The CEO's Match

Unwelcome News

As I left the boardroom, my mind still simmering with the events of the meeting, I made my way back to my desk. The familiar hum of the office surrounded me-the steady clatter of keyboards, the low murmur of conversations, the occasional ring of a phone. Normally, this cacophony was just background noise, but today, it was grating on my last nerve.

I could still feel the remnants of adrenaline coursing through me, the need to tear into something-or someone-barely contained. But as I approached my desk, something else caught my attention. There, neatly placed in the center of my otherwise organized workspace, was an envelope.

My name was written on it in crisp, formal handwriting. No return address, no indication of who it was from. Curious, I picked it up and carefully tore it open, pulling out the letter inside.

I began scanning the words, my eyes moving quickly over the page, taking in the formal language and the official company letterhead. But the more I read, the more my brow furrowed, and the knot of tension in my chest tightened.

A trip? A business trip?

I stopped, rereading the section to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. But no, it was all there, laid out in black and white. Some emergency at one of our international branches required immediate attention, and guess who had been selected to accompany Alexander Blackwood on this delightful little excursion?

Me. Of course.

I groaned, a low, frustrated sound that I quickly swallowed as I continued reading. The trip was scheduled for the end of the week-hardly any time to prepare, not that it mattered. I was always prepared. But still, the thought of being stuck on a plane, in a foreign country, dealing with God-knows-what kind of corporate nightmare, and doing it all with Alexander hovering nearby... It was not how I envisioned my life right now.

My eyes darted back to the letter, searching for any detail that might make this whole thing slightly less awful. But there was nothing-just the cold, hard facts: I was going on this trip whether I liked it or not. And knowing Alexander, he probably hadn't even thought to ask me first. It was just assumed that I'd drop everything and follow him halfway around the world. Because why wouldn't I?

I tossed the letter onto my desk with a huff, leaning back in my chair as I stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep my frustration in check. This was typical. This was exactly the kind of thing I should have expected, and yet it still managed to get under my skin. Being the best at my job came with its own set of downsides, and being at Alexander's beck and call was clearly one of them.

"Unbelievable," I muttered to myself, crossing my arms as I tried to figure out how I was going to survive this trip without completely losing my mind. The thought of spending that much uninterrupted time with Alexander-of being trapped in close quarters with him for days on end-was enough to make me want to throw something. Preferably something breakable.

The man was infuriating on a good day. Sure, he was brilliant, and yes, he was the best in the business, but that didn't make him any less difficult to deal with. His constant demands, his impossible standards, and that way he had of looking at me like he could see right through all my defenses-it was exhausting.

But there was no use in fighting it. If Alexander wanted me on this trip, then on this trip I would go. Whether I liked it or not. Which, spoiler alert, I did not.

I glanced down at the letter again, half-expecting it to have changed into something more palatable on a second reading, but of course, it was the same. The only thing left to do now was to inform Alexander that I had received his little "request" and prepare myself for whatever fresh hell awaited us on this impromptu journey.

With a deep breath, I stood up, straightened my skirt, and grabbed the letter off my desk. If I was going to have to deal with this, I might as well do it head-on. And if that meant confronting Alexander about it, then so be it. After all, he wasn't the only one who could give orders around here.

I walked towards his office, mentally bracing myself for the conversation ahead. This trip was going to be a test of patience, wit, and willpower. And I had every intention of passing-with or without Alexander's approval.

I strode through the office, the letter clutched in my hand like a piece of evidence. Each step fueled the fire of my frustration, and by the time I reached Alexander's office door, I was more than ready to confront him. It was one thing to be his right hand, his go-to for everything that required a sharp mind and quick thinking-but to be whisked away on some last-minute business trip without so much as a heads-up? That was pushing it.

Without bothering to knock, I pushed the door open. Alexander was behind his desk, leaning over a stack of documents with that same intense focus he always had. The man could probably command armies with a single glance, but right now, he was about to get a piece of my mind.

"Alexander," I said, my tone clipped as I held up the letter, "care to explain this?"

He barely looked up from his papers. "I assume you've read the details."

"Yes, I've read the details," I snapped, stepping further into the room. "A business trip, just like that? And you didn't think to discuss it with me first?"

He finally met my eyes, his expression cool and controlled. "I didn't think it was necessary. You're my secretary, Nova. This is part of your job."

My jaw clenched. "Part of my job is handling your schedule, managing your meetings, and making sure this entire operation runs smoothly-not being dragged across the world at a moment's notice like I'm some kind of afterthought."

Alexander set his pen down, leaning back in his chair as he studied me. "You're not an afterthought. I need you on this trip because I trust you to handle whatever we're going to face. This isn't a vacation, Nova. It's critical for the company."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. He wasn't wrong about the trust part-I knew that-but the way he went about it was maddening. "I'm not saying I won't go," I replied, my voice calmer now, "but a little consideration would have been nice. You know I don't do well with surprises."

His gaze softened ever so slightly, a rare moment of something almost like understanding passing between us. "I'll keep that in mind for the future."

I arched an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "Sure you will."

Alexander stood up, moving around the desk until he was standing just a foot away from me. "Nova, this trip is going to be challenging. I need you at your best, and I need you to trust me on this."

I looked up at him, caught off guard by how close he was. There was an intensity in his eyes that I couldn't quite read, something that went beyond the usual businesslike demeanor he always had. It was unnerving, and yet... I couldn't look away.

"I always trust you, Alexander," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "But you need to remember that I'm not just some extension of your will. I have my own mind, my own opinions, and I expect them to be respected."

He nodded, a small, almost imperceptible movement, but it was enough. "Noted."

The tension between us shifted slightly, not entirely gone but no longer so sharp. There was something about the way he looked at me in that moment that made me wonder if there was more to this trip than just business. But before I could dwell on it, Alexander turned away, his focus back on the papers scattered across his desk.

"We leave at the end of the week," he said, his tone all business again. "Make sure everything is in order before we go."

I exhaled slowly, the fire in me cooling as I nodded. "Understood."

With that, I turned to leave, the letter still in my hand as I headed back to my desk. My mind was already shifting gears, thinking about everything I needed to prepare for this trip. But there was a lingering unease in my chest, a nagging feeling that this wasn't going to be just another business excursion.

As I reached my desk and sat down, I stared at the letter for a moment before tossing it aside. Whatever this trip had in store, I'd be ready. But one thing was for sure-Alexander might think he could control every aspect of this company, but when it came to me, he'd have to earn that control.

I wasn't just his secretary. I was Nova Dice, and I'd be damned if anyone, even Alexander Blackwood, forgot that.