When she woke up, she was lying in a strange bed.
Stella Baker groggily took in the unfamiliar room.
Yesterday was the department dinner. She’d had a few too many.
And after that…
Her mind snapped into focus. His deep, muffled groan was still ringing in her ears, a haunting echo.
She cut off the mental replay, desperate to get the hell out of there.
She picked up the shredded white shirt from the floor. Was this even wearable…?
With a trembling hand, she tossed the ruined garment aside. Next to the bed was a clean set of clothes—a professional skirt suit, obviously left by him.
She scrambled to put it on. The clothes weren't her usual style; he probably just bought them randomly to get the job done.
She noticed her neck was completely clean, but the area below her collarbone was a total mess.
Ha! This guy. Was she supposed to praise him for being a gentleman?
So terrified someone might find out he’d slept with another person!
Stella sighed and stepped out of the bathroom, scanning her surroundings.
It was a large suite, but it felt completely empty, with no signs of life. It wasn't a hotel, but it felt a lot like one.
She grabbed her bag from the nightstand and walked out.
Yep, definitely not a hotel.
Opening the door revealed a massive living room.
And a familiar man came into view.
He was sitting on the sofa with headphones on, a pillow on his lap supporting a laptop. Dressed in black loungewear, he had a lazy, relaxed air about him.
Hearing the noise from the room, he lifted his deep gaze.
It was her boss, Jaxon Stewart.
Wasn't he known as the celibate tycoon?
Judging by last night, he wasn’t celibate at all. He was more like a wolf that had been starving for decades.
She froze, about to say something, but Jaxon beat her to it.
"I'm in a meeting," he said, his voice low and dark.
Stella didn't dare make a sound. She got the message.
"Come over here. Eat breakfast." He leaned forward slightly, his slender fingers nudging a glass of water with honey across the table, placing it in front of another breakfast plate.
But he didn't notice that as he leaned over, the hickeys on his neck were perfectly framed for the camera, giving the executives in his meeting a crystal-clear view.
Stella's face flushed with mortification. *Those… I probably left those, didn't I? I guess my hickey game is stronger than I thought.*
*I really wish this was a hotel so I could just walk out the door and go home.*
She shakily sat down, her eyes darting around, not daring to look at him. She obediently drank the honey water and started eating the sandwich on the table, which was identical to his.
Jaxon Stewart was famous for being cold. A cold personality, a cold temper—everything about him was cold.
So, yeah, Stella had really messed with the wrong guy.
She must have gotten into the wrong car last night.
But even if she did, it’s not like her ice-cold boss wouldn’t have recognized her…
Sleeping with an employee—did he not care about his reputation?
Fifteen minutes later, he ended the meeting, closed his laptop, and began to eat his breakfast in a slow, deliberate manner.
"Sorry, I didn't know it was your first time. I was a little rough," he said, his tone as cold and detached as if he were delivering a business resolution, his face completely expressionless.
"Ahem…" Stella, who had just managed to calm down, felt her face heat up all over again.
*What's done is done. Can we please not relive it? Okay?*
"The family doctor will be here soon. Wait for her before you go," he said.
Jeez. Hook up and then tie up loose ends.
Was he afraid she’d get pregnant with his royal heir and inherit his throne?
After finishing the honey water, Stella picked up the glass of milk beside it and took small sips, unsure how to respond.
He ate quickly, finishing in no time.
"You wait here. I have to go to the office today. I'll have Chris take you home."
Stella quickly cut in, "Mr. Stewart, I can get home myself. It's no trouble."
"Are you saying you're unhappy with my performance last night?" he asked, looking up with a subtle, almost hurt expression.
"Huh?!"
For some reason, Stella's heart started hammering in her chest.
How could she possibly dare?!
She was at a total loss for words, unable to think of a comeback. It was the first time she'd ever been so completely shut down in a verbal spar.
If he weren't her boss, she would've already ripped that smug look right off his face.
"Mr. Stewart, Dr. Pearson is here," an older housemaid announced from the side.
He didn't speak, just continued to stare quietly at Stella.
Stella was a beautiful woman, with fair skin and a stunning head of naturally blonde hair. A mixed-race beauty, she was almost otherworldly.
Her figure was outstanding, too—the kind of girl every guy wishes was his girlfriend.
His stare made her incredibly uncomfortable. Her already flushed cheeks began to burn, and her whole body felt hot.
"Follow me," Jaxon said, a barely audible sigh escaping his nose.
Stella obediently followed. What else could she do? She’d just pissed off a titan of the fashion industry.
Back in the bedroom—the battlefield of last night's frenzy—her heart pounded with lingering fear. Her palms grew sweaty just looking at the bed.
However, the battlefield had already been spotlessly cleaned by the maid.
A female doctor entered, and Jaxon walked out, closing the door behind him.
Stella thought she was there to give her a morning-after pill or some kind of shot, but it was nothing like that.
It was an examination—and ointment—for… down there.
The shame was unbearable! Having someone else inspect the results of last night's… activities.
But to be fair, the ointment really did help soothe the discomfort.
She kept her face covered the entire time, feeling like she could die of embarrassment.
When she walked out, Jaxon was already gone.
Only Chris was waiting for her.
Chris was the same age as her, twenty-two. They had graduated from the same university, interviewed at the same time, and started on the same day, just in different positions.
He was Jaxon's sole assistant, a truly capable right-hand man.
Standing by the car, Stella looked at Chris's grinning face in the driver's seat and felt her own face burn with a shame so complete she could never pick up the pieces.
Once in the car, she stared out the window and mumbled, "Did I get in the wrong car last night?"
"You sure did, future Mrs. Stewart," Chris teased, then began to recount dramatically:
"I've known you a long time, and that's the first time I've ever seen you drink that much. You got in the wrong car, and the second you were in, you grabbed the boss, said he was your 'Baymax,' and then just went at him. It was intense!
Mr. Stewart had a few drinks too, but he was too stunned to move. You know how he is about germs. And then you ripped his shirt, sent a few buttons flying."
"..." She hung her head, her mind replaying the horror story as he told it.
"He was going to take you home," Chris continued, "but considering you live alone, he was worried you wouldn't be able to take care of yourself, so he brought you to his place."
"Haha—" she managed, forcing a smile.
"So, you and the boss..." Chris looked her up and down.
You had to hand it to Jaxon, he had the foresight to leave her neck completely mark-free.
"What you see is what you get," she said, gesturing to her clean neck.
"Looks like the boss is too much of a gentleman after all."
"Riiight—" she drew out the word.
*Gentleman? Yeah, a phony one.*
Chapter 2
On the first day back after the long holiday weekend, the office was pretty chill. A lot of people were still on vacation.
But of course, the company still had its share of corporate drones clocking in—people like Stella Baker.
Stella had Chris Baker drop her off a little ways from the office. It was the boss's car, after all, and if anyone saw her getting out of it, the rumors would be impossible to explain.
She got out near the office and ducked into a pharmacy to buy the morning-after pill.
She had no idea if he’d used a condom, but she was taking it just in case.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Stella’s current boyfriend, Ethan Walker.
“Hmph—”
Seeing that nauseating name, Stella couldn't help but let out a sarcastic smirk.
She and Ethan had been dating for five years, ever since college.
She had been an academic superstar, skipping several grades, which was how she’d met Ethan, who was three years older.
Two years ago, Stella had moved abroad with her mother to study, and they’d been in a long-distance relationship ever since. But apparently, Ethan couldn't handle the loneliness and had hooked up with her best friend back home.
Stella hadn't ended things. She didn't want to waste her emotional energy on a petty breakup. No, she was planning to drop a bomb—to hit them with something they’d never see coming.
She didn't answer, just rejected the call. As she was about to turn off her screen, a new friend request popped up on WhatsApp.
[Jaxon Stewart]
She froze, staring at the name for several seconds, thinking she must have been seeing things.
What was this? A friend request from her boss? Or from her new FWB?
She gritted her teeth and hit reject.
She was a fashion designer who had just joined Stewart Apparel a year ago. Besides her director, she’d barely spoken to any other higher-ups.
Stewart Apparel was the biggest fashion enterprise in City A, with sales reaching overseas markets. A big shot like Jaxon Stewart was basically a mythical creature you never actually saw.
Last night was a fluke. The holiday fashion show had shattered all previous records, so he’d made an appearance.
A message popped up from the Design Department group chat: [Meeting in the conference room in ten minutes.]
"!!" Stella broke into a run, sprinting toward the office building.
—
Inside Stewart Tower.
In the elevator, she ran into her bestie.
"Stella, girl, I thought you hated business attire! What's with the power suit today?!"
Layla Bailey, also a designer, eyed her up and down.
It was true. Stella hated suits. She was seriously stacked, and wearing business clothes made her feel like a model from one of *those* websites…
She tugged at her clothes, trying to act casual.
"Just wanted to show off my... *outstanding* contributions to my work. Gotta put the real assets on display, you know?"
"Pfft…" Layla snickered, her eyes dropping to Stella's chest before she gave her a firm slap on the butt. "Any guy who marries you is gonna be the luckiest man alive!"
*Ouch—*
Damn, girl! That hurt!
Stella bit her lip, staying silent.
Just as the elevator doors were about to slide shut, a hand shot into the gap, stopping them.
Chris Baker stepped aside, and behind him, Jaxon Stewart strode in, dressed in an imposing black suit.
Stella and Layla smartly shuffled to the side.
She swallowed hard. Jaxon was now standing right beside her, with Layla in front of her.
She didn't dare look at him. Maybe it was the cramped space, or maybe it was just his intimidating presence, but she felt like she couldn't breathe.
A blush crept up from the base of her ears to her cheeks.
They were so close, but it would have been too awkward to try and create more distance.
She could faintly smell the light sandalwood scent on him, the same as last night. It was so good…
She bit her lip, forcing herself to calm down and not think about last night.
Finally, the elevator stopped at the 28th floor, home to the Design Department. They bolted out of there like their lives depended on it.
"That scared the hell out of me!" Layla whispered, clutching her chest.
"After the party last night, I saw a woman in Mr. Stewart's car! Oh my god, Stella, you have no idea! She was wrapped around his neck, just kissing him! And he wasn't even stopping her! You think our celibate boss is finally getting some action?"
"..." Stella’s face turned beet red. Normally, she lived for this kind of gossip, but now that she was the subject of it, she couldn't bring herself to say a word. "Really."
"I texted Chris about it later, but his lips are sealed tight. Didn't say a single thing," Layla said, clipping on her ID badge and tidying her notebook.
Ten minutes later, they were all gathered in the conference room.
There weren't many people, since most of the staff was still on vacation.
The meeting was to recap the recent event.
First to speak was the Design Department’s resident heartthrob, Director Daniel Lawson.
He was clearly proud and confident about the event's success, and everyone was saying he was a shoo-in for the biggest bonus this year.
For some reason, Stella felt like his real intentions lay elsewhere.
He called it a summary, but it really felt like he just wanted everyone to kiss his ass.
Finally, his gaze landed on Stella.
"But the person we should thank the most is our very own Ms. Baker. Most of the designs used in this year's collection came from Ms. Baker, and her pieces were our top sellers…"
Stella forced a polite smile. She'd heard this same speech so many times last night she was sick of it, and she had zero interest in hearing him blah blah blah again.
There was no denying Daniel's talent. It was his cheerful, slightly rakish personality that made him so effective; things just came easily to him, and a lot of people enjoyed working with him.
But Stella wasn't a fan. He was always dropping unsubtle hints that he was into her, trying to get her to fall for his charms.
The meeting ended shortly after. Just then, Chris Baker knocked on the conference room door.
"Ms. Baker, Mr. Stewart would like to see you in the President's Office," Chris said.
"..."
The room went dead silent. Stella, who had been dozing off in her chair, could feel a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on her.
The President's Office was on the 30th floor, the top floor, a place almost no one had ever been. Meetings were usually held on the 29th. The 30th floor was a mysterious place.
They called it—hell.
The last director who came out of the President's Office had a dislocated arm.
His assistant before that had his left leg broken and had to be carried out…
Which was how the very young Chris had gotten the job.
"Chris, any idea what's going on?" Daniel asked, ever protective of his team.
All eyes snapped to Chris.
They all knew he probably wouldn't say anything, but they still tried to read his expression for clues.
"No idea." Chris's mouth was harder to crack than a vault.
"Got it," Stella said. The blush that had appeared on her face that morning still hadn't faded, her mind filled with images of him acting like a ravenous wolf the night before.
"Ms. Baker, you don't look so well. You've been flushed all morning. Do you want to take the rest of the day off?!" Daniel was always this considerate with his subordinates, so no one found it strange.
"No need. I'll be right back. If I don't make it, consider the sketches in my office my last will and testament."
Stella sighed, gathered her meeting notes, and walked out.
She followed Chris into the elevator. The elevator to the 30th floor required facial recognition or a keycard, so it was almost impossible for anyone to get up there.
Chris scanned his face, and the elevator began to rise.
"There's no one here. Can you tell me what he wants?" Stella asked, confused.
"He didn't say, but he seems to be in a pretty good mood."
*Ha—*
*Of course he’s in a good mood,* Stella thought sarcastically. *God knows how much 'fun' he had last night.*
Chapter 3
Three knocks sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Stella Baker’s heart hammered against her ribs as she opened the door.
He was at his computer, working. Unlike this morning, he’d taken off his suit jacket. He wore a black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, his tie tossed to the side.
She could just faintly make out the hickey she’d left on his neck last night...
He was slouched in his office chair, giving off an air that was part lazy rogue, part pretentious intellectual.
She walked in slowly, and Chris Baker shut the door behind her with a soft click.
*Click.*
The sound was quiet, but to Stella, it was deafening.
"Mr. Stewart, you wanted to see me."
"Yeah." Jaxon Stewart glanced at her standing by the door before his eyes returned to his computer screen.
Silence—
A single minute felt like an eternity.
He stood up and walked toward her.
There was no denying it: he was the perfect boyfriend straight out of every girl’s fantasy.
A chiseled jawline, a refined face, a high-bridged nose, thin red lips, and almond-shaped eyes that tilted up at the corners. Even Stella couldn't help but stare.
Standing next to him, the top of her head barely reached his chin.
He had an amazing body. Stella had to admit it. Last night in the bathroom, her fumbling hands had spent most of their time exploring his perfectly defined abs...
*Damn it, I’m thinking about all that embarrassing stuff from last night again.*
"Is there something you need, Mr. Stewart?"
Her face was a mask of calm, her voice clear and steady, betraying immense self-control. Inside, however, her world was a chaotic mess.
"Sit." He veered off and sat down on the sofa.
Stella walked over and sat down about six feet away from him.
"Come here." He patted the spot right next to him.
Stella hesitated for two seconds before getting up and moving over.
Jaxon stared at her, lost in thought.
Stella nervously wrung her hands together.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked.
"..." Stella froze, then shook her head.
*Is this psycho trying to do a play-by-play?*
"Any thoughts?"
Stella glanced at him, her eyes catching on his perfect collarbones and the faint hickey on his neck...
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stewart. I drank too much last night. I honestly don't know how I could have done something so insane to you..."
"You don't need to apologize," he said, cutting her off as he sat up straight. He leaned back against the sofa, his gaze fixed on her perfect profile.
"I was the one who initiated things last night," he stated casually. "You were drunk and kissed me. Everything after that was my own doing."
"Don't say any more—" She was already humiliated enough. Did she have to relive it right to his face?
"We're both adults. What's done is done. We can just pretend it never happened." Her face was flushed, as if she'd caked it in blush.
"So what, you think I'm some gigolo?"
Jaxon's icy demeanor made it feel like he was about to interrogate her under a hot lamp.
"You've misunderstood." Stella's ears were burning.
*What is he trying to do? Start some kind of inappropriate relationship?*
*He didn't seem like that kind of guy this morning, he was such a gentleman!*
"How about you try being Mrs. Stewart?"
"Huh?" Stella thought she must have misheard him.
Their eyes met, their gazes tangling.
She couldn't decipher the thoughts behind his eyes.
"We didn't use anything last night. If you get pregnant, we'll have the baby. If not, I'll still take responsibility for you."
He said it so plainly, as if he were telling a story that had nothing to do with him.
Stella fell silent, her mind clearer and more rational than ever.
Jaxon came from a well-respected family with deep cultural roots; his upbringing was impeccable. He was probably a conservative man—why else would he be single and unmarried at twenty-eight?
Now that this had happened, he probably couldn't get over the moral hurdle in his own mind.
Stella knew she couldn't aim that high. She knew her own background.
She was the illegitimate daughter of her mother and some businessman—who, she had no idea. She'd grown up surrounded by gossip and whispers. Getting involved with someone as "clean" as Jaxon would only drag him down.
Besides, after the hurt Ethan had caused her, she wasn't ready to just accept someone new.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stewart, but I don't have any other intentions. I already took the pill this morning, so you don't have to worry about it. I don't want to be Mrs. Stewart. Since you feel you wronged me last night, and I—the person involved—am not pressing the issue, we can consider it over. Let's not bring this up again."
Jaxon's eyes darkened, the pupils behind his rimless glasses becoming bottomless pits.
Stella got the words out in a single breath and turned to leave the President's Office.
"Wait." He rose slowly. For a second, her speech had completely stunned him.
He was one of the most powerful tycoons in A-City. Countless women threw themselves at him, yet this was the first time he'd ever met one who could turn him down.
Stella took a deep breath and turned back to face the man before her.
"Is there anything else, Mr. Stewart?"
"Add me on WhatsApp."
His expression was calm as he held out his phone with the QR code displayed.
"..."
"Next month is the Apparel Fashion Week in Country S. The company plans to send you and Director Lawson. If you don't want to go, just pretend I never said anything."
"Also," he added, "you don't have to answer my previous question right away. I'll give you time to think about it."
*Ugh! Such a businessman!*
With just a few words, he'd steered her exactly where he wanted her.
The fashion week in Country S wasn't an opportunity just anyone could get. She couldn't pass it up.
And it wasn't like she was losing anything.
She took out her phone and added him on WhatsApp.
As for that other question, she'd rather just forget it.
—
Back at her desk, the ever-gossipy Layla Bailey scurried over.
"So? Is the President's Office as amazing as they say?"
Honestly, Stella hadn't really looked around. She’d been too busy being railroaded by Jaxon’s rapid-fire questions.
"It’s something you have to experience for yourself. I'll help you apply for a visit next time so you can see it with your own eyes," Stella said, pursing her lips and giving Layla a playful wink.
"I was so scared. I thought you'd be carried out on a stretcher," Layla said, glancing at her while fiddling with some data on her computer.
"Ms. Baker!" Daniel Lawson came jogging over, bursting with excitement.
Everyone turned to look at him. His over-the-top joy had captured the entire department's attention.
"Director Lawson." Stella scrambled to her feet.
After last night, with Jaxon looming over her, tilting her chin up and asking if she liked it, she’d developed a fear of being looked down on like that.
"A notice just came down from management! We're both on the list for the fashion week in Country S!"
"I know." Stella wasn't the least bit surprised.
The company was full of senior employees. As someone who'd only been here a year, she was about to become public enemy number one.
*Jaxon probably gave me this spot to make up for last night.*
As soon as the news broke, the whole department erupted. Some were happy, some were jealous. The newer employees felt a fresh wave of motivation.
But the company veterans felt it was unfair. They had worked here for so long, and some hadn't even been to a local fashion show, let alone an international one.
Stella didn't care. She just quietly focused on her own work.
[Stella, you free tonight? Let's catch a movie.] It was a text from Ethan.
Stella pursed her lips. The man was shamelessly invincible, buttering up his ex while still placating his side piece.
[Sure!]
She took a screenshot, planning to post it on her socials. She set the visibility to "Only bestie Penelope Snyder can see" and added a caption: *Five years, same as it ever was.*
A moment later, an antsy Penelope fired off a text.
"Hey babe, I'm going to the movies with a friend tonight too. What are you guys seeing? What time?"
*Hah—*
*She's so dedicated. It’s a crime not to give her an award for this performance.*
Stella didn't reply. She just turned off her screen.
Chapter 4
By the end of the workday, the office was nearly empty.
Stella Baker stood by the window, looking down at Ethan Walker waiting with a bouquet of flowers. The sight was, frankly, ridiculous.
Ethan worked a low-level job for the city—a cushy, no-show position his dad had pulled every string to get for him.
His dad, the owner of the biggest car dealership in A-City, strongly disapproved of Ethan's relationship with Stella. He much preferred Penelope Snyder's family background.
Penelope's parents also worked for the authorities. If the two families were joined by marriage, some government projects could be funneled directly to Ethan's family's transport business.
So Penelope was determined to win him over. But since Ethan was still technically dating Stella, she and Ethan could only see each other in secret.
Stella stood by the elevators, earbuds in, taking Ethan's call.
She scrolled through a webcomic on her tablet, an annoyed look on her face, while dripping saccharine sweetness into the phone.
"Okay, honey, you go on ahead. I'll be there in a bit. I'll be on time, don't worry."
She was so absorbed she didn't notice the elevator doors had already opened. Chris Baker was holding them, his hand clamped firmly on the sensor to keep them from closing.
Her fake-sweet performance drew a nearly imperceptible smile from Jaxon Stewart, who was standing inside the elevator.
Chris didn't dare to laugh and quickly turned his head away.
"Yeah, you know how it is. My boss is a total vampire..."
She was about to say more when she happened to look up and met Jaxon's thunderous expression, and beyond him, Chris's *you're-so-dead* stare.
Startled, she hung up immediately.
"Mr. Walters..."
"Mm."
For some reason, she thought she saw the corner of his mouth twitch into a tiny smirk.
"Get in!" Chris mouthed, shooting her a pointed look.
Stella forced a smile and stepped inside, positioning herself off to the side.
An awkward silence instantly descended upon the three of them.
Proof that one sentence could land you in this much trouble—
"Going on a date, Ms. Baker?" Jaxon asked.
"Not really. Just dropping a friend off at the crematorium," Stella blurted out.
"Need a hand?" he asked, not seeming surprised by her answer.
"Not at the moment," she said, forcing another smile.
Chris understood her hidden meaning.
After all, the situation between Ethan and Stella was no secret among the three of them.
*Ding.*
The doors opened on the 18th floor, the marketing department, and a crowd of seven or eight people piled in.
Chris and Stella quickly backed up.
"Hey, Mr. Walters!" everyone greeted him cheerfully, not sensing the awkwardness at all.
Jaxon just gave a slight nod.
The marketing folks were a lively bunch, always laughing and joking around. They immediately started chattering away in the elevator, filling the space with noise.
"I'm out of room here, scoot over."
Someone said, and the elevator grew even more crowded.
Just then, Stella felt a hand tighten around her waist. A searing heat radiated through her thin blouse as she was pulled against Jaxon's side. Her foundation-covered cheek brushed against his black suit, leaving a faint white smudge.
He let go just as quickly, though.
Instantly, her face blazed, feeling as hot as a furnace.
When they reached the first floor, the marketing team swarmed out. Stella could still hear snippets of their conversation.
"Did you see that? The hickey on Mr. Walters' neck!"
"I heard he had breakfast with someone this morning. No idea who, but with a love bite like that on his neck, it's gotta be a woman!"
...
*Man, the marketing department sure lives up to its name.*
She wanted to get out too, but she saw Ethan still waiting by the entrance and quickly shrank back into the corner.
Jaxon glanced at her, his expression unreadable.
"You getting out?" Chris asked with a smirk.
*He definitely knows something,* Stella thought, her suspicion confirmed.
*If I go out, I have to deal with that scumbag. If I don't, do I leave with them?*
*I took the boss's car to get here today, I can't possibly ask for a ride home with him too, can I?*
"I left something upstairs," Stella lied, grabbing for an excuse. "You guys go ahead. I'll head back up for a minute."
*This is taking forever.* The one-floor ride felt impossibly long, like she had a knife to her throat and could be sent to her doom at any second.
The doors opened to the underground garage, and they finally stepped out.
*Can't leave even if I want to. Might as well go back to my desk and draw.*
—
Back on the 28th floor.
Stella let out a sigh of relief. She walked back to the window, gazing out at the sea of city lights.
She sat back down at her desk, put on some music, and started working on her illustrations.
Sometime later, Ethan called again. She ignored it, powered off her phone completely, then went to the breakroom to make a cup of coffee before getting back to work.
*Let's see you try to manage your time now, you two-timing jerk.*
10:30 PM.
Stella pressed her lips together, looking over her draft. *Not bad at all!*
She closed her laptop, stretched lazily, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed for the elevators.
*Huh? The lights for both elevators were off?*
She pulled out her phone and saw a message in the group chat: The elevators were under maintenance and wouldn't be running again until 8 AM tomorrow?!
*Does that mean I have to walk down 28 flights of stairs?!*
She aimed her phone at the elevators and snapped a picture.
【Your queen is trapped. Is there a knight in shining armor to come to my rescue...?】 She attached the photo and posted it to her social media.
Then, she trudged dejectedly toward the spooky-looking fire escape stairwell.
She sighed, summoned her courage, and started down the stairs.
She'd barely taken two steps when her phone rang. She let out a shriek, and before she could even see who was calling, the phone slipped from her grasp and tumbled down into the space between the flights of stairs.
The ringing echoed through the stairwell for a moment before stopping abruptly. Suddenly, she was plunged into darkness, the only sound her own faint breathing.
She fumbled around until she found her phone. The screen was black. It must have broken in the fall.
*Oh my god! Can my luck get any worse?*
She frantically pressed the power button, hoping to salvage the device from this sudden disaster and force it to reboot.
But the screen stayed dark. Instead, the motion-activated light on the landing above her flickered on.
Then came the crisp sound of someone descending the stairs.
*Tap... tap... tap...*
The click of leather shoes, accompanied by faint breathing.
"Who—who's there?" she stammered, shrinking back against the wall, a sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead.
The words had barely left her mouth when a tall figure appeared on the landing above.
He was backlit, his perfect silhouette swallowed by the shadows. The weak glow of the sensor light did little to illuminate his expression.
"It's me. Your vampire boss."
It was definitely his voice.
"Mr. Walters, what are you doing here too?" Stella asked, her voice trembling, still rattled from the scare.
"Vampires usually do their dirty work at night, don't they?"
She could almost hear the teasing smirk in his voice as he said it.
"..."
*This guy really holds a grudge.*
Still, her pounding heart began to settle. At least it wasn't some creep.
*Then again, it's not like he's a saint either.*
"Come up," he commanded.
"I'm going home."
She suddenly felt that the man standing before her was more terrifying than any situation she could find herself in.
Jaxon let out a nearly inaudible sigh.
"The ground floor is locked. You can't get out."
He paused. "Elevator maintenance usually takes one to two hours. If you don't mind waiting, you can come up for a cup of coffee."
*Can I say that I mind a lot?*
*But it's not like I have any other choice.*
He didn't wait for her reply and simply turned and walked back up.
Stella glanced down into the inky black abyss of the stairwell below, then chose to follow him up.
On the 30th floor, even the fire escape door was controlled by key card access.The upcoming chapters are even more exciting! Click the download button below to read the entire book!👇👇👇 {"title":"Addicted After Marriage","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/vt/prod/cover/296eefa2-df96-4461-abba-1e24d083ad80.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","chapter_title":"Chapter 1","chapter_text":"When she woke up, she was lying in a strange bed.\nStella Baker groggily took in the unfamiliar room.\nYesterday was the department dinner. She’d had a few too many.\nAnd after that…\nHer mind snapped into focus. His deep, muffled groan was still ringing in her ears, a haunting echo.\nShe cut off the mental replay, desperate to get the hell out of there.\nShe picked up the shredded white shirt from the floor. Was this even wearable…?\nWith a trembling hand, she tossed the ruined garment aside. Next to the bed was a clean set of clothes—a professional skirt suit, obviously left by him.\nShe scrambled to put it on. The clothes weren't her usual style; he probably just bought them randomly to get the job done.\nShe noticed her neck was completely clean, but the area below her collarbone was a total mess.\nHa! This guy. Was she supposed to praise him for being a gentleman?\nSo terrified someone might find out he’d slept with another person!\nStella sighed and stepped out of the bathroom, scanning her surroundings.\nIt was a l","chapter_content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/25566/1/en_2eddcbcd-4be9-45c4-9621-df6db841e12e.txt","chapters":[{"title":"Chapter 1","text":"When she woke up, she was lying in a strange bed.\nStella Baker groggily took in the unfamiliar room.\nYesterday was the department dinner. She’d had a few too many.\nAnd after that…\nHer mind snapped into focus. His deep, muffled groan was still ringing in her ears, a haunting echo.\nShe cut off the mental replay, desperate to get the hell out of there.\nShe picked up the shredded white shirt from the floor. Was this even wearable…?\nWith a trembling hand, she tossed the ruined garment aside. Next to the bed was a clean set of clothes—a professional skirt suit, obviously left by him.\nShe scrambled to put it on. The clothes weren't her usual style; he probably just bought them randomly to get the job done.\nShe noticed her neck was completely clean, but the area below her collarbone was a total mess.\nHa! This guy. Was she supposed to praise him for being a gentleman?\nSo terrified someone might find out he’d slept with another person!\nStella sighed and stepped out of the bathroom, scanning her surroundings.\nIt was a large suite, but it felt completely empty, with no signs of life. It wasn't a hotel, but it felt a lot like one.\nShe grabbed her bag from the nightstand and walked out.\nYep, definitely not a hotel.\nOpening the door revealed a massive living room.\nAnd a familiar man came into view.\nHe was sitting on the sofa with headphones on, a pillow on his lap supporting a laptop. Dressed in black loungewear, he had a lazy, relaxed air about him.\nHearing the noise from the room, he lifted his deep gaze.\nIt was her boss, Jaxon Stewart.\nWasn't he known as the celibate tycoon?\nJudging by last night, he wasn’t celibate at all. He was more like a wolf that had been starving for decades.\nShe froze, about to say something, but Jaxon beat her to it.\n\"I'm in a meeting,\" he said, his voice low and dark.\nStella didn't dare make a sound. She got the message.\n\"Come over here. Eat breakfast.\" He leaned forward slightly, his slender fingers nudging a glass of water with honey across the table, placing it in front of another breakfast plate.\nBut he didn't notice that as he leaned over, the hickeys on his neck were perfectly framed for the camera, giving the executives in his meeting a crystal-clear view.\nStella's face flushed with mortification. *Those… I probably left those, didn't I? I guess my hickey game is stronger than I thought.*\n*I really wish this was a hotel so I could just walk out the door and go home.*\nShe shakily sat down, her eyes darting around, not daring to look at him. She obediently drank the honey water and started eating the sandwich on the table, which was identical to his.\nJaxon Stewart was famous for being cold. A cold personality, a cold temper—everything about him was cold.\nSo, yeah, Stella had really messed with the wrong guy.\nShe must have gotten into the wrong car last night.\nBut even if she did, it’s not like her ice-cold boss wouldn’t have recognized her…\nSleeping with an employee—did he not care about his reputation?\nFifteen minutes later, he ended the meeting, closed his laptop, and began to eat his breakfast in a slow, deliberate manner.\n\"Sorry, I didn't know it was your first time. I was a little rough,\" he said, his tone as cold and detached as if he were delivering a business resolution, his face completely expressionless.\n\"Ahem…\" Stella, who had just managed to calm down, felt her face heat up all over again.\n*What's done is done. Can we please not relive it? Okay?*\n\"The family doctor will be here soon. Wait for her before you go,\" he said.\nJeez. Hook up and then tie up loose ends.\nWas he afraid she’d get pregnant with his royal heir and inherit his throne?\nAfter finishing the honey water, Stella picked up the glass of milk beside it and took small sips, unsure how to respond.\nHe ate quickly, finishing in no time.\n\"You wait here. I have to go to the office today. I'll have Chris take you home.\"\nStella quickly cut in, \"Mr. Stewart, I can get home myself. It's no trouble.\"\n\"Are you saying you're unhappy with my performance last night?\" he asked, looking up with a subtle, almost hurt expression.\n\"Huh?!\"\nFor some reason, Stella's heart started hammering in her chest.\nHow could she possibly dare?!\nShe was at a total loss for words, unable to think of a comeback. It was the first time she'd ever been so completely shut down in a verbal spar.\nIf he weren't her boss, she would've already ripped that smug look right off his face.\n\"Mr. Stewart, Dr. Pearson is here,\" an older housemaid announced from the side.\nHe didn't speak, just continued to stare quietly at Stella.\nStella was a beautiful woman, with fair skin and a stunning head of naturally blonde hair. A mixed-race beauty, she was almost otherworldly.\nHer figure was outstanding, too—the kind of girl every guy wishes was his girlfriend.\nHis stare made her incredibly uncomfortable. Her already flushed cheeks began to burn, and her whole body felt hot.\n\"Follow me,\" Jaxon said, a barely audible sigh escaping his nose.\nStella obediently followed. What else could she do? She’d just pissed off a titan of the fashion industry.\nBack in the bedroom—the battlefield of last night's frenzy—her heart pounded with lingering fear. Her palms grew sweaty just looking at the bed.\nHowever, the battlefield had already been spotlessly cleaned by the maid.\nA female doctor entered, and Jaxon walked out, closing the door behind him.\nStella thought she was there to give her a morning-after pill or some kind of shot, but it was nothing like that.\nIt was an examination—and ointment—for… down there.\nThe shame was unbearable! Having someone else inspect the results of last night's… activities.\nBut to be fair, the ointment really did help soothe the discomfort.\nShe kept her face covered the entire time, feeling like she could die of embarrassment.\nWhen she walked out, Jaxon was already gone.\nOnly Chris was waiting for her.\nChris was the same age as her, twenty-two. They had graduated from the same university, interviewed at the same time, and started on the same day, just in different positions.\nHe was Jaxon's sole assistant, a truly capable right-hand man.\nStanding by the car, Stella looked at Chris's grinning face in the driver's seat and felt her own face burn with a shame so complete she could never pick up the pieces.\nOnce in the car, she stared out the window and mumbled, \"Did I get in the wrong car last night?\"\n\"You sure did, future Mrs. Stewart,\" Chris teased, then began to recount dramatically:\n\"I've known you a long time, and that's the first time I've ever seen you drink that much. You got in the wrong car, and the second you were in, you grabbed the boss, said he was your 'Baymax,' and then just went at him. It was intense!\nMr. Stewart had a few drinks too, but he was too stunned to move. You know how he is about germs. And then you ripped his shirt, sent a few buttons flying.\"\n\"...\" She hung her head, her mind replaying the horror story as he told it.\n\"He was going to take you home,\" Chris continued, \"but considering you live alone, he was worried you wouldn't be able to take care of yourself, so he brought you to his place.\"\n\"Haha—\" she managed, forcing a smile.\n\"So, you and the boss...\" Chris looked her up and down.\nYou had to hand it to Jaxon, he had the foresight to leave her neck completely mark-free.\n\"What you see is what you get,\" she said, gesturing to her clean neck.\n\"Looks like the boss is too much of a gentleman after all.\"\n\"Riiight—\" she drew out the word.\n*Gentleman? Yeah, a phony one.*"},{"title":"Chapter 2","text":"On the first day back after the long holiday weekend, the office was pretty chill. A lot of people were still on vacation.\nBut of course, the company still had its share of corporate drones clocking in—people like Stella Baker.\nStella had Chris Baker drop her off a little ways from the office. It was the boss's car, after all, and if anyone saw her getting out of it, the rumors would be impossible to explain.\nShe got out near the office and ducked into a pharmacy to buy the morning-after pill.\nShe had no idea if he’d used a condom, but she was taking it just in case.\nJust then, her phone rang.\nIt was Stella’s current boyfriend, Ethan Walker.\n“Hmph—”\nSeeing that nauseating name, Stella couldn't help but let out a sarcastic smirk.\nShe and Ethan had been dating for five years, ever since college.\nShe had been an academic superstar, skipping several grades, which was how she’d met Ethan, who was three years older.\nTwo years ago, Stella had moved abroad with her mother to study, and they’d been in a long-distance relationship ever since. But apparently, Ethan couldn't handle the loneliness and had hooked up with her best friend back home.\nStella hadn't ended things. She didn't want to waste her emotional energy on a petty breakup. No, she was planning to drop a bomb—to hit them with something they’d never see coming.\nShe didn't answer, just rejected the call. As she was about to turn off her screen, a new friend request popped up on WhatsApp.\n[Jaxon Stewart]\nShe froze, staring at the name for several seconds, thinking she must have been seeing things.\nWhat was this? A friend request from her boss? Or from her new FWB?\nShe gritted her teeth and hit reject.\nShe was a fashion designer who had just joined Stewart Apparel a year ago. Besides her director, she’d barely spoken to any other higher-ups.\nStewart Apparel was the biggest fashion enterprise in City A, with sales reaching overseas markets. A big shot like Jaxon Stewart was basically a mythical creature you never actually saw.\nLast night was a fluke. The holiday fashion show had shattered all previous records, so he’d made an appearance.\nA message popped up from the Design Department group chat: [Meeting in the conference room in ten minutes.]\n\"!!\" Stella broke into a run, sprinting toward the office building.\n—\nInside Stewart Tower.\nIn the elevator, she ran into her bestie.\n\"Stella, girl, I thought you hated business attire! What's with the power suit today?!\"\nLayla Bailey, also a designer, eyed her up and down.\nIt was true. Stella hated suits. She was seriously stacked, and wearing business clothes made her feel like a model from one of *those* websites…\nShe tugged at her clothes, trying to act casual.\n\"Just wanted to show off my... *outstanding* contributions to my work. Gotta put the real assets on display, you know?\"\n\"Pfft…\" Layla snickered, her eyes dropping to Stella's chest before she gave her a firm slap on the butt. \"Any guy who marries you is gonna be the luckiest man alive!\"\n*Ouch—*\nDamn, girl! That hurt!\nStella bit her lip, staying silent.\nJust as the elevator doors were about to slide shut, a hand shot into the gap, stopping them.\nChris Baker stepped aside, and behind him, Jaxon Stewart strode in, dressed in an imposing black suit.\nStella and Layla smartly shuffled to the side.\nShe swallowed hard. Jaxon was now standing right beside her, with Layla in front of her.\nShe didn't dare look at him. Maybe it was the cramped space, or maybe it was just his intimidating presence, but she felt like she couldn't breathe.\nA blush crept up from the base of her ears to her cheeks.\nThey were so close, but it would have been too awkward to try and create more distance.\nShe could faintly smell the light sandalwood scent on him, the same as last night. It was so good…\nShe bit her lip, forcing herself to calm down and not think about last night.\nFinally, the elevator stopped at the 28th floor, home to the Design Department. They bolted out of there like their lives depended on it.\n\"That scared the hell out of me!\" Layla whispered, clutching her chest.\n\"After the party last night, I saw a woman in Mr. Stewart's car! Oh my god, Stella, you have no idea! She was wrapped around his neck, just kissing him! And he wasn't even stopping her! You think our celibate boss is finally getting some action?\"\n\"...\" Stella’s face turned beet red. Normally, she lived for this kind of gossip, but now that she was the subject of it, she couldn't bring herself to say a word. \"Really.\"\n\"I texted Chris about it later, but his lips are sealed tight. Didn't say a single thing,\" Layla said, clipping on her ID badge and tidying her notebook.\nTen minutes later, they were all gathered in the conference room.\nThere weren't many people, since most of the staff was still on vacation.\nThe meeting was to recap the recent event.\nFirst to speak was the Design Department’s resident heartthrob, Director Daniel Lawson.\nHe was clearly proud and confident about the event's success, and everyone was saying he was a shoo-in for the biggest bonus this year.\nFor some reason, Stella felt like his real intentions lay elsewhere.\nHe called it a summary, but it really felt like he just wanted everyone to kiss his ass.\nFinally, his gaze landed on Stella.\n\"But the person we should thank the most is our very own Ms. Baker. Most of the designs used in this year's collection came from Ms. Baker, and her pieces were our top sellers…\"\nStella forced a polite smile. She'd heard this same speech so many times last night she was sick of it, and she had zero interest in hearing him blah blah blah again.\nThere was no denying Daniel's talent. It was his cheerful, slightly rakish personality that made him so effective; things just came easily to him, and a lot of people enjoyed working with him.\nBut Stella wasn't a fan. He was always dropping unsubtle hints that he was into her, trying to get her to fall for his charms.\nThe meeting ended shortly after. Just then, Chris Baker knocked on the conference room door.\n\"Ms. Baker, Mr. Stewart would like to see you in the President's Office,\" Chris said.\n\"...\"\nThe room went dead silent. Stella, who had been dozing off in her chair, could feel a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on her.\nThe President's Office was on the 30th floor, the top floor, a place almost no one had ever been. Meetings were usually held on the 29th. The 30th floor was a mysterious place.\nThey called it—hell.\nThe last director who came out of the President's Office had a dislocated arm.\nHis assistant before that had his left leg broken and had to be carried out…\nWhich was how the very young Chris had gotten the job.\n\"Chris, any idea what's going on?\" Daniel asked, ever protective of his team.\nAll eyes snapped to Chris.\nThey all knew he probably wouldn't say anything, but they still tried to read his expression for clues.\n\"No idea.\" Chris's mouth was harder to crack than a vault.\n\"Got it,\" Stella said. The blush that had appeared on her face that morning still hadn't faded, her mind filled with images of him acting like a ravenous wolf the night before.\n\"Ms. Baker, you don't look so well. You've been flushed all morning. Do you want to take the rest of the day off?!\" Daniel was always this considerate with his subordinates, so no one found it strange.\n\"No need. I'll be right back. If I don't make it, consider the sketches in my office my last will and testament.\"\nStella sighed, gathered her meeting notes, and walked out.\nShe followed Chris into the elevator. The elevator to the 30th floor required facial recognition or a keycard, so it was almost impossible for anyone to get up there.\nChris scanned his face, and the elevator began to rise.\n\"There's no one here. Can you tell me what he wants?\" Stella asked, confused.\n\"He didn't say, but he seems to be in a pretty good mood.\"\n*Ha—*\n*Of course he’s in a good mood,* Stella thought sarcastically. *God knows how much 'fun' he had last night.*"},{"title":"Chapter 3","text":"Three knocks sounded at the door.\n\"Come in.\"\nStella Baker’s heart hammered against her ribs as she opened the door.\nHe was at his computer, working. Unlike this morning, he’d taken off his suit jacket. He wore a black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, his tie tossed to the side.\nShe could just faintly make out the hickey she’d left on his neck last night...\nHe was slouched in his office chair, giving off an air that was part lazy rogue, part pretentious intellectual.\nShe walked in slowly, and Chris Baker shut the door behind her with a soft click.\n*Click.*\nThe sound was quiet, but to Stella, it was deafening.\n\"Mr. Stewart, you wanted to see me.\"\n\"Yeah.\" Jaxon Stewart glanced at her standing by the door before his eyes returned to his computer screen.\nSilence—\nA single minute felt like an eternity.\nHe stood up and walked toward her.\nThere was no denying it: he was the perfect boyfriend straight out of every girl’s fantasy.\nA chiseled jawline, a refined face, a high-bridged nose, thin red lips, and almond-shaped eyes that tilted up at the corners. Even Stella couldn't help but stare.\nStanding next to him, the top of her head barely reached his chin.\nHe had an amazing body. Stella had to admit it. Last night in the bathroom, her fumbling hands had spent most of their time exploring his perfectly defined abs...\n*Damn it, I’m thinking about all that embarrassing stuff from last night again.*\n\"Is there something you need, Mr. Stewart?\"\nHer face was a mask of calm, her voice clear and steady, betraying immense self-control. Inside, however, her world was a chaotic mess.\n\"Sit.\" He veered off and sat down on the sofa.\nStella walked over and sat down about six feet away from him.\n\"Come here.\" He patted the spot right next to him.\nStella hesitated for two seconds before getting up and moving over.\nJaxon stared at her, lost in thought.\nStella nervously wrung her hands together.\n\"Does it still hurt?\" he asked.\n\"...\" Stella froze, then shook her head.\n*Is this psycho trying to do a play-by-play?*\n\"Any thoughts?\"\nStella glanced at him, her eyes catching on his perfect collarbones and the faint hickey on his neck...\n\"I'm sorry, Mr. Stewart. I drank too much last night. I honestly don't know how I could have done something so insane to you...\"\n\"You don't need to apologize,\" he said, cutting her off as he sat up straight. He leaned back against the sofa, his gaze fixed on her perfect profile.\n\"I was the one who initiated things last night,\" he stated casually. \"You were drunk and kissed me. Everything after that was my own doing.\"\n\"Don't say any more—\" She was already humiliated enough. Did she have to relive it right to his face?\n\"We're both adults. What's done is done. We can just pretend it never happened.\" Her face was flushed, as if she'd caked it in blush.\n\"So what, you think I'm some gigolo?\"\nJaxon's icy demeanor made it feel like he was about to interrogate her under a hot lamp.\n\"You've misunderstood.\" Stella's ears were burning.\n*What is he trying to do? Start some kind of inappropriate relationship?*\n*He didn't seem like that kind of guy this morning, he was such a gentleman!*\n\"How about you try being Mrs. Stewart?\"\n\"Huh?\" Stella thought she must have misheard him.\nTheir eyes met, their gazes tangling.\nShe couldn't decipher the thoughts behind his eyes.\n\"We didn't use anything last night. If you get pregnant, we'll have the baby. If not, I'll still take responsibility for you.\"\nHe said it so plainly, as if he were telling a story that had nothing to do with him.\nStella fell silent, her mind clearer and more rational than ever.\nJaxon came from a well-respected family with deep cultural roots; his upbringing was impeccable. He was probably a conservative man—why else would he be single and unmarried at twenty-eight?\nNow that this had happened, he probably couldn't get over the moral hurdle in his own mind.\nStella knew she couldn't aim that high. She knew her own background.\nShe was the illegitimate daughter of her mother and some businessman—who, she had no idea. She'd grown up surrounded by gossip and whispers. Getting involved with someone as \"clean\" as Jaxon would only drag him down.\nBesides, after the hurt Ethan had caused her, she wasn't ready to just accept someone new.\n\"I'm sorry, Mr. Stewart, but I don't have any other intentions. I already took the pill this morning, so you don't have to worry about it. I don't want to be Mrs. Stewart. Since you feel you wronged me last night, and I—the person involved—am not pressing the issue, we can consider it over. Let's not bring this up again.\"\nJaxon's eyes darkened, the pupils behind his rimless glasses becoming bottomless pits.\nStella got the words out in a single breath and turned to leave the President's Office.\n\"Wait.\" He rose slowly. For a second, her speech had completely stunned him.\nHe was one of the most powerful tycoons in A-City. Countless women threw themselves at him, yet this was the first time he'd ever met one who could turn him down.\nStella took a deep breath and turned back to face the man before her.\n\"Is there anything else, Mr. Stewart?\"\n\"Add me on WhatsApp.\"\nHis expression was calm as he held out his phone with the QR code displayed.\n\"...\"\n\"Next month is the Apparel Fashion Week in Country S. The company plans to send you and Director Lawson. If you don't want to go, just pretend I never said anything.\"\n\"Also,\" he added, \"you don't have to answer my previous question right away. I'll give you time to think about it.\"\n*Ugh! Such a businessman!*\nWith just a few words, he'd steered her exactly where he wanted her.\nThe fashion week in Country S wasn't an opportunity just anyone could get. She couldn't pass it up.\nAnd it wasn't like she was losing anything.\nShe took out her phone and added him on WhatsApp.\nAs for that other question, she'd rather just forget it.\n—\nBack at her desk, the ever-gossipy Layla Bailey scurried over.\n\"So? Is the President's Office as amazing as they say?\"\nHonestly, Stella hadn't really looked around. She’d been too busy being railroaded by Jaxon’s rapid-fire questions.\n\"It’s something you have to experience for yourself. I'll help you apply for a visit next time so you can see it with your own eyes,\" Stella said, pursing her lips and giving Layla a playful wink.\n\"I was so scared. I thought you'd be carried out on a stretcher,\" Layla said, glancing at her while fiddling with some data on her computer.\n\"Ms. Baker!\" Daniel Lawson came jogging over, bursting with excitement.\nEveryone turned to look at him. His over-the-top joy had captured the entire department's attention.\n\"Director Lawson.\" Stella scrambled to her feet.\nAfter last night, with Jaxon looming over her, tilting her chin up and asking if she liked it, she’d developed a fear of being looked down on like that.\n\"A notice just came down from management! We're both on the list for the fashion week in Country S!\"\n\"I know.\" Stella wasn't the least bit surprised.\nThe company was full of senior employees. As someone who'd only been here a year, she was about to become public enemy number one.\n*Jaxon probably gave me this spot to make up for last night.*\nAs soon as the news broke, the whole department erupted. Some were happy, some were jealous. The newer employees felt a fresh wave of motivation.\nBut the company veterans felt it was unfair. They had worked here for so long, and some hadn't even been to a local fashion show, let alone an international one.\nStella didn't care. She just quietly focused on her own work.\n[Stella, you free tonight? Let's catch a movie.] It was a text from Ethan.\nStella pursed her lips. The man was shamelessly invincible, buttering up his ex while still placating his side piece.\n[Sure!]\nShe took a screenshot, planning to post it on her socials. She set the visibility to \"Only bestie Penelope Snyder can see\" and added a caption: *Five years, same as it ever was.*\nA moment later, an antsy Penelope fired off a text.\n\"Hey babe, I'm going to the movies with a friend tonight too. What are you guys seeing? What time?\"\n*Hah—*\n*She's so dedicated. It’s a crime not to give her an award for this performance.*\nStella didn't reply. She just turned off her screen."},{"title":"Chapter 4","text":"By the end of the workday, the office was nearly empty.\nStella Baker stood by the window, looking down at Ethan Walker waiting with a bouquet of flowers. The sight was, frankly, ridiculous.\nEthan worked a low-level job for the city—a cushy, no-show position his dad had pulled every string to get for him.\nHis dad, the owner of the biggest car dealership in A-City, strongly disapproved of Ethan's relationship with Stella. He much preferred Penelope Snyder's family background.\nPenelope's parents also worked for the authorities. If the two families were joined by marriage, some government projects could be funneled directly to Ethan's family's transport business.\nSo Penelope was determined to win him over. But since Ethan was still technically dating Stella, she and Ethan could only see each other in secret.\nStella stood by the elevators, earbuds in, taking Ethan's call.\nShe scrolled through a webcomic on her tablet, an annoyed look on her face, while dripping saccharine sweetness into the phone.\n\"Okay, honey, you go on ahead. I'll be there in a bit. I'll be on time, don't worry.\"\nShe was so absorbed she didn't notice the elevator doors had already opened. Chris Baker was holding them, his hand clamped firmly on the sensor to keep them from closing.\nHer fake-sweet performance drew a nearly imperceptible smile from Jaxon Stewart, who was standing inside the elevator.\nChris didn't dare to laugh and quickly turned his head away.\n\"Yeah, you know how it is. My boss is a total vampire...\"\nShe was about to say more when she happened to look up and met Jaxon's thunderous expression, and beyond him, Chris's *you're-so-dead* stare.\nStartled, she hung up immediately.\n\"Mr. Walters...\"\n\"Mm.\"\nFor some reason, she thought she saw the corner of his mouth twitch into a tiny smirk.\n\"Get in!\" Chris mouthed, shooting her a pointed look.\nStella forced a smile and stepped inside, positioning herself off to the side.\nAn awkward silence instantly descended upon the three of them.\nProof that one sentence could land you in this much trouble—\n\"Going on a date, Ms. Baker?\" Jaxon asked.\n\"Not really. Just dropping a friend off at the crematorium,\" Stella blurted out.\n\"Need a hand?\" he asked, not seeming surprised by her answer.\n\"Not at the moment,\" she said, forcing another smile.\nChris understood her hidden meaning.\nAfter all, the situation between Ethan and Stella was no secret among the three of them.\n*Ding.*\nThe doors opened on the 18th floor, the marketing department, and a crowd of seven or eight people piled in.\nChris and Stella quickly backed up.\n\"Hey, Mr. Walters!\" everyone greeted him cheerfully, not sensing the awkwardness at all.\nJaxon just gave a slight nod.\nThe marketing folks were a lively bunch, always laughing and joking around. They immediately started chattering away in the elevator, filling the space with noise.\n\"I'm out of room here, scoot over.\"\nSomeone said, and the elevator grew even more crowded.\nJust then, Stella felt a hand tighten around her waist. A searing heat radiated through her thin blouse as she was pulled against Jaxon's side. Her foundation-covered cheek brushed against his black suit, leaving a faint white smudge.\nHe let go just as quickly, though.\nInstantly, her face blazed, feeling as hot as a furnace.\nWhen they reached the first floor, the marketing team swarmed out. Stella could still hear snippets of their conversation.\n\"Did you see that? The hickey on Mr. Walters' neck!\"\n\"I heard he had breakfast with someone this morning. No idea who, but with a love bite like that on his neck, it's gotta be a woman!\"\n...\n*Man, the marketing department sure lives up to its name.*\nShe wanted to get out too, but she saw Ethan still waiting by the entrance and quickly shrank back into the corner.\nJaxon glanced at her, his expression unreadable.\n\"You getting out?\" Chris asked with a smirk.\n*He definitely knows something,* Stella thought, her suspicion confirmed.\n*If I go out, I have to deal with that scumbag. If I don't, do I leave with them?*\n*I took the boss's car to get here today, I can't possibly ask for a ride home with him too, can I?*\n\"I left something upstairs,\" Stella lied, grabbing for an excuse. \"You guys go ahead. I'll head back up for a minute.\"\n*This is taking forever.* The one-floor ride felt impossibly long, like she had a knife to her throat and could be sent to her doom at any second.\nThe doors opened to the underground garage, and they finally stepped out.\n*Can't leave even if I want to. Might as well go back to my desk and draw.*\n—\nBack on the 28th floor.\nStella let out a sigh of relief. She walked back to the window, gazing out at the sea of city lights.\nShe sat back down at her desk, put on some music, and started working on her illustrations.\nSometime later, Ethan called again. She ignored it, powered off her phone completely, then went to the breakroom to make a cup of coffee before getting back to work.\n*Let's see you try to manage your time now, you two-timing jerk.*\n10:30 PM.\nStella pressed her lips together, looking over her draft. *Not bad at all!*\nShe closed her laptop, stretched lazily, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed for the elevators.\n*Huh? The lights for both elevators were off?*\nShe pulled out her phone and saw a message in the group chat: The elevators were under maintenance and wouldn't be running again until 8 AM tomorrow?!\n*Does that mean I have to walk down 28 flights of stairs?!*\nShe aimed her phone at the elevators and snapped a picture.\n【Your queen is trapped. Is there a knight in shining armor to come to my rescue...?】 She attached the photo and posted it to her social media.\nThen, she trudged dejectedly toward the spooky-looking fire escape stairwell.\nShe sighed, summoned her courage, and started down the stairs.\nShe'd barely taken two steps when her phone rang. She let out a shriek, and before she could even see who was calling, the phone slipped from her grasp and tumbled down into the space between the flights of stairs.\nThe ringing echoed through the stairwell for a moment before stopping abruptly. Suddenly, she was plunged into darkness, the only sound her own faint breathing.\nShe fumbled around until she found her phone. The screen was black. It must have broken in the fall.\n*Oh my god! Can my luck get any worse?*\nShe frantically pressed the power button, hoping to salvage the device from this sudden disaster and force it to reboot.\nBut the screen stayed dark. Instead, the motion-activated light on the landing above her flickered on.\nThen came the crisp sound of someone descending the stairs.\n*Tap... tap... tap...*\nThe click of leather shoes, accompanied by faint breathing.\n\"Who—who's there?\" she stammered, shrinking back against the wall, a sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead.\nThe words had barely left her mouth when a tall figure appeared on the landing above.\nHe was backlit, his perfect silhouette swallowed by the shadows. The weak glow of the sensor light did little to illuminate his expression.\n\"It's me. Your vampire boss.\"\nIt was definitely his voice.\n\"Mr. Walters, what are you doing here too?\" Stella asked, her voice trembling, still rattled from the scare.\n\"Vampires usually do their dirty work at night, don't they?\"\nShe could almost hear the teasing smirk in his voice as he said it.\n\"...\"\n*This guy really holds a grudge.*\nStill, her pounding heart began to settle. At least it wasn't some creep.\n*Then again, it's not like he's a saint either.*\n\"Come up,\" he commanded.\n\"I'm going home.\"\nShe suddenly felt that the man standing before her was more terrifying than any situation she could find herself in.\nJaxon let out a nearly inaudible sigh.\n\"The ground floor is locked. You can't get out.\"\nHe paused. \"Elevator maintenance usually takes one to two hours. If you don't mind waiting, you can come up for a cup of coffee.\"\n*Can I say that I mind a lot?*\n*But it's not like I have any other choice.*\nHe didn't wait for her reply and simply turned and walked back up.\nStella glanced down into the inky black abyss of the stairwell below, then chose to follow him up.\nOn the 30th floor, even the fire escape door was controlled by key card access."}],"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"TVVULO52ux","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/25566/1/en_2eddcbcd-4be9-45c4-9621-df6db841e12e.txt","word_count":1359,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},{"chapter_key":"RyiI0ewMmu","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/25566/2/en_87109084-d72f-4565-825e-6f36ee747ff9.txt","word_count":1426,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},{"chapter_key":"mIZoStCPVg","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/25566/3/en_e83207f5-6473-4136-9060-d6ba7d0e2d1f.txt","word_count":1457,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},{"chapter_key":"vd8RZGaDBh","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/25566/4/en_9fe57927-a91b-46c8-a3bf-3d796b3f041e.txt","word_count":1419,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false}]} "2600:1f28:365:80b0:efa3:84de:fe2c:28ad" {"clickToRead":"🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free 👇","continueReading":"CONTINUE READING","more":"More","open":"Open","bottomText":"The upcoming chapters are even more exciting! 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