Semua Bab SIX MONTHS WITH THE CEO: Bab 1 - Bab 6

The fluorescent lights in St. Mercy Hospital buzzed overhead, and Elena Thomas swore she could hear every single one of them drilling into her skull. She sat in the waiting area with a manila envelope trembling in her hands, and inside that envelope was a bill that might as well have been a death sentence. $2,340,000. Due by 11:59PM tonight. Her mother, Lillian Thomas, was on the fourth floor in room 412, hooked up to machines that were the only thing keeping stage 4 ovarian cancer from taking her completely. The doctors had said one more round of chemo might buy them another six months. Six months Elena couldn’t afford. Her phone vibrated. It was another declined payment notification from the bank. Her account balance read $342.17. The nurse, a kind woman named Mrs. Adele, stopped in front of her with that practiced look of sympathy that meant bad news. “Miss Thomas, I’m so sorry. Without the payment, we’ll have to discharge Mrs. Thomas by midnight. We just don’t have

George stared at his phone screen for a while and then he held the screen up for Elena to see. It was a photo of Elena walking into Litdom 30 minutes ago and was escorted by George's assistant David. And also a photo of Vanessa Laurent, George's fiancee storming out from the same building in dismay. The caption underneath read: “A mysterious woman seen walking into Litdom company with Billionaire CEO George Herbert’s Assistant. Wedding rumors already? And the first comment with the most likes was tagged to her @Elena.Thomas.official: “so you are the gold-digger who broke up Vanessa and George?” George’s jaw ticked. Too late, he said. The world already thinks you’re mine. Elena looked up to George, panic rising in her throat but she still remained calm. Before she could find her voice to speak, David knocked and opened the door. The car is ready, Mr. Herbert. I’ve also sent someone to pack Miss Thomas’s things from her apartment, he said. Elena stared at him. hold on a

The penthouse was quiet. George had walked Elena to the guest room himself. No words. Just stood in the doorway with his hands in his pockets, grey eyes scanning her like he was memorizing every inch of her. This is your room, he said finally. For now. “For now”. The way he said it made her stomach flip. She nodded and closed the door. The silk sheets were cold. The view of the city was beautiful. None of it mattered. At around 10:30pm there was a soft knock on her door and it was George. He had brought her tea. Chamomile. Drink it, he said, setting it on the nightstand. You look like you are about to pass out. I’m fine, Elena replied softly. He didn’t believe her. He never did. George sat at the bed side as he watched Elena take the chamomile tea; the room was quite until Elena spoke: i used to paint, she said softly. Before my mom got sick; watercolours, landscape, and all of it. Where? George asked as he leaned back. At the Garden park that is why the text…… she