Chapter 3 Chapter 3

In Love with the CEO

Chapter 3

Author: Alexander Smith

ALEXANDER

I just arrived at work this morning, and I see a girl sitting at my assistants’ desk. But honestly, I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her, so I didn’t bother finding out who she was. Plus, she looked too young to be working here, so she must have gotten lost—maybe she’s an intern or something. I don’t really care to know anyway. I go into my office and close the door.

William says, “Can I come in?”

I lift my head from my files. “Go ahead, come in. I was looking for you anyway. Who’s that kid?”

William, taking a seat in an armchair and laughing, says, “I assume you’ve met your new assistant.”

I say, “You’re joking, right?”

William replies, “I’m very serious.”

I say, “That girl must be a minor. What’s she doing here?”

William, chuckling, says, “No, no, I assure you she’s not a minor. Plus, she’s very, very beautiful. When you see her in the morning, your bad mood will disappear.”

I, a bit exasperated, say, “Where’s the professionalism of the great William Spencer gone?”

William replies, “Don’t be fooled. Besides being young and super beautiful, I found her very thoughtful and composed.”

I, in a sarcastic tone, say, “We’ll see how long she lasts working here.”

I pick up the intercom and ask her to come in with the mine file.

She walks in confidently, dressed in a white pantsuit paired with a red blazer. She looks very young but has everything in the right places. What am I thinking? I can’t control my thoughts, which irritates me to no end. I try to pull myself together quickly.

She says, “Good morning, sir. Here’s the file you requested, and this is the list of appointments you have today and the people you need to call back.”

I, a bit frustrated, say, “First of all, we don’t know each other, so the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. We’re not family. I’m not supposed to know you. I’m not a magician.”

She responds, “Sorry, sir. I’m Alex Johnson, your new assistant.”

I turn to William. “Alex?”

Alex says, “Yes, sir, just Alex.”

I, with a serious look, say, “Let me tell you, your parents didn’t want you. They probably wanted a boy, and you just showed up.”

Alex replies, “Alright. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

William says, “No, you can go. Thank you.”

This girl really irritates me, and I don’t know why. There’s something about her that gets under my skin to the highest degree, even though she’s the one I need—for the job, I mean, of course.

William, with a smile on his lips, says, “She caught your eye, didn’t she?”

I, a bit annoyed, say, “Where do you come up with such nonsense?”

William says, “You were practically drooling over her, and you’re telling me she doesn’t affect you?”

I cut the conversation short. “Don’t you have work to do?”

William, laughing, says, “No need to thank me. Have a good day.”

When he closes the office door behind him, I go wash my face. I don’t understand what just happened, but what I’m sure of is that I’m not going to dwell on it.

ALEX

A FEW MONTHS LATER

It’s been a while since I started working at this company, and I finally have my own car. To my mother, who thought I couldn’t do anything without a man in my life, well, I’m proving her wrong every day. I love everything that’s happening to me right now, but I wouldn’t say the same about my boss. He’s a real tyrant. Sometimes, I want to drop everything and leave, but when I think about my mother and the paycheck I get at the end of the month, I reconsider immediately. No job is easy, so you have to arm yourself with courage and patience to achieve something in life. Unfortunately, I had to face life’s challenges very early, and I’ve learned a lot from it. If my father had been there, things would have been so different for me. Sometimes, I wonder why he left us. Did he not want me? Did he not love me enough to stay with me or take me with him? My mother gave me life, and she did her best with me, but I wouldn’t give her the award for the world’s best mother.

Sometimes, I feel like she doesn’t love me or that she’s making me pay for my father abandoning us. I stop complaining and get to work. Today, a magazine came out with a ranking of the sexiest and richest businessmen of the year, and my boss is on the list. I place the magazine on his desk before he arrives and return to my own desk. I admit, he’s a man with a charm no one can deny. He’s undeniably handsome. If he didn’t have such a pig-headed personality, he’d be the perfect man.

I wave my hand in the air. “Alex, stop thinking about that guy. He’ll never be yours.”

I get back to work until the boss arrives. He throws me a “good morning” and walks into his office without even waiting for my response. As I said, he’s a complete jerk. Barely inside his office, he shouts my name in anger. It’s become so routine for me to deal with this kind of behavior from him that it doesn’t scare me anymore. I stand up, walk into his office, and close the door behind me.

I say, with all my seriousness (lol), “Good morning, sir.”

Alexander, throwing the magazine at me, says, “What’s this?”

I look at the magazine on the floor. “They sent it for you, so I had to give it to you.”

Alexander, yelling as usual, says, “How many times do I have to tell you not to send me this kind of trash?”

I try not to laugh. “But sir, didn’t you pose for them last month?”

Alexander, erupting in a quiet rage, says, “Pick it up and get out of here.”

I murmur, “What a jerk that guy is.”

Alexander says, “Excuse me? Can you repeat what you just said?”

I didn’t have time to think of what to say when I feel someone behind me. I was so scared that I froze as I stood up, but he grabs me before pushing me onto the couch nearby and pounces on me. He straddles me before taking my chin in his hands. Everything happens so fast that I don’t understand what’s going on. I’m so gripped by fear that I stay paralyzed, unable to move or speak.

Alexander continues, “Go ahead, repeat what you just said, you little brat.”

I, trying to control my trembling voice, say, “Sir, you’re hurting me.”

Alexander, very pleased with himself, says, “The next time you talk to me like that, I’ll rip your teeth out.”

I, trembling, say, “I swear I wasn’t talking about you but about the people who wrote that magazine. I promise, please let me go now.”

I don’t know why I can’t look away from his gaze. It’s like I’m hypnotized. What’s happening to me? He finally lets go of my chin. He doesn’t have time to stand up before someone opens the door. Damn, it’s his mother.

Mrs. Smith says, “What’s going on here?”

Alexander, standing up, says, “Nothing, nothing’s happening here.”

He goes back to his desk and sits in his chair before saying to me in a detached tone, “You can leave.”

I was so stunned that I couldn’t get up. It was like some force was keeping me glued to that chair.

Alexander, shouting, “I said get out!”

I stand up and practically run out. I’m so embarrassed by what just happened that when I leave, I head straight to the bathroom and lock myself in.