The Submissive CEO

Chapter 5: Frederick

Alex

The next morning, Alex sat up with a start, last night's kiss flashing in his mind. The memory lingered, unsettling as he dressed, tightening his tie a little too firmly before forcing himself to loosen it again. He nearly forgot his watch. His thoughts kept circling back to Olivia—how would she react? Would she act like it didn't happen?

When he reached the office, everything seemed as usual: phones buzzing, fingers tapping keyboards, the air alive with muted conversation. But when he saw Olivia at her desk, sitting as composed as ever, his heart lurched. Her sapphire eyes lifted to meet his, calm and unreadable.

"Good morning, Mr. Mitchell," she greeted smoothly.

"G-good morning, Olivia." The stutter slipped out before he could stop it. Her eyebrow arched slightly, though she remained perfectly polite.

Great. Way to look in control. He looked down, cursing himself, then looked up, trying to gauge her expression. Nothing. It was as though she'd scrubbed her face of any clue. He glanced at her again, caught between fascination and frustration.

She knocked on his office door a while later, holding a heavy stack of reports. "Good morning, Mr. Mitchell. I have the latest updates on company matters for your review." Her voice was level but brisk.

Alex stood, reaching for the stack. "Here, let me help you with those—"

She pulled back slightly, her eyes narrowing. "I can handle this, Mr. Mitchell. Your job is to listen and act upon the reports I provide." Her tone was crisp, professional, as if reading from a rulebook.

Alex blinked, taken aback. "Of course... I didn't mean to overstep. Just let me know if you need anything." Her formality was a chilly reminder of the boundaries she was determined to set. He settled back into his seat, his heart sinking a little.

Olivia looked him squarely in the eyes, her back straight and expression unreadable. "May I begin the report, Mr. Mitchell?"

He stiffened, forcing a smile. "Please proceed, Ms. Dawson."

Without missing a beat, Olivia launched into the numbers. "Firstly, the quarterly financial reports just came in. Our profits are up by 15%, and the recent marketing campaign has had a positive effect on sales."

"That's excellent. Make sure the detailed financial breakdown is ready for next week's board meeting," he managed, trying to sound authoritative. She didn't so much as glance at him.

She continued, "Next, the HR department has finalized the new employee training program. They believe it will enhance productivity and employee satisfaction."

Alex's mind drifted, thinking about the team-building event. Would she attend? He almost asked, but caught himself. Instead, he said lightly, "Are you planning to join us at the team building?"

Olivia's gaze flickered to him for a brief second, and she replied in a measured tone, "As part of the new employees, I'm required to attend."

Alex chuckled, a little forced. "Silly question, I suppose. Right, let's arrange a meeting with the HR head to discuss any potential challenges."

As Olivia continued her report, Alex found his attention drifting to her mouth, remembering the brush of her lips last night. He caught himself and looked away, mentally cursing. Then her fingers snapped in front of him, pulling him back.

"Oh, uh... Sorry. Go ahead and schedule a meeting with the marketing team later today." His face warmed as he cleared his throat, focusing on the papers in front of him.

Olivia nodded, her face giving nothing away. "Lastly, the legal department has updated us on the ongoing litigation. The negotiations are progressing, and they're optimistic about reaching a favorable settlement."