The CEO's Seductive Whisper

"Ohh yes... Faster Ben... Ahh." A moan sounded from outside Ben's apartment.

I pushed open the door to Ben's apartment. The sight that greeted me would forever be etched into my memory. There he was, Ben, naked and on top of a woman. A woman I recognized all too well. The café waitress from our favorite coffee shop. The place where we had shared countless dates, laughter, and dreams. The irony was not lost on me.

His hips moved rhythmically, her sighs filling the room. It was a sound I knew I would never forget.

"Oh, Ben," she moaned again, her voice filled with pleasure. She knew I was there, watching, but she didn't stop. She even dared to smile, a satisfied grin that made my blood boil.

"Enjoying the show, Evelyn?" she taunted, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

I felt my heart shatter, the pieces falling to the floor.

"Ben," I choked out, my voice barely a whisper.

Ben, for his part, seemed not aware of my presence. He continued his activities, lost in his world of pleasure. The sight of him, uncaring and unfeeling, was like a punch to the gut.

"Evelyn," he finally grunted, not even bothering to look at me. "This isn't what it looks like."

I couldn't stand there any longer. I turned on my heel and ran, their pleasure echoing in my ears. I left Ben's apartment, leaving behind the man who had just shattered my heart into a million pieces.

The world seemed spinning around me as I stumbled back to my apartment. The tears came then, hot and fast, as I collapsed onto my bed. I cried until there were no more tears left, and my sobs turned into whimpers.

***

The shrill ring of my phone pierced through the fog of sleep, dragging me back to reality. I groaned, my head throbbing with a dull ache. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Why was I on the floor? Oh, right. I must have rolled off the bed in my sleep.

I pushed myself up, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my skull. I must have hit my head when I fell. I rubbed the tender spot, grimacing. Just what I needed to start my day.

The phone continued to ring, its shrill tone grating on my nerves. I scrambled onto the bed, searching for the source of the noise. My hand closed around the cool metal of my cell phone. I squinted at the screen, the bright light making my head pound even more. Susan. Of course, it was Susan.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the inevitable scolding. "Hello?" I answered, trying to keep the grogginess out of my voice.

"Evelyn! Finally! I've been trying to reach you for the past half an hour!" Susan's voice was sharp, her irritation evident.

"I...uh...fell off the bed," I mumbled, wincing at how ridiculous that sounded.

"You fell off the... what? Never mind. Just get to the office as soon as you can. We have a crisis."

I sighed, rubbing my throbbing temple. "Alright, Susan. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Oh, and Evelyn?" Susan's voice took on a stern tone that made my heart sink. "Did you forget about our meeting with Venture Corp this morning?"

Venture Corp? My mind raced, the fog of sleep quickly dissipating. I rushed to my desk, eyes scanning the mess of papers and sticky notes for my planner. My fingers finally closed around the familiar leather-bound book. I flipped it open, my eyes darting to today's date. There it was, in my messy handwriting: 'Meeting with Venture Corp - 9 AM.'

A wave of regret washed over me. How could I have forgotten? Suddenly, I recollected last night. I remembered shedding tears, using tissues, and finishing a tub of ice cream. I regretted my forgetfulness. I had been too occupied crying over Ben. All because Ben, my ex-boyfriend, slept with a café worker. The hurt was still new, and the deceit still stung.

"Susan, I..." I started, but she cut me off.

"I don't want to hear it, Evelyn. Just get here in an hour. And for heaven's sake, try to look presentable."

The line went dead, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief. An hour? I hadn't even showered yet! I glanced at the clock, my heart pounding in my chest. I had precisely fifty minutes to get ready and get to the office.

I tossed my phone onto the bed and rushed to the bathroom. As the hot water cascaded over me, I couldn't help but berate myself. I had let my heartbreak over Ben interfere with my professional life. But no more. I am Evelyn, and I am stronger than this. I would get through this day with my head held high. Because, as Susan always said, the show must go on. And so I would.

Over the past three months, I have changed boyfriends five times. I had let myself fall for someone five times, only to have my heart broken. I had picked up the pieces five times and tried to move on. And now, I was crying over another man who had proven himself unworthy of my love.

I let out a bitter laugh echoing in the empty room. "Evelyn, you know how to pick them, right?" I muttered to myself.

Just then, my phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. It was Susan. Again. I picked up, bracing myself for another scolding.

"Evelyn, forget about the shower. Dominic Sterling, the CEO of Venture Corp himself, is going to be at the meeting. We can't afford to be late."

My heart skipped a beat. Dominic Sterling? Who is he? I didn't have time to process the information. I had to get ready. Now.

I rushed to the bathroom, splashing water on my face. I didn't have time for a shower, not if I wanted to make it to the meeting on time. I grabbed the first clothes I could find in my closet: jeans and a simple blouse. I dressed quickly, not bothering with makeup or accessories. Just fixing up a bit of my lengthy hair that was already straight was sufficient. There was no time.

Then I grabbed my bag and keys and rushed out of my apartment.

I arrived at the office in a flurry, my heart pounding. I didn't even bother with the elevator, opting for the stairs instead. I took them two at a time, thankful for my long legs, that allowed me to move quickly.

As I reached the second floor, I turned the corner, my mind focused on getting to the meeting room. Unfortunately, my haste resulted in me colliding with a solid figure. I stumbled back, my hand flying to my mouth as I gasped in surprise.

Just then, I heard a gasp from behind me. I turned to see Susan, her eyes wide as she stared at us. "Mr. Sterling!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise.

I froze, my heart dropping to my stomach. I slowly turned back to the man I had bumped into. He was tall, with dark, neat hair and piercing blue eyes. As I now realized, he was Mr. Sterling, the CEO of Venture Corp, whom Susan had talked about before.

"I... I'm so sorry," I stammered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I didnt see you there."

Mr. Sterling just stared at me, his expression cold and unreadable. There was no chuckle, no friendly reassurance. Instead, he straightened his suit, his gaze never leaving mine. "Be more careful next time," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

He turned on his heel and left me in the hallway. I watched as he disappeared into the meeting room, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

I let out a shaky breath, my heart still pounding. It was not how I had imagined my day would start. But then again, today was going differently than planned.