001: The Wife That's Not Me.

ADELAIDE.

    In a few minutes, my lovely friend would be regarded as Mrs. It was funny how out of us three, Peyton was the one we least expected to get married first, but she found her prince charming early. I'd never been happier.

My cheeks hurt from grinning too wide, and Leah's ranting filled every corner of the dressing room. She'd been wailing like a sick ghost about how marriage was stealing Peyton away from us. Peyton and Leah were my best friends, and ever since we met in college, they'd stayed by my side.

 Because their families were more affluent than mine— I had a struggling single mother who'd die for me, that was more than enough, but Leah and Peyton had done everything to help till the moment we graduated. It was even more amazing that both their fathers were business partners.

I skittered to the side of the room where Peyton was seated, staring into the mirror. Her demeanor was calm, and she looked nothing short of elegant, as always. Her short bouncy hair was adorned with a silver tiara that emphasized her stunning, lace dress.

The dress had sucked all air out of my lungs when I first set eyes on her this morning. I crouched low, placing my hand on her shoulders softly, and glanced into the mirror, too. "Bridesmaid, check!" I chimed. "This dress is killing my stomach, but it's hot. I'm so nervous and yet you seem so calm!"

Not that I expected less. Peyton had always been the calm and calculating one of us three. She was soft-spoken and collected even during dangerous situations, which made her the most mature of us. Peyton's hand clasped around mine, and she flashed me a daring smile. "What's there to be nervous about, Adelaide? I'm getting married, not going to prison."

"Oh, marriage is a prison," Leah cut in, lazily rolling her eyes. I shot my head back and watched her struggle with her shoe. "And we know that immediately after you, Marcus will not hesitate to pick Adelaide off the market, too." She glanced at my finger, and I instinctively rubbed my engagement ring.

She wasn't wrong. My ever-so-loving fiance had proposed to me four months ago, and we planned to get married by the end of the year. I couldn't help but smile. Just thinking about getting married to Marcus made my cheeks heat up, and warmth blossomed in my chest. "What about you then? When do you get married?"

Leah grinned mischievously, tucking her hair behind her ears. "I'm talking to someone, though it's an arranged marriage. My father wouldn't let me breathe a word about it to anyone yet. His brother seems like the better option, though!"

Arranged marriages were inevitable in Leah's family. Her father, Park Matthews, was a prominent businessman in the country. It was only predictable for him to see his only daughter's marriage as a means to expand his wealth. 

The three of us giggled over it. Leah had always been one to compare every guy in a family and always went for the one at the top of the food chain. The bigger, better option. 

"Girls," Peyton called our attention. She glanced at the clock by the other side of the wall. "It's time. You go wait in the lobby, and I'll be there after a while with my mom."

We nodded. Leah squealed, "I can't believe we're doing this!"

"Me, too!" I chimed. "She's so beautiful." After a few more moments of pathetic and aggressive affection, Leah and I headed for the door. 

"Adelaide?" Peyton called out to me right before I walked out. Leah was out already. I half turned, and my brows shot up in anticipation.

"Do you need anything?"

"No," She slightly shook her head. "I have a surprise for you later today. Look forward to it!" 

Who knew Peyton was capable of smiling so widely? She must be really excited about getting married. "I'm looking forward to it," I responded right before I closed the door.

If only I'd known.

*

A few minutes later, we were suddenly informed of a change in plans. All bridesmaids were asked to take their seats with the guest as Peyton would rather walk down the aisle with her mother. It was understandable. Maybe she was nervous about it. 

I glanced at my phone for the umpteenth time. He still hadn't called or responded to my last text. 

"Did his plane land yet?" Leah asked me as she caught my eyes on the screen. "Or did he go to the wrong Madeira? Only real men could find their way around Portugal."

I grinned, shrugging slightly. "Maybe. I should have made sure we left home together." 

"And left me? I think you made the right choice, sweetheart," Leah jested, although, from her words, her opinions were woven. She'd never liked Marcus from the day I started going out with him. 

"True." Marcus had never been this late to any event I invited him to. Rather than call him, I texted him.

Me: Babe, are you on your way?

Marcus: typing . . .

Marcus: I'm right here.

Me: Really? But I can't see you.

I looked around hastily before I continued to type. 

Marcus: Patience. 

The mic was tapped twice to call attention, and my head shot up. 

"Ladies and gentlemen! The bride!" The announcer's voice stole my attention, and I immediately clicked my phone off. I wasn't going to be this distracted at my friend's wedding.

Peyton walked down the aisle with her mother, and murmurs rippled through the small guests. Leah and I felt bad we didn't get the chance to walk with her, but that was barely any reason to feel bad.

Doom lurked around.

The doors swung open again, and everyone's eyes were plastered on it. I opened my phone camera to capture the groom's entrance, just as Peyton had asked a few days ago. The sunlight blocked me from seeing his face, and I squinted, forcing my eyes to make an image out of the bright sight.

Black shoes. Black suits. Black…hair? But Daniel has blond hair. My hands dropped to my side when the image cleared before me, and my phone slid from my dress and crashed to the floor. My heart skipped repeated beats, and I started to shake physically.

The groom wasn't Daniel. It wasn't…Daniel?! It was someone that looked like Marcus? Never in a thousand years could it be him. Ever. I squirmed in my seat, and my vision seemed to blur. No, it wasn't real. It wasn't.

"What the…fuck!?" Leah yelled beside me and jumped to her feet. That was the confirmation I needed to know that it was indeed Marcus. 

My fiance. And he was getting married to my best friend. I sank deeper into my seat, and my brain screeched to a halt. The hall fell into deep, torturous silence, and the only thing I could hear was my ragged breathing and fast heartbeat.

Do you take Peyton Maxwell as your wife?” The question came out from the priest's mouth, fluently, loud, and clear. It pulled me back to reality, and I felt the hand that had been nudging me once more.

Leah had been yelling my name while my gaze was fixated on the couple. My own fiance? My heart seemed to be swelling with pain, and I could not process the shock. My legs were rooted to a spot, and my mouth was too heavy, and clogged to even make a sound.

Marcus glanced at me, before staring into Peyton's eyes. “Yes, I do.” He answered. His voice was thick and raw with affection. He loves her. 

I could hear the sound of my heart breaking. I felt the pain of it bleeding. My whole world came crashing down, and my feet weren't stable enough to stop me from drowning. 

“If anyone in the house shows a cause why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.” said the priest. 

I stood up in a flash, struggling my way out of my seat. Everyone else had blurred from the picture. “I do!” I screamed at the top of my lungs and scrambled towards the altar. 

I could feel everyone's eyes on me, including the two backstabbers. Standing close to them, made it even more real. Leah raced behind me. 

I cleared my throat, “This isn't real, right?” I asked, my whole body facing Marcus. I walked to him and grabbed his hand. "B-babe." Tears streamed down my face in torrents. "Cut the fucking cameras! This isn't real right!?"

“Stupid bitch.” Peyton mumbled, so low, I almost missed it.

“What the fuck did you just call me?” I asked, poking my finger angrily at her shoulder.

She sneered. "Stupid bitch.” And harshly smacked her bouquet on my chest. “You can have this. But as for him,” she moved closer to Marcus, wrapping her arms around his shoulder. “He's mine!” She said, loud enough for everyone to hear. 

"Peyton! Snap out of this madness, or I swear, I'd smack it out of you!" Leah raged from behind, closing in on Peyton's personal space. "You are such an animal! Why would you do this!?"

I was dumbfounded. This was really happening. I pinched myself real hard. “Ouch.” I cried. It really hurts, it's not a dream, and everything hurts. 

Shaking my head violently, I grabbed Marcus's left arm, again. “B-babe, this is a prank, right? You love me! Please tell me it's not real!” I pleaded, crying and holding on tight to his arm. "You love me! Y-you asked me to marry you! You gave me a ring a-and-..." I choked out, unable to find my breath. 

"I gave you a ring because you cried every time for it like a pathetic loser," He jeered. "Keep it, Key holder."

"What?" The word came out breathy and strained. Leah tried to pull me, but I yanked away from her grip.

Marcus violently discarded my hands from him. I had to stabilize my feet from plummeting to the ground. 

“Security!” Jack hollered. I stare at him in shock for the umpteenth time. The same man that asked me to be with him forever? 

“M-marcus,” I stuttered. He glared at me harshly, his blue eyes cold. I shifted back from the invisible impact of his hardened gaze. 

Tears rolled down my eyes with ease. “How? Why?” I asked, sobbing loudly. 

“Because I'm better,” Peyton said, breaking the ice. I glanced at her and didn't miss the devilish smirk she was wearing on her face. “You're nothing, but a stupid, ugly bitch.” She hissed, crushing whatever was left of me. "And he had only been with you all these while just to get closer to me. Suck it up, Adelaide."

How could I have been so blind? She loathed me, but why? How did things go so wrong? He loved her. I felt muscular arms grab me by my arms; security guards. They were here for me. 

"Let go of her!" Leah screeched at the top of her lungs, launching her purse at the security officials until someone from her father's guests came to pull her away.

I glanced at Marcus and Peyton, then at the bouquet on the floor. I picked it up, and let the guards drag me out. There was no way I could walk out by myself. I clenched the bouquet tightly, not letting go. 

"Do not ever return here, ma'am. Boss' order," They instructed sternly.

I was finally pulled to the reception, standing outside with my purse clutched to my side. My hands trembled as I held the bouquet of flowers, and my breath came in short, shallow gasps. A step before me was one of the tables set for guests, and I grabbed the sealed bottle of scotch on it.

My heart was cracked, and I crumbled with every step. I opened the bottle. I had to get drunk. 

I had to. It hurt too much.

*TWO HOURS LATER*

"Took you long enough," His husky voice carried to my ears as he nuzzled my face, and I gasped, digging my fingers into his back instinctively, responding to contact. "You're the cute kind, aren't you? Different from what I was expecting."

Was I? I had no idea what the hell was going on.

002: Heaven On This Stranger's Lips.

Disclaimer: This chapter contains brief but graphic sexual content.

ADELAIDE.

Two hours earlier.

   I stumbled outside the hall, trying to find my phone and kicking off the painful heels. It felt like a cactus against the soles of my feet. There wasn't a way in hell I was going to stay in the same hotel as Marcus and Peyton. My hand gripped the neck of the bottle tighter, and I rushed outside the resort, flagging down the nearest taxi.

"Where to?" I heard the driver ask hastily as I got in. I looked back and caught a glimpse of Leah rushing out of the hall, too, her eyes frantically searching for me.

I didn't want to see anyone, or talk to any of them. My heart was pounding so fast, and my chest felt clogged. Even breathing hurts.

Why did I feel so empty? I'd lost everyone. I'd lost everything! Marcus was my entire life, and I'd given everything to him. He was my first boyfriend, my first kiss, my first everything!

"Hotel. Any hotel far away!" I yelled at him, ducking in the backseat to avoid being seen. "Just drive!" I hit the seat aggressively, and he ignited the engine, grumbling as he drove.

"It isn't real!" I muttered, struggling to open the scotch bottle. " It isn't real. You'd wake up, and it'd all be fine."

I brought the bottle closer to my lips and sniffed it before tagging a huge swig. One sip turned into four, and before I could even realize it, I'd drunk over half the content of it.

In that instant, the alcohol took effect, and I barely even remembered anything. We arrived at the hotel, and the driver was kind enough to help me inside. I was a weeping, wasted girl with no shoes on in a big hotel that spun like I was on a rollercoaster.

People threw me piteous glances as I brushed by them. Some held their noses to avoid the pungent alcohol stench. All this was nothing compared to the sympathy I could read off the receptionist's face while I made a reservation. "Your name, Miss?" She asked kindly.

"Marcus married her…" I slurred, grabbing my heaving chest. My elbows benched on the counters, and I leaned closer. "Not me. She…married him, too. Apparently, they love each other. Do…you think they'd had sex? Of course, they have!" A dry laugh spilled from my throat, though I was barely conscious of it. "Can you believe it? He loves her?"

After several failed attempts to remember my name and credit card password, I finally got the key to the room.

"Third floor, left-wing," She added, her voice barely louder than a whisper. It echoed in my ears in the funniest way, like she was talking from the other side of a tunnel. "Room 290."

What was she even saying? 

I shuffled away from her presence. The elevator ride was a cherry on top to this hellfire ride my day was being. I gagged and retched, feeling the alcohol crawl back up my throat till I arrived at the second floor, right-wing, just as the receptionist directed.

"Room 209…" I sang, hitting walls to walls as I staggered through the quiet hallway. I fiddled with the key card. "Room 209…" 

I glanced up at the door tag. It was the right one. I'd barely steadied my feet against the ground when the door opened on its own, and a strong arm pulled me in.

What? Did the door…have magic? 

Immediately, I was trapped against the wall of the darkroom and a man's naked body. My eyes raked over the large tattoo on his shoulder to his chest, and I stared confusedly, my eyes barely open. 

 "Took you long enough," His husky voice carried to my ears as he nuzzled my face, and I gasped, digging my fingers into his back instinctively, responding to contact. "You're the cute kind, aren't you? Different from what I was expecting."

"What…"

"C'mere," He pulled me away from the wall, and I was whisked into his arms. "You knew what you were getting into when you walked into this room."

My eyes were hazy and heavy till I felt his lips trace down my neck, and I released a shuddered gasp, letting go of any sense of reasoning.

His breath smelled like whiskey, and his wet kisses had me throbbing down there in no time. I had no idea what was going on, or who this stranger was, but I loved that I felt something else.

Something that wasn't pain, or heartbreak. I could protest, but I didn't want to. This man fondled my body disrespectfully, and urgently, and every single touch of his had my legs shaking with pleasure. Just for this night, I'd like to go insane, too. He grabbed my ass, and pressed tighter against me, pushing his hardness to my lower abdomen, and my stomach jolted. 

I wanted to feel more, and more of him. "Oh…" I purred, throwing my head back as he continued to kiss my neck. I couldn't see his face. I didn't have to.

I'd already submitted to it. His urgent hands angled to my back and slowly undid my zip. I was hauled a few steps more into the room, and he finally sat, placing me on his lap, where I felt his throbbing dick beneath my thighs.

My underwear was becoming uncomfortable and restricting. I loved what I was feeling. God!

"I can't hold on anymore. This was supposed to happen differently," he raged, unhooking my bra, and my legs clenched against him. He ran his mouth down my chest, and I fisted his dark hair, moaning while he circled my nipples with his tongue.

"Please…" I quaked, rubbing hard against him. "Don't…stop." I curled my lips, sucking in a sharp breath as my eyes fluttered shut and both my hands wrapped around his neck, inclining his body closer to me until my breasts pushed against his chest.

"Then you have to do better than that," He whispered, biting my ears. His teeth scored my neck, and his palm slid up my hips, fingers digging into the grooves of my skin. "Moan, Princess. Let it all out."

There, and then, I lost it in his arms.

*

A soft gasp spilled from my lips when my eyes opened, and the first thing I felt was a nasty headache. I had horrible nightmares, and it was relieving to be awake. I was wrapped like a burrito in a big blanket, and it felt comforting. 

 I patted the bed, and it felt nothing familiar. Then I sat up, slowly opening my eyes and scanning the room. I had no idea what this place was. My heart felt heavy, and it stung, like I'd been stabbed repeatedly.

It took me a few minutes to collect myself. There and then, the memories started to seep in violently, from the beginning of yesterday up until the night. It weighed so heavily upon me that I had to sink back into the bed, forcing myself to breathe.

Marcus married Peyton yesterday. "Oh, god. Oh god," I muttered breathlessly, feeling the pain reestablish in my heart. It began to hurt all over again, and my eyes were wet with tears in an instant.

It began to feel like I couldn't breathe. I wheezed, grabbing a nearby pillow and screaming into it. That wasn't all. That wasn't all. "I left the hall…took a taxi," I counted on my fingers as I slowly recalled. "Scotch…hotel."

Hotel! The other hotel. I jumped off the bed and looked around frantically, filled with nothing but unease. It all cleared out in my head space, and I remembered the stranger from yesterday.

I had a one-night stand with someone whose face I barely knew. My legs weakened, and I shoved to the ground, feeling pain shot up my legs and my joints. My stomach squeezed, and I grabbed my hair, almost pulling it out. "You stupid girl! You stupid girl!" I yelled alone in the room.

My thinking process was scrambled, and it eventually dawned on me that I was screwed, completely. I picked up my clothes sprawled across the floor and hastily wore them. My purse and credit cards were intact, but first, I needed to find out who the man from last night was. It wasn't until I grabbed the hotel keycard.

There was a table next to the bed on which a small piece of paper was laid. I reached for it and unfolded it. My jaw dropped upon reading the contents. He wrote this? "That son of a bitch!" I cursed. "Wait till I find you!" 

Fifteen minutes later, I still didn't find him. The receptionist from yesterday wouldn't reveal his identity as it goes against their rules of confidentiality. I was heartbroken and sour. I fucked a rude jerk overnight, and now he was nowhere to be found.

The piece of paper he dropped on the table was still in my hand. I glanced over it again. 

REVIEW: Drink less next time and do more hip exercises. WK.

Fucking son of a bitch! I crumpled the paper as I walked out of the hotel. Now, to new beginnings. Fuck Marcus, Fuck everything! 

003: What Happens In Vegas Doesn't Stay In Vegas

ADELAIDE

*Five years later*

It's been five years since the massive betrayal of my life, and I know people said the past was in the past and that I was living a better life now. Maybe they were right. That same past gave me the most beautiful gift of my life; a daughter.

I stepped out of the taxi, onto the pavement and paid the driver before walking into my workplace. I'd been working there for three years, and it was one of the most beautiful things that happened to me. It was a gaming company for which I worked as the secretary of the stand-in CEO. She wasn't the original owner of the place, according to what I heard, and would be leaving soon when the owners— the Kings— came to take over.

Walking into the lobby, I head to the counter to greet the receptionist and grab my coffee. Matthew looked up at me with a weary smile. That could only mean one thing— there was new gossip I wasn't aware of, and from the look of things, it wasn't very favorable to him. 

"Adelaide! I've been waiting for you," He exclaimed, glancing around as he leaned over the counter. "Did you see the news? We're in trouble, aren't we?"

I furrowed my brows, shaking my head slightly. It was already tiring enough to take my lips off this coffee lid. "What news?"

He gasped, his hands going over his mouth. "That's why I kept adding you to all of the group chats. What are you, fifty? Anyways! Today, we get a new boss!"

I felt a chill run down my spine, and my coffee almost slipped from my grip— well, whatever was left of it. I knew we'd get a new boss soon enough, but I didn't expect it to be so soon, not to mention, that I didn't do well with changes. "Really? When?"

"When?" He echoed. "Today. He's coming in today. The first son of the Kings— that one likened to the devil. He's the one taking over."

Likened to the devil? Wasn't that a bit of an exaggeration? The Kings were the wealthiest family in the state. Everyone knew that. According to rumors, they had two male heirs who were of contrasting personalities. Matthew here was the one who explained these to me. I hadn't even seen them.

"When you get upstairs, you'll see that there's a whole new preparation going on for his arrival. This man had been rumored to be ruthless and insatiable. He's a neat freak with a huge dislike for dishonesty, Adelaide! Everyone that has encountered him at least once went online to express the heartbreak they experienced," Matthew grabbed my hand. "I think we're all fucked!"

I blinked repeatedly and pulled away from him, sliding my coffee off the counter. I'd been through worse, and getting a new boss wasn't going to break me. "He's just a man, after all," I said with a half-shrug. "Trust me, we can manage."

I can manage. I had to. This job was the only way I could afford a standard life for Mackenzie and my mother. 

"Always the Iron Woman. I don't know how well Iron works against a pure-breed demon, though!"

"I guess we'll have to see how it goes." I sucked my teeth and headed to the elevator, releasing a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. Right before the door slid shut, it was hooked at the bottom by someone's shoe.

A dark shoe. 

The doors opened wide again, and I raised my head to see who it was. My heart raced as I met the gaze of the stranger standing before me. His sharp, chiseled features were emphasized by the glow of the lobby lights, and his piercing winter gray eyes seemed to bore into my soul. 

I gulped hard, moving to the farthest end of the elevator in case he wanted to get in, but this man just stood there, staring at me, and I squeezed my toes in discomfort, before stealing another glance at him.

 His dark hair was perfectly styled, adding to his air of confidence and authority. Whoever he was, he was finely made, and he knew it. He tucked one hand in his pocket, and the ghost of a smile settled on the side of his lips.

I glanced at the buttons, then at my wristwatch. Why wouldn't he just get in!? Most importantly, why was he looking at me like that?

"Um, excuse me," I stammered, my voice betraying my nervousness. "Can I help you with something?"

He stepped into the elevator, and I couldn't help but notice the way his presence seemed to fill the confined space, suffocating me with an intensity I couldn't explain.

The man's lips curled into a subtle smirk as he continued to study me. "You've grown so much." His voice was smooth and commanding, sending shivers down my spine.

"What? Do you know me?" I quizzed, trying to maintain my composure.

His eyes darted from my head to my lips; then they lingered on my chest. My stomach flipped, and I startled back. He tapped his finger on his chin as his eyes dimmed as though he contemplated something. "You used to be a C cup. Now, DD? Talk about development."

"Excuse me?!" I reflectively crossed my arms around my chest as I moved further back, appalled by his comment. "Are you insane?! What kind of a person goes around making comments on people's cup sizes!?" I raged, brushing past him to click the button. I needed to be away from this madman.

His smirk widened, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was enjoying my discomfort. His expression conveyed no iota of remorse, and I felt the anger burn down my throat. "Do you not remember me?"

I threw my hands. "How could I? I definitely cannot remember being acquaintances with mentally unstable people!" 

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied, his voice dripping with arrogance as he ogled at me. He smacked his lips. "I can remember for both of us."

This stranger was unbelievably weird and disrespectful. Who let him inside this company? The elevator finally stopped, and I stepped out, watching him watch me. I swung the empty paper cup at him. "Here's another cup for you to notice, you fucking pervert!"

As the elevator doors closed, I felt a knot form in my stomach. I couldn't ignore the warning bells ringing in her head. Whoever this weirdo was, I had a feeling I'd be seeing him again. I took the stairs to my office, and just as Matthew had predicted, the office was raging with different activities.

Positions had changed, coffee cups had disappeared from the table. Not to mention, one of my coworkers, Esther, who had never worn a suit in her entire life was clad in one. I stood by the door and watched them until Esther noticed me.

"Did you hear?!"

I shook my head tiredly. The new boss we were getting today was the least of my problems. It was the client whom I'd met in the elevator that stuck to my brain like a deadly nightmare. 

"I can't believe they didn't inform us quickly," Esther ran to her desk and twirled. "Look at me, I had to borrow this. It feels like it was made from poison ivy! So itchy!"

"Sorry about that, Esther. Take it easy. It's a boss, not the end of the world."

I was about to walk into my office when she called me back to ask if I was okay. Of course, I wasn't. A random stranger just visually sized my breasts. "I'm good," I lied. "Thank you."

I haven't felt this vexed in a while. The scenes replayed in my head, humping

"Good, cause when that man comes, you know you have to take over as his secretary, right? It's not supposed to be that much of a scary change but according to all I've heard about him, Adelaide, I don't think he'd be easy to deal with."

Not this again. Esther rambled on. "They say he's ruthless, utterly domineering! Not to mention, inconsiderate and rude!" Her eyes bulged as she explained. "It's like working with Beezebu-"

I heaved a broken sigh, cutting in. I've had enough! "What's so special about this man anyway? He's a jerk and so what?"

"Adelaide…"

"If he's so much of a deity, why's he coming to take over his grandfather's business? Why couldn't he start up something of his own? He's probably one of those mannerless kids spoilt rotten at a young age! And now he's taking his misery out on the world," I scoffed, not bothering to listening to Esther who looked like she'd seen a ghost. "Demons should be in hell, not up here!"

"Adelaide, stop…" She faintly called out again. "He's-"

"Not here, for sure! If that asshole was, I'd probably pull him by his tie. If it comes to it, I'd slap a resignation letter on his ugly face and walk out. I'm done with shitty people!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, really-" I paused for a second, swallowing the knot in my throat. That voice wasn't Esther's. Esther squealed, biting her fingers as she looked past me. Her eyes were keen on something, or someone behind me.

Oh, no. Oh, no. Goosebumps scrubbed up my arms and the air went chill. I turned swiftly and my eyes landed on him. The same jerkass from the elevator, wearing the ghost of a mischievous smile that tugged a corner of his lips.

"You jerk!"

He stretched out his arm for a shake. "Wilder Kings I also go by mannerless spoilt kid, demon, asshole and jerk." He took a breath. "And amongst other things, your new boss."

004: Secretarial lies.

WILDER.

The expression on her face was picture-worthy. Her perfect little lips parted slightly in shock, and those eyes widened.

 "No….way," she droned, blue eyes bulging beyond possible comprehension, same as I remembered, like peeking over the ocean on a sunny day. Her expression contorted into shock, then something that looked like guilt? 

Yes, way. I had doubts about resuming, but now, I think I'd love this job very much. 

She took a couple of steps back, faltering, until her back touched the table behind her, propping her up. Her eyes scanned me, darting from my feet, and then back up to my face.

"No. This can't be right..." She trailed off as she turned to her friend as if she could give an answer, but the other woman shook her head in shock, mouthing I'm something to her before stowing away like a boat on a chaotic sea.

"Are you thinking of a more creative alias?" I cocked my brow, a devilish smirk crawling up my face. 

 She should remember me.

I cocked my head, stepping closer to her, keeping my eyes linked to hers.

 Didn't my voice spark up something in her mind? It was the same in the elevator as well; she had acted clueless to the point of insulting me for my acute observations. Who knew a person could get brutally insulted for merely speaking the truth? What a drag..

Nonetheless, she had been living rent-free in my mind for the last five years. I didn't know what it was about her, but seeing her again made me feel a surge of emotions— possibly what a feline would at the sight of meat strips. 

"You have quite the naming talent, Mademoiselle," I folded my arms across my chest, heavily scanning her. "Cat got your tongue?" I asked her with a smirk. 

"You- uh-" Her index finger shot up my face reflectively, and then she immediately withdrew her hand. "I didn't mean th- Oh my God!" 

Her cheeks grew more and more flushed, and I enjoyed the torture of her realization. 

"Didn't mean what? The names you just called me, or is this about the elevator?" 

The little thing kept staring at me with her mouth open, making me want to fill it with something. "You don't remember me, do you?"

Her lips quivered, as though she sought the right words to say. "Not exactly, boss." She responded curtly, her words laced with sarcasm. "Not everyone gives a fuck about TV personalities."

Smart-mouthed, I see. I release a strained guffaw. "Of course you don't, you cute little drunk. It's…going to be perfectly marvelous working with you, Miss…"

"Adelaide," She completed, tight-lipped. "Adeline Williams."

Adelaide Williams, I could finally put a name to the face after so long.

I looked at her again. She had grown into something better. She was more refined, more elegant. Granted, she was drunk that night, but I would never forget her face. It was the same dark hair, the same pearly skin, and red plum lips that spread wet kisses all over my face — which I hated at that time. Kisses and hook-ups weren't in the same category, in my books. 

Except that it was different from the way I remembered it. There were no glasses, and she was drunker and bolder. The sass she showed in the elevator was closer to the drunken passion she displayed five years ago.

"Aren't you a funny one?" I snapped my fingers for Jose to hand me the files he showed me earlier in the car. He was my aid, for now. 

"Sir." He said as he lifted them to my waiting hands.

"Adelaide Williams, chick name. Twenty blah blah blah. You are - were the secretary to the previous CEO. Oh, you started out quite young." I flicked my eyes to her. "It's impressive. I'll be seeing you around, Miss."

 Without saying anything more, I turned to my office and left her standing there, stunned to her feet. 

She definitely looked better than I remembered. Her hair was longer, and her breasts were bigger— a win, if I may add. 

She had also put on a little weight in all the right places. But it was clear to me that she didn't remember me. What a letdown. 

 And granted, I had been that person once. I had many drunken nights with women I hardly recall, but to be the one at the receiving end felt like a jab to the gut. 

"Jose, call in my secretary," I commanded into the office phone. Within a few minutes, the woman walked in and stopped in front of my desk.

"Let's get right down to business, shall we? I've been made aware of a number of inconsistencies in our financial records and security breaches. Care to explain, Miss...?

"Daniels. I...I'm not sure what you're talking about, sir." Immediate stuttering, such a deadly giveaway. 

"Don't insult my intelligence, Miss Daniels," I spoke again through gritted teeth. "The report you sent last night was quite different from the one I got from the stand-in. It suggests that you've been diverting company funds and leaking confidential information to our competitors."

Her smile fell, melting into a scowl. "Mr. King, I can explain. What happened was that-"

"Save it. I'm not interested in hearing excuses from you. What I am interested in is you turning in your resignation letter and a full confession of your breach of contract," I scoffed. "How could you be so careless with your mischief? That's very downgrading."

"Sir, please...I have a family. They need me..."

"You should know that actions have consequences, Miss Daniels. You've betrayed the trust of this company and greatly compromised our security. I hope your family can feed you for the next couple of months. Your resignation letter is expected in an hour. You should have the dignity to resign rather than get tossed out like the trash bag that you are."

"Please, Mr. King, if you could reconsider," Her eyes had begun to water. I could watch it all day. "I promise I'll never do it again."

"Of course, you won't. 

"Sir-"

I put up a hand to shut her up. "Pack up your things and leave immediately. Security will escort you out of the building."

 "Yes, sir," She gave a tearful nod and walked out.

"Sir, I think you were a little too harsh. Perhaps a letter would have sufficed." Jose said to me after she'd walked out, and I raised a questioning brow at him.

"She stole money, which, in my opinion, cannot be forgiven. She stole information as well. She sold that information on our tech to P and J. There's thievery, and there's stupidity. I don't know which annoys me more, " I said with a frown. "If you think otherwise, I can arrange you both a sponsored vacation to Hawaii."

"No, sir. You're very correct."

I turned to the documents at hand and, without looking at him, responded. "I know."

 Betrayal was unacceptable, and if not for my old man's words ringing in my headspace, I'd have made sure to destroy her pathetic existence. Speaking of that old man, he'd be dying to know how much of a wreckage I was making his company.

I wasn't, but he always thought that, and I was here for him in the first place. My cruising on Jacuzzi and late-night partying wasn't exactly an ideal life for him. And that wasn't all he wanted— he wanted a granddaughter-in-law, too.

He wanted me to get married, and there was an ultimatum or my name might be stripped from the family's registry— as he claimed. That was utterly impossible, but his lung cancer gave him the bargaining opportunity. That conniving old man, I could almost laugh out loud, but I feared losing him.

Way more than I let on.

I get married, and he goes into chemo. I don't, and he kicks the bucket? What was this? A telenovela? 

"Sir?" Jose's voice pulled me out of my reverie.

"Yes?" My head shot in his direction.  

"What are you going to do about your secretary situation?" He asked.

"Call Williams for me."

A few minutes later, Adelaide stood in front of me and focused on her feet. She fidgeted with the sleeves of her sweater, making her look cute, the kind that beckoned for me to grab her.

Snap out of it, Wilder. She disrespected you earlier.

"You're fired." I fought the urge to snicker at her. "New policies, Miss Adelaide. Even her name was sweet to pronounce.

"What?!" She blurted, dropping her arms limply by her side. "Why? What new policies!? You can't just fire me!?"

"Actually, I can, and I just did," I twirled in my seat. "And you are to resume immediately as my new secretary. Jose, get HR to draft an employment contract now. We have work to do.".

"What is happening?" She lamented in a low tone.

Ignoring her, I turned to Jose. "Jose, tell Davis to get the car ready for our meeting with K and S." I got up from the painfully comfortable chair and walked to the door of my office.

"And you, make sure you bring a notepad and put your phone on record—" When she said nothing behind me, I turned around to see her glued to the spot. Her mouth still hung open.

"You're coming, Williams?"

005: Meeting with K and S

ADELAIDE.

I groaned inwardly as I trailed behind my boss — Mr. douchebag or whatever you'd call him, if that's up to you—and his PA, Jose.

I couldn't believe I got laid off from my job just to be employed by the same person as his secretary. For a moment, I thought he was actually going to dismiss me for good, just because I threw my shit earlier at him. Thinking about it got me utterly confused and amazed.

We arrived at the parking lot, where a sleek black Maybach was already waiting for us. I slid into the passenger's seat hastily as my boss got in the rear seat with his PA. I couldn't spare a moment to sit close to him because I knew what would be coming if I did. He would taunt me cockily to the bone, and I wasn't ready for that. 

We got out of the car and headed towards the confines of the prestigious building where the meeting would be held.

'Oh God!' I muttered and rolled my eyes just as the athletic silhouette of my boss approached behind me. “I hope you know how a secretary does behave, right?” He said almost in a whisper with a complacent smirk placed on his face. I knew he wasn't just asking for questions sake, but to pull my legs once more.

“Yes, sir,” I replied, with a false smile, trying my best to sound polite. For a moment, I wanted to be sarcastic, but I just thought — what if I go an extra length, and he fires me again, this time, for good? Well, you know what'll happen. I'll be jobless, and that means I'd be broke. I'd start from scratch while taking care of my little daughter and my mom.

“Good,” he smirked. “And that means you have to drop that feisty attitude you got there, huh?” 

“Oh, yeah,” I said with gritted teeth. “I promise.” He smiled mischievously at what I said, not even noting my sarcasm. But anyhow, it seemed to give him the satisfaction that he needed. 

The sleek boardroom was lightened with LED lights placed on the wall, casting a warm, luminescent glow on the mahogany table. Surrounding the table were palatial leather chairs. And across the table was a large LED display wall. The board members were already seated at the table. 

As I got in, I felt the weight of the meeting over me like a thick cloak over my body. My boss, whom I haven't really gotten to know his name, although I didn't care about knowing his name, greeted the CEO of H and R.

 I almost stumbled as I walked closer to the table as my eyes came in contact with someone familiar, actually, there were two familiar faces. “Watch your step, wobbly legs,” I heard my boss say to me, teasingly, but I ignored him as my eyes were fixed on the shocking sight of the two people before me. Oh my goodness! Are my eyes tricking me right now?

I froze in shock, my mouth hanging agape as my eyes made out the two people seated before me. My heart gave a jolt, and my stomach churned deeply as Peyton's blue eyes met mine. What were they doing here?

 Peyton, She looked quite different from the last time I saw her. Her hair had been tinted blonde, which was what she had always wanted it to be, and her cheekbones were higher than they used to be. I presume she did a facelift surgery and a nose job because her nose wasn't as broad as I knew it to be. She looked happy, of course — after what she and Marcus did to me.

As I sat down, my eyes flickered to Marcus, who hadn't changed at all. He was still the same broad-shouldered, black-haired Marcus whom I used to know and was formerly in love with. He didn't notice me at first, but then his dark eyes met with mine.

They both looked at me with their eyebrows arched in confusion, their eyes filled with what seemed to be utter shock. Immediately I felt the urge to puke. I squirmed as their eyes bore into mine. And I couldn't help but wonder what they were doing here.

And then the meeting began.

But I wasn't comfortable. I felt edgy. The two people that had betrayed me, about five years ago, were now sitting before me. They both looked happy from what I saw, even very much in love with each other, and it broke me. 

I sat down there like a log of wood, not saying anything, just taking notes and recording while the board members conversed about the improvement of the gaming company and about their partnership.

“I heard you're planning out a new trend in the gaming industry?” I heard the chairman of K and S, Williams — I got to know his name— ask my boss with a hint of interest and curiosity.

“Uh, well, yes. I've noticed that the company was run in a way that lacked diligence. You know, there were no proper planning strategies that were credible enough to help build the company, and that is why I agreed to step into the affairs of the company.”

Amidst all the conversations the board members were having, I could notice Marcus's eyes on me and the burning stare of his wife, Peyton, my former best friend. Bitter memories couldn't help but flash through my mind, and I couldn't even concentrate.

“I think we could come up with a different marketing idea,” my boss continued, changing the topic on game development strategies. “The marketing strategy that was used earlier was a total flop, if you look at it from the bright side. Or what do you say, Adelaide?”

I didn't realize my boss had just asked for my opinion. I was still caught up in my train of thoughts, reminiscing my bitter past. 

“Adelaide? Are you here?” My boss snapped at me, bringing me back to the present. He looked at me, then at Marcus, and then back at me. I noticed his eyes were filled with curiosity and speculation, but then, just with a flash as he met mine, it became emotionless.

“Uh, y-yeah. I th- think so,” I said in a faraway tone, almost choking on my spit. “ I think we should come up with different ideas also, for the games.”

“I agree with you,” Mr Williams said, impressed, with a simple smile.

“But I don't,” Peyton protested, standing up. She threw me a malevolent look and said, “We shouldn't be taking advice from a mere secretary, should we? From what I've seen, she isn't even experienced. I think we should stick to one game plan, but we could improve it. We could release a new update even better than the one we've already made.”

She kept talking, even cutting me off when I tried to prove my point. And when I couldn't take it any longer, I excused myself and dashed into the washroom. 

As I got in there, I slammed the door and leaned against it . I began crying my heart out. I let out all the frustration, and the pain I experienced during that period of five years. It was totally heartbreaking. And the fact that they look too happy and satisfied to have betrayed me.

I let myself slide down the door freely, my fingers running through my hair and ruffling it. I began sobbing even harder, letting the tears slide out freely from my eyes.

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching, so I stood up immediately and hastily wiped my tears with the toilet paper hanging on the wall. 

The door opened, and someone walked inside. It was none other than Peyton.

“Oh, I see that you're in here,” she said with a snicker, her tone filled with mockery. “You don't seem to have changed, Addy. You still look the same, you know; broken and miserable.”

I didn't reply to her. I just kept quiet, suppressing the tears that were building up in my eyes. 

“Maybe I thought you'd have made something out of your miserable self. You're still on the level that we had left you at. That's so bad, even for you.” She inched closer to me. 

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. It seemed as though my throat had been stuck up with something, restricting me from even letting out a breath.

“Is that a tear trying to escape from your eyes? Oh, poor Addy. I would have wiped them for you, but I don't want to partake in your misery.” 

“Peyton—” I managed to say, but she cut me off.

“Shh! I don't want to hear any word out of your stinking mouth. Anyways, I noticed your eyes were on my husband earlier, but let me warn you, take your eyes away from him, because if you don't, I'll make your life miserable.”

And that was when I became overwhelmed with anger. Maybe I had shown her my weak side, and that was why she had the courage to speak to me like I was a child.

“Really, Peyton? You want to make my life miserable just like you did before?” I scoffed.

She cringed in shock as I finally spoke. Maybe she thought I wouldn't reply her as I did earlier, but I wasn't going to let her take the win, not at all.

I walked closer to her, my eyes filled with anger and my veins pulsing with venom. “Let me get this straight to you, Peyton. Your smart-mouthedness is futile. You picked up my trash, so what? Oh, do you really think a man you snatched couldn't get snatched once again?"

I slipped by her and patted her shoulders, although nursing my own hurt. I didn't plan for this to happen today. "Good luck with your beautiful marriage." 

Blood seemed to have drained out of Peyton's face. She was dead shocked, and I noticed her eyes had gone white like a ghost. I pushed past her in anger and stomped out, leaving her mouth hanging open.

006: In My Boss' House

Her words were hurtful and heartbreaking, but I wasn't going to let her and Marcus go scott-free for what they did to me. I wasn't going to let Peyton get away with anything that easily even if it would cost me my life.

'God!’ I muttered. My head was really messing with me right now, and there was only one thing my brain was thinking of, and I needed it urgently. I needed to get drunk and clear my head. I needed to get high to relieve myself from being depressed.

I walked down the street and strode into a bar. As I got in, everyone's eyes turned to look at me like I wasn't a normal person. What's wrong? Why's everyone looking at me like I'm a lunatic? I hadn't noticed that my hair was badly ruffled and tangled, and my eyes were blotchy, and it was quite obvious.

Anyways, I went to the bar, not minding the looks I was getting, and ordered a bottle of whiskey.

“Uh, d–do you need a glass?” the barman asked, handing the bottle of whiskey to me, his hooded eyes looking at me in a weird manner. I scoffed. Is he serious? What kind of stupid question was he asking me?

“No, I'd prefer you'd pour the contents of my whiskey yourself, straight in my mouth. Wouldn't that be better, huh? It'll save you from giving me a glass.” I said with sarcasm evident in my voice, and a fake smile playing on my face.

“Uhm, I'm so sorry for that, ma'am,” he said apologetically as he brought a glass and wiped it with a clean towel.

“Well, sorry for yourself.” I snatched the bottle of whiskey and the glass from the barman and walked to sit down on an unoccupied bar stool, pouring the whiskey into the glass as I did.

In no time, I emptied the bottle and ordered for more. But the bar man was still looking at me like I was a lunatic that escaped from an asylum. I snapped at him, and he reluctantly handed me another bottle.

I was fully drunk now. I decided to leave the bar and go wait in my boss's car. But getting drunk didn't seem to make me feel fine. It had only worsened my mood and made me feel even more hurt.

Tears immediately began to slide down my face. God, why was my life so miserable? When is all this pain I was feeling going to end?

I gave out a hysterical laugh as another round of tears slid down my face. “You know what, I'll be fine,” I said miserably to myself with strong conviction as I walked out of the bar, staggeringly, to my boss's car. “I'll be fine.”

I collapsed in the rear seat and closed my eyes. I waited for a few hours, but before my boss would come, I slept off— or passed out— if you want to see it that way.

I found myself wrapped up with a warm blanket on a bed that was very comfortable, but I wasn't familiar with. I rubbed my blurry eyes gently and realized that I wasn't in my room. I was in someone else's room. But who was it?

My question got answered as my boss walked in shirtless. Jeez! I immediately threw the blanket off me and propped myself into a sitting position. “Why am I here?” I asked, confused, with my eyebrows furrowed. I hurriedly checked if my pants were on as I didn't trust the man before me, and I didn't want to make the mistake I made about five years ago.

He gave out a deep chuckle and then sat at the edge of the bed across me. “So you think I'd sleep with you without your consent?”

“Uh, well,” I started, but I didn't finish the sentence. Instead, I asked him again, “What am I doing here? Why am I here?”

“Because you seem to have a drinking problem.” 

“No,” I protested. “I didn't get drunk, okay? I just—” 

But I stopped as I remembered what had happened earlier. I got sad and miserable and stomped out of the K and S building to a bar and forced the barman to give me another bottle of whiskey even though I was already wasted. Then I walked straight to his car and passed out in the rear seat of the vehicle.

“So you're saying you didn't get drunk, huh? But that seems like one of your habits, right? You were literally muttering slurry words when I brought you into my room.” He stood up and walked to the door. A smirk crept on his face. “I'll go get a maid for you, it seems you're not okay.”

I arched my brows, trying to figure out whether he was being nice or he was just taunting me. As he walked out of the room and closed the door, I huffed. Damn, this man was so annoying.

My head began to ache so hard, and I was thankful that a maid was coming over. A few moments later, the maid came in with a bottle of water and breakfast on a tray.

“Hey,” I said to her with a warm smile. She smiled back as she kept the tray beside me. “Your breakfast, ma'am,” she said in a soft, nice voice.”

“Uh, I've really got a bad headache. Are there any aspirins you can help me with?”

“Oh, yes, I'll get it for you then.”

I watched as she walked out of the room and then took one toast off the plate and munched on it. But the munching even got the headache worse.

I groaned as the pain intensified, but I was thankful that the maid was back with the aspirin pills. I took the glass from the tray and poured the contents of the water into it before I swallowed the pill, flushing it down with the glass of water.

“Thanks,” I said to the maid as she walked out of the room. I managed to eat two more toast from the plate, take a sip from the cup of the hot coffee, and then kept it back on the tray.

I decided to stretch my bones, which were aching me, so I decided to stand up from the bed and walk out of the room. But as I got out, I heard the sound of people moaning. Were my ears deceiving me? The moans of pleasure intensified as I walked toward the rail and then downstairs.

As I got into the living room, that was brightly lit with a crystal chandelier hanging on the surface of the white ceiling, I was met with a shocking scene. At first, I couldn't believe my eyes, but as I inched further, I noticed my boss in a sexual position with some red-haired woman who was moaning like a whale — not to be rude.

‘Eew! What the heck,’ I muttered to myself in utter shock and disgust, but what was more disgusting was when he noticed me and said to my face, “Do you wanna join us?”

Oh, my goodness. What the actual fuck? Did he actually say that to me? Is he mentally deranged or something?

“Are you crazy?” I asked him, angrily. “Why would you ask me such a disgusting question?” But he seemed to be unfazed as I threw the angry words at him. Instead, he threw me a smug look and said, “It's just a question. I saw you looking, so I needed to know if you wanted to join. Don't take it personally.”

Oh, he's fucking kidding me right now, isn't he? ‘What kind of person is he, actually?’ I thought in annoyance. ‘Someone who doesn't have regard for women?’

By now, he had already stopped what he was doing with the redhead. He pushed her away, and I watched him stand up, walk to the glass table sitting in the middle of the large, luxurious living room painted in a deep plum color , took what seemed to be cash, and threw them on her like she was a worthless person before walking to me. I watched in shock as he treated the lady like trash with my mouth agape. He really didn't have any regard for women.

The redhead scurried out of the living room in embarrassment, half naked, and slammed the door behind her. 

“Hope you weren't jealous about that,” he said cockily to me, getting me more infuriated and enraged. How could he treat women like shit? How was he even comfortable with that? Didn't his mother teach him some manners or what?

“What, I'm not— How dare you insinuate that I want something to do with you sexually, huh?” I asked in anger, my tone an octave too high. But he didn't even act like I was actually mad at him and angry to a fault. He just kept smirking, which was completely frustrating. I felt a strong urge to hit him now.

“But you can't deny it. You do want to have something sexual to do with this body.” He pointed at his shirtless torso, and my eyes couldn't help but linger there for a second, admiring his annoyingly handsome build.

Snap out of it, Addy. You're mad at him. He doesn't even respect women.

He inched closer to me, and tucked some strands of my hair behind my ears. “I know you can't resist me, can you?” He whispered softly into my ears, giving me the tingles. “Deep down, you know you want me.” 

He used his lips to brush my ears and took my hand in his. I squirmed as he did that, butterflies erupting in my belly, but I wasn't going to fall for whatever he was doing to me. I reminded myself of how badly he treated the red-haired lady, and just then, and without even thinking about it, I pulled my hand out of his grip and slammed my palms against his face.

“How dare you touch me!”