My CEO, My Temptation

Jessica

When Troy died in jail, I thought all of my troubles would be gone but turns out I was in for a more dreadful one.

It has been months since the company was struggling, I have been working all day and night but the impact seemed very little. Every month I kept on firing people and did more budget cuts just to keep the company afloat.

"Jessica, you should consider their offer. We can't keep on firing our employees," my assistant Kayleigh has been pushing me again with the new contract from the Richardson worldwide enterprise.

But I just look at her and keep on scrolling on the Excel sheets trying to find ways to minimize our cost. Though I understand cutting costs is just a temporary solution, in my mind, I was already considering signing their contract.

"Look, Aaron is here I think he's trying to get back to you..."

I sighed knowing I don't have time for him, he had been there for me. We were close, he tried to get closer but I just can't.

Not after Troy.

Not after my brother abused and molested me.

"Tell him I'm in a meeting. I can't Kayleigh, he's better off without me."

I'm such a baggage.

"Jess, you worked too much. Maybe he can lighten up your mood?"

"Kay, please?"

She sighed and shook her head but walked out of my office to let Aaron know that I was not available for a meet.

I was just about to sit when my phone buzzed with an incoming call from our finance department.

I took a deep breath before taking his call.

"Good evening Jessica, it's regarding the outstanding payments. We need to discuss how to handle..." his voice sounded distant while my mind was busy elsewhere and my eyes were looking at my laptop screen.

"Tell them to give us another month."

"But..."

"We'll get it done, I just need to make the call. Look, Lewis go home. It's late... I'll take care of it." I cut his words and hang up on him after he was satisfied with my answer.

An hour later I was trying to calm my nerves since their CEO decided to meet after I said there were some clauses that needed further discussion upon signing their contract.

I still couldn't believe that after months of struggling I finally gave up and decided to sell my parent's only legacy.

My eyes were already teary when I poured the strongest malt and drink it slowly. I was savoring the burn, trying to numb the pain while thinking about more than a dozen problems that needed to be solved weeks ago.

"Dad, how do we even get to this point?" I asked, talking to myself while looking at mom and dad's picture mounted on the wall. I have never felt so useless before, the tears were tracing down my cheeks when I heard his annoying voice.

"You should stop with the drinking, and start with the working."

I quickly wiped my tears before turning to face him, I could see a glint of surprise in his gaze and I hated that he saw the fragile side of me.

"Please take a seat, I'll be with you in a moment." I excused myself to go to the restroom and gather my mind before talking to him about signing over my family's company to his.

"Jess! is that him? he's so hot!" Kayleigh stormed into the bathroom where I decided to wash my face from my tears.

Yes, with the budget cost, we have sold our spacious office space and rent out a smaller working area where I don't even have the privacy of a private toilet.

"You know it's him, his pompous face is all over the business magazines, you can find him easily on the internet." I rolled my eyes at her.

I love Kayleigh but some days you just needed a break from her, though lucky me she's very hard-working and latched onto me every single day. She even calls to check up on me when I worked on the weekends.

"Okay, forget about Aaron maybe you should be with him." She giggled and stared at the ceiling dreamily.

"Kay, please..."

"I'm sorry," she finally looked at my face and decided to back down on her words.

"...look...I'm going back, is there anything else that I can do for you?"

"Yeah, could you order me a sandwich? I have a few things I need to sort out before tomorrow's meeting with our lawyers."

"Oh wait, is that why he's here? are we finally doing this?"

I didn't say anything back and she gave me her warmest hug.

"You can do this Jess, things will be better."

I nodded and she hugged me one last time before she leaves me be. It took me another five minutes to get back to my small office.

"Mr. Richardson, thank you for waiting," I greeted him as I joined him back in my office.

"Please that's my dad's, call me Tyler."

"Jessica," I greeted him with a handshake then continue walking back to my chair.

"You have a lot of books." The man looks at me while he watches his surroundings, probably judging my workspace.

"I need to catch up on my business skill, operational-wise." I shrugged and started opening the documents that his lawyers had sent me earlier.

"I was told that you have some concerns with the documents?"

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to come here."

"I want to settle things quickly, in business, it's all about timing." He looked at me as if I was incompetent in doing my work.

Our conversation was interrupted by Kayleigh who was putting my dinner on the small end table then excusing herself to go home.

"Don't go home too late, and finish your dinner okay?"

"Go home safely." I smiled at my loyal assistant.

"She's not waiting for you?" the cocky CEO of the Richardson enterprise looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

"She's done her job, it's the weekend. She deserves a night off." I smiled looking at her walking to her desk then leave me alone in the office as always.

"And you?"

I shook my head, laughed at his question, and started flipping on the documents to show him my concerns.

"Here, this clause right here...Tyler?"

Sighing softly, I know he was not paying attention as he looked at his watch and see my surroundings once again.

"Come on, let's get you a proper meal."

"Why? I need you to look at your clauses again. I don't have time to go out."

I was actually trying to avoid eating out. It has been months since I told Lewis in finance to reduce my salary to help pay for our expenses. I don't even have maids and drivers anymore, they were also why I've been staying more in my office.

"It's almost eight and you're going to eat a sandwich? no wonder you're so skinny."

"Woah there, I'm agreeing to the buyout. But that doesn't mean you can tell me what to do with my time."

"You sleep here too, didn't you?"

I do since I haven't managed to sell my home and can't afford to rent a place to sleep.

My mind was going back to Troy, home had never been the same since my parents died. Then Troy was making things worse, and the nightmares never stop from there.

"As I said, I need to catch up on my skill. But I will not do it again if you prefer your employee to go home after office hours."

He was looking at me as if I was crazy.

"We will talk about clauses tomorrow with the lawyers, we're not settling anything with your condition."

"What do you mean by my condition? I'm perfectly fine!"

I couldn't believe he had the audacity to tell me that I have a condition.

"Okay then, we will have a proper business dinner. Bring the documents."

His words were short and straight to the point. I was taken back but trying to appear strong. It has been a while since someone speaks to me in such a manner.

"Jessica?"

"Yeah...sorry, okay. I'll bring the documents."

"Good, I'll wait outside." He gets up and I was amazed by his height and broad shoulder. And that's when I suddenly stepped back feeling claustrophobic by his presence. He must've known my change of attitude when he tries to reach out to me.

"I'm fine! just give me time." I snapped at him like a madwoman, while I shivered to the flashback of Troy who would tower over me and start beating me unconscious.

"Hey, I'm sorry." He said when he suddenly grabbed me as my feet were giving up on me.

"Come on I'm taking you home."

"No!"

Shit! keep yourself together woman. You do not want to ruin the deal. He's your last chance.

"I'm sorry, look...can we just order in? I really need to get things done tonight."

"You almost collapse, I'm not leaving you here alone."

I finally relent and told him that he can take me home.