Chapter 3
Three firm knocks echoed through the CEO’s office.
“Come in.”
Heart pounding, Jessica pushed the door open.
Zachary sat at his desk, no longer in the bespoke suit he had worn that morning. He wore a black shirt with two buttons undone, his tie discarded, and faint love bites from the night before still visible on his neck. Lounging in his chair, he exuded a rakish, debonair charm.
Jessica walked slowly into his office, while Joshua closed the door behind her. The door closed with a soft thud that sounded deafening to her ears.
“You wanted to see me, Mr. Jones?”
Zachary spared her a glance and hummed in confirmation before returning his attention to his computer screen.
Silence followed. It was barely a minute, yet it felt like forever.
Then, he rose from his seat and walked toward her.
Jessica had to admit that he was the kind of man women daydreamed about. He had sharp features a high-bridged nose, thin red lips, and almond-shaped eyes. Even she found herself staring. Standing beside him, her head barely reached his chin.
–
His physique was incredible, something she knew far too well, because her wandering hands had kept straying back to the sculpted planes of his abdomen in the shower last night. This was just great; she was replaying the scene from last night in her head all over again.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Jones?” Jessica looked calm and composed. She spoke with clarity and patience, yet her mind was in absolute turmoil.
“Have a seat.” He veered toward the couch and sat on it. She walked over and sat six feet away
from him.
“Come closer.” He patted the spot beside him. Jessica hesitated for a couple of seconds before scooting over.
He gazed at her, and for a moment, he felt as if he had fallen under a spell. She laced her fingers together, tense.
“Does it still hurt?”
Jessica was caught off guard. Then, she shook her head and wondered if this man was trying to go over everything that had happened last night.
“What do you think?”
Jessica glanced at him, taking in his sculpted collarbone and the faint hickeys on his neck. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jones! I was drunk last night, and I didn’t know that I’d do such inappropriate things to you-”
“There’s no need to apologize.” He straightened up and cut her off before leaning back again and studying her perfect profile. “I was the one who made the first move last night. Yes, you did kiss me because you were drunk, but I took it from there.”
“Stop-” Jessica felt that she had embarrassed herself enough. Did he really need to bring it up again right in front of her?
“We’re both adults. What happened, happened. Let’s just act like it never did!” Her cheeks flushed with color, as if she had brushed on a ton of blush.
“Do you take me for an escort?” Zachary looked so cold that it was as if he were about to interrogate her.
“N-No. Of course not!” Her ears burned.
Jessica didn’t know what he was getting at. Was he suggesting some sort of casual
arrangement? He sure hadn’t seemed that way when he’d acted like the perfect gentleman this
morning.
“Do you want to be Mrs. Jones?”
“What?” Jessica thought she was hearing things.
Their eyes met, yet she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“We didn’t use any protection last night. If you’re pregnant, we’ll have the baby. If not, I’ll still take responsibility,” he said apathetically, as if he were talking about the weather.
Jessica fell silent. She had never felt more clear-headed than she did at that moment.
Zachary came from a distinguished family with impeccable values. He was probably a conservative man, as he had remained single at the ripe old age of 28. Having crossed the line, Jessica figured that he must have been wrestling with his conscience.
Jessica knew better than to reach above her station. She was acutely aware of her background. She was the illegitimate daughter of her mother and a businessman whose name she never
knew.
Rumors had followed her for as long as she could remember, and she knew that tying herself to someone as spotless as Zachary would only drag him down. Besides, after the hurt Derrick had caused her, she simply wasn’t ready to let another man into her life so quickly.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jones. I meant nothing more by it. I’ve already taken the pill this morning, so you don’t have to worry.
“I don’t want the title of Mrs. Jones. Since you feel guilty about last night, I’ll consider it forgiven. Let’s move on and never bring it up again.”
His gaze
darkened beneath his rimless glasses, revealing nothing.
Jessica blurted out everything in a single breath and turned to leave his office.
“Hold on.” He rose from his seat slowly. For a moment, he was dumbstruck.
He was a renowned business tycoon in Avelridge. Countless women had thrown themselves at him, but this was the first time he’d met one who firmly turned him down.
Jessica let out a heavy sigh, spun around, and met his gaze. “Do you need anything else, Mr. Jones?”
“Add me on Facebook.” His expression was calm as he held out his phone.
She was rendered speechless.
“Sylvaria’s Fashion Week is next month. The company intends to send both you and Mr. Jakerman. If you’d rather not go, forget I mentioned it.” He paused before adding, “Also, you don’t have to give me an answer to my earlier question. I’ll give you some time to think about
it.”
“With just a few words, he’s already steered me exactly where he wants me,” she huffed inwardly. Sylvaria’s Fashion Week wasn’t open to just anyone. Jessica would be a fool to let this chance slip by.
Moreover, it wasn’t like she would lose anything anyway. So, she pulled out her phone and added him on Facebook. As for the other question he had asked, she decided to forget about it.
…
As soon as she returned to her desk, the ever-curious Lilian leaned over. “So, how was it? Is the CEO’s office over-the-top or what?”
The truth was, Jessica hadn’t paid much attention as she had been too busy fielding Zachary’s sharp, cutting questions.
As Lilian worked through the data on her computer screen, she glanced at Jessica. “I almost had a heart attack. I thought that you’d be carried out on a stretcher!”
Just then, Eric bounded over, grinning from ear to ear. “Ms. Lockman!”
Everyone turned to look at him. His overly cheerful expression drew the attention of the entire department.
“Mr. Jakerman.” Jessica hurriedly stood. After Zachary tilted her chin and demanded to know if she liked it last night, she had developed a fear of towering men.
“A memo just came down. We’ve both been chosen to go to Sylvaria’s Fashion Week!”
“I know.” Jessica didn’t seem the least bit surprised.
After all, the company was full of senior designers, and as someone who had only been there for a year, she knew that she would draw plenty of attention. Zachary had probably saved the spot for her to make up for what happened last night.
As soon as the news broke, the entire department buzzed with excitement. Some were thrilled, others were sad, and the newcomers felt even more motivated. However, the veterans thought it was unfair. Many of them had been working there for years and had never attended a city fashion week, let alone one abroad.
Jessica paid them no mind and focused on her work.
Right then, she received a message from Derrick.
Derrick: “Jess, are you free tonight? Let’s catch a movie.”
Jessica pursed her lips. It seemed he was so shameless that he had nothing left to fear or lose. He was stringing along his mistress while buttering up his girlfriend.
Jessica: “Sure!”
She took a screenshot of their conversation and posted it on her Reels, which was only visible to her close friend, Celine Leroy, with the caption: “Even after five years, every day with him still feels like the beginning.”
In no time, Celine sent her a message.
Celine: “Jess, I’m heading to the movies with some friends tonight, too. What are you guys watching, and when?”
“Would you look at that dedication? She practically deserves a medal for pretending to care while stabbing me in the back,” Jessica sneered inwardly. She didn’t reply to the message and simply locked her phone screen.
