Chapter 3

YVONNE'S P.O.V

The Expresso sharpened my senses, making me feel more energetic and ready to start the day.

Sasha’s blazer fitted my body as if it were mine— the perks of having a best friend just your size.

I sipped my coffee as my heels clicked against the marble floor of the SliverThorn group, though my insides were a chaotic tangle of restless nerves as I tried to ignore the stares from Lucinda and Daisy.

Edgar hadn't called or texted, not that I was expecting anyway.

After I had cried in the hands of that stranger, he dropped me off at Sasha's apartment. I barely managed any sleep, and no, it wasn't because I was still crying over Edgar's betrayal. It was him— the stranger with the navy eyes that bore into my soul. The way he held me strongly like an anchor, letting me ruin his expensive shirt with my tears.

Something about him made me feel...safe. I know he was a stranger, and thus, I should have been cautious, but he emitted a familiarity I couldn't place my head on.

I wished I had collected his number or something, to thank him for last night, to hear his deep soothing voice again... anything. It's just sad that I may never see him again.

The regional manager hollered as he stepped into the office.

“This is going to be fun” Lucinda whispered.

Daisy snorted out a laugh. “Here comes the storm.”

Every muscle in my body locked rigid. I tightened my eyes shut and took in a deep breath. Hopefully, Edgar would have some decency and keep things quiet till we close from work.

“And where are you coming from Mrs Baxter?” he bellowed, coming to stand at my side.

My stomach dropped, so much for hope. “Sasha's” I answered quietly.

Edgar fumed beside me, his nose flaring. I brought the paper cup to my lips in an act of nonchalance, but my heart was racing faster than a jackrabbit.

“You think I'm going to buy that lie?” He thundered. “Did you really leave home late at night just to go to your best friends, or did you spend the night with someone else?” Edgar's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Lucinda whistled, Daisy covered her laugh with a cough.

Anger flared in my veins at Edgar's insinuation. He was the one who cheated and now he's trying to spin things around. I placed the paper cup down. “Get lost” I gritted out, fisting my hands tight.

Edgar released a humorless laugh. “You dare say that to your manager and husband? Do you know that I can make your life miserable both at work and home?”

I arched a brow at him. “Isn't that what you've been doing for five years?”

Edgar drew his head back, stunned by my retort, but his eyes quickly hardened. He knocked over the paper cup, spilling coffee on my desk.

“What is wrong with you?” I snapped.

Edgar laughed again, a wicked gleam in his eyes as he jabbed a finger into my shoulder. “You want to know what is wrong with me?” his raised voice drowned out the murmurs of the two gossips in the office.

I swatted his finger away, forcing in a breath, “Not here, Edgar. You're the manager, you can't be seen quarreling.” I tried to reason with him, but somehow, that only infuriated Edgar the more.

“No Yvonne! We are having this conversation right here, right now!”

With one swipe, he pushed away the papers off my desk, sending them flying. My annoyance boiled over.

“I swear to God if you don't leave right now...”

“You will do what?” he barked. “Walk away? call the security on me?” Edgar laughed when I only stared at him. “You love your father too much to choose yourself.”

Edgar's words pierced through my chest and into my heart, making my eyes burn. He smirked, knowing that he was right. I wouldn't be able to do anything to Edgar, I couldn't even leave his cheating, gaslighting self.

I stared down at my shoes, mortification, pain, and helplessness burning my eyes. The floor became blurry.

I blinked back the tears. I would not cry here, I would not give Edgar that satisfaction. I wouldn't cry so Lucinda and Daisy wouldn't get anything to mock me with, but most of all, I couldn't cry now because there was no stranger with deep blue eyes to hold me and whisper to me that I'd be okay.

“You better start...”

“What is going on here?” A deep, commanding voice filled the office;

Edgar stiffened “Mr....Mr Voss.” He stuttered.

“That’s him," Lucinda whispered dreamily to Daisy. “The CEO we've been expecting for weeks. He's finally back after so long. He is so—"

“Fucking hot,” Daisy supplied; I could hear the reverence in her voice.

I heard the clicking of the man's shoe as he rounded towards my cubicle.

"Mr. Voss.” Edgar greeted, his voice tight “This is a personal—"

“Are you alright?”

A shudder ripped through me. I know that voice, he's...

Slowly, I raised my face, taking his pristine shoes first, tailored pants, strong build, and then.....Navy eyes.

Him.

My heart skipped a beat.

“Mr Voss?” I whispered.

He tilted his head slightly to the side, his deep blue eyes absorbing me, taking me in. The shudder rippled through me the second time.

I didn't know how long I stared at him with my heart racing and my mouth agape, but it was long enough for Edgar to speak up.

“Mr Voss. This is a personal...”

“No. This is disruptive,” he deadpanned. That voice that spoke softly to me turned as hard as steel with Edgar.

“This is a professional setting. You don't deal with personal issues here.” He took a step forward, making Edgar flinch.

I watched them, transfixed at how one man carried a deep air of authority.

“And never—” Mr Voss’ voice dropped to something low and dangerous. “—ever raise your voice to one of my employees again."

Edgar's face flamed red. “I didn’t mean—”

He held one hand up, silencing Edgar. He reached down to pick up one of the papers Edgar pushed off my desk.

The entire office was silent as he read the reports I worked on yesterday. Without a word, Mr. Voss took the rest of the documents on my desk to read; his hand brushing mine in the process.

Such a small, almost unnoticeable graze, but my breathing hitched. I felt his touch in every wire of my brain, in every nerve ending in my body, and with the way he paused. I think he felt it too.

"You did all this?" he asked, his voice doing strange things to my insides.

I hesitated, then nodded once.

Mr Voss's expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes sparked.

“Call the previous acting CEO and have him meet me in my office.” He said to his assistant whom I hadn't even noticed

Then without another word, he turned to leave.

The office seemed to stretch time for a moment as he walked out, leaving us in confused silence. Edgar didn't waste any more time; he returned to his office with his ears red—a sign that he was pissed.

I sank into my seat. I could hear my blood pounding in my ears. The stranger from last night is Mr Voss. The CEO of SilverThorn group, and I had cried like a child in his arms.

Christ.

My cheeks heated. Did he recognize me as the lady from last night? I wasn't sure I wanted him to.

Just when I thought the day couldn't get any worse, ten minutes later, uniformed men stormed into the company premises.

“The cops are here” Daisy muttered, peeking out her window.

The sharp clack of boots echoed through the hallway. Everyone in the different offices that lined the floor turned. Four uniformed officers stepped into ours.

“Edgar Baxter?” the lead officer called.

Edgar stood abruptly, his face turning pale. “What is the meaning of—”

“You’re under arrest for financial crimes related to the SilverThorn group.”

Stunned silence.

What?

Edgar froze; it wasn't until the handcuff snapped that he regained his voice.

“Yvonne! You did this to me, didn’t you?!” Edgar shouted as the cops escorted him out. My fingers shook, what just happened? Financial crimes?

I turned towards the doorway, only to find him. Mr Voss. He stood there, arms folded, and while everyone else watched Edgar being dragged out, he watched...me.

The side of his lips twitched into something akin to a smile, my heart fluttered in my chest. The world narrowed to his deep blue eyes, eyes that told me he remembered last night.

Trapped in a world where I had learned to fade into the background and act invisible, he made me feel seen—My husband's Boss. My CEO.

I didn't know if the way he stared at me was a good sign or if I should run and hide, but one thing was certain, I was about to find out.