CHAPTER 1
Lucien Grey, a name that brings fear into the heart of many, is rather among the richest men in the county.
He runs a global empire, dominating the tech industry with groundbreaking innovations. At the age of 30, his name is synonymous with power, ambition, and ruthlessness. He built Grey Industry to be one of the best.
He is a handsome man of 6'2", who possesses a strong presence that commands attention effortlessly. With his chiseled jawline, tailored suits and a bank account that could buy dreams. He was the epitome of charm. Women flocked to him, drawn by his intoxicating smile and the thrill of being pursued by the infamous billionaire playboy.
To Lucien, it wasn't about the women; it was about the game. He saw relationships as a sport, each conquest a victory, and each broken heart a trophy.
He would sweep women off their feet, promising them the world—private yachts, and five-star dinners. He knew exactly how to make them fall.
And just like that, he would walk away, with no explanations nor goodbyes. The morning after always came with an empty bed and a bouquet of roses left behind as if to soften the sting of his departure.
The tabloid adored him, dubbing him "The Billionaire Heartbreaker" but he didn't care. He saw love as a weakness and was satisfied with his one- night stands.
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ANASTASIA
Grinn!!! The alarm blared into her ears."Ugh!!" she groaned lazily, rolling on the bed. She opened her eyes slowly to the familiar sight of her room. 'I can't believe I had slept for four hours when it felt like I had only slept for minutes' she muttered to herself. She sluggishly stood up and went to the bathroom to wash up.
After washing up, She wore a corporate well-tailored blouse, pairing it with a black high-waisted trouser and a pair of stud earrings looking good in it. She smiled at the mirror knowing how beautiful she looked.
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Anastasia is a beautiful girl who radiates an effortless charm that captures attention the moment she enters a room. Her face is a harmonious blend of delicate and striking features. She has vibrant blue eyes which are large and expressive, revealing warmth and intelligence with long natural lashes. Her hair is a crown of beauty that bounces in curls, its color being golden blonde enhancing her unique allure. Her neck is elegant, adding to her poise and grace.She has a figure with proportions that exude confidence and elegance. A full bust, creating harmonious silhouettes. A narrow waist that accentuates the curve of her bust and hips.
Beyond her physical beauty, her demeanor is captivating, her laughter infectious, her smile gracious, and her kindness evident in every word and action.
She is also very intelligent having graduated with honours making her a subject of envy between friends.
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As she walked briskly on the busy streets of Los Angeles on that very bright morning,her heels clicked against the pavement. She entered the coffee shop down the road to get breakfast. As she turned around to walk to her seat after collecting her order, she felt herself drenched in coffee. She gasped looking at her ruined dress and the first thing that came to my mind is the fact that she had especially got the dress for the purpose of the interview.
Looking up, she saw a very handsome man staring grimly at her."You should have watched where you were going," He said.
"What!!" She yelled furiously at him. He moved a step backwards, seeming shocked at how loud she sounded. Her loud voice was starting to draw attention from other customers but she didn't care because all she could think of was her ruined dress.
"Hey! Why are you yelling at me? You are the one who hit me and made me spill the coffee" He said calmly.
'What?? Is this guy for real?' She thought, huffing loudly. "You spilled your coffee on my dress, but instead of apologizing you are busy claiming your rights!!!" She yelled at him even more loudly.
Then she poured the cup of coffee in her hand on his clothes. All the other customers whose attention were drawned gasped in horror upon seeing this. But she couldn't care any less because he had it coming.
"Now, that serves you right" She said with a hint of satisfaction in her voice upon seeing the horrified look on his face. She quickly walked away into the restroom abandoning her breakfast to get her dress cleaned.
As she walked out of the restroom, she noticed the man was gone and the shop was back in order.
Knowing she was very late as the email has clearly stated the interview is starting at 9:00am, she started to sprint down the streets, desperately hoping the interview she was attending would be my last one.
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Bustling through the glass-fronted building, she hurriedly informed the receptionist of her arrival. The receptionist gave her a disapproving glance before dialing a number. "The interview is over" She said after ending the call. Her stomach plummeted. "Over??" She repeated. "Yes, Over" the receptionist replied. "The last candidate left a few minutes ago," She added.
'Damn it!!' she thought. It was the fault of the man who poured coffee on her. She had to look for a bathroom to clean the stain on her dress.'I really can't miss this interview,' she thought.
"Is there anything you can do for me??"she asked." I really have to do this interview. It is my last hope" she pleaded with the receptionist, giving her the special puppy eyes which many people find hard to resist.
"Let's see," the receptionist said and dialed a number again, this time longer. When she dropped the call, she nudged her towards the elevator and said "The CEO himself will see you".
"What!!" She recoiled. She remembered reading about the CEO who is known for his strict business nature and devilishly good looks. She also remembered reading about his reputation in the tabloids, about his numerous affairs with women.
But then remembering she brought it upon myself by being late, she quickly got into the elevator trying to calm my nerves. As she walked out of the elevator on the top floor, she was directed to the office of the CEO. As she entered the spacious office, her breath was caught.
The CEO was seated on the desk with crossed arms facing the window.
'Even his back view screams handsomeness' she thought. Quickly realizing she had been staring for too long, she walked in fully and greeted him.
"Good morning sir" she said, switching back to my business mode.
He stood up to face her, revealing a handsome man. His face is defined by strong symmetrical features. A sharp jawline, a high cheekbone, a straight well- proportioned nose. His eyes, being the most captivating part of his visage are deep grey in colour with thick dark lashes. His lips were an enticing lighter shade of pink.
She gulped nervously, and opened her mouth to say something but closed them back when no words seemed to come out. She was so mesmerized by the figure that she didn't know when he got to her front, his eyes boring into hers.
Heat wafted through her cheeks as she blinked again and again. It was then she snapped out of her thoughts conscious of the fact that she had been staring for too long.
"You!" He said, his voice low and cutting.A flicker of recognition lighted her eyes and she froze. The memory rushed in and she remembered him as the man she had an encounter with earlier that morning. 'I must have been so mad to not see how handsome he was earlier ' she thought.
Now here he was, the CEO of the company she desperately wanted to work for. "Of course it's you," He said. She noticed he had changed his suit from the one he was wearing that morning.
"You're late," He said. She felt heat rise up to her cheeks. "I- I am.." she stuttered. She was so embarrassed that she wasn't sure whether to apologize or not.
" I apologize sir" she began. "I wasn't in my best behavior this morning sir" she said, not sure it was the right thing to say. "And why should I hire someone who is rude and short- tempered?" He asked with a smirk.
Him standing in front of her, with that sneaky smile on his face, he most certainly is the handsome man she had ever seen. It made her insides melt into a gooey mess. Her thighs clenched at the same time, and she was seemingly drowning in this hunk of a man.
"Because Sir, I am sure my skills can contribute significantly to your team" she replied, having regained her composure and confidence. He raised an eyebrow, seeming intrigued by her sudden confidence."Go on," He said.
She cleared her throat and began her prepared presentation, detailing her accomplishments and her ideas for the company. Despite her nervousness, she made sure to emphasize each point she made.
When I finished, he leaned forward folding his arm. "Impressive" He said.
She took a small gulp as his face was now inches from hers, his cool breath fanning my face making the hair of her skin stand rapidly.
"And what will you do if you meet investors like me?" He asked. She hesitated for a moment and replied with a small determined smile "All I have to do is stand my ground and prove my worth." He chuckled with a low, rich sound that sent shivers to her spine.
'Dammit!' she thought when she realized she couldn't stop looking at him and as she did, she came to the realization that this is the first time in years she was feeling attracted to someone after her ex-boyfriend.
"Interesting," He said. "You are dismissed. You will get feedback soon from our PR team." He also said, she stood up and walked out of the office knowing fully he must be staring at her butt.'I really do hope I get hired' she thought.