*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.

*TESSA*

At 7:pm,I arrived at Cromwell Hotel.

As I got down from the taxi,I took a deep breathe seeing people walking in and out of hall,elegantly.

I walked in too with my gift in hand.

The party planner did a good job…everywhere was beautifully decorated.

I smiled when I saw uncle Wilson.

“Tessa.”He called,cheerfully.

“Uncle Wilson…happy birthday.”I cooed and hugged him.

“I’m so glad you could make it.”He said.

We disengaged from each other and I handed him his gift.

“Oh…you’re so thoughtful my dear.”

I smiled and walked over to say hi to my mother,sister and Uncle Wilson’s wife,Eleanor.

Taking note that my father was yet to arrive…I took it as my cue to leave.

Seeing him and his wife makes me angry….it makes me think about the past and I always do my best to avoid them.

“Mom,I should get going…I have a few things to catch up on…”I let out,slowly standing up.

“Oh no,young lady…you barely even touched your meal.”Eleanor said as she pushed me playfully to sit back down.

“But…”

“C’mon…you literally just got here and we have an important guest coming over.”

“Who’s that?”I asked,curiously.

“He’s the son of Wilson’s friend.And I heard he’s your new boss…what was his name again?Oh…Declan.”

“What?!”I let out startling everyone on the table.

It’s Declan again!

Why is he everywhere?!

Am I the first person to have a one night stand?

Why am I being tortured by his presence?!

Ugh!

Well,we could say my uncle was well to do but not as rich as the level of Declan.

Ahh.

Why do they know someone like him?

Before I could think of the next thing to do,I saw him entering the hall with my father’s family.

Oh no.

I should leave…

I really should.

I saw a waiter leading them over to where I was sitting.

I tensed and whispered to Eleanor.

“Why can’t they sit somewhere else?”

“This is the VIP table,Bella.”She reminded.

I tried not to show how uneasy I was as they all got seated.

I glanced at Cassie Mendez,the woman who ruined my parents’s marriage.

Next to her was her daughter,Anna Mendez…

She was like a goddess….everything about her body looked so perfect…but of course,I heard she had done numerous plastic surgery.

So to me,she was fake.

She was wearing heavy make up as usual.

I wonder if anyone had ever seen what she looks like.

I glanced at Declan who looked so nonchalant.

My father didn’t acknowledge my presence either.

So I choose to focus on the food in front of me.

As I ate,they started talking.

“Oh,Anna…this is Declan Hudson.He’s a son of a close friend of mine.He just became a CEO and I’m sure he’ll have a lot of business with us in the future.You should get to know him.”My father’s voice rung the air.

He runs a small security agency.

“Nice to meet you.My name is Anna Mendez.I hope we get to know more about each other.”Anna said,sweetly.

“Likewise.”He replied,politely.

“We don’t have to be formal with each other,right?”Anna asked.

I rolled my eyes.

I could already tell that she was into him.

I glanced up to see that Declan ignored her and started eating.

“Declan,how about I get your number?You know,we might have some business to go over in the future.”

“You can contact my secretary if you have anything to discuss with me.”Declan snapped.

Despite that,she didn’t give up and continued to pester him.

It was funny to watch.

“Tessa,are you going to keep sitting there and pretend you didn’t see me?You’re so rude.”Cassie said to me.

I scoffed.

Rude?

I’m only doing my best to get through this night.

Why must she deliberately pick on me?

“So?”

“So?Young lady,you lack manner.”

I sneered.”Look who’s talking.”

“Patrick,Are you seriously sitting there and watching your daughter speak down on me?!”

My father instantly looked furious.”Tessa,apologize to her now!”

I snickered.

Apologize,my foot!