Page 79 of Assistant to the Billionaire CEO

ACE

There were three fucking things I hated more than anything else in this world: piss-warm beer, dishonesty, and meetings being canceled at the last minute. Especially if I had to drive halfway across town before finding out through a fucking automated message that the meeting was “delayed until further notice.” I was in a foul mood as I drove back to the office, and I decided the next meeting would take place at Windsor’s—or nowhere—as I pulled into my designated parking spot.

The parking area revealed empty spots nearly everywhere. Everyone had gone home already.

It was just a short walk from my blue Aventador to one of the elevators that would whisk me up to the top floor—and at this time of day, luckily without interruptions. I gnashed my teeth the whole ride up, still infuriated.

Animated entirely by my frustration, I promptly stormed down the hallway toward my office. I couldn’t wait to throw myself down onto my office chair and make the phone call I’d been itching to all day.

My office door’s ornate knob felt familiar in the palm of my hand, and yet something was amiss. Something didn’t feel right. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I had a sixth sense, but I’d always had a talent for sensing trouble.

I pushed open my office door, more carefully than usual.

Stella was bent down at my desk. Her sunflower dress stood out like a sore thumb and gave her away immediately. The skirt was lifted up, exposing her pale bare ass. The first thing that went through my mind was, “She’s here to surprise me.” My cock twitched.

“Stella?” I asked loudly, announcing my presence while turning on the lights with aclick.

She whipped her hand away from my desk drawers and shot upright. Beads of sweat were running down her forehead, and I could see her gasping for breath. She looked terrified, perplexed, and out of place.

“What are you doing here?!” she squeaked, her eyes widening.

“Well, this is my office,” I said, trying to grasp the situation, flashes of déjà vu rushing through my head. “What areyoudoing here?”

“I-I-I…”

“I saw you pull your hand away from my drawer. Were you going through my things?”

“I…just held onto your desk for balance,” she said, biting her lip. “I mean…well, funny story…I lost my contacts, and I was looking for them on the floor. I swear!”

“You’re a shitty liar,” I replied, still reeling to understand what was going on here. “You couldn’t lie if your life depended on it. For the last time. Were you going through my things? What the fuck are you looking for? Are you selling information to one of my competitors?”

“I’dneverdo that.” Tears were now flowing freely from her eyes, leaving dark trails on her cheeks and chin.

“Just admit it,” I barked. “You don’t need to try to fool anyone. Tell me the fucking truth!”

“I didn’t look inside. I just tried tocloseyour drawer.”

“In the fucking dark? Are you a rat?”

“What?” She clasped her hands together and held them against her chest. “No! You know me, Ace. You know I wouldn’t do something like that.”

Past events rushed into my mind. The copy room incident. The crumpled-up paper in her hands. Her request to Winifred. Now this? It all made sense now. “Apparently, I don’t know you as well as I thought I did. I thought I could trust you, and clearly that’s not the case.”

“No, pleas—”

“I suppose you reallydiddig out that piece of paper I threw away in the copy room?” I stated coldly. “Get out of my office.Now.”

“Wait, wait,” she pleaded. I could see her trembling. “Yes, I did, but I can explain.” She gulped, her face pale like paper, squirming painfully.

I was silent. Not because I had nothing to say—I did, and a lot—but because I wanted to give her a chance to come out with the truth.

After an eternity, she straightened her shoulders, put her hands on the table, and looked into my eyes. “It was Damon’s idea,” she said quietly. “He asked me to find out if you were working with Edmund Ecclestone. He meant no harm.”

What?

Damon?

“Heput you up to this?” I stared at Stella intently, waiting for a reply. I couldn’t fucking believe it, although it was clear to me why that bastard had sent his own sister after me.

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