Episode two: UNEXPECTED BOSS

Helena’s POV

I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him…

The way his arms had wrapped around me, the warmth of his body pressing against mine.

I shook my head. No. I hate him. Or at least… I’m supposed to.

My thoughts were interrupted when my phone rang.

“Daniel ❤️” flashed on the screen.

I hesitated before picking up.

“Hello…”

“Where have you been?” His voice was sharp, cold, full of control.

“I told you, I had a family dinner,” I replied, trying to sound calm.

“And you couldn’t call me?”

I sighed. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“It is a big deal to me, Helena,” he snapped.

I went silent.

“You’re my fiancée. I need to know where you are at all times.”

My chest tightened.

“I’m tired, Daniel. Can we talk tomorrow?”

There was a pause.

“Fine,” he said finally. “But don’t ignore my calls again.”

The line went dead. I dropped my phone on the bed and exhaled slowly.

Why did talking to my own fiancé feel so exhausting?

And why… did I feel safer in a stranger’s arms last night?

The next morning, I got ready for work. Today was important—my first official day at Blake Holdings. I couldn’t afford mistakes.

The building stood tall and intimidating. Glass walls reflected the morning sun, shimmering like a fortress.

I took a deep breath and walked in.

“Good morning,” the receptionist greeted politely.

“Good morning,” I replied, trying to sound confident.

After getting directions, I made my way to the executive floor. My heart pounded with each step.

I knocked softly.

“Come in.”

The voice… my breath hitched. No. It can’t be.

I pushed the door open slowly. And froze.

Sitting behind the large, polished desk, looking like he owned the world, was Tristan Blake.

My heart stopped.

“You?” I whispered.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes dark and unreadable.

“Miss Clumsy,” he said, a smirk forming.

Heat rushed to my face.

“I… I didn’t know—”

“That I was your boss?” he cut in smoothly.

I swallowed hard. This had to be a nightmare.

He stood up, tall and commanding. Every step toward me made my heart race.

“So… you work for me now,” he said, stopping in front of me.

“Yes, sir,” I forced out.

“Sir?” His lips twitched. “That sounds… interesting.”

I frowned, confused by his gaze. It was like he knew something I didn’t.

“Relax,” he said suddenly, stepping back. “I don’t bite.” Liar.

He handed me a file. “Your work starts now.” Our fingers brushed. A strange shock ran through me.

“Careful, Helena,” he murmured, eyes darkening. “You might get burned.”

The day dragged on. I poured over spreadsheets, reports, and endless emails, determined to make a good impression. Everything seemed to go smoothly—until Kevin, one of the senior associates, walked over.

“Hey, Helena… great work on the quarterly project,” he said, eyes glinting. “I mean… impressive.”

I smiled politely. “Thanks, Kevin. I worked hard on it.”

He leaned in slightly, voice low. “Actually, I’m submitting it under my name. You know, just formalities.”

My stomach twisted. “What? That’s my work!”

Kevin shrugged. “Don’t take it personally. Just company politics.”

I clenched my fists, forcing a calm voice. “Fine. But I’ll be watching.”

By late afternoon, the stress and tension had me craving company I could actually talk to. I decided to check on my friends at the bar where they worked.

The bar was lively, filled with music and chatter. Hana and Joyce waved me over.

“Finally! You look exhausted,” Hana said, pulling me into a hug.

“Tell me about it,” I sighed, ordering a drink.

The girls laughed, told stories, and teased each other. For a few hours, I could forget my boss, my fiancé, and my tangled life. It felt good… almost too good.

We shared secrets, silly gossip, and dreams for the future. Hana poured us another round, and we clinked glasses.

“Cheers to surviving Monday!” she joked.

“Cheers,” I replied, finally feeling lighter.

The music, laughter, and chatter made me forget the chaos in my life for just a little while. But eventually, I knew I had to go home.

I stepped outside into the quiet night, the streets glowing under the streetlights.

As I walked, a strange sound caught my attention. Rustling… snapping…

I slowed, peering into the shadows.

“Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?”

No response.

The hair on my neck stood on end. Something about the alley felt… wrong. My instincts screamed at me to leave, but curiosity pulled me closer.

Suddenly, a massive figure leapt from the darkness—a huge werewolf, eyes glowing like molten gold. Its fur bristled, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from deep in its throat.

I froze, my chest tightening. My breath came in short, shallow gasps.

“Please… don’t… hurt me,” I whispered, voice shaking.

The wolf took a step closer, its jaws snapping loudly, teeth glinting in the dim light. Its growl grew louder, almost a warning and a challenge at the same time.

My legs trembled. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my feet felt rooted to the ground.

“I… I’m not your enemy,” I stammered, raising my hands slightly, trying to appear smaller, calmer.

The wolf’s eyes locked onto mine. It bared its teeth fully now, the growl vibrating in its massive chest, sending shivers down my spine. Its claws scraped the concrete as it stepped closer, a clear threat.

Panic surged through me. My fear of thunder since childhood felt like nothing compared to this. Every nerve in my body screamed danger.

The alley seemed to shrink around me. Shadows twisted and stretched.

The wolf lunged slightly, a warning bite snapping just inches from me, forcing me to stumble back.

I gasped, terror filling every part of me. This wasn’t just a shadow in the dark… this was a predator, fully aware, fully aggressive.

And I was completely alone.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***