"Fuck man, how did you enter my room?" I groaned, trying to shield my eyes from the morning light with my blanket.
"How the heck can you be a CEO when you can't get up on time to do your work, man?" Josh retorted, climbing onto my bed. He knew full well how much I hated having anyone on my bed. It's not even during my one night with some girls, I ended up making a different room for that.
"Get off my bed," I mumbled, my voice muffled by the blanket.
Josh ignored me, yanking the covers away. "Seriously, dude, you need to get your act together. You've got a meeting in an hour."
I rubbed my eyes and sat up, glaring at him. "I know, I know. Just give me a minute."
Josh smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "You said that an hour ago when I called you. Come on, get moving."
Reluctantly, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, my head still foggy from the lack of sleep. "Alright, alright, I'm up. Happy now?"
"Ecstatic," Josh replied sarcastically, stepping back to give me space. "Now hurry up, we've got a busy day ahead."
"aye- aye captain" I said as I rubbed my face with my hands.
The next few hours went by in a rush. I ran through daily meetings and rechecked countless files. Some bastard had mixed up his story with a movie he was watching, completely changing the novel's situation.
I called an emergency meeting with the editorial team to sort out the mess, spending an hour dissecting the manuscript and cross-referencing it with previous drafts. My head pounded from the constant barrage of issues, but there was no time to rest.
By noon, I barely had time to grab a coffee before diving into another meeting with the marketing team. They were excited about a new social media campaign for our latest thriller, but I could hardly focus, my mind drifting back to the manuscripts on my desk. After approving the campaign, I hurried back to my office.
The afternoon was a blur of phone calls, emails, and quick consultations. A tense call with an author's agent about contractual disputes had me pacing the room. I finally collapsed into my chair, glancing at the clock and realizing the day was slipping away faster than I could manage.
I rang the bell on my desk, summoning my new secretary. She had pleaded with me for at least two hours on her first day of work, begging for a second chance. Just before that, I had scolded her for not being at her post when I needed her. She had thrown a fit, insisting she could handle the job and promising never to be late again.
Honestly, she was just so nice that I couldn't resist her request. She looked so earnest and determined, and I just couldn't bring myself to turn her away. Besides, she had helped me on the bus the other day, a small act of kindness that I couldn't forget. Despite her rocky start, I decided to give her another chance, hoping she'd prove herself in this demanding environment.
The door in front of my desk opened, and she walked in. My new secretary, around 26, had an undeniable presence.
Her light brown hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, complementing her hazel eyes that seemed to sparkle with a blend of determination and nervous energy.
She wore a crisp white blouse tucked into a sleek pencil skirt that perfectly accentuated her hourglass figure, highlighting her curves in a way that was both professional and alluring. Her attire, coupled with a pair of modest heels, showcased her confidence and poise.
Despite the hectic morning, she managed a polite smile, her demeanor a mix of eagerness and trepidation.
"Yes, sir," she said in her sweet, thin voice. I could easily hear the tension in her tone. I cleared my throat and asked, "Do you have the files from this morning's meeting ready? I need them." As I spoke, I looked directly into her hazel eyes, trying to gauge her readiness.
"Yes, sir, just give me a minute and I'll be back," she replied, turning on her heel before I could respond. She didn't even ask for permission before leaving. I scoffed softly, shaking my head. Her eagerness was evident, but she still had a lot to learn about the protocols here.
"Sir, here," she said as she walked towards my desk and placed the files in front of me. In that brief moment, her sweet scent of vanilla wafted over me, intoxicating my senses.
Holy fucking hell, what was happening? I was falling for my employee. Shit, no, fucking way.
"Than—" my voice cracked. I quickly cleared my throat and tried again, "Thank you." I could barely maintain my composure, the reality of my feelings hitting me harder than I cared to admit.
"You're welcome, sir," she said with a smile that made her look even more stunning. "Let me know if you need anything else," she continued.
"Can you get me a glass of hot water and a tea bag, please?" I asked, trying my best to keep my tone as even as possible. She gave me a curious look before walking behind me to pick up my kettle and pour a glass of hot water. Shit, I forgot I had a kettle and a variety of flavored tea bags right here in my office.
"Sir, which flavor would you prefer?"
"Umm, pick any of your choice," I said, unable to even recall the flavors I had stocked.
After a minute, she returned to my desk with the tea. Instead of the hibiscus tea scent, her familiar vanilla fragrance filled the air, overwhelming my senses once again.
"You can leave now," I said, my voice sounding harsher than intended. I quickly cleared my throat as she turned to go.
I sipped the tea and muttered, "Fuck, I forgot the tea is hot," under my breath.
***
For the next five hours, I lost track of time, immersed in work. It wasn't until Julia knocked on the door and entered that I realized how late it was.
"Sir, it's 9 PM now. You have an international meeting in 30 minutes. Please get ready; it's on Zoom."
"Thank you. Get me the files for Joshua's book about the nightmare," I replied, rubbing my face. My eyes burned from staring at the screen, but I had a long meeting with our office in Japan, where it was probably 11 AM.
The meeting went by quickly compared to my earlier tedious screen time. After it ended, I called out, "Julia," seeing her sitting opposite me.
"Yes, sir," she replied, looking up from her laptop and meeting my gaze. Her eyes were captivating, but I managed to keep my composure.
"It's 12. How are you going to get home?" I asked, remembering she mentioned using public transport.
"I'll call my friend; she lives nearby," she said, but there was doubt in her eyes.
"It's fine. I'll drop you off," I insisted. It seemed like the most appropriate thing to do. She worked overtime, so ensuring her safe return was the least I could do.
"No need," she responded, surprising me.
"Why? I should drop you off; it's not safe," I said, just as her phone started ringing.
"Go ahead, take it," I told her. She stepped out to answer the call.
Whoever the fuck was on the other end must have convinced her to let me drive her, as she returned with a hesitant but resigned expression. "ok, maybe I could use your help".
"Great, pack your things, and I'll meet you in the basement."
"Okay, sir."
I gathered my belongings and called my driver. "Park the car in front of the basement entrance and leave."
"Okay, sir," he replied. I like to keep things short and direct to avoid wasting time.
"Julia, here," I said from behind her. She turned, and I saw she had untied her hair. Long, brunette, and thick. I couldn't help but wonder how it would feel with my hands fisting through those locks.
She gave me a small, hesitant smile, and I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus. "Let's go," I said, leading the way to the basement.
"Can I know where to drop you off?" I asked as I settled into the driver's seat and fastened my seatbelt.
"456 Oakwood Drive, but it should only take about 10 minutes at this hour," Julia replied, already reaching for her phone.
We were currently parked at 789 Pearl Street, not too far from her destination. My house, on the other hand, 1234 Skyline Boulevard, was a bit further. Perhaps I should consider finding a new place closer by.
"Can I turn on some music, please?" she asked sweetly.
"Go ahead," I replied, trying to maintain my composure.
As she selected a station, the soft melody of a romantic tune filled the car, blending with the gentle hum of the engine. The lyrics played softly, setting a tranquil atmosphere as we began our journey through the evening streets of Portland.
As she selected a station, the soft melody of a romantic tune filled the car, blending with the gentle hum of the engine. The lyrics of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran played softly, setting a tranquil atmosphere as we began our journey through the evening streets of Portland:
"I found a love, for me Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me"
"I love this song; do you know I was so obsessed with it that I heard it for two days straight?"
"Is that so?" I replied, genuinely interested. I glanced over at her as she softly sang along, her eyes closed as if to immerse herself completely in the music.
The dim yellow street lights cast a gentle glow on her face, complemented by the occasional red glow from passing car lights.
She looked stunning in that moment, lost in the melody. We had arrived at her destination a few minutes ago, but she only seemed to realize it when the song came to an end.
As she opened her eyes, our gazes met, and she stared directly into mine. The intensity of that moment hung in the air, unspoken but palpable.
I found myself staring at her lips, their natural gloss catching the soft glow of the streetlights. I remembered she had worn pink lipstick earlier, but now they were bare after hours of work.
"Sir," she whispered, bringing me back to reality. I realized I had been caught in a moment of distraction, fixated on her.
I leaned in slightly, and to my surprise, she did the same. Her vanilla scent enveloped me, tempting and intoxicating, that even my cock was not really getting hard and painful.
Then a sudden touch of her soft and sweet lips crashed on mine they were warm and tasted exactly like how I had anticipated it to feel like.
Sweet. Soft. Vanilla flavored.
She twined her fingers in my hair as I pulled her closer, my hands instinctively settling on her hips. In that heated moment, I cursed the car for its inconvenient separation of the front seats.
"Knock. Knock."
The sound shattered our embrace. We both pulled away, shocked and embarrassed by what had just transpired. I glanced out the window to see a young lady peering curiously at the car, clearly wondering whose it was.
Thankful for the tinted windows that shielded us from prying eyes, I tried to gather my thoughts and compose myself. This unexpected interruption brought a rush of awkwardness, but the brief connection between us lingered in the charged air of the car.