Chapter 1

Crystal Bradford had been working as the assistant to Rosales Group's CEO for two years. Everyone saw her as a diligent and honest young woman. Yet, she did something unexpected last night.

Crystal's hand trembled as she lifted the corner of the blanket. She noticed she was completely naked, and her face instantly turned pale. The memory of pulling a man onto the bed by his tie made her whole body shudder.

As she slowly turned her head, she saw the man still sleeping soundly beside her. Crystal gasped, shocked to realize that last night was not a dream—she had actually forced herself on her boss. She quickly pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

Harold Rosales, the CEO and chairman of Vision International—which was under Rosales Group—and also her direct superior, was lying next to her. She mentally scolded herself for her reckless actions. She was too shocked to care that she had lost her own innocence. She jumped out of bed and hastily put on her clothes.

Crystal fled the scene of the crime before Harold would wake up. With trembling legs, she returned to her room, trying to act as if nothing had happened. Maia Booker, who was applying makeup, saw her come in.

"Where did you go? Why didn't you return after taking Mr. Rosales to his room? I tried calling you, but you didn't pick up," Maia said casually.

Crystal's heart skipped a beat. She stammered, "I-I came back, but you were sound asleep. Mr. Rosales needed something just now, so I went to his room."

It was a terrible excuse, but it was also believable enough. As Harold's assistant, she was expected to be at his beck and call, especially on business trips.

"Oh," Maia replied simply and continued applying her fake lashes.

Relieved that Maia did not press further, Crystal hurried to the bathroom to freshen up and put on makeup. After having breakfast together in the hotel restaurant, they rushed to the conference venue as it was nearly 8:00 am.

Crystal was dressed sharply in a black pantsuit, and she had regained her usual professional demeanor. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her jacket pocket. She pulled it out and saw "Mr. Rosales" flashing on the screen, causing her breath to catch.

"Come to the lounge!" It was a short message, but she could sense Harold's anger even through the screen.

Crystal felt a chill running down her spine. However, she quickly remembered how drunk Harold had been last night and thought he probably would not remember the incident. Filled with uncertainty and dread, Crystal made her way to the lounge.

Harold's expression was cold and stern, his gaze even more intimidating than usual. Crystal approached him nervously, hoping he would not remember what had happened.

She respectfully greeted, "Mr. Rosales, you wanted to see me?"

With a sharp clang, a silver angel pendant hit the coffee table. Crystal's blood ran cold when she saw the evidence. She had carelessly left such an important item in his room. Carefully studying Harold's expression, she saw his lips pressed tightly together and a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Just as Crystal pondered whether it was too late to confess, Harold said icily, "You have 24 hours to find the owner of this pendant."

Crystal froze. The pressure inside her intensified, and her mind buzzed. She stared at the imposing man sitting on the couch, stuttering, "F-Find the owner?"

She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized Harold did not know the pendant was hers. However, her breathing quickened the next second. After all, she was the culprit. How was she supposed to find someone to take the blame for it in 24 hours?

Sensing her hesitation, Harold shot her a dangerous look. "Is it that hard?"

His threatening tone snapped Crystal back to reality. She quickly grabbed the pendant from the table. "Not at all, Mr. Rosales. I'll start investigating right away," she said, turning to leave.

After taking two steps, Crystal thought of something and nervously turned back. "When I find the person, should I bring them to see you?"

Harold's gaze turned cold. "Let Luis handle it."

Crystal saw the danger in his eyes, and her legs almost gave out. Letting Luis Thornton handle it meant the person would either be forced to leave Gaffglen City or never work in this industry again.

Chapter 2

Crystal stumbled out of the lounge, her face ashen as she returned to the conference hall. Maia noticed her distress and asked concernedly, "Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?"

Crystal's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at her best friend since middle school.

Seeing Crystal on the verge of crying, Maia quickly glanced around. After making sure that no one was around, she pulled Crystal toward the restroom. There, she whispered, "What's wrong? Did Mr. Rosales yell at you?"

As soon as they entered the bathroom, Maia locked the door. Crystal's legs instantly gave out, and she slumped to the floor, pale and trembling. Maia rushed to her side, supporting her by the shoulders.

"What happened? You'd better not let Mr. Rosales see you in this state, or you're done for!"

Everyone knew Harold was a no-nonsense boss. Pretty privilege did not exist in his world—an employee was nothing more than just a hired hand working under him. Moreover, crying on the job was his biggest pet peeve.

Harold once fired an entire department because one woman cried in the office over a breakup. He showed zero compassion.

"Maia, I can't get fired. I don't want to leave Gaffglen City!" Crystal sobbed, struggling to catch her breath.

"Wait, what did you do to upset Mr. Rosales?" Maia asked, confused and worried.

Crystal cried, "I-I kind of forced myself on him!"

Maia froze. Even the air seemed to grow still, with only Crystal's sobs breaking the silence.

After a full minute, Maia snapped out of her shock.

"Hold on, what did you say? I didn't catch that!" Maia glanced around, wondering if the ventilation fan was the reason she had misheard Crystal.

"I didn't come back last night. I was in his room," Crystal clarified.

The air grew heavy once again. Maia's lip twitched as she struggled to process the information. She stammered, "You're saying you... forced yourself on Mr. Rosales? So, you slept with him?"

Maia was in disbelief. If Crystal did that, she was completely out of her mind. Over the years, countless women had fantasized about getting into Harold's bed, but none had succeeded. Those who tried to trap him with pregnancy claims ended up in the hospital.

Moreover, Crystal was hired on Maia's recommendation. If Harold found out, not only would Crystal be finished, but the Booker family's business would suffer too. The thought made Maia jump in fright.

"Crystal, what were you thinking?" Maia quickly distanced herself, afraid of being implicated.

Maia's reaction only made Crystal cry harder. She tried to remember through her muddled thoughts and replied, "I don't know how it happened. I had three glasses of alcohol on his behalf, and then things spiraled out of control."

"What do you mean 'out of control'? Did you just jump on him?" Maia exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.

Harold was the company heartthrob, but his ruthlessness toward women meant no one dared to pursue him. Maia could not believe that Crystal would actually be the one of all the people.

Trying to calm herself, Maia continued, "You've been working by his side for three years. Don't you know he's totally off-limits?"

Crystal's eyes reddened even more, and her thoughts were in chaos. She stuttered, looking nothing like the bold woman who had pounced on Harold the night before. "W-What should I do now? He's given me 24 hours to find the person!"

She could not just hand herself over to Harold; that was practically suicide.

Maia was taken aback and asked, "Wait, what do you mean? He doesn't know it was you?"

Maia stared at Crystal as her sobs grew even louder. Her best friend had always been honest and responsible, but the matter had turned her into a terrified wreck. She could not even imagine how Crystal had managed to do something so reckless.

Nonetheless, the situation was dire, and they did not have time to dwell on it. "Are you sure he doesn't know?"

Crystal nodded with certainty. After all, he would not have asked her to track down the culprit if he had already known. She replied, "I'm sure he doesn't!"

Maia let out a sigh of relief. If Howard was unaware, that was manageable. The Booker family would have gone down with Crystal if he had known.

"If he doesn't know, we can work with that." Maia opened the door, checked outside, then closed it again. She crouched and whispered a plan into Crystal's ear.

Crystal listened to Maia's scheme, then looked at her with uncertainty. "Do you really think this will work?"

"It's our only option right now. We don't have much time!" Maia stated, pulling Crystal to her feet. After that, the two women snuck off to the surveillance room.

Two hours later, Harold stepped down from the stage after his speech. Crystal respectfully approached him, took the folder from his hand, and accompanied him to the lounge.

Once there, Crystal stood straight, her tone professional as she reported, "Mr. Rosales, I've completed the investigation you requested."

Harold sat on the couch, giving her an icy glance. Crystal's back was drenched in a cold sweat, but she maintained her usual composed demeanor.

With a steady voice, she continued, "I've checked the surveillance footage. No one else entered after I escorted you to your room last night. The item must've been left behind by a previous guest."

Chapter 3

The silence was deafening. It was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. While Crystal was standing with her back straight, she was actually anxious inside.

Harold's terrifying gaze deliberately fell on her stiff face as he asked coldly, "What do you mean by 'must have been'?"

Crystal froze, realizing that she had misspoken as Harold despised uncertain answers. She lowered her head and stated firmly through gritted teeth, "After I escorted you back to your room last night, no one else entered."

Her tone carried absolute certainty without a hint of doubt. Soon, the air grew thick with tension once more. It was the longest 60 seconds of her life, but she had to hold on.

If Harold discovered her lie, not only would her career be ruined, but Maia would be implicated too. Moreover, she had just settled in Gaffglen City. It would be devastating if she could no longer make a living here.

After what seemed like an eternity, with sweat soaking Crystal's back, Harold finally said, "Got it."

Crystal closed her eyes briefly, exhaling in relief. She thought she had finally dodged a bullet.

"Bring me Ocean Corporation's bidding proposal," Harold commanded.

Seeing him immersed in work, Crystal gradually calmed down. She nodded and replied, "Yes, sir."

Over the next month, they constantly traveled for business, with Crystal avoiding Harold. Upon returning to Gaffglen City, they had their usual two-day break after a long trip, but Harold had an urgent meeting at the office.

After the meeting, Luis approached respectfully. "Mr. Rosales."

Seeing Luis, Harold instinctively frowned and asked, "Where's Crystal?"

"Mr. Rosales, everyone gets time off after a long trip. We were on the road for a month, so Ms. Bradford is probably with her boyfriend."

A cold glint flashed in Harold's eyes, but he quickly masked it. However, Luis keenly felt the sudden tension in the air and was confused.

…

Meanwhile, Maia and Crystal were actually at the company dormitory. Maia leaned close to Crystal's ear and whispered, "So, Mr. Rosales didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

Crystal jolted when Maia brought up what happened a month ago and quickly glanced at the two other closed doors.

"Relax," Maia assured her. "Everyone's out. It's just us."

Crystal sighed in relief. She barely managed to fool Harold that day. Even after a month, her heart still skipped a beat when Maia brought it up.

Remembering Harold's dark expression that day, she said, "I guess Mr. Rosales wouldn't want to know a woman spent the night in his room either."

She thought Harold probably just wanted to be sure but did not actually care about the matter. With this thought, Crystal's tense nerves finally relaxed.

Maia nodded. "That's a relief. Anyone who's ever tried to get close to him always ended up regretting it. Getting involved with him is no picnic."

"I know. Let's drop this topic. I need to run to the bank," Crystal replied, eager to change the subject.

Hearing about another bank trip, Maia felt terrible for her. "Jacob's already doing his internship. Why is he still asking you for an allowance?"

Crystal had already grabbed her bag and was changing her shoes at the entrance. "He hasn't found a suitable job yet. He called me several times while I was away," she explained.

Her father passed away when she was five. She was the middle child, with an older sister, Ruby Bradford, and a younger half-brother, Jacob Xanders.

Ruby was already settled with her own family, and Jacob was in his internship period with just six months left until graduation. After that, she and Ruby would finally be free of financial burdens.

Hearing about the multiple calls, Maia grew more irritated. "I think your mom's spoiling him on purpose. She never paid a cent for your education. It has been three months since Jacob started his internship period and he still hasn't found a job. I bet he's being too picky!"

Crystal's eyes flashed coldly at the mention of her mother, but she did not continue the conversation. Instead, she asked Maia, "Are you coming with me?"

"Nah, but bring me back some food," Maia replied.

Crystal nodded. "Sure."

When she stepped outside, the sun was shining, but Crystal still felt cold. She had not truly felt warmth since her grandmother passed away. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her bag.

She pulled out her phone to see Jacob's number and irritably hung up. The phone immediately rang again. Crystal answered sharply, "If you put this much effort into job hunting, you would've interviewed at several companies by now!"

Chapter 4

Crystal was caught off guard by the heavy breathing on the other end of the line, tinged with an inexplicable chill. She froze, pulling her phone away to check the caller ID. When she realized it was Harold, she wished she could disappear into thin air.

Crystal instantly switched to her professional demeanor and respectfully called out, "Mr. Rosales."

"Come to the office immediately," his icy voice commanded before the call ended.

Crystal stared at the darkened screen, pouting. Despite being annoyed that her break was over, she dashed back to her dormitory to change clothes. However, she did not forget to grab a pasta to-go for Maia downstairs.

Maia was surprised by Crystal's quick return. She frowned and asked, "Was there no line at the bank today?"

Out of breath from rushing back, Crystal explained, "Mr. Rosales wants me at the office right away. I got you some pasta."

She placed the food on the coffee table and hurried to her room to change into work attire. Harold was incredibly picky and would not tolerate casual clothing in the office. As Crystal emerged, Maia was still complaining on her behalf.

"Mr. Rosales is something else. We were on a business trip for over a month, and he can't even let you rest? I should've gotten you into our sales department when I had the chance."

"I'm terrible at sales," Crystal stated as she ran out the door.

The walk from the dormitory to the office usually took less than 15 minutes. This convenience, along with the savings on transportation, was why Crystal chose to stay in the company-provided accommodation despite having her own place.

She jogged the whole way and went straight to Harold's office. When she opened the door, Harold was standing by the window. The sunlight outlined his refined features, emphasizing his innate air of superiority.

Crystal approached him respectfully. "Mr. Rosales, you called for me?"

Harold turned, fixing her with an icy stare. Maybe it was because she felt guilty, but Crystal sensed something deeper in his gaze. Thankfully, it only lasted a second before he looked away.

"Bring me Ocean Corporation's contract."

Crystal was puzzled. After all, Harold never dealt with contracts directly. Besides, he could have just asked the legal department's assistant to bring it over if he needed it. There was no reason for him to drag her back from her day off.

Despite her confusion, Crystal did not dare complain. She promptly went to the legal department and retrieved the contract for Harold.

Harold immediately started making changes. Then, he handed it back to Crystal and instructed, "Make these adjustments."

"Yes, Mr. Rosales." Crystal nodded, taking the contract back to her desk.

As soon as she sat down, Maia texted her, asking how much longer she would take and if they could go shopping later. Even though Crystal was at work, she was technically still on leave. She replied, "I just need to revise the Ocean Corporation contract. Give me half an hour."

She figured 30 minutes would be plenty for a simple contract revision. However, to Crystal's dismay, Harold found more changes to make each time she brought the contract back. Even with her patience, Crystal's composure wore thin after two hours.

Finally, Harold looked at the latest revision and said, "That's enough for today."

Crystal put away the contract and cautiously asked, "Is Ocean Corporation coming to sign the contract today?"

If they were signing on that day, her day off was truly ruined. Harold paused before answering, "The contract will be signed next Monday."

Crystal's expression froze, and her breathing became heavier. If they were only signing the contract on Monday, it was unnecessary to drag her in on her day off for this. Nonetheless, she did not dare show her frustration.

Meeting Harold's cold gaze, Crystal forced herself to ask, "Is there anything else you need?"

The click of a lighter broke the silence, followed by the scent of gasoline and nicotine filling the air. There was something suffocating about the tension. Crystal felt tense, clearly sensing Harold's displeasure but not understanding why.

Just as she was at a loss, Harold asked sternly, "Were you on the phone with your boyfriend earlier?"

"Huh?" Crystal was caught off guard by the sudden question.

Then, she remembered the call she received before coming to the office. Realizing she had not even checked the number before yelling into the phone, she felt embarrassed.

Before she could explain, Harold continued coldly, "You know company policy forbids female employees from dating before they turn 25, right?"

Crystal had never heard of that rule. She wracked her brain, trying to recall anything from her orientation when she first joined. However, she was sure this was not mentioned.

She thought it could be a new policy to prevent women from prioritizing family life over work too early. Regardless, since she was not dating anyone, Crystal firmly assured him, "Don't worry, Mr. Rosales. I don't have a boyfriend, and I won't be getting married anytime soon."

With those words, the tension in the air noticeably eased.

Chapter 5

Later, Luis arrived to report on work, finally allowing Crystal to escape from the office. Harold watched through the glass as Crystal, who had been so timid in his presence, sprang back to life outside. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Luis followed Harold's gaze and saw Crystal frantically searching for something. He thought to himself that Crystal was as careless as always. He turned back and handed an envelope to Harold.

"Sir, it's confirmed. Mrs. Rosales had someone spike your drink that night."

Just then, a phone buzzed. Luis looked down and saw the phone with a cartoon-themed case—clearly not Harold's. He immediately realized what Crystal was searching for outside.

Crystal wanted to text Maia to say she was done, but she discovered she had left her phone in Harold's office. Reluctantly, she headed back to retrieve it.

As she reached the office door, she heard Harold's cold voice asking, "Where is she?"

Crystal's hand froze mid-knock as she realized they were still looking for that woman from that night.

Luis' voice continued, "Mrs. Rosales seems determined to make you marry her chosen candidate this time. She's probably hiding the woman somewhere."

"Her chosen candidate, huh?" Harold's tone grew even more dangerous. The next second, he spoke with a chilling calmness, "Find her within a month. If there's any issue, deal with it."

"Yes, Mr. Rosales!" Luis replied, his voice equally chilling.

Crystal turned pale, knowing all too well what "deal with it" meant. From their terrifying conversation, she was even more convinced that if she were found out, her fate would be grim.

Luis opened the door and spotted her. "Ms. Bradford?"

"Hello, Mr. Thornton," Crystal greeted respectfully, quickly hiding her emotions. Internally, her thoughts were in complete chaos.

Luis noticed her complexion and asked, "Are you sick? You don't look so well."

"I'm coming down with a cold," Crystal lied nervously.

Luis nodded, advised her to see a doctor, and left. The door to Harold's office was open, and Crystal immediately spotted her phone on the desk. With shaky legs, she entered.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rosales. I forgot my phone."

As she reached for it, Harold grabbed it first. He unlocked the screen and held it out to her, asking, "Ms. Bradford, is there something you need to tell me?"

Crystal's already pale face went white at Harold's question. Her heart nearly leaped from her chest, especially when she saw Maia's message on the screen.

"Why aren't you done yet? Is Mr. Rosales keeping you..."

The rest was cut off due to the screen's brightness, but the message was enough to make Crystal's mind go blank. She turned to Harold, who was staring back at her.

He asked coldly, "What have you done that requires me to keep you here?"

Crystal panicked and stuttered, "N-Nothing, Mr. Rosales!"

Her lips trembled, her voice barely audible. Remembering his conversation with Luis, her mind grew increasingly muddled. It was on the verge of shutting down completely. Meanwhile, Harold watched her in silence, clearly expecting a reasonable explanation.

Fighting her weakening body, Crystal closed her eyes and lowered her head. "Mr. Rosales, I know I was wrong!"

"Oh? You're a diligent and meticulous worker. What have you done wrong?"

Harold was a man of few words, and it was rare of him to offer any praise. Yet, his compliment felt like a death sentence to Crystal.

As she struggled to explain, another message from Maia popped up. "Say something! Did Mr. Rosales find out..."

Once again, the rest of the message was cut off. First, it was "keeping you"; this time, it was "found out". Each message seemed loaded with dangerous implications.

Crystal's face turned ashen, her breathing rapid. Forcing herself to meet the man's penetrating gaze, she blurted out, "I took on a side job during my time off!"

"What?" Harold raised an eyebrow, confused.

Crystal's nails dug into her palms as she forced herself to stay calm. "Mr. Rosales, I did freelance work unrelated to the company. I promise it doesn't compromise the company's interests in any way."

She was an assistant at Rosales Group, but she was also a relief artist. Company policy generally forbade employees from pursuing side jobs. Nonetheless, compared to the mess from that night, Crystal thought this was nothing.