I blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly.
“Great! If you ever get too busy, just let me know. I’m happy to help with anything.”
“Will do,” Beta Sawyer replied, a strange smile tugging at his lips.
I walked toward my office feeling lighter than before.
Over the next week, I slipped seamlessly into my role. I immersed myself in understanding the company’s organizational structure, both at headquarters and branch offices, and caught up on all the major projects from the past year.
I also made a point to connect with department managers and executives, nurturing relationships throughout the company.
During lunch breaks and after hours, I treated the secretarial staff to meals several times to foster camaraderie. After all, their cooperation was essential; having loyal support staff was crucial to my success.
What pleased me most was that after Alpha Sebastian’s afternoon naps, Beta Sawyer never once asked me to wake him.
Morning coffee, afternoon tea-Beta Sawyer always insisted, “I’ve got it!”
He truly was the perfect colleague. I had misjudged him earlier.
–
Author
Wednesday finally arrived-the day Celina would accompany Alpha Sebastian on the business trip.
The trip would last two days and one night.
They were leaving early in the morning and returning the following afternoon.
The night before, Celina was busily packing her suitcase.
Harlow lay on her bed, hugging a pillow and resting her chin on her hands, resembling a teenager at a sleepover.
“Ooh, just the two of you? That sounds like fun!” Harlow raised her eyebrows teasingly. “You better make the most of it, girl!”
Celina rolled her eyes and tossed a shirt at Harlow’s face.
“Make the most of what? It’s a work trip.”
Harlow pulled the shirt off her head and grinned mischievously.
“You can work and have a little fun too, you know. Just because you’re guarding your heart doesn’t mean your body has to suffer. Physical release is healthy-studies even say it helps you live longer.”
Celina laughed out loud.
“What do you think he is, some kind of luxury escort? Like I can just throw money at him and he’ll lie there and let me do whatever I want?”
Harlow’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Maybe he’d say yes.”
“You mean like a gigolo?” Celina replied deadpan.
Harlow flopped back onto the bed with an exaggerated sigh.
“You’re hopeless.”
–
Celina
The next morning, I overslept by fifteen minutes.
I barely managed to grab a slice of toast and a glass of milk before rushing up to the penthouse with my luggage.
Alpha Sebastian was already seated at the table, eating breakfast.
I stood awkwardly nearby, waiting.
A mouthwatering aroma of meat drifted my way.
I glanced at his plate-was that just ordinary bacon? How could it smell so unbelievably delicious?
As he lifted a piece to his mouth, I swallowed involuntarily.
Then I watched him spear some salad with his fork.
The vibrant grant leaves looked impossibly fresh, as if they had been plucked from the earth just moments ago.
When he bit into them, the crisp sound made my mouth water. I could only imagine how delightful they must taste.
Unconsciously, I found myself staring at his lips, my gaze flickering between swallowing hungrily and looking at him as if I wanted to devour him instead of his food.
“Celina…” Alpha Sebastian’s voice broke through my reverie, a hint of unease in it. “Why don’t you join me?”
“Oh, I really shouldn’t-it’s not proper,” I said, but my body had other plans. Before I could stop myself, I was already sitting down.
Lian smiled warmly and prepared a plate for me.
He explained that the bacon was his special recipe, unavailable anywhere else.
The vegetables in the salad came from Alpha Sebastian’s private garden, handpicked by Lian himself at dawn.
Even the juice was freshly squeezed from perfectly ripe fruit…
“I need a Lian in my life,” I said, grant with envy.
From across the table, Alpha Sebastian’s deep voice floated toward me. “If you dare to dream it, you can have it.”
His intense gaze held mine a moment longer than necessary, and I felt an unexpected flutter in my chest-something far more stirring than the scent of bacon.
Celina
“If you have the courage to dream it, then it’s within your reach.”
Was that a gentle tease directed at my modest hopes? Did Alpha Sebastian view my wish for someone like Lian in my life as childish or naive? I glanced over at Lian, who stood nearby with a warm smile, clearly touched by Alpha Sebastian’s words. The genuine joy radiating from Lian’s face made me question whether I had misunderstood the Alpha’s tone all along.
After finishing breakfast, Lian took the wheel and drove us to the airport. Our destination was Colorado Springs-a place I hadn’t visited often, but one I remembered fondly for its breathtaking landscapes and the crisp, invigorating mountain air.
Alpha Sebastian and I boarded a commercial flight, naturally settling into the comfort of first class. While he immersed himself in reviewing documents, I feigned interest in a novel, trying my best not to be overly conscious of his presence right beside me.
Upon landing, a private car awaited us, ready to whisk us deep into the mountainous terrain. The project we were involved in was massive-over $2.3 billion invested, with Silver Peak Pack holding sixty percent ownership and Remy’s company controlling the remaining forty.
As the car ventured farther from the city’s hustle, the scenery began to unfold in all its glory. Puffy ward clouds drifted lazily across an endless expanse of blue sky. The gentle sway of the vehicle combined with the serene surroundings slowly lulled me into a state of calm. My eyelids grew heavier with every passing moment.
Before I knew it, sleep was pulling me under. Just as my head began to tilt toward the window, a large, warm hand appeared, cradling my head with surprising tenderness and repositioning it gently. The subtle scent of sandalwood filled the air as my cheek pressed against something firm yet surprisingly comfortable.
I lost track of time in that quiet embrace.
When I finally blinked awake, the car was deep within the mountain range. Through the window, mist clung to the dense forests, and distant peaks rose majestically into the sky. The view was otherworldly-ethereal, almost dreamlike.
*So beautiful,* I thought, adjusting my position to find a more comfortable spot.
That’s when it hit me-something was off about my makeshift pillow. What kind of luxury seat was this-warm, fragrant, and just the right mix of softness and firmness?
Slowly, I turned my stiff neck and saw a crisp ward shirt, and above it, a strong jawline and the faint outline of an Adam’s apple. My heart dropped.
“Sleep well?” a deep voice murmured close to my ear, his warm breath brushing against my hair.
“Mmm,” I replied, trying to sound composed as I carefully disentangled myself from his embrace.
I smoothed my hair nervously and babbled, “Oh my, I can’t believe I actually fell asleep! It must be because Harlow made me watch that horror movie last night. I barely got any rest.”
I hoped my nervous chatter would somehow erase the mortifying fact that I’d been sleeping in my boss’s arms.
Alpha Sebastian nodded knowingly. “Ah, that explains it. I was wondering why you kept burrowing into my chest while you slept. Horror movie aftereffects, naturally.”
My eyes widened in shock.
The driver, visible in the rearview mirror, looked just as stunned.
The phrase “kept burrowing into my chest” echoed relentlessly in my mind, each repetition more horrifying than the last.
Kept. Burrowing. Into. His. CHEST?!
No, this couldn’t be happening.
I shot a desperate glance at the driver, silently pleading for him to deny it. Our eyes met in the mirror, and he gave a small, guilty nod of confirmation.
That tiny gesture felt like a hammer blow to my dignity.
Frozen in horror for a moment, I turned to face Alpha Sebastian with all the solemnity of someone marching toward their doom.
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