Celine POV "Miky, please, baby. Come back here. You need to wear your socks. It's already late." I was a little anxious as I looked at the clock. I will be late again today. "No, Mommy, I don't like going to kindergarten. Not today!" He was running and hopping around like a little bunny. I grabbed him when he was about to jump from the sofa onto the couch. He struggled, and I tickled him. "You wanna play, huh?" He laughed so hard, and I put him down. "How about I give you one slice of strawberry cheesecake, huh?" His big blue eyes twinkled like they were filled with sparkling stars. "Two slices for me? This afternoon when you get off work?" I could see how reluctant he was. I had to use this trick because he wanted me to spend more time with him, but I had to work for a living. I nodded and gently snapped my fingers against his forehead. "Two slices today. The deal is made." I brought his socks over. "Now be a good boy and wear them." "Fine!" He was still pouting when he stretched out his leg. I quickly gathered his scattered mess and climbed the stairs, putting his toys in his room and grabbing my bag. I pulled out my phone and dialed Lena's number and begged, "Lena, are you there? I need help. I might be late again. Can you cover for me? I swear I'll return the favor." "Alright, don't be too late. I've got to go." She was my colleague. Being a secretary required discipline, which I lacked most of the time. Fortunately, my boss was a good and understanding person. I checked Miky's backpack for the last time: lunchbox, water bottle, and God! He was smuggling Bumblebee again. But if I took it away from him, there was no way to make him listen to me. I hated how I was raising him. Zipping up the bag, I helped him with his shoelaces, and then we rushed to my car. I drove to the kindergarten. He was sitting in the back seat, scowling as I pulled over in front of the door. Getting out, I opened the door for him. He carried his backpack with so much dismay that I thought he'd drop it. "Wait, baby!" The zipper of his bag was still mid-open!? I zipped it up, didn't I? As I was about to pull the zipper, I saw something stuck in it! Taking it out, my heart stopped for a moment, and I forgot how to breathe. It was a photograph. However, it wasn't a regular one. A man who clenched my heart was in the image. But how on earth did my son find this picture? "Miky, what is this? Where did you get it?" My heartbeat was throbbing in my ears. Did somebody tell him about his father? I felt stuck between heaven and earth. My brain was so numb that I wasn't sure what to do. I was so nervous to hear his answer. "Mommy, are you alright? Your voice is shaking." I swallowed hard. "Yeah, it's nothing. Just tell me, what is this doing in your bag?" "This handsome guy is going to be my dad." What the heck? He went on to add, "Everybody in our class has a daddy. I want him to be mine." I screamed internally. My heart skipped beats that could have given me a heart attack. It was hard to stand, but I had to keep a casual expression. What was I hearing? I wanted Dean too. Everything about him was sexy. A man you couldn't rub your eyes off, entirely unforgettable, especially when he was in bed, making me drool and sweat. This man was gone and the memories were still fresh in my mind, my body could still tingle at thought of his touch and the moments we were entangled. I let out a hysterical, sheepish laugh. "Oh, my sweet bun!" I kneeled and kissed his chubby cheeks. "We are good like this, are we not? You, me, and Granny, huh?" I know! I looked immensely desperate! I didn't need anybody to mention how awkward I seemed in front of my son. Stuffing the photo back into the schoolbag, I took him to his teacher and left immediately. My reeling mind wasn't in this world at all, and neither was my soul, I guess. It escaped right after seeing his handsome face. The face I had avoided for four damn years. Suppressing the dull pain in my heart, I took a deep breath to focus. I was heading to work. I needed money to raise my kid, and the older he became, the higher his expenses would rise. I started the engine when my phone rang. It was Lena, so I picked it up instantly. A range of chaotic noises came from the other side of the line. Lena was shouting to make sure her voice would reach me. "Oh, God! Sis, come as soon as possible. Something vital is happening over here! They called us all to the entrance gate." "What is that vital matter, Lena? What are all these noises for?" I panicked too. "The company has been acquired by someone else. Mr. Holmes suddenly decided to cash out and enjoy the world in his old age. The new CEO will be here soon. Get your ass here immediately." It took me a few seconds to process what I had just heard. Fuck! "I'll be right there. Thank you for telling me." "Good girl, just hurry up." Beep, beep! The sound filled my car. What a day! *** Dean POV I was sitting in the back seat of the car. The employee background files were on my lap. I drummed my forefinger on the image of one person only. Her pretty face was under my touch. Celine Harper. My ex-ruthless wife. I gritted my jaw. How was your life without me, Celine? I had many fantasies in my mind during the past a few days. One of them was to call her in my office, rush ahead and kiss her lips for a full hour. The longing that my body had tolerated couldn't be described. At nine o'clock, we arrived at JIJO Group. All the employees were at the entrance door. The car glided to a stop and pulled over. My eyes searched for only one person, but I couldn't see her. I frowned. My good temper depleted to zero. Putting down the files, I looked at my lawyer. "You go first, Tim." He nodded and opened the door. A wave of buzzes reached me. 'Who is he?' An employee asked another. That was supposed to be a whisper, but I heard it clearly. However, nothing could surpass my perfect hearing. 'I'm sure he's one of the tycoons who bought some of the companies nearby.' Oh, I guess this one was right. I bought all those companies to make sure I wouldn't have disturbing rivals buzzing around my ears. But the whisper that caught my attention wasn't about me. 'Where is Celine, God!' One of the panicked secretaries asked another. They all lined up to greet and meet the new CEO. They were so tense and stiff that choked themselves on it. Timothy had such an intense aura that made some to look away. They didn't expect us to be young. After his regal appearance, I stepped out. We strode into the luminous lobby, and everybody kept peering at us like we were some sort of alien. "Tim, she is not around!" I murmured under my breath. "Maybe she is late!" He answered calmly. "Or maybe she realized and resigned before I came." He shook his head. "That's not possible! Mr. Holmes kept it a secret." As we marched closer to the medal in the middle of the lobby floor, the vice president greeted us with a wide smile, bending a bit more than usual. Man, what was this flattery for? "Mr. Harper, welcome to your new house." Well, I liked that. But I hoped this house wouldn't treat their work as an absolute mess. I was so busy searching among the crowd that I remained indifferent toward them. My mood soured. I furrowed my brows and shifted my eyes back to him. "I'll be holding a meeting in ten minutes. All directors, HR staff, supervisors, and managers are required to attend, including my secretaries. If someone fails to attend, they might bear the punishment." These were just casual remarks, but they all seemed startled. I gave them a cold glare and headed toward the private elevator, seeing them run to theirs. The supervisors scattered instantly, running frantically upstairs as if their lives depended on it. The elevator doors were about to close when it finally happened. "Wait a minute!" The female voice tickled my ears. My body reacted quickly, my skin crawled and I felt a hot sensation throbbing between my legs. She jumped between the doors like a breeze and tripped over her heels, swaying between the air and the floor. My heart almost stopped! Before I knew what was happening, I grabbed her waist and pulled her tightly against my chest. That familiar vanilla scent caused heat to spread throughout my body. I was so tempted to lower my head and kiss her. The heat that her body exuded merged with mind and aroused me quickly. My fingers dug into her back. My eyes fell on her kissable lips, making me swallow hard. I truly wanted to kiss her in the wildest and dirtiest way possible. Ah, damn! She was hotter than before. I pulled her belling close to my groin, and she let out hot breath. I maintained my composure and looked her in the eyes. I wasn't sure if I could stop myself from having sex with her this soon. "Let me arrive first, then throw yourself at me again." Hello, wifey! Long time no see! I uttered that while stifling the moan that was about to ramble in my throat. My eyes fell on her bulged breasts that pressed against my chest! Damn you woman, how did you get so hot like this when I was away!

Celine POV I parked my car in the parking lot and dashed out. I saw two tall men coming out of a black Rolls-Royce Phantom! They were clad in bespoke tailored suits, walking elegantly toward the company as though a red carpet had been spread before them. I swallowed and panicked. Their aura was so intense that I could feel the tension from this distance. I could only see the side profile of the one in the dark blue suit. My heart was racing faster than my legs. With these short legs and high heels, there was no way I could cross the street so fast and join the line. Dang it! The men were broad-shouldered, had strong, narrow waists, and perfect body proportions that could make jaws drop to the ground. Other than them looking like they had come straight out of a comic book, I felt something tickle under my navel. I didn't know what it was. Their appearance wasn't the main point. My point was that the new CEO was incredibly young. Could it be Mr. Holmes' son or grandson? Why he didn't inform us! My mouth was dry. It was already hot, and being late made it worse. They marched inside, and I waited for the green light, nervously tapping my feet on the ground and chewing my nail. I ran as soon as it turned green and the cars stopped. When I got close to the lobby, they had already reached the elevator. I could feel the innate aura of their nobility from behind. But it wasn't just me; all the overwhelmed employees were running like they were being attacked by zombies. The elevator doors were about to close when I ran faster. There was no way I'd fall on my knees and beg him not to fire me. "Wait a minute!" I shouted and jumped in. If I were two ounces fatter, I'd have been trapped. "Ah!" I screamed as I tripped and fell straight into my boss. Shit! I closed my eyes to swallow the pill of my destiny and feel the pain. I was an utter embarrassing mess until nothing happened. My boss firmly and tightly caught me, his arm wrapped around my waist, his fingers dug to me. I dared to open my eyes, and time froze. That was him! My ex-husband was holding me so tightly that I could feel the heat from his body. My heart pounded violently. Out of shock, I stared up at those lips, only one thought flashed in my mind, it was a very long time that I hadn't kiss them. My eyes slowly traveled up to meet a pair of unfathomable blue eyes. I wanted it to be a mistake that my mind made, but damn it was real. Involuntarily, my back arched, my breasts squeezed hard against his chest as if moving on it own accord to start over with him. He was even more charming than before, yet I remembered every detail of his face. That handsome, aloof expression had distinct features and a high, straight nose. His full lips could enchant every woman to taste them. My body was on fire. I pushed myself close and felt more heat coursing through my body, I leaned my head close, too close that it sounded I was going to kiss him. His eyes were on my lips too. It was that familiar face etched into my very bones, the body that kissed ever corner and felt skin to skin. Suddenly, his blue pupils dilated, and I stopped breathing. The definition of drop-dead on the spot was my situation. Even seeing him just aroused me. Dean Harper! My new CEO was my unfaithful ex-husband. I blushed but forced myself to come back to my senses when he reminded me how brutal he still was. "Let me arrive first, then throw yourself at me again." His voice was cold and emotionless. Asshole! All the fantasy clouds around my head vanished in an instant but my entire body kept scream of yearning. If he'd kissed me right now, I would have give in to him. . But wait! How did he end up becoming a tycoon and taking over such a fancy, successful group? "How much longer are you going to hold me? Let go!" He mocked me, his eyes filled with ridicule. I snapped out of my fantasy and yanked back my grip as if I had just touched an electric wire. I managed to stand upright, shoving down my anger. I grabbed the stray lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. Tugging at my business suit, I fixed it. I took a deep breath, but the hot air immediately plummeted into a freezing chill that made my knees wobble. I could feel the nerves in my knees throbbing. The lump in my throat grew as I forced myself not to face him. Now, I realized what that sweet nightmare was about last night. *** There was a lush old ginkgo tree. Its branches spread wide, and its golden beauty glinted like gold at night. Beneath it was a large floor cushion. The sky glittered with twinkling stars. Dean lay on top of me, half-naked, his fingers fiddling with the strands of my hair. His body was sweating and brushing against mine. It was the day we divorced. The saddest day of my life that I could never let go of. Our farewell wasn't calm and peaceful. He had one condition that day to sign the papers. Then, we made a consensual deal. "You'll have sex with me under the tree. We started there, and I want to finish it in that very place." The storm inside me was going to strangle me. Our sensual attraction always defeated my urge to resist him. "Dean, are you going to stop this? I can't take anymore. We need to stop." I shouted at him. My body was suddenly about to fall apart. He could never get enough. He leaned down, his hot, gasping breath and lips brushing against my earlobe. "You are very energetic when you scream and tear my eardrums apart, so don't sound exhausted at all." Tears beaded in my eyes. His tone was so indifferent and nonchalant that it made me sick to my stomach. I shouldn't have accepted his challenge to have sex here. He didn't feel sorry for me, for us. Not even a trace of regret was etched on his face to make me forgive him. I loathed that getting a divorce had brought me to this state and thrown me into a vicious, intense competition I had already lost. I was the one who initiated the divorce process, and the only thing he fought for wasn't me, wasn't even the slightest attempt to change my mind and make me stay with him. It was the damn benefit! Calling it a fair trade! Was our marriage just a fucking trade all along? Yeah, right! Better! Then, after that, I didn't owe him shit. As he continued, I felt nausea rising within me. Something was off. My head grew numb instantly, and I forced him back, slapping his shoulders. "We are done here! Get off me!" He stopped and just stared at me. His blue eyes held something I couldn't read, or something I didn't want to. Whatever it was, I couldn't make out any emotion or any natural force strong enough to make me stay. "Why should it depend on you to end this? I decide how it ends. Remember, you started it, and I am ending it here." He continued to shred my heart into pieces. I didn't back down. "I'm pregnant! That's enough. Tell me what to do with it." "I will give you a few hundred more bucks. That is more than what you'll get from the divorce agreement. Get emergency contraception to get rid of what remains of me." My eyes burned with rage and hatred. Scratching his arms with my nails, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "You are a fucking bastard." He pressed me down against the pillow beneath me, leaning down, his nose touching mine. "Then does that make you a bastard's woman?" That sounded awful. I had no answer for it. ... And after that night, I never saw him again. He vanished from my life. That tree was where we fell in love when we were so young and still college students. It witnessed the memories of our youth. He also made that place where we separated and made sure to make it as sad and horrible as possible, turning our last memory dull and gray, the night I sobbed after he was gone and the heat of his body had left mine. --- The elevator stopped at the top floor, where the executive office was. The doors slid open, and I gazed at Lena and Helen, who were already waiting in front of the door. I gave them an aching smile. The company had many secretaries in each department, and this one had three. One of them was me, sadly. "Good morning, Mr. Harper!" They bowed their heads harmoniously, like he was the king of the world who would bestow countless treasures upon them. What a theater! Tsk! My heart ached. They were respecting the man who didn't deserve a drop of it. This man was a heartless asshole. But my question was, how the hell, in just four years, had he become wealthy enough to acquire JIJO Group? It was worth billions. I didn't know whether I was insane or the world had grown insane, and I was the one left behind. Anyway, I had no time to think this through, so without hesitation, I ran after Lena and stood straight like a statue. Dean trudged over with those long legs and shot me a cold, arrogant glare. If he wasn't my boss, and I didn't need so much money to take care of Miky, I would have punched his pretty face. However, hopefully, both of my colleagues in the president's office were gorgeous. I could feel better knowing he wouldn't look at me the same way as he did in the old days. I heard a whisper from behind. "Celine looks more stunning today, don't you think?" Hell no! Stop! Everybody gathered, and he gave the shortest, weirdest speech possible. "I am Dean Harper. I have taken over JIJO Group and will be settling into the president's office." He paused, and a wicked light flashed in his eyes that made my spine stiffen. What was he about to say? Why was he looking at me? "I drink coffee without sugar. I don't fancy the scent of perfumes, especially the expensive ones you shower yourselves with. And..." He arched his brow, his gaze piercing through me. "I don't like my subordinates being late." He averted his head and looked at the others icily. Even winter was warmer than him. "I hope everyone will keep this in mind." The three of us answered in unison, "Yes, Mr. Harper!" It was unintentional but sounded like we had rehearsed it. He gave me another unfriendly glare. This man! As bitter as the taste of the coffee he preferred. "Are you Mrs. Celine Simons?" I was speechless. He knew who I was. Did he get a head injury before coming to his office? Jerk! "Yes, Mr. Harper. Do you need anything?" I feigned a polite, professional look, barely managing a faint smile to be nice. He brought his wrist up and looked at his expensive watch that could buy three families three houses. I knew why he was looking at it. "One minute late, right?" He uttered those words, and the corner of my lips twitched. "According to your contract, it means you'll lose my perfect attendance bonus and performance bonus for the whole month." I didn't know what to say. I just screamed in my head, and the muscles around my jaw hurt so badly. Cruel man! He was cracking down on me to scare the rest of the staff into obeying. I was the poor lamb he had just sacrificed to warn the other poor lambs and assert his authority over his property. I saw the others grow pale. "Yes!" My mouth ached to say that. I had no other option but to bite my tongue, keep my mouth shut, and keep this damn job. Taking care of my mom and Miky cost a lot, including my nerves to put up with this man. He tilted his head and wasn't done yet. "The records show you've been divorced, right?" That scoundrel did it on purpose to berate me? Then fuck him! I lingered for a few seconds before answering and then calmly replied, "Yes!" "I see. Then what was the reason for the divorce?" He narrowed his eyes, obviously studying my dismay as he continued the conversation. "Note that I don't have a penchant for prying into the privacy of my subordinates. However, I believe those who stay by my side must be completely innocent and must not disturb me with personal matters." What? Wait! Was he making a list of us based on personal scores? Disguising this immoral act under official business? If so, then, I had to give him his shit back. How dare you! "Our sex life wasn't harmonious." Take this for now, scumbag. He wanted me to be blunt, so there it was. Everyone who was standing there was stunned, blood left their faces. That was just a lie. He was a beast in sex. Back then, I was desperate for him so badly that I didn't refrain from asking and making him tease me in every unholy way possible. I swallowed as I recalled how shameless I was. Could he remember? Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Dean We got divorced because we didn't have sexual harmony? Wasn't five times a day, in every corner of the house, enough for her? It took me only to take off my shirt then, we both got horny! Celine, you will miss all of that very soon. Ah, this woman had learned how to make my blood boil with that sharp tongue of hers. The old Celine was the real one, cheeky and naughty, begging me to sleep naked and hid my briefs when I resisted. You want to play with me, Celine? Fine! Let's see who wins. As Tim told me, she had been going on blind dates nonstop, but they had all failed. There wasn't a man in the world who could easily win her heart. Satisfying her sexually? I had made sure she wouldn't forget me a second. I stared into her eyes and asked the next challenging question. "Do you have children?" "No!" She replied so quickly that she sounded panicked. My heart raced slightly. So, she had let go of our baby and considered it a burden. I threw the words but didn't expect her to accept. Then, she had never loved me. It was all a fleeting feeling. All the muscles in my body grew tense and rigid as I forced myself to say, "Very good." The corner of her lips twitched, but the curse word never left her mouth. She held it back which was unlike her. But thankfully, she hadn't gone around and gotten herself pregnant by some random guy. This was while, I was dying to kiss and lick every corner of her body again, to make a baby with her now that I had the money she loved so much. Although, my blood boiled at the thought of her hooking up with strangers, she held my gaze for a short while. Her mouth didn't move, but the words in her eyes were clear: Screw you, bastard, I don't love you! She must know that everything she left behind in the past came with consequences, including my body that she used to be satisfied. Everything in this world had a price. Sometimes, we just paid it with something other than money. I moved my eyes away from her lips. "Alright, that's enough for today. I need to attend the meeting." My eyes landed on Lena Suarez, the girl who was backing Celine up. "Secretary Suarez, follow me." "Yes, boss! I'll just grab my notebook!" She happily hurried to the desk, picked the gadget up, and darted back to me. I went to the meeting hall. Tim and I explained the plan and the projects I expected to acquire this month. I wanted this company to be at the top of the earning charts by the end of the year. Therefore, I couldn't tolerate them slacking off or making excuses for mistakes they could easily prevent. But what I didn't understand was why some of them were so afraid of me. They sat there so tense that I actually felt uncomfortable. Since it was my first day with them, and there were many questions and plans to address moving forward, the meeting lasted for three hours. Miss Suarez kept typing, making a list of the upcoming schedules, demands, and everything else. They might think I was a workaholic, which I was, to some extent. But it was for all of us and for their own success. After checking the results from last year, I couldn't believe my eyes. Three of the senior executives had submitted incorrect reports and flawed business strategies that caused $30 million in damage. I couldn't tolerate mistakes that even a novice could have predicted, let alone from people who were supposed to be veterans. I dismissed them and immediately terminated their contracts with JIJO. The business field was competitive, and I hated to lose. With the projects in my hands and the careless mistakes they could make, this company could go bankrupt within a year. So, I had no choice but to fire them. After we ended the meeting, I returned to my office and saw Celine working on whatever Miss Suarez had handed her. I was curious how she would respond to me. I left my office and wandered around to see what was so interesting over there. To be honest, I had never seen her this taciturn before. She was loud and chaotic, not modest at all. Something about her had changed that I couldn't quite make out. The day she confessed her love for me was still a fresh memory in my mind. We were at school. I used to study MBA, and she studied financial Accounting. "Hey, Dean Harper, it seems like you're going to be my boyfriend from now on!" I fell for her boldness and the way she dared to talk to me. The entire school was on campus when she shouted those words into the microphone. "I know, I know, I'm hot too. So, you can only be my man!" Everybody laughed and clapped for her. I couldn't deny that I was completely into her, and that made me want her to be mine alone. Later, I gave her what she wanted. I married her and thought it would be enough for her. She seduced me with every single thing she did. We even had so many sex in quiet corners of the campus, from the storage room, to the her dorm room. But she deceived me and threw me away, still I craved her and would not draw back until making her want me too. After two years of happy marriage, she insisted on getting a divorce. She broke me after telling me the reason. "I don't love you anymore, Dean Harper. This marriage is getting more boring day by day. You cannot give me what I want from this life. We must end it before we hurt each other more than this." Then, she came with the divorce documents and threw them in front of me. That day, I realized how hypocritical and wicked she was. Therefore, once again, I gave her what she wanted, but under one condition: to have sex with me under the tree where we first met. To get rid of me faster, she accepted it. Recalling that made me furious. I put my hands in my pockets and clenched my fists. She seemed happy now, taking life easy after what she had done to me. Celine was playful, and that was what made her even sexier. She could be everything but boring. She was mine. *** Celine POV Lena was about to cry when she came out of the meeting room. Before she went in there, her cheeks were flushed, and she was totally hyped up about the new handsome boss. She was flirty, obviously, and couldn't try her chance on him. When she came out, all her energy was completely drained. I knew it! This man was an energy sucker, feeding on other people's misery by ignoring them. "Celine, my fingers are numb! He is definitely ruthless and decisive." I rested my fist under my chin, my eyes fixed on the monitor. "You mean overassumptive?" She sighed and took a sip of the coffee our pantry attendant had placed in front of her. "Oh, good God! This tastes amazing. He is the modern version of a king!" "He just took over, and he's already cleaning the house. Celine, he just fired poor Mr. Dawson, saying he caused millions of dollars in damage with lame strategies." My jaw dropped! He had gone mad! He'd taken out one of the good supervisors. This man! He had not only drained their spirit and energy but also ruined those people simply because they couldn't meet his high standards. What about me? With his grudge against me, how could I survive? "Like all other CEOs, he is a workaholic, but his intense aura makes him even more terrifying. He is handsome but still hard as stone." She remarked after taking another sip and continuing to work at the same time. If that poured on her Notebook, she'd be roasted too. I just flashed her an awkward smile but almost choked on my saliva when she added, "Despite all of that, he is still fucking single. I'm sure he is a hot tyrant in bed." Her fantasy about him was wild! Indeed, he was an insatiable beast, but that had nothing to do with me anymore. I shook my head at her remark, and she leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Hey, Celine! Earlier, you mentioned your bad sex life with your ex-hubby. Why don't you hit on him? With his body, you'll taste something good!" She winked. "Come on, Lena! No one can beat you in beauty." I slurred, having no intention of getting myself involved with this man ever again. I couldn't let her drag this argument out, especially when I could see him from the corner of my eye. He was strolling around, certainly spying on me. I couldn't fathom what he was up to! Maybe he was planning to fire me? Only one thing was clear to me, I couldn't rub my eyes off him. When he talk to other women, unintentionally, my heart kept beating wildly. Maybe, I should keep my distance away since he was ignoring me.