Semua Bab The CEO'S Little Lamb : Bab 1 - Bab 10

CHAPTER ONE ““Lara Finn,” the pretty secretary called, hanging up the phone. “Yes, I’m here,” I replied nervously. “You’re next for the interview,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe. I knew my outfit was perfectly appropriate for a job interview—a pair of brown wide-leg trousers, a black T-shirt, black heels, and a matching bag. I knew my fashion well. I pushed open the brown mahogany door and stepped into the office. It was much colder than the reception—and huge. Wait… one, two, three… six? Six interviewers? I’m doomed. I was sure the shock was written all over my face. This was my third interview in eight months, and none had been like this. Then again, this was a huge company, what was I expecting? I swallowed hard as I walked to the center of the room, facing the long table where the panel sat. “Good day, sirs and ma,” I greeted, trying to sound confident, but my voice came out shaky. “Please, have your seat, Miss Finn,” the only woman among them said.

CHAPTER THREE The moment I drove into our compound, I knew I was finished. The front door swung open before I could even step out of my dad’s Mazda MX-5. “Lara!” my mother exclaimed, rushing outside. “Where are you coming from?” But my father pushed past her immediately. “My car.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he circled the vehicle. “Why does it smell like alcohol?” I blinked rapidly. Great. “I—” “And why is there dirt on the tire?” he added, crouching slightly. “Did you drive recklessly?” Seriously? I almost got kidnapped last night and this man was worried about his tires. “Good morning to you too, Dad,” I muttered under my breath. “What did you say?” “Nothing.” My mother crossed her arms. “Where did you even sleep?” “At Sadie’s place,” I lied quickly.I needed my freedom so badly Dad checked the side mirror dramatically like he was inspecting a crime scene. “Hmm. At least you didn’t scratch it.” I stared at him in disbelief. “That’s your concern?” “Do you

CHAPTER FIVE Chris was acting strange. Not terrible. Not rude. Just… different. And the worst part was that I couldn’t even explain it properly. The calls became shorter. The texts became drier. And every time I mentioned work, his mood changed. At first, I told myself I was overthinking. But by the second week at Blackstone, even I couldn’t ignore it anymore. “Babe, are you even listening to me?” I blinked and looked up from my laptop. “Huh?” Chris sighed from across the table. We were at a quiet café near his office, yet the atmosphere between us felt oddly tense. “I said my manager dumped an entire presentation on me today.” “Oh.” I immediately closed my laptop guiltily. “Sorry. Work has just been hectic.” “Clearly.”He sighed. The way he said it made my chest tighten. I studied him carefully. Chris looked good as always—clean haircut, fitted shirt, classy wristwatch. He had always carried himself confidently. That was one of the things that a

CHAPTER SEVENThe email came in at exactly 8:14 a.m.I almost ignored it.I was halfway through fixing my blouse in the bathroom mirror at work when my phone buzzed inside my handbag.Salary Credit Notification.For a moment, I just stared blankly at my phone.Then my heart started pounding.Slowly, I opened the message.And the moment I saw the amount—I gasped.“Oh my God.”It felt unreal.My first salary.My first real salary.After six whole years of rejection emails, failed interviews, and depending on my parents for almost everything.I leaned heavily against the sink as emotions rushed through me unexpectedly.Relief.Pride.Disbelief.My eyes burned suddenly.“Lara?”I looked up quickly to see Amelia from HR entering the restroom.“You okay?”I laughed shakily while wiping under my eyes.“I just got paid.”Her face softened instantly.“Oh.”That single word carried understanding.“First paycheck?”I nodded.And somehow, that made me emotional all over again.By

CHAPTER NINEADRIAN’S POVHong Kong was loud in a way I didn’t respect.Too many people. Too many lights. Too much noise pretending to be importance.I adjusted my cufflinks as another executive finished speaking across the glass conference table.Something about expansion projections.Something about numbers that didn’t matter.I stopped listening after the third slide.“Mr Romano,” one of them called carefully, “your approval is needed for the Southeast Asia merger strategy.”I exhaled slowly.“Proceed without me.”A pause.“Sir?”“I said proceed.”That ended the meeting faster than it started.Good.My assistant trailed after me as I left the room.“You have another meeting in forty minutes.”“I’m aware.”“And dinner with investors after that.”I stopped walking.“No.”A blink.“Sir?”“I said no.”He hesitated, then quickly adjusted his tablet like I hadn’t just reduced an entire schedule to dust.“Understood.”That was the thing about power.People rarely argued twic