me proudly.

"The real CEO is Maya."

The room was silent.

Bryan's eyes went wide. "What?! "

One of the other board members spoke up. "That's impossible…"

Tasha smiled. "Oh, it's very possible. She's the daughter of the late Mr. Daniels. The founder. Maya inherited the company three years ago."

People gasped.

Everyone was staring at me.

Even the man—the other CEO—was staring at me now, but not in shame. With something like… respect.