The Clothes Haven’t Been Returned Yet
Rachel ran out of the room, her hair flying wildly behind her, gasping for breath by the time she reached the ground floor.
Up on the twenty-third floor, Kellan couldn't help but laugh out loud at how flustered she looked.
He was usually cold and quiet, but seeing her run like that, looking like a mess, was honestly just too funny.
Meanwhile, back in the executive office, the staff were still frozen in shock.
The girl who had just run out had been wearing the CEO's clothes.
Her hair was a mess, and she totally sprinted out like her life depended on it.
Wasn't the CEO supposed to hate women?
On her way back, Rachel couldn't stop feeling this heavy anxiety in her chest.
She still had to return the clothes to that crazy man tomorrow, and even thinking about it made her hands shake a little.
When she had bolted out of the room, the people in the secretary's office had stared at her like she was a ghost.
She knew she'd have to face them all again tomorrow, and she honestly didn't want to.
Still lost in her thoughts, Rachel made it back to the store.
As soon as she stepped inside, Stella was right there, ready to attack her with sarcasm.
Delivering twenty cups of coffee on her own was no joke, Stella had been totally sure Rachel would mess it up.
But when she saw Rachel walk in wearing men's clothes, hair all tangled up, she couldn't stop herself from sneering.
"Oh, look who's back. Did you go hook up with some guy again?" Stella said, rolling her eyes.
Rachel was already sore from carrying all that coffee. And now she had to listen to this?
If it weren't for Stella causing trouble earlier, the manager wouldn't have sent her alone.
And she wouldn't have run into that pervert!
Her hands still hurt, and she really just wanted to go. But she couldn't stop herself from clapping back a little.
"At least I can hook up with someone. You? You only attract gross old men," Rachel shot back calmly.
Stella blinked in shock, then snapped, "That's because you're just a cheap slut."
Rachel didn't bother replying and turned to walk off.
But Stella stepped in front of her and blocked her path, circling her like she was inspecting an animal at the zoo.
She eyed the outfit Rachel had on closely.
Stella wasn't dumb, she read fashion magazines religiously, and this outfit looked really familiar.
It was a design by Emma, a world-famous, eccentric designer who had only made twenty-four of these outfits for her spring collection.
Stella's heart dropped.
She reached out and pulled at the collar slightly, and sure enough, there was Emma's signature tag.
Her face twisted in jealousy.
"You... where did you get this insane outfit? Did you sleep with some rich guy to get it?" she shouted, loud enough for half the staff to hear.
Rachel was stunned for a second. Stella had literally just grabbed her and pulled at her clothes in front of everyone.
Rachel snatched her clothes back and said coldly, "I don't need to sleep with anyone to get what I want. Mind your own business."
Then she turned and walked away like she didn't even see Stella's face, which was now all scrunched up with rage.
Everyone around them was whispering.
Rachel walked straight to the changing room. She ignored all the looks and shut the door behind her.
She stood there alone for a second. Her heart felt sore.
She took off the outfit and gently ran her fingers over the fabric. It was really high quality, smooth and soft.
It even smelled expensive. It was super comfortable. But she couldn't forget, this belonged to that crazy CEO from Marriott International.
Stella's greedy eyes earlier had said it all. If anything happened to the outfit, Rachel would probably have to pay for it.
She quickly folded the clothes neatly. She had to finish her shift and then go back to Cora, who was waiting at home.
Later that evening...
Rachel sat at the dinner table while Cora played happily with her new Dora toy.
Rachel looked at the folded outfit again.
The guy who gave her this... He might've been stupidly handsome, but he was also annoying, arrogant, and straight-up dangerous.
A total wolf in sheep's clothing.
Just thinking about the way he kissed her made Rachel shiver with goosebumps.
"Mommy, whose clothes are these?" Cora asked curiously, blinking her big eyes.
Rachel had been staring at the clothes for a long time and was blushing nonstop...
They definitely weren't hers. And Cora had never seen them before.
Wait, were they a man's clothes?
Did Mommy have... a boyfriend?!
Thinking about it, her eyes rolled around.
Rachel reached over and pinched Cora's chubby, apple-like cheeks. This little one!
"It's the man you call Daddy," Rachel said, hooking her lips into a smile as she turned around to wash the clothes.
That disgusting man… But Rachel just couldn't bring herself to crush the sweet image Cora had in her heart.
It was weird, every time she mentioned that man, her heart would start beating faster!
She must be out of her mind, Rachel thought.
"Mommy, do you like Daddy?" Cora asked suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise.
Her black-and-white eyes sparkled, and her little pink lips curved into an innocent, excited smile.
"No way. Absolutely not," Rachel said immediately, not even hesitating.
In truth, Mommy hated him so much she wanted to slap him into next week!!!
She looked at Cora with warmth in her eyes, let out a sigh, and said softly, "Mommy's just thankful for his help."
Rachel clearly remembered how everyone had just stood there that day, watching her struggle to clean up the coffee like it was a joke.
And yet, when he called her in and let her change clothes, she was honestly really grateful.
But later...
She had to wash the clothes super clean before giving them back.
She scrubbed carefully, afraid that if anything was wrong, that disgusting jerk would use it as an excuse to humiliate her again.
But to Cora, the clothes meant something else entirely.
The next day, Rachel arrived at work early, totally ignoring Stella's bitter glare.
The things Stella had said yesterday were overheard by the manager, Barrett, and now he looked down on Rachel even more.
He used to think she was just some cheerful part-timer, always smiling and joking around. Now he figured she was just some loose woman.
Every time there was a coffee delivery, Rachel was the one doing it. Cleaning, delivering coffee, running errands, she was so busy she barely had time to breathe.
---
Meanwhile, on the 23rd floor of Marriott International...
Kellan leaned back lazily on a leather sofa, his legs crossed, looking like a king who couldn't be bothered.
His face was cold and unreadable, as if he was thinking about something deep.
For some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about that woman. It was honestly weird how he had fallen asleep in her car, twice.
It had already been a full day. So why hadn't she returned his clothes yet?
He even caught himself thinking about calling her.
Just then, Denise walked in with some documents. She immediately noticed the CEO's gloomy face.
He'd been in a good mood earlier this morning, but the more time passed, the darker his expression got, like he was majorly distracted.
"President Elliott, these are the documents from yesterday's meeting," she said carefully, placing the files on his desk.
She was just about to leave when...
"Has that woman returned my clothes?" Kellan asked out of nowhere, casually raising one eyebrow. But his eyes flashed with a cold, sharp light.
"Clothes?" Denise paused for a second. Then she remembered, the part-timer who brought coffee yesterday.
The one who ran off after putting on the CEO's clothes.
"Not yet!!" Denise said seriously after thinking it over.
It was just one outfit. Since when did the CEO care about a single piece of clothing?
...Could it be because of that woman?
Kellan frowned, and the air around him seemed to darken. His tall frame gave off an intense pressure like a storm rolling in.
"Why hasn't she returned it yet?!"