Chapter 1:Who Slept with the Boss?

My head was spinning from the alcohol, my vision slightly blurred as I snuggled into what seemed to be a warm chest, hands still entwined with Aiden’s. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was lucid enough to sense that the setting wasn’t right, but I was too blissed out by the feel of his warm, large palm enveloping my delicate hand and far too aroused by the intoxicating combination of bergamot, Sichuan pepper, and Ambroxan rushing into my nostrils for my last bit of reasoning to work. This was the same Aiden I had come to loathe with a passion, the very one I would give anything to strangle, but now all I wanted to do was lay in his arms and allow him to do as he pleases.

That's if that included getting fucked.

When I kissed the back of his hand as he took mine, I hadn’t meant anything by it; I was just showing my gratitude for showering me with warmth. My drunken mind didn’t think for a moment that the one innocent gesture would wake up the crouching tiger, nearly sending me over the urge with the lustrous look cast my way. The more I looked into his eyes, the more delirious with heat I felt. All I know is I wanted to get closer, and closer I did until I wasn't sure anymore how our lips met.

Aiden’s hand found the nape of my neck, gripping it firmly yet gently. His thumb caressed my skin in soothing circles, making me shudder in anticipation. He pulled me closer, his lips brushing against mine softly, asking for permission. I granted it eagerly, opening my mouth to let his tongue in.

The kiss deepened, our tongues dancing together in a sensual rhythm. His free hand wandered down my body, tracing the curve of my waist before settling on my hip. He squeezed it lightly, pulling me closer until I could feel his hard length pressing against my stomach.

I moaned into the kiss, my hands finding their way to his chest. I could feel his heart pounding wildly under my fingertips, matching the rhythm of my own. I let my fingers wander up, tracing the lines of his muscular shoulders before tangling them in his hair.

He growled low in his throat, the sound sending shivers down my spine. He pushed me against the nearest surface, his hands roaming my body possessively. I could feel the heat radiating from him, making my core clench with need.

“Aiden…” I breathed, breaking the kiss. My voice was husky, laced with desire.

“Yes?” His voice was strained, betraying the control he was trying to maintain.

“I want you…”

That was all it took for him to lose control. His lips crashed onto mine again, his hands tearing at my clothes, teeth grazing dangerously at my neck yet not biting. I was sure I would go crazy from pleasure. I had always prided myself as a reserved woman, but how did I get so wanton in bed? But I couldn’t care less. It might be the alcohol, but I needed him in me, and fast.

In a momentary show of strength driven by want, I flipped Aiden, now on top of him. Feeling the monstrous cock slap my abdomen, instead of panic, I felt even more aroused, so wet that I had the illusion I was peeing. Aiden stared up at me in awe, his brown pupils blown so wide that they seemed golden. Seeing the pure arousal in his eyes, I couldn’t help but whine. Then without warning, I shoved the monstrous cock inside me.

Aiden’s back arched off the ground as I sheathed him to the hilt in one swift motion. I could feel every inch of him, stretching me wide, filling me up in the most delicious way possible. I started to move, grinding my hips against him, eliciting a deep groan from his throat. He reached up, cupping my breasts roughly, pinching my nipples between his fingers. I threw my head back, moaning in pleasure as he rolled my nipples between his fingers, sending sparks of pleasure straight to my core.

I started to ride him harder, my hips moving in a steady rhythm as I chased my release. Aiden’s hands roamed my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. He reached down, pressing his thumb against my clit, rubbing it in slow circles. I cried out, my orgasm barreling down on me with the force of a freight train. I collapsed on top of him, panting as I rode out the aftershocks of my release.

Aiden wasn’t done with me yet. He flipped me over, pinning me to the ground as he thrust into me with wild abandon.

_____________

My eyes opened to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the tent's fabric. My head throbbed, and I winced, trying to piece together the blurry fragments of last night. As I stretched, my hand brushed against something warm and solid. My eyes widened in horror as I turned my head to see Aiden Katz, my boss, lying next to me.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I thought, my mind racing. "Of all the tents in this forest, I had to stumble into his."

My initial annoyance was quickly eclipsed by a surge of sheer panic as I felt fluids trickling down my legs. The realization hit me like a thunderbolt: I had slept with my boss. The horror of that fact alone was paralyzing, but what made it even worse was that he was the last man I would ever choose to be with. Yet somehow, in a moment of lost control… forget it.

A maelstrom of emotions churned inside me. Physical discomfort merged with emotional turmoil—confusion, anger, and most overwhelmingly, panic. But one thing was clear—I mustn’t get caught, or I’ll lose my job. All other things were secondary.

When Aiden stirred, I froze, holding my breath. Seeing that he was still asleep, I quietly zipped up my pants and grabbed my remaining belongings. I couldn't find my other shoe, but escaping without it seemed the lesser evil compared to being caught in his tent.

Without another glance, I slipped out of the tent, my face burning with embarrassment. I just hoped no one saw me make my less-than-graceful exit.

Moving from Aiden's tent to my shared one with Daisy was a nerve-wracking ordeal. I had to duck at the slightest rustle, my heart pounding with each imagined footstep. By the time I reached my own tent, I looked even worse than I had when I left Aiden’s. But stepping inside didn’t bring the relief I had hoped for; instead, I was met with the sight of Daisy’s tired, worried eyes. It was clear my friend had spent the night anxiously awaiting my return, if not frantically searching for me.

"Morning, Claire," Daisy said, raising an eyebrow. “You look like you had quite a night. Where’d you disappear to?”

"I, uh, got lost on my way back from the restroom," I lied, trying to sound casual. "Ended up wandering around for a bit. You know me and my terrible sense of direction."

Daisy didn't look convinced, but she didn't press the issue. "Fine, if you say so. But seriously, you look drained... You… are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, just a bit of a rough night," I admitted, rubbing my temples. “I need coffee. Lots of it.”

I sat down on my sleeping bag after changing into comfy clothes and hiding my shoes, my head still pounding. Daisy had gone off to get coffee, leaving me with a moment to process everything. I leaned back against the tent wall and closed my eyes, trying to piece together last night.

Our company had planned this camping trip to help us relax and bond outside the office.I had been looking forward to it, but not because I wanted to bond with my colleagues. I needed a break from the stress of work and my personal life, especially with my father's illness weighing heavily on me.

Last night, I had let loose a little too much. The alcohol had flowed freely, and I had indulged more than I usually did. I remembered laughing at some silly joke Taylor had made and then deciding to head back to my tent to sleep it off. But somewhere along the way, I must have taken a wrong turn because I ended up in Aiden's tent.

I remembered seeing Aiden sitting there, looking more vulnerable than I'd ever seen him. He had been drinking too, and his usual serious look was softened by the alcohol. He looked up at me, his eyes full of sadness and frustration.

"Claire?" he said gently. "What are you doing here?"

I was too tipsy to answer properly. Instead, I sat down next to him, my head spinning. "I don't know," I mumbled. "Just needed a place to crash."

Aiden sighed and took my hand, which surprised me. I stared at our hands, my mind foggy, but I was aware that this was a different side of him. Maybe it was the alcohol or the moment, but I leaned in and kissed his hand.

I couldn't quite remember much of the contents, but we seemed to have had a long conversation after that kiss. And then, somehow, I was in Aiden's arms. Then… then what happened?

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "What have I done?" I thought, the reality hitting me like a freight train. I had slept with my boss, the man I had seen as my enemy for so long.

Reflecting on our history, I couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment. My life had been on a smooth path before Aiden had come along. With my stellar grades and looks, I had been on track to achieve everything I wanted. But Aiden had swooped in, effortlessly stealing opportunities and accolades that I had worked so hard for. He excelled in every area, making me feel like I was always one step behind, no matter how hard I tried. The constant feeling of inadequacy had filled me with frustration and anger, and over time, that I'm slightly displacing my hate onto him.

A hatred that was ironically one-sided.

Rationally, I knew Aiden hadn't done anything wrong. He was just better, plain and simple. But that didn't make it any easier to swallow. Now, to have this happen—it was like the universe was playing some cruel joke on me.

My thoughts were interrupted by Daisy's return. She handed me a steaming cup of coffee, her eyes full of concern. "You sure you're okay?" she asked again.

I took a sip of the coffee, the warmth helping to ground me. "Yeah, just... dealing with a lot," I said, my voice a little steadier now.

Before Daisy could probe further, a call went out from the main campsite. Everyone was being summoned for a picnic. Daisy and I exchanged looks, and I forced a smile. "Let's go," I said, trying to muster some enthusiasm.

As we headed to the picnic area, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw it was my mother calling again. My stomach twisted as I answered, knowing what the conversation would be about.

"Claire, have you thought about meeting the man we arranged for you?" my mother asked, her tone insistent.

"Mom, I told you, I'm not interested," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I don't want an arranged marriage."

"Claire, you need to think about your future," she argued. "This man is a good match for you."

"Mom, please," I said, frustration creeping into my voice. "I have enough on my plate right now. I'll handle my own love life, okay?"

She sighed, clearly unhappy but not willing to push further for now. "Fine, but don't wait too long. We're only trying to help."

I ended the call, feeling a fresh wave of irritation and hurt. It seemed like my parents were determined to control every aspect of my life, even when I was already overwhelmed with my own problems.

As I reached the picnic area, a commotion drew my attention. I saw Aiden emerging from his tent, looking remarkably composed for someone who had been as drunk as I was the night before. He greeted the group, asking how everyone slept.

"Great," "Fine," "Slept well," came the chorus of responses.

Aiden's gaze shifted to his assistant, Ethan Brooks, who stepped forward and addressed the group. "Did anyone happen to be in Mr. Katz's tent last night?" he asked, his tone professional but curious.

My heart skipped a beat, anxiety spiked. I kept my head down, hoping to avoid drawing any attention to myself. The group collectively shook their heads, murmuring their confusion. Then before anyone could spot me, I rushed back into my tent.

Aiden held up a high heel, my missing shoe, and asked, "Does this belong to anyone here?"

Everyone shook their heads again, claiming they had never seen it before. Aiden's expression didn't change, but a keen eye could sense his determination.

Aiden stared hard at the group and then said, his voice carrying authority, "Whoever finds the owner of this shoe will receive a prize of $100,000."

Taylor stared fixedly at the shoe, as if trying to decide something. So she wasn't hallucinating when she saw that figure rush past her in the morning?

While Taylor was lost in thought, Ethan was already doing a head count. When he got to the end, he paused and looked around.

“Where's Claire Madden?”