*TESSA*

I didn’t look back neither did I stop running…

If he was behind me…I know I’m definitely no match for him…Still,I didn’t want him to catch up.

When I dared to look back,I realized that he wasn’t running after me.

I slowed down and started to walk briskly out of the hotel…I rubbed my chest trying to calm down.

It’s fine.

Everything’s fine.

I made a mistake getting drunk and involved in a one night stand…

It’s not the end of the world.

And the most comforting part was that I certainly won’t see him again.

When I got home..I quickly made some breakfast for myself and headed to the company which I worked for.

Getting to the entrance of the building,my cellphone rang.

I smiled seeing that it was my mother.

I slowly picked up.

“Hello,mom.”

“Oh.My dear.I hope you haven’t forgotten that tonight is your uncle Wilson’s 60th birthday.He’s hosting a banquet at Cromwell’s Hotel.You will be there,right?”

“No,mom.I don’t want to go.”

If I went to that banquet,I would definitely run into my father and my stepmother and I really wasn’t in the mood to put up with them tonight.

“C’mon,Tessa.Your uncle Wilson and his wife has been very kind to us.The least you can do is honor his invitation.”My mother persuaded.

I exhaled.

When I was ten years old,my father cheated on my mother and practically abandoned her.If it hadn’t been for uncle Wilson,my life would have been unbearable.

“Fine.I’ll go.”

“And try not to fight with your father.”She warned.

“If he doesn’t cause me any trouble…I won’t”And then,I hung up.

Years ago,my mother knelt on the ground and begged my father not to file for a divorce.

She told him she would forgive his affair..his unfaithfulness but he cast her aside.

He didn’t only divorce my mother but also took everything from her.

After that,life was very hard for the three of us.

I can’t bring myself to ever forgive my dad for hurting us like that.

I walked into the company just in time and sat on my desk.

My colleague,Audrey Brosnan walked up to me.

“You look different today,Tess?”

I frowned.”Different?How?”

“You’ve been sulking since Marcus broke up with you but today…you don’t look sad at all.”

Audrey and I are pretty close.

I sighed.”Maybe it’s because I had a crazy night.You won’t believe I spent two hundred dollars on a prostitute to comfort my wounded heart.”I said,laughing.

“You don’t say.”She snickered.

She actually thinks I’m joking.

We often make all kinds of jokes so I’m not surprise.

We’ve had a few people thinking that we have rich experience while dealing with men when in fact…we’re conservative as hell.

That is why I’m still furious about last night.

That was so not me.

“The new boss is resuming today.”She announced.

I shrugged.

“I heard he is the heir to Hudson Group.His father is a senior official of the government and his mother is the president at the company’s headquarters.Right now…most of the ladies in the company are dying to meet him…I’m sure he’s so handsome.“

I rolled my eyes.

I can only hope he’s not one of those rude and pompous heirs.

I can’t bear to work for an asshole as my boss.

My superior,Ethan Bascon came over.

“We have a meeting at the conference hall now!”He announced and started walking away.

I quickly took my notebook and pen and followed suit.

I walked into the conference hall to find everyone already seated so I sat at a corner,quietly.

My mind trailed off to the early hours of the morning…he was so handsome.

I thought about the pissed-off expression on his face when I placed the 200 dollars on the bed.

I placed my hand over my mouth and laughed.

Maybe I had gone too far..

But then I just couldn’t stand the look of disgust he gave to me and moreso,he was going to send me away as a prostitute.

That would have been so demeaning.

A round of applause startled me and I snapped out of my reverie.

A man in navy-blue suit walked into the conference hall.

My jaw dropped when his face registered in my retina.

Why…why is he here?

Something’s wrong with my eyes…something’s definitely wrong with my eyes.

I rubbed my eyes with my thumbs…I closed and opened them again but it was still him.

Then man who I had a one night stand with!

Then man whom I paid 200 dollars!

Oh my God!

Where will I run to this time?

*TESSA*

I’m still in the state of intense panic.

Why?

Why am I so out of luck?!

I still can’t believe he’s my new Boss.

I thought about what I had said to him.

Ahh…

Why did I say that?

I should have been nicer with my words.

Would he perhaps fire me for what I said?

No!

I can’t get fired.

I have to take care of my mother and sister.

I have to calm down and think.

I took a few deep calming breaths.

I glanced at the man sitting at the forefront…He introduced himself as Declan Hudson.

When he didn’t look in my direction,I lowered my head and covered half of my face with my long hair.

Right now,all I was praying for was that he wouldn’t notice me.

Every minute and every second was unbearable for me.

I was extremely happy when the meeting finally came to an end.

I sneaked out of the conference hall with the thought that he still didn’t notice me at all.

The first thing I did when I returned to my desk was to tell Audrey everything that had happened.

“You’re joking,right?”

“Do I look like I am?”I asked,agitatedly.

Her eyes widened in shock.”Then you should be happy,girl.You slept with such a smoky hot man.”

“Don’t give me that.I’m very worried that he might try to get back at me and probably fire me.I still have my mother and sister to take care of.I can’t afford to be jobless right now.”

Oh God.

I shouldn’t have gone to the bar to drink.

I wish I could turn back time.

I should have been more cautious about myself.

I shouldn’t have had a one night stand.

I shouldn’t have given him 200 dollars.

And I shouldn’t have insulted him.

Why am I in such a frustrating situation?!

Audrey tapped my shoulder.”Don’t worry too much.Maybe he didn’t notice you at all.”

The manager’s voice suddenly rang out:

“Tessa,Mr Hudson wants you in his office now!”

Oh.

I’m dead!

*********

I shakily knocked on the door of his office.

“Come in.”His deep baritone announced.

Reluctantly,I walked in.

I was nervous as heck.

I can’t believe the man who was on a bathrobe this morning turned out to be my boss.

Life is truly full of surprises.

Too bad…I didn’t like this surprise…I didn’t like it at all.

I stood there quietly while he continued to go through some documents without acknowledging my presence.

Releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding,I began,”Mr Hudson,you sent for me?“

He lifted up his head and I offered him a cheerful smile.

Maybe he could see me differently…as a nice person that I am.

He stared at me from my head to my toe.

His eyes were dark and cold.

I felt very uncomfortable and tried my best not to tremble like a leaf.

He leaned back on his swivel chair and said,nonchalantly,”I thought the people working for me would be responsible.I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I felt slapped.

Yes…I made a mistake last night but that doesn’t give him the right to think I’m irresponsible.

If there’s one thing I hate…it’s being looked down on.

Before I could think,I replied.”Well,it isn’t professional to talk about our private lives at work,sir but while we’re at it…you really shouldn’t play the judge here.”

The expression on Declan’s face hardened.

Damn it.

I seemed to have made him more furious than before.

I’m definitely getting fired!

*TESSA*

I stared at the floor unable to look at him.

I should really learn to control my tongue if I don’t wanna lose this job.

I waited for him to speak but he didn’t..the silence was making me more uneasy.

I slowly glanced up and our eyes met.

He was staring at me but I couldn’t read his facial expression.

Then I saw Declan brought out his wallet and extracted some notes from it.

He placed the cash on the table.

“Miss Beckett,I really thought I wouldn’t see you again and I honestly didn’t want to.But now that I did…I think I need to make you understand that aside from being a CEO,I have no other side jobs so take back your 200 dollars.”

I swallowed.

I can’t believe he called me into his office to clarify that he wasn’t a prostitute.

“I understand.”I said with a harmless smile.

I exhaled,extremely relieved.

So we just have to get the past behind us.

That night didn’t happen and we can…

Before I could complete my thoughts…I saw him throw a hundred dollar bill on the table.

I stared at him,confused.

“That 100 dollar is your reward for last night.It wasn’t very good,you see.It’s only worth that much.”He let out,sardonically.

I bit my lower lip in anger.

I’m only worth 100 dollars?!

So Demeaning.

My fists clenched and I tried to control my temper.

I reminded myself how badly I needed this job.

So I force a smile out of me and picked up the 300 dollars.

“If that’s all,sir,I would like to get back to work.”With that,I left his office.

*********

As soon as I got back to my desk,Audrey came over.

“C’mon,girl…why did he ask for you?What did he say?Tell me everything.”She asked almost at the same time.

I sighed and replied;”To tell me that he isn’t a prostitute.”

“And?”She probed.

I blinked..there’s no way I can tell her that he made me the prostitute instead.

She was laugh her ass out at me.

So I shrugged.

“What?You can’t certainly mean that was all you two talked about.”

“That was all.What were you expecting?”I asked.

Audrey giggled.”I thought,you know…well,he might have fallen for you last night and you guys were on a start of a beautiful and romantic relationship.”

Instantly,I cringed.”Get that idea out of your head.I’m not interested.”

She laughed.”You’re joking,right?Do you know how many women would kill to spend a night with a man like that?All the female employees here are gushing over him.”

She brought out her cellphone and showed me Declan’s picture which had been posted by some female employees in the company.

I rolled my eyes.”Oh please.”

“Honestly…tell me…how did it feel to have sex with him?”

How did it feel?

I don’t even know because I can’t even remember it clearly.

I do know I was very tender this morning.

I can remember glimpses of him thrusting in and out of me.

Ah…I’m never getting drunk again.

To save face,I replied.”It wasn’t so impressive.If you desperately want to know how it felt…you could try to sleep with him if you want.”

“I wish I could.”She sighed and returned to her desk.

Deep down…I wish I could remember everything about last night…every little detail.

I mean…to be honest…the man is hot…so good looking..

He might really be good with his member…

Did he do it to me so good then?

It’s such a pity that there would be no opportunity for me to get to know that.

He’s my boss now.

And I won’t cross the line so there can never be a connection between us.

My phone rang out,interrupting my thoughts.

It was my mother…

I’m pretty sure she was going to urge me more into attending uncle Wilson’s party tonight.

I covered my face with my hands,trying to prepare myself for the evening for it was going to be a long night.