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."

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.

Chapter 2

The day after Independence Day, work finally slowed down, so many people began their vacations. Still, plenty of people were at their desks. Jessica was one of them.

Jessica didn't let Joshua drop her off at the company entrance. After all, she was in Zachary's car. If anyone saw her getting out of it, she would have no way to talk her way out of it.

She hopped out of his car a short distance from the company and snuck into a pharmacy to buy some morning-after pills. She wasn't even sure if he had used protection, but she wasn't taking any chances.

Just then, her phone rang. The caller was Derrick Quinton, Jessica's boyfriend.

Her lips curled into a derisive smile when she read that disgusting name.

Jessica and Derrick had been together for five years, ever since they met at university. She was an academic overachiever who had skipped several grades, which was how she met Derrick, three years her senior.

Ever since she moved abroad with her mother two years ago, she and Derrick had been in a long-distance relationship. However, he hadn't been able to stand the loneliness and ended up in bed with her best friend.

Jessica hadn't confronted them, unwilling to waste her energy on petty skirmishes. Instead, she planned to go in for the kill with one decisive move.

She declined the call and was about to lock her screen when a Facebook friend request popped up.

"Zachary Jones sent you a friend request."

She stood rooted to the spot, staring at it for several seconds, thinking that she must be seeing things. She wondered if he was adding her as her boss or as a friend with benefits. Gritting her teeth, she declined it.

Jessica was a fashion designer who had joined Jonest only a year ago. Aside from the creative director, she hardly interacted with any other executives. Jonest was the largest fashion company in Avelridge, with its reach extending across borders. A powerhouse like Zachary wasn't someone she would typically encounter.

Last night had been an accident. He had shown up because the Independence Day fashion show had broken sales records.

She then received a message from Jonest's design department. "Conference room meeting in ten minutes."

Jessica broke into a run toward the company.

…

Jessica ran into her best friend, Lilian Yandel, in the elevator.

"Jess, I thought you hated business suits. What's with the skirt suit today?" Lilian, a fellow designer, gave her a quick once-over.

Jessica had never liked formal office attire. She played it cool and gently tugged at her outfit. "If I want my work to stand out, I had better show the goods up front."

Lilian snorted, glanced at Jessica's chest, and smacked her rear. "Whoever marries you is one lucky guy!"

"Ouch! That hurts!" Jessica cursed inwardly. Clenching her jaw, she didn't make a single sound.

The elevator doors were about to slide shut when a hand slipped in and stopped them. Joshua stepped aside to let Zachary, who was dressed head-to-toe in a sleek black bespoke suit, in. Jessica and Lilian hurriedly made room for them.

Jessica gulped hard. Zachary was now standing next to her, while Lilian stood in front of her.

She didn't dare to look at him. She wasn't sure if it was the cramped space or his commanding presence, but she suddenly found it hard to breathe. Color crept from the base of her ears to her cheeks.

They were close enough to touch, yet she didn't dare put some distance between them. She caught the subtle scent of sandalwood clinging to him—the same as last night—and it smelled so good…

Jessica bit her lip, forcing herself to stay calm and push last night from her mind.

At long last, the elevator stopped on the 28th floor, home to the design department, and Jessica and Lilian dashed out.

"Jesus, that was so scary!" Lilian remarked, clutching her chest. "After dinner last night, I saw a woman in Mr. Jones' car. I'm telling you, she had her arms around his neck and was kissing him fervently! And he didn't push her away!

"Do you think our celibate boss finally caved?"

Jessica's face flushed crimson. In the past, she was all ears for gossip, but now that it involved her, she was at a loss for words. "Is that so?"

"I texted Joshua for details, but his lips were sealed; he wouldn't spill a thing!" Lillian grumbled as she clipped on her badge and tidied her notebook.

…

Ten minutes later, the team gathered in the conference room. The turnout was low because many people were on vacation. The meeting was intended to close out the recent show.

Eric Jakerman, the design department's golden boy, kicked things off. He seemed confident and satisfied with how the event had gone. Word was that he had taken home the fattest bonus. For some reason, Jessica felt that the meeting was just his way of getting everyone to butter him up.

In the end, his gaze landed on Jessica. "And of course, we have to thank Ms. Lockman. Her designs dominated this year's collection and topped the sales charts!"

Jessica plastered a smile on her face. After hearing the same thing all night yesterday, she had no desire to sit through another round of it.

Eric was undeniably talented. Thanks to his sunny, free-spirited nature, he could handle things effortlessly, and everyone enjoyed working with him. Jessica, however, didn't like him because he had a habit of dropping hints that he liked her, as though he were waiting for her to fall under his spell.

The meeting wound down soon after.

Just then, Joshua knocked on the conference room door. "Mr. Jones would like to see you in his office, Ms. Lockman."

Silence fell over the room. Jessica, who had been dozing off in her chair, instantly felt dozens of eyes on her.

The CEO's office was on the 30th floor. It was a level so exclusive that few employees had ever set foot there. Meetings were usually held on the 29th floor. The top floor was shrouded in mystery. It was a place everyone referred to as The Inferno.

Rumor had it that a director had walked out of the CEO's office with a dislocated arm. The CEO's previous assistant had left with a broken leg and was carried out on a stretcher. That was the reason Joshua, who was so young, wound up in that position.

"Any idea what this is about, Mr. Smith?" Eric immediately came to her defense.

All eyes locked on Joshua. Even though everyone knew he was unlikely to share anything, they still searched his eyes for answers.

"I have no idea." Joshua was as tight-lipped as ever. It was impossible to get anything out of him.

"Alright." Jessica's cheeks were rosy all morning, and she couldn't stop picturing how untamed Zachary had been the night before.

"Ms. Lockman, you don't look too good. Your face has been flushed all morning. Would you like to take the day off?" Eric was always this considerate with all his subordinates, so nobody thought anything of it.

"I'm okay. I'll be right back. If I don't make it back, consider the sketches in my office as my parting gift." Jessica let out a sigh, gathered her meeting notes, and walked out of the conference room.

She followed Joshua into the elevator. One couldn't reach the 30th floor without facial recognition or an access key card, so almost no one ever made it up there. Joshua scanned his face, and the elevator began its slow climb.

"Since it's just us, can you at least tell me why he wants to see me?" she inquired, puzzled.

"He didn't say, but he seemed to be in a pretty good mood."

Jessica sneered inwardly, thinking that it was expected. After last night, how could he not be?

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.

Chapter 4

By the time work ended that afternoon, the office was almost empty. Jessica stood by the window, watching Derrick wait downstairs with a bouquet of flowers, and she couldn't help but find it laughable.

Derrick was a deputy director in City Hall on paper—a position his father had secured for him through connections. His father was the owner of Avelridge's largest car dealership, and he had always disapproved of Jessica's relationship with Derrick. He much preferred Celine's family background.

Because of that, Celine was determined to win Derrick over. However, since Derrick was still dating Jessica, the two of them could only see each other in secret.

Jessica stood in the elevator lobby, earbuds in, chatting with Derrick as she scrolled through a webcomic on her digital tablet. She replied in a syrupy sweet voice, "Yes, darling. Go ahead without me. I'll be there soon. Don't worry, I'll arrive on time!"

She didn't realize that the elevator doors had been open the whole time. Joshua was holding them with his hand, keeping them from closing. Her deliberately coy demeanor drew the faintest smile from Zachary inside the elevator. Joshua suppressed his laughter, turning his head away.

"Mhm, you know how it is. Our boss is such a vampire—" Jessica was about to continue when she absentmindedly looked up and found herself face-to-face with Zachary's dark, stormy expression and Joshua's "You're so doomed" look.

Startled, she hung up on Derrick right away. "Mr. Jones…"

"Mhm." For some reason, she could've sworn she caught the faintest curl of a smile on Zachary's lips.

"Get in!" Joshua shot her a pointed look. Jessica forced a smile before she stepped inside and took her place against the elevator wall.

In an instant, an awkward silence settled over the three of them. This showed just how much damage a single remark could do.

Zachary inquired, "Are you heading out on a date, Ms. Lockman?"

"No, I'm just helping a friend dig his own grave," she blurted.

"Do you need a hand?" He didn't seem surprised by her response.

"Not at the moment." Jessica managed a weak smile.

Joshua caught on. After all, Derrick and Jessica's relationship wasn't exactly a secret among the three of them.

Just then, the elevator reached the 18th floor, where the PR department was located, and seven or eight people piled in. Joshua and Jessica hurriedly stepped back.

"Good evening, Mr. Jones!" The group greeted Zachary, unbothered by the cramped space.

Zachary merely nodded at them.

The employees in the PR department were outgoing, laughing, and joking all day. Even while they were squeezed together in an elevator, they could still strike up a lively conversation.

"Move over. It's so cramped here," someone said as the elevator became crowded.

Out of nowhere, firm hands tightened around Jessica's waist. Warmth seeped through her thin blouse as she was drawn against Zachary. Her powdered cheek grazed his black suit, leaving a faint pale streak.

He released her almost immediately. In the blink of an eye, her face burned as though she had been sitting next to a roaring oven.

When the elevator reached the first floor, the PR staff members streamed out. Jessica could still hear their gossip in the distance.

"Did you see the hickey on Mr. Jones' neck?"

"I heard he had breakfast with someone this morning. I have no idea who, but judging from that hickey, it has got to be a woman!"

"The PR department sure lived up to its name," Jessica brooded. She was about to follow them out when she spotted Derrick waiting at the entrance, so she hurriedly shrank back.

Zachary glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

"Aren't you getting off?" Joshua asked, smiling. Jessica was certain that he knew something.

If she went out, she would have to face that scumbag. But if she didn't, she didn't know what else she was supposed to do. Was she supposed to leave with them?

She had arrived at work in Zachary's car that morning. She couldn't exactly leave with him again.

"I forgot something upstairs. Go ahead without me. I'll head back up later." Jessica casually made up an excuse.

Even the short ride down to the basement parking garage stretched on forever, like a blade pressed to her neck, ready to end her at any moment. At long last, the elevator reached the basement, and Zachary and Joshua stepped out.

Jessica couldn't leave even if she wanted to. So, she went back to her desk to work on her sketches.

…

Jessica let out a breath of relief when she reached the 28th floor. She returned to the window ledge, gazing at the sea of lights across the city. Then, she settled back at her desk, played some music, and started sketching.

She lost track of time until Derrick called again. Ignoring it, she powered off her phone, brewed herself a cup of coffee in the break room, and returned to her work.

"Let's see how long you can keep up your double life," she mused.

At 10:30 pm, she pressed her lips together and looked over her sketch, feeling quite pleased with it. She shut down her computer and stretched. Then, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed toward the elevator.

"What's going on?" Both elevator lights were off.

Jessica checked her phone and saw a group message. The elevators wouldn't be back in service until 8:00 am the next day, which meant that she would have to walk down 28 floors.

Jessica snapped a photo of the elevator with her phone and posted it on her Reels, accompanied by the caption: "I'm trapped. Can anyone come and save me?"

Then, she dragged herself toward the dark, echoing emergency stairwell. With a weary sigh, she mustered up all her courage and began her descent.

Jessica had only gone down two steps when her phone rang. Startled, she let out a shrill scream and dropped her phone before she even saw who was calling. It clattered down into the stairwell.

The ringtone reverberated through the stairwell and then abruptly died. In the blink of an eye, darkness closed in on her, leaving only the faint sound of her breathing.

Jessica felt her way around until she found her phone, but the screen was dead. She figured that it was probably broken. She couldn't believe her luck and wondered if the night could get any worse.

She pressed and held the phone’s power button, hoping against hope that it would restart. However, her phone never lit up. The motion-sensor light overhead flickered on instead.

Then came the sound of measured footsteps.

The echo of leather soles carried down the stairs, mingled with a whisper of breath.

"W-Who's there?" Jessica backed into the corner, a clammy sheen of sweat streaking her forehead.

As soon as her words fell, a tall figure appeared on the landing. Backlit by the dull lighting, he was nothing more than an expressionless silhouette.

"It's me, your vampire boss."

Jessica recognized Zachary's voice. "Mr. Jones, what are you doing here?" she asked shakily, still reeling from the shock.

"Vampires usually hunt at night, don't they?"

She could almost picture the teasing smile on his face. She was speechless, thinking to herself that he sure was petty.

Nevertheless, relief washed over her. At least it wasn't some creep, though he wasn't exactly a good guy either.

"Come with me," he ordered.

"I'm going home." All of a sudden, the man in front of her felt more terrifying than any situation she had ever been in.

Zachary let out a soft sigh. "The first floor is locked. You won't be able to leave."

He paused before adding, "It'll probably be an hour or two before the elevator's repaired. If you don't mind, join me upstairs for a cup of coffee."

She really didn't want to, but what other choice did she have? Without waiting for her response, Zachary started up the stairs.

Jessica looked at the pitch-black drop below and decided to follow him up. Even the fire exit on the 30th floor was secured with an access lock.

Chapter 5

This was Jessica's second time in the CEO's office.

The place was spacious and sleek. Aside from a massive desk, there was a full couch set and a private corner for brewing coffee.

"If you're tired, you can take a nap inside." Zachary walked toward his desk, tilting his chin in a particular direction.

Jessica looked in the direction he indicated. The adjoining room beside his desk felt homey, nothing like the place she had seen last night. She caught herself, wondering where her mind had wandered at that moment.

"I'll stay out here on the couch," she said, taking a step back.

"Suit yourself." Zachary returned to his desk, sat down, and began working.

Instead of going into the adjoining room, she chose to sit on the couch and wait. At some point, she dozed off on the couch, worn out from the night before.

Zachary kept working at his desk, reviewing files and paperwork, like he had endless stamina. They did the same thing last night, and he did most of the work—so how was he still full of energy?

When she awoke, it was already 1:00 am. Zachary stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the city lights below.

It was obvious that he worked out regularly. His shoulders were broad, his waist trim, and veins stood out on his arms where his sleeves were casually rolled up.

Jessica massaged her stiff neck and let out soft, pained whimpers. The black suit jacket draped over her slipped off when she sat up.

"Aren't you going to get some rest?" She assumed that he would go to the adjoining room once he finished his work.

"The elevator's fixed."

"Oh."

"I'll give you a lift." He slowly turned around.

"That won't be necessary. I'll hail a cab downstairs." Jessica picked up her bag.

Zachary took his coat and followed her closely from behind.

She felt a little uneasy, thinking that he was like a shadow she couldn't shake.

Jessica headed outside, but before she could leave the parking lot, a car horn blared behind her. She stepped aside, yet the black car continued to honk at her. So, she turned to look.

"Get in." The man's voice was low and magnetic. Behind his frameless glasses, his deep, dark eyes held a chill that made her skin prickle.

Clutching her bag, she hesitated for a moment before hopping into his car.

Just then, a BMW 290 with a license plate swerved sharply and sped out of the underground parking lot, its tires screeching through the quiet. Both of them looked over and watched as the car disappeared into the garage.

Jessica snapped back to her senses and hurriedly tugged at her skirt, which kept riding up nearly to the top of her thighs. She wondered who he had trusted to buy this outfit—it felt ill-fitting.

When she shifted slightly, a button at her chest popped off, revealing the love bites Zachary had left on her the night before. Zachary glanced at it before averting his gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing with a quiet gulp.

Jessica hurriedly covered her chest, her face turning as red as a tomato. She didn't dare move anymore. She wished she could shed a few more pounds and be plain and flat like other girls…

Zachary reached into the back seat, took a black suit jacket, and tossed it to her. Jessica caught on to his intentions and slipped it on.

He made a quick stop at a corner shop on the way and bought a flan. Its scent was faint, but she recognized it right away because it was her favorite dessert.

She figured that it must be for a woman at his place, but to her surprise, he handed it straight to her when he returned to his car. "Here," he said apathetically.

Jessica accepted it. "Thank you."

Flan was made from milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla, topped with caramel sauce. Jessica bought one every time she went shopping.

The shop was open until 3:00 am and still had people lining up. She wondered how he knew about this.

Her rental apartment at Edelwise Residences was close to the company.

It was already late at night. Zachary parked beneath her building and watched as she walked into the elevator.

He tilted his head back. In less than a minute, the lights on the 16th floor came on. Then, he started his engine and drove back to his company.

…

When Jessica stepped out of the elevator, she found a bouquet of yellow tulips and a cup of coffee that had already gone cold on the floor. The scene looked more like something from a funeral.

Just then, she remembered a saying about how trash belonged in the trash can.

Her brows knitted. She picked up the coffee and tossed it into the nearby bin. Then she looked back at the tulips, clenched her fists, lifted her black high heel, and kicked the bouquet toward the trash can.

Jessica unlocked her apartment door with her fingerprint and stepped into the tiny home she had missed so much. She took off the oversized coat, slipped into her house slippers, and went into the bathroom.

After a long soak, she emerged, feeling light and refreshed. It was already 2:00 am.

Jessica powered her phone back on. Fortunately, it was fine.

As soon as it powered on, it chimed nonstop as dozens of messages flooded in. Without checking a single one, she marked them all as read and left them unanswered. But…

Derrick: "I called and texted, but you didn't answer. I was so worried about you! I picked these flowers this morning. I hope you like them."

After all these years, he was still as romantic as ever. However, his overflowing affection could easily sweep someone off their feet and keep them hooked. He was always ready to "serve" women for free.

Jessica might have come from a single-parent household, but her mother had strong principles. Under her mother's influence, she practiced self-restraint and propriety. Even though she and Derrick were already at the point of discussing marriage, they had never gone further than holding hands.

On Independence Day, after the fashion show had ended, she had spotted Derrick, who had hardly ever gone shopping. Jessica had long been aware of his affair with Celine, yet the moment she actually saw them on the street, wrapped up in each other, it still felt like she was swallowing a thousand needles.

Zachary and Joshua had also happened to see it. They had noticed her strained expression and later discussed it, which eventually led to her overexertion at the celebration dinner.

Before she knew it, she had tapped into Zachary's profile on Facebook. She stared at his profile for a long while before looking at the suit jacket and flan beside her, remembering the outrageous question he had asked her that day. "Do you want to be Mrs. Jones?"

Her mind went black. No matter how lonely she felt, she didn't think she could be that desperate. He was a CEO, after all. How could he possibly fall for a regular employee like her?

He wasn't some charity worker. How could he have zeroed in on her so precisely? She thought that he must be blind.

Jessica checked her feed again and noticed that her last post had blown up. Everyone was amazed to learn that she had worked overtime at the office.

Then, she spotted a familiar profile picture. It seemed that Zachary had liked her post.

Jessica wondered if he had come downstairs to find her because he had seen her post. However, she believed that it was impossible.

She quietly set her phone aside, cracked open the flan, and took a spoonful, savoring its wonderful sweetness.