Chapter 4

Edwin's POV

I woke up the next morning feeling like I was adrift in the middle of an endless sea. The fog in my mind made it hard to recall what had happened last night; everything was hazy and fragmented. With a deep sigh, I pushed myself into a seated position and surveyed the room. My eyes caught a small note on the bedside table, and beside it, a hefty stack of cash. I dragged myself toward it, and as the pain from the night before flared up, fragments of last night’s wild encounter flooded back.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Ten thousand dollars in cash!

But that wasn’t the most intriguing part of this morning. It was the persistent thoughts of the perfectly sculpted man who had taken me so fiercely last night. I could still vividly feel his touch on my body, the rough sensation of the cuffs that had bound my wrists though I was free now, they felt so real. I quickly dressed, shoved the thick wad of money into my pockets, and headed downstairs.

Mark was waiting for me, a smirk plastered on his irritating face. 

“I’m not giving you shit,” I told him flatly.

He gasped in mock surprise. “Why do you think I want anything from you?”

I shot him a glare. “Because that’s all you ever want from me.” Without waiting, I pushed past him.

The bar wasn’t open yet, which made me glance back at him in confusion. “What time is it?”

“About six o’clock. You slept like a log. I came in and saw your ass hanging out, covered in... well, you know. It was disgusting, but I couldn’t look away.”

I grimaced, cringing at his words. “What the hell, man?”

“I’m serious. I didn’t take a picture, so you’re safe for now,” he chuckled. “You did well, Edwin . The client was more than satisfied; it rarely happens.”

I nodded, not feeling particularly proud but grateful for the cash in my pocket. “Whatever.” I replied, even as a thrill of pride crept in knowing I’d pleased such a handsome man. “I need to head out. I’ll report for work at noon. Is that okay?”

He grinned and leaned back. “Take the whole day off, Edwin . You’ve earned it.”

I left the bar without another word. On my way home, a notification suddenly froze me in place on the sidewalk. Someone nudged me forward, and I blinked several times to clear my vision.

Dear Mr. Reed...

What followed wasn’t the usual rejection. I got accepted into one of the companies I’d applied to, one of the biggest of all. EmpireSpark Ventures, owned by none other than the Cheslyns, one of the wealthiest families in the state.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed, adrenaline surging through me, and I dashed home.

I couldn’t believe it, but I arrived shouting at the top of my lungs. I rushed into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and was out in less than ten minutes. Breathing heavily, I tore through my wardrobe searching for the perfect outfit for the interview.

Standing in front of a small mirror beside my rickety bed, I adjusted my tie. The only flaw in my look was my shoes. I stared at the cash I’d dumped on the bed, scooping a few bills into my pockets enough to buy some new shoes for this occasion.

I hurried to my mother’s room and she was still peacefully asleep. Ruby must’ve gone to school by now, so I left her a note. I found an envelope on her messy desk, slipped a few notes inside, and added a letter instructing her to get my mother’s medication when she returned from school.

Out of the house before 7:30, I headed straight to the boutique opposite my block. I bought a decent, brown leather pair of shoes for about forty dollars, the priciest thing I could afford and then hailed a cab.

When I arrived at the headquarters of EmpireStark Ventures, two burly guards blocked my way at the glass revolving doors. I quickly pulled out my phone and showed them the interview email.

“Sorry, I’m supposed to be in there in about two minutes,” I explained. The guards grunted and parted, letting me in. I hurried toward the reception desk, panting slightly as I tried to catch my breath.

The striking blonde behind the desk looked at me with hesitance. "Sorry, you’re here for...?”

I swallowed hard, took one last deep breath, and said, “The internship interview. I got the email this morning and rushed over as soon as I could”

“The boss is currently busy,” she cut me off abruptly, pointing toward a waiting area. “You’ll need to wait there. I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, sinking into the chair with a shaky smile.

What if I was already too late? Her stare felt discouraging.

After about twenty minutes, she snapped her fingers at me. I jumped up immediately.

“Last floor. It’s the only office on that level. You can’t miss it,” she said. “The boss will see you now.”

She directed me to the elevator, and as I ascended, I couldn’t shake the feeling that those words “the boss” carried weight. Someone in charge of such a colossal empire had to be a very powerful man.

The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. I stepped out into a corridor, where another receptionist sat behind a sleek desk. She simply gestured toward a door at the end of the hall. Heart pounding, I took a deep breath and pushed it open.

The sight of the man behind the massive mahogany desk froze me in place.

It was him.

My eyes widened, and a strange heat spread through my body. I swallowed hard, feeling my throat dry up, unable to believe what I was seeing.

It was my last client who was the boss!