Love Beyond Borders [ON-GOING]

CHAPTER 1: EILEEN

I was just an ordinary girl, and everything changed when I met the first love of my life. Is love truly painful? Is there such a thing as a happy love story, like in a fairytale?

EILEEN'S POV

Alarm clock...

I woke up to the blaring noise of my alarm clock, and suddenly it hit me: today was my first day as a book publisher at the company I had applied to.

"Damn it, Eileen, how could you forget that?" I muttered to myself. I hurried to take a shower and get dressed, skipping breakfast in my rush. Maybe I could grab something to eat at the office.

I left my apartment and called Uber, but just as I was about to get in, a grumpy man pushed past me and opened the door. Frustrated, I decided to take the train instead.

Thankfully, I made it to the office with five minutes to spare, even though my heart raced with anxiety as I approached the building.

"You're late, newbie. It's your first day and you're already late. How irresponsible!" Mr. Yong barked as I walked in.

"I'm sorry. My alarm clock was broken," I replied, cringing at my own excuse. What a pathetic reason. Would Mr. Yong actually buy that?

When I looked into his eyes, I could tell he wasn't impressed. "Seriously, Ms. Eileen, you're going to give me a lame excuse?" he said, crossing his arms.

"I'm truly sorry, Mr. Yong. I promise it won't happen again," I insisted, hoping I could turn this around. I needed this job.

"Alright, then I'll call Ms. Candice to introduce you to your new workspace," Mr. Yong replied.

He dialed a number, and soon a hot, nerdy blonde entered the room, but she was with... Who is he? Is he even real?

I couldn't help but drool a little; he was so masculine and incredibly handsome.

"Are you done staring at my boyfriend?" Candice shot back, breaking my trance. Great. He's taken. Just my luck.

"I'm Candice, and this is my boyfriend, Thomas. Thomas is a writer, and I'm Mr. Yong's assistant," she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

I was about to introduce myself, but...

"Okay, Eileen, Thomas will show you your workspace. I have to get going. And keep your eyes off my boyfriend!" Candice commanded.

Not wanting to provoke her further, I nodded as Thomas began to lead me away.

My jaw dropped when I saw my workspace; it looked like a disaster zone, papers scattered everywhere and a thick layer of dust covering everything.

"So this is your workspace. Clean it up yourself; I've got to go. Nice to meet you, Arleen," Thomas said dismissively.

"Actually, it's Eileen," I corrected him.

"Whatever," he replied, rolling his eyes.

He might be handsome, but he was rude—just like Candice. Great, I thought, this is going to be a long day of cleaning.

As I started to tidy up, I thought about writing a reflection on *Pride and Prejudice*. But soon, exhaustion took over, and I dozed off at my desk.

When I woke up, I found Mr. Yong sitting in my chair, and panic shot through me. I looked at the clock; it was 9:00 a.m. Had I really slept here that long? And wait, I was still wearing the same shirt...

"Mr. Yong, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep here," I stammered.

"Nice work, Ms. Eileen. I've never read anything quite like this before," Mr. Yong said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"I'm glad you liked it, Mr. Yong. I promise I'll keep my job and won't sleep at my desk again," I replied, relieved but still embarrassed.

"Well, go home because, frankly, you don't smell very good," he added, raising an eyebrow.I quickly sniffed myself and realized he was right.

As I was about to leave, I bumped into Thomas again.

"Geez, watch where you're going... Wait, what is that smell? Is it you? You smell awful! Are you a beggar or something, wearing the same shirt?" Thomas sneered.

I just ignored him and walked out of the company, trying to shake off the embarrassment.

Eileen's Apartment

Right, I was living in an apartment. If you're wondering where my parents are, they're in Italy with my older brother, handling our family business.

I might be rich, but I want to be independent and carve out my own life without relying on my parents.

I grabbed some milk from the refrigerator and munched on a taco I had bought outside my apartment, sighing as I thought about my day. What a mess life had become.

I didn't want to accept my dad's offer to make me vice president of his company; I despise economics and finance. I believe in always pursuing your dreams.

After taking a shower, I grabbed my laptop and started to write a blog. I run a blog called "Lady Shadow."

It has a cool ring to it, right? I'm a lady in the shadows, wanting to remain unseen.

Writing is my passion, and I dream of crafting my own stories, sharing them without revealing my identity.

Could real love exist? I've never experienced it, not even a kiss or a hug. I was literally a virgin and had never had a boyfriend.

I often think love is painful, especially after watching my friend Vanessa go through her first heartbreak, yet she continues to date.

While I lay in bed writing, an ad popped up on my screen for a dating site. Curiosity piqued, and I thought about what love could be like.

So, I signed up on Tinder and set up my profile. My notifications flooded with matches, many of them attractive. But then I saw a name that made my heart skip a beat...

Draven Lewis—he was undeniably hot.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey readers! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I'm planning to start a blog where we can talk and share thoughts about love and relationships. Maybe I can help you navigate the ups and downs of love!