Chapter 1 One

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Waking up is the absolute worst.

Ugh! I groggily reached over to silence the alarm and reluctantly got out of bed. Making my way to the bathroom, I couldn't help but admire its luxurious features; a walk-in steam shower, an oversized jacuzzi jetted tub, a separate dressing area, and high-end fixtures.

I live in one of my dad's prized penthouses, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive outdoor balconies, and all the perks.

I'm the heir to our family business.

I have three close friends, all guys; Max, Lucas, and Carlos. We've been friends since high school.

After my shower, I headed back to my bedroom, which is incredibly spacious with walk-in closets and sliding glass doors leading to a private balcony.

I quickly selected my outfit for the day; I had planned it out the night before so getting dressed was a breeze.

Today, I opted for a sleek black three-piece suit, accessorized with my trusty Rolex and black Oxford shoes. I put on my perfume as well before running my hand through my short dark hair then I made my way out of the room.

Passing through the living room with its cozy fireplace and elegant decor, I locked up the house, grabbing my phone, keys and briefcase.

Living in a penthouse means having your own private elevator; a small luxury that never gets old.

Ding!

The elevator chimed, signaling my arrival at the car park.

Making my way to where I parked, I found Marcus, my personal driver, already waiting for me.

"Good morning, ma'am . Hope you slept well?" Marcus greeted me warmly.

"My sleep was interrupted, Marcus, and I'd prefer to drive myself today, thank you," I replied, reaching for the car key.

"But, ma," he hesitated.

"Marc, I insist that you take a break from driving me every morning. It's your daughter's birthday, isn't it? Spend the day with Clara instead. I'll drive myself back home and tell her that I owe her a birthday gift," I suggested with a smile, catching him off guard.

Concerned, he inquired about my father. "W-w-what about your father?" he stammered.

Taking the keys from his hand, I walked towards the driver's seat.

"I'm perfectly capable of driving myself, Marcus. My father knows that, and I'm not as spoiled as Ria, so don't worry about him," I reassured him.

Ria, my younger sister, tends to think the world revolves around her.

"Thank you very much, ma'am ," Marcus responded gratefully.

"And stop with the 'ma,' you're old enough to be my uncle. Call me Alexis or Alex, please," I insisted.

"You're so kind, thank you very much," Marcus replied, visibly relieved.

With a light-hearted salute, I entered the car, ready to take the wheel.

"You're welcome, sir. Have a pleasant day," I concluded, acknowledging our roles with respect and appreciation.

As I drove, my phone rang, and to my annoyance, it was my best friends inviting me for a group call. I

'm typically not a fan of talking on the phone while driving, especially with this particular trio whom I affectionately refer to as a bunch of douchebags.

Despite my reservations, I begrudgingly answered the call, fully aware that it might not end well.

"I'm on my way to work, you guys know that, right?" I reminded them as I picked up the call and placed it on loud speaker.

"Yeah, and I'm a lazy asshole who doesn't have work to do," Carlos responded sarcastically.

"Whatever, asshole," I retorted.

"Hey, ease up, guys. It's too early for your shenanigans. My head's still pounding from last night," Max chimed in, known for his party-loving ways.

"Yeah, mine too. Still trying to savor the fantastic sex I had last night," Lucas added, the resident ladies' man.

I couldn't help but cringe at his casual mention of his romantic endeavors.

"You've got to stop with the one-night stands, Lucas. You might get an infection," Carlos and I chimed in.

"And get yourself a girlfriend, dude," he added.

"It's not my fault the girl was hot, even though I can't remember her name," Lucas defended himself.

"And it's not my fault the party was too good not to get high," Max added.

"I agree with you, Max," I shook my head, listening to their conversation.

"I clearly warned you all last night but you didn't listen. Now look who woke up headache-free and disease-free," I remarked as I arrived at work and turned off the engine.

I turned off the loudspeaker and placed the phone to my ear.

Stepping out of my car with my suitcase and phone, I approached the front door and greeted the security men, Anthony and Mike.

"I hate you," Carlos responded on the call.

"Me too," Max and Lucas chimed in. I stepped out of the elevator, heading for my office.

"Well, the feeling's mutual. I hate you all very much, now get off..."

"Good morning, Miss. Anderson," my secretary, Charlotte, cut me off as she handed me my coffee after opening my office door.

I smiled and mouthed a thank you to her before turning my attention back to the call.

"Wait, is that your secretary, Charlotte? Tell her this bad boy says hi," Lucas chirped in.

"No, I will not say that. And stop hitting on my secretary or you'll be banned from my office," I warned.

"Who else heard Alex inviting me to her office today?" Carlos suddenly asked.

"I heard her tell us to come over as well," Lucas answered. "Max, are you in?"

"Yes, of course," Max agreed.

"I don't want to see your ugly faces in my office today or I'll have security escort you out," I threatened.

"She's bluffing," Lucas coughed.

"Ugh, goodbye, assholes," I didn't wait for a response before ending the call.

Despite our banter, our conversations always brought laughter and companionship amidst our diverse personalities.

No matter how ridiculous those three could be, I still loved them, but I'd never admit it.

Upon entering my office, I settled into my chair and enjoyed a sip of the coffee thoughtfully prepared by Charlotte. It was a delightful blend, perfectly suited to my tastes.

Eager to delve into the day's tasks, I summoned Charlotte to join me.

As she entered, my gaze was inadvertently drawn to her attire; a striking red gown that accentuated her figure, stopping just above the knee.

The snug fit of the dress highlighted her curves, while her choice of black stiletto heels added a touch of elegance. Her cascading blonde curls framed her features, enhancing her already captivating beauty. With each movement, her long, bare legs commanded attention, creating a captivating allure. Struggling to maintain focus, I was momentarily lost in admiration until her discreet cough snapped me back to reality.

"Ahem, Miss Anderson, you called for me."

Startled, I composed myself, only to be met with a knowing smirk from Charlotte, who had undoubtedly observed my reaction.

"Yes, Charlotte, I wanted to review my schedule for today," I managed to say, attempting to regain my composure.

As she turned to retrieve her notepad, I found myself momentarily fixated on her silhouette, her curves drawing my attention.

I couldn't help but notice her confidence as she sashayed out of my office, leaving me momentarily flustered.