The Billionaire's second choice

JADE AELYN ROSE'S POV

"You can do this Jade "

"You can do t…."

One peek at the mirror was enough for the daily affirmations to fall off my mouth and bad memories flooding in as I continued to stare at my reflection.

"Fatty jade"

I winced slightly as I remembered the nickname that stuck to me through middle and high school.

I stared at myself, jeering my thoughts away from the current depressing ones.

I wasnt that person anymore, I was better now, I think.

"Cmon jade, you probably have a better job than most of them."

I said, trying to hype myself until a creeping voice in my head whispered

"That's if you could keep it "

I realised it was futile trying to hype myself, that depressing voice would always be there to shut me up.I tore my eyes my from the mirror, my mind riddled with disturbing thoughts that was until

My room door was thrown open by a strange man, I looked at him as though I was a deer caught in head lights.

"Sorry I was looking for the bathroom "

He said while running his hands through his hair as an attempt to look cool

I only just blinked and pointed to the door across the hallway. He smiled sheepishly before shutting the door, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I really had to talk with my roomate Diane, she made life so difficult for me.

I couldn't forget the amount of times, I had to pick her from the bar because she was drunk out of her mind nor the amount of times I had to pick her up from the local police station.

I specifically hated seeing the bodies of naked men, Jay walking into the apartment like I wasn't living here.

My alarm rang beside me and I rose to my feet and grabbed my things. Today I was starting a new job as the Assistant to the COO of a fortune 500 Company called SANDOVAL CONSTRUCTION….

I took one last glance in the mirror, straightening the creases in my outfit before dashing out of my room.

I walked into the main area, rolling my eyes at my naked roomate, who had a red solo cup in her grasp. I decided to tiptoe over her but she snapped her eyes open before I could even get to the door.

"Get me water Jade"

I bit my lip as I continued to stare at the wooden floor.

"Water Jade, are you deaf!"

She raised her voice and threw the solo cup at me, making Alcohol dappen my shoes, I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water in the fridge, tears brimmed in my eyes as I stared at her

I wanted to say No

I wished I could say No but unfortunately I couldn't

"H..here y.y.you go"

She chucked down the water before throwing the bottle at my head and laughing

"How's your pathetic self going to work with that stutter?"

I bit my lip from crying, I stuttered only when put in uncomfortable positions, I didn't do it so often. I swallowed whatever I wanted to say and bolted out of the door.

As I drove to the office with tears brimming in my eyes, I tried convincing myself that she was only jealous because I got the job and she didn't.

It was a 40 minute drive to SANDOVAL CONSTRUCTION. I stared in awe as I looked at the building in front of me. It felt like a mighty tower with the name SANDOVAL CONSTRUCTION shining bright Atop of it.

"Are you going to stare Ms Rose or get in"

My head Snapped up at the scowling face of my supervisor,

"Good morning Ms lauren"

She raised her palms shushing me as we walked into the building with her heels clicking rather loudly.

"You're 6 minutes late on your first day "

She stared at the exquisite timepiece resting lazily on her hand. We walked into the waiting elevator and she continued

"Tardiness is unacceptable here"

She snapped at me and I bowed my head in shame, I peeked at the other employees in the elevator, some gave me pitiful looks and others snickered.

"But then I would expect nothing less than from someone who came from a nameless school."

I balled my fists, trying to keep my anger at bay, I worked hard to graduate top of my class, she had no right to demean me like so,

"Do you need a royal invite to exit the elevator "

I blinked, I was lost in my thoughts. I hadn't realised the elevator had stopped.

I ran behind her as she walked particular fast to torture me more.

I had to catch up to her, I met her standing infront of two large double doors.

"Let's meet your new boss shall we"

I took a deep breath and she threw the doors open and we walked in, I calmly took the sight before me

My eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before me.

There, seated, was a man unlike any I had ever seen. With a tall, imposing figure clad in an expensive tailored suit, he exuded an air of power that seemed to fill the entire hallway.

Without raising his head in my direction, a subtle smirk played on his lips. It sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't tear my gaze away from his ambience that was scribbling something down on a piece of paper, was as if he knew something, something that sent a wave of unease washing over me.

Before I could regain my composure, he spoke, his voice smooth and velvety, dripping with a hint of danger.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A timid little assistant, late on her first day. How delightful."

My breath hitched in my throat as his words hung in the air.

His voice sounded a little to familiar

I knew that voice very well, I just couldn't put a finger on it

His presence was overwhelming, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he held the key to unlocking a dangerous path.

But as I opened my mouth to speak, he suddenly snapped his head up and fear washed over my being.

He had the same icy blue eyes that tortured me for six years

The same eyes that were responsible for the many scars littering my body

The same eyes as my high school bully.

All these thoughts raced through my mind, but with each passing moment, the mystery deepened, leaving me on the edge of a precipice. Little did I know, this encounter was only the beginning, plunging me into a world of secrets and unexpected twists that would change my life forever.