Chapter Fourteen

The following day, the sun had barely risen when Stella finished her breakfast: spaghetti twirled around her fork, washed down with the familiar warmth of her favourite bamboo tea. Her usual routine made her feel calm, but as she put on a blouse and a skirt, she felt a familiar knot of nervousness in her stomach. Work was calling, and with it, the world she had built with Peter—a world she couldn't escape, no matter how hard she tried. Even though she was still angry with him, she knew she and Peter would always end up crossing paths.

Her heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor as she entered Mars Corporation building. The low hum of conversations in the lobby quieted as she passed a group of employees gathered near the elevator. Their eyes flicked towards her, heads slightly inclined, whispering in tones too low to hear but impossible to ignore. Stella didn't break her stride, her chin lifted, posture rigid. The weight of their stares pressed on her back, but she refused to let it show. She was the type of woman who would never allow anything to pull her down; gossip was nothing.

She knew what they were thinking. What's it like being the CEO's personal secretary? Why was she chosen? Are they lovers? Did the CEO pick her because of her looks? Of course, she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, so it couldn't be her appearance. He must have chosen her because she's good in bed, they likely thought. After all, the CEO was known for being cold and aloof, never giving any woman a second glance. Choosing someone like Stella only meant two things in their eyes: she was either his lover, or she was exceptional in bed.

But Stella didn't care. Let them whisper, let them assume. She knew who she was and why she was there; she had earned her place through hard work and competence. Peter had seen that, and while his feelings for her may have complicated things, she was more than qualified for the position. Their petty gossip was as insignificant to her as background noise. She was far above it, and their opinions would never define her.

In the hallway leading to her office, her phone vibrated in her hand. She glanced down. A message from Peter flashed across the screen, making her heart skip a beat.

If one truly loves someone, being just friends is never enough. Every moment spent together leaves one wanting more.

She gasped, gripping the phone tightly. A warm feeling spread in her chest and up to her face. She blinked quickly, her heart racing as the words on the screen became blurry. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She put her hand on her chest, trying to calm the fluttering feeling inside her.

As Stella reached her office door, she instinctively reached for her ID card to swipe it open. But as she approached, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. There was no need to swipe, the door was already unlocked. Pushing it open, her breath stopped. Peter was already there, leaning casually against her desk, arms crossed, his posture as relaxed as ever. His grey Versace suit fit him perfectly, tailored to every sharp line of his body. The Patek Philippe diamond watch on his wrist glinted as he shifted, drawing her gaze before she could stop herself.

'Good morning, Ella,' he greeted, his voice smooth and unreadable. His eyes met hers briefly before he shifted his gaze and leaned casually against the desk.

Stella stood frozen, her hand still on the door handle, her mind racing to process Peter's unexpected presence. She blinked, trying to make sense of his sudden visit. She swallowed hard, attempting to find her voice, but before she could speak, Peter pushed himself off the desk and made his way to the doorway. He paused there, his back turned towards her.

'Stella,' his voice softened, though he didn't look back, 'even if you're not ready to see me as more than your boss, I expect professionalism. That includes attending lunches, meetings, and fulfilling your duties without hesitation. You'll get used to it.' He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes briefly meeting hers. 'Don't let anything interfere with your work.'

And with that, he strode out of the room, leaving her breathless and dazed. Slowly, Stella let go of the door handle and stumbled towards her desk, leaning against its cool edge as she tried to steady herself. What just happened?

She clenched her jaw, her mind swirling. Why does he do this? Why does he make me feel... She squeezed her eyes shut, as if that could banish the thoughts threatening to surface.

When lunchtime rolled around, Stella stayed put in her office. Her stomach grumbled, but the idea of joining Peter or anyone in the cafeteria made her uneasy. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, absently watching a Chinese series on her phone, though the subtitles barely registered. Hunger gnawed at her, but her thoughts were tangled in Peter's message, replaying his words over and over like a broken record.

Her phone buzzed again, this time a message from Magnus, Peter's assistant: Lunch is ready in the lounge.

She sighed, pushing herself up. It wasn't like Peter to take 'no' for an answer, and now she couldn't avoid him. As she stepped into the lounge, the buzz of chatter hit her, newly employed staff gathered around, excitedly digging into trays of food. She paused, scanning the room. Peter had ordered lunch for everyone, not just her. A subtle way of hiding his true intent.

Magnus approached her, holding a tray. 'Sir Peter wanted to make sure you ate,' he said with a polite smile, offering the tray to her.

Stella took it, her fingers brushing the edge of the plate, trying to keep her expression neutral. 'Thank you.'

She found a quiet corner, sitting alone as the lively conversations hummed around her. Each bite of food felt heavy, her thoughts still tangled in Peter's cryptic message. Her gaze drifted across the room, and there he was—Peter, standing by the doorway, watching her. His face gave nothing away, but there was something in his eyes. Was it pride? Longing? She couldn't be sure.

She looked down quickly, her heart racing once again. How am I supposed to keep things professional when he keeps doing this? The distance she had tried so hard to maintain felt like it was crumbling, piece by piece.

By the time she returned to her office, her mind was a storm of confusion. The steady click of her fingers against the keyboard did little to calm the chaos swirling inside her. She typed furiously, as if the speed could drown out the thoughts clamouring for attention. But it wasn't work that kept her on edge. It was him.

The knock on her door startled her, pulling her from her thoughts. Peter stepped inside, his expression calm but his eyes intense.

'Ella, I need you to join me for the next meeting,' he said. 'We're discussing the expansion into new markets, and I want your input on the presentations.'

Her heart skipped a beat at the way he said her name. He only called her that when they were alone. She nodded, gathering her notes, though her fingers trembled slightly as she stood. How long can I pretend this doesn't matter?

As they walked to the conference room, Peter's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his jaw tightening for a moment before his usual composed mask slid back into place.

'What's wrong?' Stella blurted out, surprised at her own boldness.

Peter stopped, turning to her with a faint smile. 'Nothing to worry about. Just a small issue at one of our international offices.'

They entered the conference room, and Peter slipped seamlessly into his role as CEO, leading the meeting with his usual confidence and precision. Stella sat beside him, focused on the presentation, but every now and then, their eyes would meet, and an unspoken tension would pass between them. It felt like the line between them blurred more with each passing moment.

When the meeting finally ended, Peter turned to her, his gaze lingering. 'You've become indispensable to this company,' he said, his voice low.

Stella swallowed, trying to keep her composure. 'Just doing my job,' she replied, though the words felt hollow.

Peter's eyes searched hers for a moment before he nodded and walked away, leaving her standing there, her mind once again spinning. She returned to her office, sinking into her chair with a deep exhale. She pulled out her phone, reading Peter's earlier message once more.

If one truly loves someone, being just friends is never enough.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her thoughts. She didn't want to admit it, but her feelings for Peter were no longer something she could hide. The more she pushed him away, the more she found herself drawn to him, craving the warmth of his presence, the comfort of his voice. Her body ached to be closer to him, to feel his arms around her in ways she had only imagined, stirring desires she'd never explored before.

Could she really keep pretending their relationship was strictly professional? With each glance and every accidental touch, a jolt ran through her, sparking a fire that she struggled to contain. They had kissed before, more than once, and each kiss had left her breathless, aching for more, but she was still a virgin. Despite that, her imagination ran wild, thinking of what it would be like to go further, to feel his hands tracing her body, his lips on her skin. Her body responded to those thoughts in a way that felt both thrilling and overwhelming, as if every fiber of her being longed to give in.

She imagined resting her head on his chest, hearing the steady beat of his heart, his strong arms pulling her closer. The thought of his breath against her neck, his hands exploring her, made her pulse quicken. It was a desire she had never fully understood until now, and it terrified her just as much as it excited her.

For how long could she keep her distance when her body yearned for him, even if her mind fought it? She wanted him, not just as her boss, but in a way that was raw, new, and undeniable.

***