For years, 24-year-old Lily Harrington has endured life as the executive assistant to Damian Caldwell, the insufferably perfect 28-year-old Vice President of Caldwell Enterprises. With his impossible deadlines and complete lack of empathy, Damian has made every workday a battle. The only thing keeping Lily in this relentless job is the marketing manager promotion she's been chasing for years. When a make-or-break presentation for a high-profile client looms, Lily sees her chance to finally prove her worth. She just never expected that a business trip to Paris would be the turning point that changes everything.
Lily Harrington
I pressed my fingers against my temples, willing the tension away, but it was useless. My inbox overflowed with last-minute emails, my phone buzzed with relentless notifications, and the ever-growing stack of paperwork on my desk taunted me.
Damian Caldwell, the insufferable, impossible, perfect-in-every-wrong-way boss of mine, had just dropped another impossible task into my lap. A high-profile client meeting had been scheduled- without warning, of course-and it was my job to ensure everything was flawless. Not just acceptable, not just great, but lawless.
The worst part? The meeting wasn't even happening in the city. We were flying to Paris tomorrow morning.
I should have been excited. Paris- city of lights, romance, and the best croissants known to man, but excitement was the last thing I felt. Exhaustion, frustration, resentment- those emotions were alive and well.
"Lily, where's the revised proposal?" Damian's deep, authoritative voice cut through my thoughts.
I looked up from my computer screen, meeting his cold, steel-blue gaze. He stood in the doorway of my office, impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit, the picture of power and control. His expression was unreadable, as always.
"It's in your inbox," I said, keeping my voice level. "Sent it twenty minutes ago."
A muscle ticked in his jaw. He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, then nodded. "Good. We'll go over it on the plane."
The plane The private jet that would be flying us across the ocean together. In close quarters. For hours.
Fantastic.
"Anything else?" I asked, bracing for the inevitable.
"Yes. Pack appropriately. This isn't a vacation."
No kidding.
He turned and walked away before I could reply, leaving the scent of expensive cologne in his wake. The man was infuriating. Demanding. Completely unaware of the fact that I had a life outside of work.
Except... I didn't, really. Not anymore.
Once upon a time, I'd dreamed of more. Moving up the corporate ladder. Making a name for myself. But working under Damian had become all-consuming. He took and took, never acknowledging the sacrifices I made.
I grabbed my bag and powered down my laptop. If I had to spend the next several days trapped in his presence, I at least deserved a night of peace before the chaos.
Damian Caldwell
Work never stopped, not for me, not for anyone in my company. Excellence was not optional- it was expected.
I leaned back in my chair, rolling my sleeves up, scanning the proposal Lily had sent. It was good. No, it was great. She always delivered. The problem wasn't her competence-it was the distractions she allowed to creep in.
Lately, I'd noticed her hesitation. The brief moments of defiance in her eyes. The sighs when she thought I wasn't looking. Lily was slipping, and that couldn't happen.
The Paris deal was too important. If we landed this contract, Caldwell Enterprises would dominate the European market. Failure wasn't an option. That meant Lily needed to be at her best.
Dragging a hand through my hair, I glanced at the clock. Late. Too late to be at the office, but that didn't matter. Work was my life. It had been ever since I took over operations. There was no room for anything else.
Still, my mind drifted back to my assistant. Lily. The only person in this building who dared to challenge me, even subtly. She was sharp, dedicated, infuriatingly stubborn, and she was starting to pull away.
I didn't have time to deal with that. Not when the future of the company rested on this deal. She'd just have to keep up.
She always did.
Lily
Sleep was a luxury I rarely afforded myself, and tonight was no different. I tossed and turned, replaying every conversation, every look Damian had given me. His expectations weighed on me even in my dreams.
Morning came too soon. My alarm blared, dragging me back to reality. With a groan, I forced myself up, showered, and packed for the trip. Professional, sleek, businesslike-everything Damian would approve of.
The drive to the airport was quiet. Too quiet. The calm before the storm.
When I arrived at the private terminal, Damian was already there, standing near the jet with a cup of coffee in hand. He glanced at his watch, a silent reminder that I was precisely three minutes early-not good enough in his world.
Without a word, he handed me a folder. "Final itinerary."
I took it, skimming the details. Meetings, dinner with the clients, more meetings. No breathing room. Typical.
As we boarded, he gestured toward the plush leather seats. "Sit. We'll go over the presentation."
So much for easing into the flight.
The plane took off, and we worked in silence, tension thick between us.
Hours passed, then somewhere over the Atlantic, turbulence hit- sharp, and jarring. I gripped the armrest, with my heart racing.
Damian, on the other hand, barely reacted. He glanced at me, an eyebrow raised. "Nervous?"
"No," I lied, knuckles white against the leather.
His lips twitched, the closest thing to amusement I'd ever seen from him. "Relax. The odds of crashing are-"
"Don't. Even."
This trip was going to be a disaster. I could feel it.
After a wild night at a college party, Delilah wakes up with a hazy memory and a terrifying thought- she might have hurt someone. Desperate for answers, she tracks down the only person who seems to know what really happened: Theo, the university's star hockey player. But instead of finding trouble, she discovers something unexpected- Theo had actually saved her that night. Relief quickly turns into something more. There's an undeniable pull between them, a chemistry that sparks with every interaction. As they navigate late-night conversations, playful banter, and moments that make her heart race, Delilah realizes that this connection is deeper than she ever expected. Follow Delilah and Theo as they move from teasing flirtation to something real- something that just might last forever.
Terrified of loss, Xavier convinced himself that happiness was never meant for him. Instead, he chose misery, pushing everyone away- including Lena, whose warmth and innocence threatened the walls he had built. From the moment he saw her smile, he made it his mission to drive her away, yet she kept slipping through the cracks of his defenses. When Lena uncovers the pain that shaped him, her gentle persistence urges Xavier to confront his past and embrace life once more. Just as hope begins to take root, his darkest fears resurface, threatening to tear them apart. Now, Xavier must decide- will he let his past define him, or will he fight to keep the love he never expected to find?
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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 all—from 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 didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t 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."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
[Cute Baby + Secret Identity + Powerful hero and heroine!] Caroline loved Damian with all her heart for five whole years. She devoted herself to him and lived humbly for his sake. However, when the couple faced a crisis, she hoped that the news of her pregnancy would fix their marriage, but what she got in return was just a divorce agreement. And to make things worse, while she was about to give birth, she had fallen into someone's trap and her life was in danger. After managing to survive such a harrowing experience, she was determined to cut all ties with the man. Five years later, she re-emerged with her head held high, being the CEO of a famous company. Those who used to bully her now got a taste of their own medicine. And the truth about the past gradually surfaced... Dazzled by Caroline's newfound confidence, her ex-husband wanted to get back together with her, but she just turned a blind eye to his advances. Damian pleaded desperately, "Honey, our baby needs both his parents. Please remarry me!"