CEO Forever Love Novel

Chapter 8 The next morning , I was in the home office before the clock even thought about hitting eight . Nathan wasn't . 65 vouchers Fine by me . Every extra minute without him was one less chance to trip over my own tongue before day two had even started . I buried myself in the stack he'd left emails , contracts , follow - ups , each one labeled like a warning sign . Whoever these people were , they were used to being answered in perfect sentences . No typos . No delays . Halfway through an email about a shipment delay , my phone lit up . Nathan Moore . I didn't even get a hello .

" Get the black folder on my desk . Bring it to my office . Now . " The line went dead . An address followed seconds later . The Moore Building didn't just take up space on the street - it owned it . Forty stories of mirrored glass rose out of the pavement , sunlight sliding down its sides like it belonged to him too . Inside , the marble floors were so clean they could've doubled as a mirror , every step you took made you aware of how loud you were .

Phones rang somewhere in the distance , heels clicked in a steady rhythm , and every person who passed looked like they were late for something worth millions . The receptionist's eyes flicked up when I gave my name . " He's expecting you . Go right up ." Her smile was the kind that could be both a welcome and a warning . When I stepped off the elevator , the man behind the desk didn't bother asking who I was . " You can go in , " he said . " He's waiting ." Nathan's office looked like it had been designed to intimidate without saying a word .

Every surface was bare except for a laptop and a black folder , placed exactly in the center of the desk . Behind him , the city stretched wide , glass and steel catching the sun in sharp flashes . He leaned back in his chair , turning a page in the file in front of him as if time was his personal property . He didn't look up when I came in , he just gave a small flick of his fingers toward the chair opposite him . I set the black folder on his desk . He didn't touch it . Whatever he was reading had his full attention for another thirty seconds before he slid it neatly to one side .

18:26 Fri , Nov 7 M Chapter 8 A knock on the door . " Come in ," he said , eyes still on the page . His assistant stepped inside . " The lady from the agency is here . " Nathan closed the file . " Send her in . " 55 vouchers She entered like she'd been practicing in front of a mirror - honey brown hair , a dress that was just shy of indecent , a smile you could almost hear ticking off at an hourly rate . Pretty , but in a curated , bought - in - installments way . Nathan's eyes barely moved . " Sit . " " What's your experience ? " he asked , leaning back in his chair .

She crossed her legs and launched into her pitch . Escort work , corporate events , high - profile discretion . The words were fine , but Nathan's face didn't move . He asked two more questions , each sharper , designed to test more than charm . She stumbled once , recovered , stumbled again . " I'll let the agency know , " he said , dismissing her with a nod that managed to be polite and final . When the door closed , he was quiet for a moment , drumming his fingers lightly against the desk . " Did you tell the agency exactly what I asked for ? " he asked at last .

" I told them you needed a replacement , " I said . " Like you instructed . " Those extra details were there for a reason , " he said , his tone flat . " I didn't see anything but a number . " " Then you missed it . And now , you'll fix it . " My lips parted , but he was already moving on . " I'm out of time . You'll come to a party with me tomorrow night . You can go . In his head , the conversation was already over . By the time I wrapped up for the day , showered , and read a few articles in bed , I'd almost convinced myself to let it go . Almost .

Then my stomach reminded me it had been neglected . I left the bed , reheated leftovers , and was halfway through when the front door opened . Nathan walked in minutes later , a black shopping bag swinging from his hand . I stood instinctively , grabbing my plate to give him space , but he stopped in the doorway . " Hold on . We need to talk . " He held the bag out . " You'll need this for tomorrow ." 18:26 Fri , Nov 7 MG . Chapter 8 5D 150 vouchers I took the bag slowly , letting it hang in my hand for a beat .

Curiosity got the better of me , and I eased the opening just enough to catch black fabric and a flicker of silver . " And , " he said , " you'll pick up a gift for my mother . Something she'd actually want . Make sure it looks expensive . " I stared at him . " I'm going to this party as ... what , exactly ? " " My assistant ," he said . Then , after a beat , " And my escort , if it comes to that . " I blinked . " Excuse you ? " " You messed up the agency request . So you'll do the job yourself tomorrow night . " And then he was gone , like he'd just told me to top up the printer ink .

I stayed where I was , the bag hanging from my hand , its weight suddenly heavier than black fabric and silver threads . Maybe I'd picked the wrong city . I came to Chicago to chase stories worth telling . But somewhere between Nathan's orders , his impossible standards , and now being drafted as his stand - in for the agency's mistake , I wasn't sure if I was building a career ... or just getting pulled into the orbit of the most infuriating man alive . Austen