NEXT MORNING...
Charlotte sat on her bed, her eyes swollen and red from the sleepless night.
The dull light filtering through the curtains only added to the heaviness in the room. She hugged her knees, her mind replaying every painful moment from the night before.
A soft knock broke her trance, and Lena pushed the door open. She was already dressed, her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Hey," Lena said gently, stepping inside.
"I didn't want to bother you last night after you said you wanted to be alone. But… I need to head to work today. Just a half day, though. I'll be back by early afternoon, and we can talk, okay?"
"It's fine, Lena. I'll be okay." Charlotte nodded, her voice hoarse.
"You sure?" Lena hesitated, glancing at her friend. "I made some breakfast. Promise me you'll eat something."
"I will," Charlotte said softly, managing a small, tired smile.
Lena still looked uncertain but finally sighed. "Alright. Call me if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay," Charlotte replied.
With a final glance, Lena left, closing the door behind her.
For a moment, Charlotte stayed still, listening to the fading sound of Lena's car pulling out.
She reached for her laptop, her fingers trembling. Part of her didn't want to see anything about last night's news, but the curiosity and hurt gnawed at her.
Slowly, she opened it and hesitated before typing Alexander's name into the search bar. The screen flooded with images and headlines confirming the announcement.
Pictures of Alexander and Eleanor smiling together, the announcement of their engagement dominating every news outlet.
Charlotte's chest tightened as she clicked through the articles, each one having praises from netizens.
"How could he?" she whispered, tears welling up again.
She stared at the screen for a while, letting the pain wash over her before something else caught her eye. A headline about Grayson Enterprises.
She suddenly remembered. Her new job. The offer.
Wiping her tears, Charlotte opened the email again, rereading the details of her appointment as the CEO's new secretary. It felt almost surreal amidst everything else happening.
Her curiosity piqued, and she typed "Ethan Grayson" into the search bar. But instead of images or personal details, the results were sparse.
Articles on his business achievements, his dominance in the corporate world, but not a single photo of the man himself.
Frowning, she clicked through different links, trying harder. There was nothing. No pictures. No personal details. Then she stumbled on an old article that looked weird.
The headline read: "The Mystery of Ethan Grayson: A CEO Without a Face."
Charlotte's eyes widened as she read. It detailed how no media outlet dared to publish images of him, stating he had total control over his public image.
The article mentioned his track record with employees, particularly his secretaries...ten in two months. None of them ever commented on why they left, and speculation ran wild about his temperament and secrecy.
She leaned back in disbelief, staring at the screen.
"No pictures, no interviews, and a revolving door of secretaries?" she muttered to herself, trying to process what working for someone like Ethan Grayson would be like.
Would she even last a month? Or would she end up another nameless, fired ex-secretary like the rest?
Charlotte closed her laptop with a sigh and muttered, "What a CEO!"
She pushed herself up to get dressed, sliding into a casual outfit. Jeans and a light white sweater. She ignored the breakfast Lena had lovingly prepared, even though it was her favorite.
She needed some air...
Stepping out into the crisp morning, Charlotte wandered down the street. The nearby beach, just minutes from her place, seemed the perfect escape.
At the beach, families filled the shoreline, their laughter mixed with the ocean breeze. The soft sound of waves crashing in the distance offered a brief sense of calm.
Charlotte walked aimlessly, her hands in her pockets, her eyes fixed on the glistening water.
Just as she moved towards the ocean, a child came running at her, clutching a red balloon.
"Excuse me!" the boy squealed, bumping into her.
The balloon slipped from his hand and floated upward. Without thinking, Charlotte jumped to grab it but missed her step.
She staggered, her footing slipping on the sandy path. Before she could hit the ground, a firm hand caught her by the waist. Another hand reached up and caught the balloon mid-air, brushing lightly against her own.
Startled, she turned around to see her savior.
A tall man looking like he is in his early thirties, with striking features held her tight. His sharp jawline, piercing rare blue eyes, and a faint stubble, added to his rugged charm.
Dressed in a simple white shirt and dark pants, his casual look couldn't hide his handsomeness.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice calm yet warm. Charlotte immediately stiffened, pulling herself out of his hold.
"I'm fine," she muttered, brushing sand off her clothes.
The man bent down to return the balloon to the child, who giggled a quick "Thank you!" before running off. That left Charlotte and the man standing awkwardly in silence.
"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, taking a small step back as if to give her space.
Charlotte's frown deepened. She turned away and began walking off without replying. The man followed, his footsteps quickened behind hers.
"I was just trying to help," he said casually, as though her cold demeanor didn't faze him.
Charlotte stopped abruptly and spun around, her frustration spilling over.
"Do you not have anything better to do? Following me around when it's clear I don't want to talk to you?"
Her tone was rude, filled with anger, and she didn't hold back seeing how calm the man was.
"Seriously, how jobless can you be? Just because you saved me doesn't mean you're entitled to a conversation!"
The man simply nodded as she lashed out, his expression so calm. When she finally paused, he opened his mouth to speak, but his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Sorry," he said, holding up the phone. "I have to take this."
Without waiting for her reply, he walked off, answering the call as he disappeared into the crowd.
Charlotte, still fuming, turned on her heel and left the beach. The encounter left her in a rage, and she didn't want to think about it.
By the time she reached her apartment, the sun was high since it's past noon. As she approached, her steps slowed.
There, leaning casually against a red Bentley car, was Eleanor.
She was dressed impeccably as always, her designer outfit and perfectly styled hair making her look like she had just stepped off a magazine cover.
Charlotte froze in her tracks, her stomach twisting. Eleanor turned her head, a sly smile curling at the edges of her lips.
"Well, isn't this a surprise?" Eleanor said, her tone dripping with mock sweetness as she straightened her posture…