Chapter 3

I was still muttering colorful words even after I got down from the elevator and made my way to the cafeteria. What was my brain doing when it thought someone as obnoxious as him looked attractive? I really fucked up on that one.

I walked over to the table where I knew Jean was waiting and met him on his phone, as usual.

“Sorry I’m late,” I panted as I pulled out a chair and settled down. “I met a rabid asshole on my way here and we exchanged a bit of words.”

“You really can’t go a day without drama, can you?” he said, shaking his head as he placed some snacks and juice in front of me.

“Thanks,” I muttered as I stabbed the straw into the drink. “But sincerely, it wasn’t my fault this time around, and I mean it.”

I recounted the earlier interaction to him. The moment I was done, he burst out laughing.

“Keep it down, okay?” I glared at him. “I don’t want to answer questions about what got the popular ice prince of the office crackling.”

“I’m sure they would love something this juicy,” he said, a bit quieter now. I shook my head slightly.

“But seriously though,” he added, “who says they’re willing to get on their knees for someone they just met? It’s odd, but it’s original.”

I rolled my eyes and stood up, and he followed suit.

“Is that all you got from my narration, friend?” I asked.

He laughed again. “Frankly, all I see is a handsome weirdo who seems to have fallen for you at first sight and might be your ticket out of celibacy and those weird dreams.”

“It seems you weren’t listening then, because I don’t think I missed the part where I said I hated his guts.”

“Hate turns to love, Aria, so don’t dismiss it just yet,” he said, wiggling his brows as we got to the elevator. “I can ask around for his name if you want me to.”

“Do that,” I smiled. “I need to get a proper apology from him first.”

“He’s probably from a department you hardly interact with,” Jean said calmly. “I’ll ask around—so consider not hating him.”okay??? “ Oh Did you hear we’re getting a new boss?” He asked suddenly changing the topic.

I nodded. “Sadly, my team gets to be the one working personally with him, so I’ll see him later today.”

“Good luck with that,” he said with a smile as he waved and walked away while I took the elevator to my floor.

As I walked over to our spot, I found a cluster of people gathered at the entrance.

“Why are you all gathered here?” I asked as I spotted Agnes at the door.

“Oh! Miss Aria, I was about to call you. The new CEO is here already,” she said, her voice filled with excitement.

“Like… right now?” I asked, eyes widening.

She nodded.

Well, this was earlier than expected, but hey—eye candy is eye candy. Who was I to say no to that?

I slipped through the crowd, making my way to the front, where I was met with Mr. Frank’s face blocking my view.

“Can he move already?” I breathed—and as if he heard me, he stepped aside.

The moment he did, I froze.

No—this was more than freezing. My entire system shut down.

Because tell me why I was face to face with the man. The same elevator man I had a standoff with.

The universe didn’t have to be this cruel, making him my new boss. Time to say goodbye to my job.

The moment my brain registered the danger, I took one step back. Maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t notice me if I blended into the crowd. But the moment I dared to look up again, his eyes locked on mine and he took a step forward, a smirk playing on his lips.

I had been caught.

“I’m very glad to meet you again,” he whispered the moment he got close. “I was almost asking around for you. We will definitely have lots of fun together.”

I almost shivered as his tongue flicked my ear before he pulled back and walked away like nothing happened.

“Oh goodness,” I whispered as I stumbled through the crowd until I was finally back at my seat, where Agnes was already settled.

“He is really hot, isn’t he?” she chirped.

I gave a nervous smile as I tried to place what kind of situation I was in now.

“His name is Conan, and I heard he lived abroad before moving here,” she added, still smiling.

Conan, uhn. What a normal name for a weird person.

If he was this rich, then what was he doing acting like that with me? I let out a breath. What do I do now? Apologize for being rude because I didn’t know he was the CEO? Yeah, definitely not happening. If anything, I still deserved an apology. Especially now that I knew just how messed up he was. How would he treat his employees that way?

I fished out my phone in the next second and shot Jean a text:

News flash: the new CEO is the elevator pervert.

Just when I was about to toss my phone back, Mr. Frank came into view and my frown deepened.

“Do you need me for anything?” I asked as his eyes glared at me. “What did I do now?”

“The new CEO is asking for you,” he said, his frown still deep.

“What??”

“Don’t make me repeat it, okay? Just go see him. I have no idea why he asked for you by name,” he added before walking away with another frown.

I sat there, my thoughts spiraling, before I finally stood up.

What could be the reason for him summoning me? Was this the end for me?

I took a deep breath as I stood outside his office, hand on the door handle.

Here goes nothing, I thought as I pushed the door open and stepped in.