Mga Maiikling Kuwento at Nobelang Secret Love Workplace

"If you won't meet me, we're done!" I typed out the message, my fingertips trembling with anger. A few months ago, I'd started dating someone I met on an underground comic forum. He was gentle, clingy, talented at drawing, had a beautiful voice, and best of all, he showered me with gold coins at the drop of a hat. Summer break had arrived, and I'd been begging him to meet in person. He refused every single time. Why did other couples get to hold hands, hug, and kiss? While all I got was a cold chat window, day after day. In a fit of anger, I sent the breakup message. The moment the message showed as delivered, a deafening crash erupted outside my window. The glass rattled and hummed, and the night wind surged in, dragging the curtains with it. The next second, a massive black-and-white creature slammed into my living room. It had a pair of enormous bat wings, white fur dusted with moonlight, long pointed ears, small but sharp fangs, and half-lidded green eyes. It looked like a monster that had tumbled straight out of a castle painting. I stood frozen, though my hand had already found the kitchen frying pan. "A... a bat?" Before I could scream, another cascade of clattering sounds filled the room. Gold louis, rubies, black pearls, and diamonds spilled across the floor from beneath it. For a moment, I couldn't decide whether to call animal control first or hide this pile of treasure that could buy half the building.

Vera Quinn and I spent seven years tearing each other apart in the corporate world. When we first started, she sabotaged my presentation slides, hoping to watch me humiliate myself in front of the board. I retaliated by flagging her fraudulent expense reports to HR, making sure her name was dragged through every department in the company. When we were both up for the director position, she locked me in a supply closet to make me miss the final interview. The moment I got out, I poached a major client she had been pursuing for six months, leaving her at the very bottom of the year-end performance rankings. In our industry, we were fire and water—completely incompatible. Then three years ago, the endless scheming finally felt hollow. I handed in my resignation and walked away from the industry for good. The day I packed my desk and left, Vera was leaning against the elevator door, her eyes full of mockery. "Giving up already? Mylo, a cowardly deserter like you deserves to starve on the streets". I hit the "close" button, swearing I never wanted to see her face again as long as I lived. Three years later, we crossed paths again at the industry’s annual gala. Vera was now the youngest partner in the industry. She looked at me as I stood there, humbling myself to pour drinks for an executive, and let out a sharp laugh. "It’s been a few years, and you’ve fallen this far? Working as a glorified escort to scrounge up some investments? What happened to that pride you used to fight me with?" But I wasn't there to secure any investment. I was there to beg that executive for a few more days to pay off the predatory loans my father had left behind. I just needed enough time to sign the consent form for my stomach cancer surgery with a clear conscience.

Being a good saleswoman means knowing how to make money and save it. So when my landlord said someone wanted to split the rent with me, I jumped at the chance. My new roommate kept regular hours. He was neat and even knew how to cook. His only downside was that he barely talked. But to me, that was a plus. Quiet and emotionally stable. Perfect. Then came the year-end company meeting. As the top salesperson, I was invited to sit with the executives. The man at the head of the table looked up. His expression was cold and distant. My manager introduced him as the heir to Prescott Group. Except... I could've sworn he was my quiet roommate. I'm speechless. Here's the thing. I got drunk last night and accidentally ripped his pants and boxers. Think I still have time to sew them back?

I fell in love with a mysterious stranger online. Morpheus. For three months, I’ve fallen asleep blushing at his blunt, dirty texts. "Can you feel how much I crave you, sweetie?" "I saw you in my dreams again last night. Writhing beneath me, screaming my name." I was finally ready to ask him to meet. Then he sent a photo. Just a casual shot of his desk. But right in the center sat an ancient book. Stamped on the cover was a crest I knew all too well: the Ouroboros of the Valerius vampire clan. And I happened to work at the exact museum where the Valerius clan stores their immortal relics. For three whole months, I had been sexting an immortal predator. A vampire who was probably watching me from the shadows every single day. While my brain was spinning, trying to piece together his face, my eyes landed on it. The custom blood-garnet signet ring I had helped "Morpheus" design... was currently gleaming on the finger of my boss, Alistair.

I was a full-blown possessive psychopath, and so was the person I loved. By day, I worked diligently as his poker-faced secretary. By night, I used a burner account to flood him with messages, harassing him without restraint. After he rejected yet another one of my confessions through those texts, I took advantage of my position and impulsively installed 138 surveillance cameras in his home. I watched Cassian from every possible angle for an entire month. It was fun until I realized he seemed to be planning to imprison his crush. I was green with envy as I continued messaging him through my burner account. I even offered suggestions. "I once bought a set of incredibly practical chains. They're perfect for imprisonment. I guarantee that once your crush steps into your house, she'll never be able to leave. In exchange for sharing this great find, could you be my puppy for a month? Just one month." I waited for a long time after sending him the link to the chains. Alas, no reply ever came. Just when I thought Cassian would never respond to my alt account again, I woke up one day to find that I had been imprisoned. The chain bound around my ankle was exactly the one I had recommended. It didn't just end there, as I now had the dubious honor of being filmed by all 138 cameras I had installed in Cassian's home. I froze, completely stunned. 'What's going on? I'm the one Cassian wanted to imprison? I'm his crush?' As shock coursed through me, Cassian finally replied to my burner account. "Your chains work very well. Still, I'm sorry. I can't be your puppy. I only like my secretary."

Just clocked out. My bestie, Chloe, texted. Begging me to go wild with her at a bar. I collapsed onto my bed. Exhausted. “No way. My legs are jelly. I can’t tonight.” I splashed some water on my face and stared at my reflection. Pale. Drained. Suddenly, I knew I needed a release. Anything to forget my inhuman, tyrant werewolf boss. I grabbed my phone again, ready to text Chloe. I wanted to type: “My whole body aches. No energy for the bar. I desperately need a rough, deep-tissue massage session tonight.” But my brain was fried. I just typed: “Just need a rough, deep session tonight.” Five minutes later, my screen lit up. But it wasn't a message from Chloe. It was from my cold, untouchable Alpha boss. “Send location.”

In high school, I had finally worked up the courage to confess my feelings to my longtime crush. The next day, he disappeared from my life without a word. Heartbroken and furious, I moved on and started dating someone else, leaving him behind in my memories. Years passed, and I thought I had buried that part of my life. But ten years later, fate threw us back together—this time, he was my new boss. Not just any boss, but my boss’ boss. I had no idea how to face him, but one thing was clear: resigning suddenly felt like my best option.