Heir

RIVER’S POV

My hands weren't steady on the keyboard; I knew I was going to get fired. I knew Gerald was typing my resignation letter now. He—the new boss—wouldn't let someone of low status, no morals like me, who had behaved shitty in a club, stay in his company; this I knew.

This morning I hadn’t regretted what I had done, but now I could only imagine how smoothly today would have gone if I hadn’t gone to the club last night—or if Peter hadn’t cheated.

“Seems you’re ready to lose this job…” Mark whispered beside me, and I looked back at the screen just to see the data I had entered was incorrect.

I just can’t take all this shit anymore.

The next minute, I was stumbling my way toward the ladies’ restroom, my guts tingling as I searched hastily for the toilet bowl before burying my head into it, puking my stomach empty.

Tears of frustration rolled down my cheeks the more I vomited. If I made it out of here alive, I was going to a karaoke bar to cry my shits out.

Men. Men… dangerous creatures.

“Ms. Cortez.”

“Sir Gerald…” I called weakly, hair spilling over my face as I stared at the man by the door.

A file was in his hands, and I bit my lip, knowing what was coming. His look was cold, his gaze indifferent. “The CEO would like to see you in his office.”

I released a long puff. “Does it have to go this way before you hand over the resignation letter?” I said to myself in a muffled tone.

“Did you say something, Ms. Cortez?”

“No, Sir Gerald.”

---

The doorknob of the president’s suite felt heavy in my hands. How do I behave once I’m in? What do I say? How will he react?

I needed the alcohol I took last night—the one that gave me the audacity to approach him. Summoning all the courage in me, I turned the knob and walked in.

The scent of the old man was long gone and now replaced with a rich blend of sandalwood and jasmine—the scent that had enveloped me when I climbed off the hotel bed this morning.

The owner of that scent was backing me, staring at the city through the glass walls, hands in his pockets as he stood like one of those IMG models.

“It took you so long to come to a decision, Ms. Cortez.” He finally turned to meet my gaze, a gentle smile on his lips. If my head were a webpage, it would have been glitching by now. “Thought you would stay outside the door forever.”

“I was just ensuring I looked a bit kept before presenting myself to you, sir.” River, he isn’t going to bite. Stay calm… he isn’t even talking about it.

But the moment the sound of his footsteps began hitting the marble floor, I became a standing corpse, my eyes snapping toward him.

“Was that my payoff you left on the nightstand?”

This is it—the part where he chooses to remember. I’ll just deny it. Yesterday I was wearing heavy makeup, without my glasses, and I wasn’t looking like ‘me.’ I could just tell him he mistook me for someone else.

“I… don’t…” My vision blurred as he pulled out my ripped panties from his chest pocket, bringing them to his nose, his eyes closing as he took in my scent.

“If only you knew how many lingerie stores my men searched through in the last six hours just to find who had sold this—and the buyer. Did you perhaps make these panties yourself?”

My cheeks flushed, my eyes burned with fury, and I decided to cut the play.

“Give that back.” I lunged forward, trying to reach for it, but he pulled away before I could. His arm caught me by the waist, pressing me into his desk.

“I tipped you off. Last night never happened. You don’t know me, and we would be nothing but Employee-to-Boss relationship, Sir.”

“You pushed yourself into my arms last night, River. I gave you time to back off until you…” He frowned as he pressed into me, and I could feel him even with our clothes serving as a barrier. My breath hitched—it took every restraint not to tighten my legs around him.

His hand caught my hairband letting it slide down my hair, before he buried his head in the nape of my neck after my hair fell loose.

“You’ve awakened something in me, Ms. Cortez…” My bottom lip caught between my teeth as his breath fanned hotly against my skin. “Do you have any relationship with the man at the lobby?”

“You have no right to my private life, Sir. I am your employee.” My hand went to his chest, trying to push him away. He budged a little, only to grab me by my lower thigh, placing me on his desk with ease.

“Which gives me more reason to know your private life, Ms. Cortez.” He caught my chin in a tight grip, those blue eyes of his promising a hellish stare into mine. “The disturbance in the company this morning all led to you and that man. Heard you’ve been a dedicated employee to my old man for three years. It still doesn’t change the fact that I am the boss now, and I have every right to see to your resignation.”

The corner of my lips raised with disbelief. Was that a threat?

“Sir, I am sorry you saw that this morning. That still doesn’t—” I slurred as his hand caught the hem of my skirt, hiking it up until it exposed the tattoo inked on my lower thigh.

“Peter…” he read, his gaze hardening on the tattoo as he traced the letters carefully. “Was that Peter? The man at the lounge?” I tried so hard not to falter under his touch, but the memories of last night wouldn’t stop playing in my head. I could feel my nipples taut and hard, my panties slick, and my head hazy with needs I shouldn’t crave.

“You let me fuck you with another man’s name on your ass cheeks and thighs, Ms. Cortez?” The way my father's name rolled out of his lips—my father's ghost would have face-palmed in sheer embarrassment, ready to disown me for dragging dirt on his name.

“The tattoo, that was supposed to be Peter's gift for our wedding night. Peter is my ex—he and I were supposed to tie the knot tomorrow. Shit happened and I regret ending up in your bed last night…” I was half yelling into his face. This arrogant jerk nodded softly before pulling my skirt down properly and leaving me on the desk. “I have a deal, Ms. Cortez.”

I looked away, hopping off the desk as I straightened my clothes, my teeth clenched tightly, my forehead aching with the way my brow creased. I didn't want to hear any fucking deal he had for me; I was ready to bury my nails in his pretty face.

He turned to face me again, a slight smile on the monster’s face. “I have erectile dysfunction…” I almost rolled my eyes at those lies. “Last night just happened; I haven't been able to—” he paused, looking at my face as if for better words, “—get an erection…until you.”

“I am glad I was able to help you get that, Sir. I would like to head back to my desk.” I was ready to slip past him before he tugged me back; his tone went sharp and suddenly cold. “Hear me out!”

“It wasn't any case which needed medical attention. I have gone through a series of tests, but nothing worked out…” He kept his tone formal as he talked and I wondered why he was telling me this. “My old man is dying and he deserves his dying wish… I'm not interested in marriage, Ms. Cortez. I just need an heir. Cars, houses, money for a lifetime—I would have you settled once you have my child.”

‘You.’ ‘Child.’

For a second, it felt like I had become immobile, forgetting how to blink, breathe, or think. I studied his expression carefully, hoping to catch him with a playful smirk or a mocking smile, but he looked serious, so I asked him to repeat it.

“I want you to bear my heir, Ms. Cortez.”