Chapter 1
Jessica Lockman stirred awake on a stranger’s bed. The unfamiliar room swam into focus as she blinked drowsily. The night before, she had been at a department dinner and had had a few too many drinks. Following that…
Her hands trembled, and in an instant, her head cleared. The man’s heavy, muffled groan resounded in her ears like a death knell. Jessica hushed her racing thoughts, desperate to get out of there as soon as possible.
She picked up her torn white blouse from the floor. There was no way she could wear this outside anymore… Her hands quivered as she tossed it aside.
Beside the bed rested a clean outfit, a professional skirt suit that could only have been left by that man. Jessica hastily slipped it on. It wasn’t something she usually wore, and she could tell that he had bought it at random, simply to give her something to take with her.
Then, she noticed her neck smooth and unscathed, yet the skin below her collarbone told a very different story. “What a gentleman!” she scoffed inwardly. Heaven forbid anyone find out that she had spent the night with him.
Jessica let out a sigh and stepped out of the bathroom, glancing around. She was in a spacious suite that was so bare that it felt unlived-in. It didn’t seem like a hotel, though it could’ve
been.
She grabbed her bag, which was sitting beside the bed, and headed out. As she had thought, it
wasn’t a hotel.
As soon as she opened the door, a capacious living room came into view. And on the couch lounged someone she knew all too well.
Wearing headphones and black loungewear, he rested comfortably with his laptop propped on a pillow across his lap. When he heard footsteps approaching, he lifted his deep gaze.
It was her boss, Zachary Jones. He was known for keeping his desires on a tight leash, yet last night, his desires were anything but restrained. He had behaved more like a starving wolf finally let off its chain.
Jessica was shell-shocked. She was about to speak up, but he beat her to it.
“I’m on an online meeting,” he said lowly. She immediately clamped her mouth shut.
“Come have breakfast.” He leaned forward slightly, sliding a glass of honey water across the
table toward the other plate. However, he never realized that when he leaned forward, the love bites on his neck filled the camera frame, plain for all the executives to see.
Her face flushed crimson. Those love marks were definitely her doing. If only they were in a hotel, she could just walk out the door and head home.
Jessica gingerly took a seat, staring at everything but him. She quietly drank the honey water and ate the same kind of sandwich he was having.
Zachary was known for his unyielding chill-heart, mind, and soul alike. So, she had probably stepped on the wrong person’s toes.
Jessica figured that she had probably gotten into the wrong car last night. Mistakes happened, but she was sure that her cold-faced boss would have noticed. Sleeping with an employee wasn’t exactly great for his spotless reputation.
15 minutes later, he ended the virtual meeting, shut down his laptop, and began eating breakfast at a leisurely pace.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was your first time. I might have been a little too rough,” he said in the same apathetic tone he used when making board decisions, his expression blank.
Jessica, who had gotten her nerves under control, choked on her food, and her cheeks burned again. They had indeed had a one-night stand, but he didn’t need to revisit that memory!
“Don’t leave just yet. My family physician will be here soon.”
Well, isn’t he quick to wipe the slate clean? Jessica wondered if he was that afraid that she would end up carrying his heir and staking a claim on his empire.
She gulped down the last of the honey water, at a loss for words.
He cleaned his plate in the blink of an eye. “Wait here. I have to go to the office right now. I’ll have Joshua drive you back.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she hurriedly said. “I can head back on my own.”
“Is this your way of saying that I wasn’t any good last night?” He lifted his gaze slightly, looking a little wounded.
“Wait, what? No!” For some reason, her heart started hammering against her chest. Like she’d ever dare!
Her mind went blank; she couldn’t think of a comeback. It was the first time she had been so steamrolled in an argument. If he weren’t her boss, she would’ve given him a piece of her mind by now.
Just then, a middle-aged housekeeper stepped in. “Mr. Jones, Dr. Norwell is here.”
Chapter 1
3/4
Without uttering a single word, Zachary kept his eyes on Jessica.
Jessica was breathtakingly beautiful, with porcelain skin and gorgeous blonde hair. It was natural, given her mixed heritage. Her figure was equally stunning, the kind that made people wish that she were their own girlfriend.
She squirmed under his gaze. Her cheeks were rosy to begin with, and now, she felt like her whole body was on fire.
“Come with me,” he said before letting out the faintest sigh.
Jessica trailed after him obediently. After all, she had gotten herself tangled up with a heavyweight in the fashion industry.
When she returned to last night’s battlefield, a nervous chill ran through her. Her palms broke into a cold sweat as her eyes landed on the bed. However, the housekeeper from earlier had already cleaned the place, making it spotless.
Right then, a female doctor walked in, and Zachary stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Jessica had half expected to be prescribed birth control pills or some kind of shot, but it turned out to be nothing of the sort. Fortunately, the ointment worked wonders-though she kept her face hidden the entire time, mortified.
When she finally emerged from the bedroom, Zachary had already left. Joshua Smith was the only one waiting for her.
Joshua was 22, the same age as her. They had graduated from the same university, interviewed together, and started work at the same time, just in different roles. He was Zachary’s sole assistant and trusted right-hand man.
Standing by the car, she caught his goofy grin behind the wheel and felt her dignity shatter beyond repair. After climbing into the car, she stared out the window and mumbled, “I… hopped into the wrong car last night, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, future Mrs. Jones,” Joshua teased her before launching into a lively recap. “I’ve known you for ages, but I’ve never seen you go that hard on the drinks. Last night, you got into the wrong car, threw your arms around the boss, and kissed him like crazy. You were so bold!
“Mr. Jones had a few drinks too, but he was as stiff as a board. I’m sure you know that he’s a germaphobe. Yet, you went and tore his shirt, popping off a bunch of buttons!”
Jessica lowered her head, picturing it all as she listened.
“We wanted to drive you home, but since you live alone, the boss was worried that you might not be clearheaded enough to look after yourself, so he brought you to his place instead.”
After letting out a dry chuckle, Jessica plastered a smile on her face.
“So… you and Mr. Jones…” Joshua looked her up and down.
“I have to hand it to Zachary. He was very careful. He didn’t leave a single hickey on my neck,” she brooded.
“As you can see,” she said, pointing at her spotless neck.
“I guess the boss really is a gentleman.”
“Right…” she said with a wry little drawl. Zachary was such a gentleman. Not.
