Maria, a smart and witty mouthed young lady, found herself in a compromising situation that could either make or break her and to top it all, it was with her boss. Running away from her past life and keeping things hidden but entangling herself with her boss threatens to bring her secret which she tried so hard to keep.
CHAPTER 1
"Next person?" The waitress yelled out after tapping the name on the batch of coffee, someone ordered as Maria walked up to her, with a smile on her face. "The usual?"
She asked as Maria gave her a firm nod. She had been buying her coffee here every day for the past ten years, it was well known, even to the owner of the establishment, as Maria's usual was. She hummed a tune underneath her breath as she tapped subconsciously to the beat on the counter when the waitress appeared again, with her coffee, all set up ready to go. "All set."
She chirped as she handed Maria the coffee who took it and paid. "Thanks Amy, you are the best." With that she stepped out of the line and walked outside eager to catch the bus to her company.
At the bus terminal, she bumped into someone and ended up spilling some of her hot coffee on him. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to. Please allow me.' She said as she brought out her handkerchief and started swabbing at the man's white, trying to dampen the temperature of the spilled liquid, so it wouldn't burn his skin, that much. 'It is understandable. Accidents happen, do not beat yourself over it."
The man said as Maria bit her lips, knowing that the man was just being kind about it. She wanted to insist that she did something to compensate for her mess, the bus rolled into the stop as people started gathering to enter.
Due to commotion, the man was able to slip away, leaving Maria there, who soon gave up and got in as well. Maria strode into the 14th level, where her office was located, with just her bag and phone after tossing the coffee cup into the bin, after gulping down the last drop. She fell into her chair and exhaled, today was going to be a long day and it was just seven thirty.
She sat in her office, making sure that her things were in order, and ready to get to her boss's hands. Knowing the old man, he was already stuck in his office, working his ass off as usual. And she was proven right a moment later when the telephone on her table shrilled and she quickly picked it up and placed it on her ears. 'Raymond's office?"
"Maria, its Raymond, Come to my office now, it's important." The call was disconnected before she even replaced the phone back to the cradle. She picked up the documents that needed to be signed by him, before heading out of her office and into his own. She knocked once as courtesy demanded and stepped inside the next second not waiting for a response.
"Good morning Mr Raymond. I have three documents with me that need signatures. Two from the financial departments, to approve the new budget schematics of the new underground structure and one from the department of Research. I have gone through all of it, and have highlighted the main parts of the contracts that you should be focused on."
She said in one breath as she displayed it on the table in front of him. The 65 year old CEO, who was quite agile and strong for his age, smiled as he took the files and leaned back into his thousand dollar chair and said, "You are an asset to this team, and to me. I am not sure where I would have ended up, if not for your skills and talent. Thank you again as usual. I will sign them immediately. I trust your judgment."
He said as he appended all the signatures required and closed the documents and handed it back to her. "Thank you sir, you called me here? Do you need me for something?" She asked as Raymond nodded his head.
"Of course I do. Well I guess you should be the first to know that I am retiring this week." He confessed as Maris stumbled slightly as the news nerved her.
"Pardon me? Already? But..." She started but trailed off, as Raymond chuckled before replying. "Well you don't expect me to die here working, do you? I have made a name for myself. I think I should relax, and enjoy the rest of my life on a sunny island drinking cold margaritas, while my son takes over the company as the new CEO."
"Your son..' she mumbled as if she had been struck dumb for a moment. Of course how could she forget that the man had a son. A son she was not familiar with at all. Her job was over, the man would kick her out, terming her as old property. Maybe her boss was kind enough to give her a heads up, so that she could start packing her items.
"And that is why I want you to be the PA when he gets here. I know you are loyal to me, but there is nothing stopping you from leaving when I leave. And Adrian has a bit of a temperament, he gets angry easily and needs someone to help him. Someone who knows the inside and out, and one who can put him in his place. You fit all those roles. I know this is low and could be seen as babysitting my son, but can you do it?" He asked as Maria had to sit down as she was stunned by what she just heard.
"You want me to look after Adrian? After you go?" She asked again to make sure that it was not a cruel joke, he was about to spring on her.
"Yes." He deadpanned as Maria nodded her head slowly absorbing the information.
"Okay, I can't say no to you can I? I will try my best to be by his side and help out like I do." She said with a smile as Nathan beamed at her.
"Thank you for this. I guess I'll let you submit these documents then." He said as Maria stood up and took them again and left.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it allāfrom standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didnāt return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachelās terminal illness and realized she didnāt have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true originsāa lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. āIt's time to reveal your true identity, darling.ā
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"