~Joan~
I arrived at the office late the next day. I’d stayed up with Denzel, talking about random things. It was actually fun, and for a while, I forgot about Aaron.
The cab driver lost him last night, and I tipped him more than necessary. He was happy. I was even happier.
Now, imagine my surprise when I walked into the office to find Alessia and Brielle gathered around my desk, gushing over a bouquet of flowers. My stomach dropped.
“What’s going on here?” I asked, stopping just inside the doorway. Both women turned to me. Alessia straightened.
“This was delivered for you.” She pointed at the bouquet of roses.
Brielle smirked. “Is it from the guy from last night? I was holding back from reading the note attached to it.”
I ignored their excitement and walked over, snatching the note from the flowers.
I’m sorry, kitten. Tell me what it would take for you to let me talk to you?
-AA
My jaw clenched. I crumpled the note in my fist.
“Did you just-what did it say?” Alessia asked, looking genuinely curious.
“Nothing serious. It’s from an ex,” I muttered without thinking. Ex? We never even dated. The word felt… wrong.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I looked away.
Brielle pressed her lips together. “Was it the guy from yesterday?”
I nodded, dropping my bag onto the desk while eyeing the flowers. They were beautiful, but they came from someone I wanted nothing to do with.
“He was a fine one. It’s a pity he turned into an ex,” Brielle sighed dramatically.
Alessia looked confused. “Yesterday? What are you guys talking about?”
I raised a brow as I settled into my chair, still deciding what to do with the bouquet. One thing was certain-I wasn’t keeping it.
“A guy came looking for Joan yesterday,” Brielle explained, placing a hand over her heart. “And he was damn good-looking. That’s if you’re into guys with beards.”
Alessia scrunched up her nose. “No, I’ll pass.”
Brielle rolled her eyes. “Admit it. The only person you’re into is Noah.”
Alessia glared at her. “I’d be so happy if I got flowers like that,” she muttered.
“I am not into Noah! He acts like he owns the world, and well, he has a stick shoved up his ass,”
A shadow by the door caught my eye.
My mouth dropped.
Noah was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. His blue eyes met mine briefly before flicking away, his jaw tightening.
It’s okay to say the man is handsome, right?
“I don’t own the world, and nothing is shoved up my ass,” he said coolly.
Alessia froze. Her back had been to the entrance the entire time.
Her cheeks turned pink as she turned around slowly. “How long have you been standing there?”
Noah straightened, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Long enough to hear about the stick.”
“I said nothing,” she shot out as her face grew redder.
Oh boy. She was a terrible liar and a terrible blusher.
“Why are you here?” Brielle asked, glancing up at Noah.
“Actually, I came to remind you ladies that there’s a meeting. It’s become a habit to be awfully late, hasn’t it?” He looked pointedly at Alessia.
“I was late once.”
“It was twice,” he corrected smoothly.
Alessia frowned. “Are you keeping tabs on me, Noah?”
He shrugged. “No one forgets the woman who walked in late and made a scene by spilling her files everywhere. And the second time? You spilled coffee on yourself.”
I pursed my lips, pretty amused by their banter.
Brielle looked away. “I do remember,” she mumbled.
Alessia shot her a betrayed look.
“Wild of you to think I actually keep tabs on you,” Noah said. “Meeting starts in two minutes.” And with that, he walked off.
Alessia glared at his retreating figure.
I cleared my throat. “Things seem tense. Brielle was right-you two need to get each other out of your systems,” I lowered my gaze. “Which you shouldn’t.”
A casual relationship was a ticking time bomb from the start. I knew that better than anyone.
I slept with my best friend’s brother to get it out of our systems. I fell in love. I got dumped. I lost my best friend of three years.
It wasn’t worth it.
I didn’t want that for Alessia.
She huffed and returned to her desk, where she sat down.
I glanced at Brielle, then at the flowers.
“Hey, you want them?”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
I shrugged. “I don’t need them. They’re going in the trash, so if you want them, take them.”
She snatched them up immediately, bringing them to her nose.
“They’re too beautiful to throw away. I’m saving them-only because you asked nicely.” She winked.
I smiled.
We gathered our things and walked to the meeting room. It was my first time attending one, and I was surprisingly excited.
Most employees were already seated when we arrived. Fortunately, the boss wasn’t here yet.
A few minutes later, Mr. Dominic walked in, and the room fell silent.
“This will be quick and brief,” he started.
A shiver ran down my spine and goosebumps erupted on my skin. Someone was watching me. I couldn’t tell who- since everyone seemed focused on Dominic.
“The company has been sold,” he said.
Murmurs broke out across the room.
“Are we losing our jobs?” a man asked.
Dominic turned to him. “That depends on whether you impress the new CEO.”
More murmurs erupted.
“Why would he sell the company? We were doing well,” Brielle whispered.
“I’m handing ownership to the new CEO of DomisAd today,” Dominic continued. Then he glanced at the entrance.
Everyone followed his gaze. Since my back was to the door, I turned-
And my breath caught.
He walked in. Confident strides. Hair brushed back. Stubble gone. Looking… perfect.
Brielle nudged me. “Isn’t that the guy from yesterday?” Her eyes were practically sparkling.
I swallowed nothing.
“Aaron Thompson, CEO of ZenithCrypt Securities, is now the new CEO of DomisAd,” Dominic announced.
I blinked, stunned.
Aaron’s gaze drifted over the room-until it landed on me. His lips tugged into a lopsided smile.
I looked away, anger simmering.
“He’s the guy,” Brielle whispered, practically bouncing.
And just like that, Aaron Thompson had become my boss.