Chapter 1 That Night

Grace Bryce stared at her cheap yet moderate wristwatch; she adjusted her glasses and prayed for the day to come to an end. The day seemed longer than she expected, and Derek Knight, the CEO of Knight Enterprises, and her boss had been in several meetings today.

"Why are you not rounding up?" Lucy Hunt, her friend and colleague, leaned against the edge of her table with a mischievous smile hanging freely on her face.

"I'm trying to finish up a report for Mr. Knight; I can't wait to go home and take a nap", Grace said as she straightened up her back.

"What do you mean by taking a nap?" Have you forgotten that tonight is the annual gala? Lucy stared at her with a smirk on her face.

Grace sighed. "Lucy, you know I'm not up for these events; it's not my thing; I'd rather take a long nap.

"Neither is it my thing, but we need to go. Get to meet new people, who know if I'd find my Mr Right there"

"Miss Bryce, bring in the Hollington report." Derek's commanding voice interrupted them through the office intercom.

Grace sat up immediately and grabbed the reports. She made her way to Derek's office, leaving Lucy behind.

"Drop it on the table", Derek said, barely looking up from his sleek mahogany desk, while massaging his temple. His countenance was unpredictable.

"Sir, are you okay?" Grace asked out of concern, worried that she had never seen his face like that since she resumed work here two months ago.

Derek let out a sigh and lifted his head, his countenance softened a little bit. "I'm just having a rough day, that's all."

"Alright, if you say so" Grace wondered why the Almighty Mr Knight was looking vulnerable today.

"You'll be at the gala tonight, right? Derek asked as she turned and was about to leave.

"I...I... not really" She blinked In surprise.

"You should come," almost as if realising how odd he sounded, he cleared his throat. "It will be good for the company."

"Good for the company? Okay, I'll try," Grace replied and immediately left his office with a confused look on her face.

"Did he just ask me to come? He asked me?" Bewildered, she asked herself as she went back to her table. Lucy was waiting for her, all ready to go.

"Be fast, we need to find something to wear", Lucy nudged her. She arranged her table, picked up her bag and left with her.

At The Gala,

Lucy had managed to convince Grace to wear a sleek black dress that accentuated her curves modestly but still made her feel like she belonged in the grand ballroom of the exclusive Knight Enterprises gala.

She was adjusting the hem of her dress, nervous as they stepped into the grand ballroom of the Knight Tower.

The room looked exquisite, filled with elites dressed magnificently to show wealth and power.

It felt different to be in this kind of place with people in power. "Coming here was a bad choice", Grace whispered into Lucy's ear.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, you need to have fun once in a while; it's not every day you get to meet people like this. What's the worst that could happen?"

Grace forced a smile, but her nerves wouldn't settle. Being the secretary to Derek Knight, the billionaire CEO of Knight Enterprises, meant she had seen these people at their best and worst. And she knew one thing for certain; she didn't belong in their world.

They walked to the left side of the room, and as Grace reached for a glass of champagne from a passing waitress, a familiar hoarse voice sent shivers down her spine.

"You look good, Miss Bryce".

Grace turned

It was Mr Malcolm, one of the executives in the company, but he has a reputation - one that Grace wanted nothing to do with.

"That's an understatement, you look amazing," he said, moving closer.

Grace stepped back. "Thank you."

He reached for her hand, but before he could touch her, another voice interjected.

"Hello, Malcolm."

Grace turned to find Derek standing beside her, his presence radiating authority. He was dressed in a tailored black tuxedo, his dark hair slightly tousled, and he looked devastatingly handsome.

Malcolm chuckled. "Mr. Knight, you're here, I'll just go get a drink." He said as he walked away, definitely uncomfortable in Mr. Knight's almighty presence.

"You made it," Derek said to Grace, picking up a glass of champagne for himself. He took her hand and led her to a table.

As they sat down, his piercing blue eyes held a glint of amusement as he took a sip from his glass, watching her.

Grace became uneasy. She had a slight crush on her boss, but unfortunately, Derek had a fiancee; he was engaged to Christina Winslow, the elegant socialite who practically owned half of New York's high society.

"Yes, sir, I did."

"Don't call me sir, address me by my first name", Derek interjected

"I don't think I should. That's disrespectful, and you're my boss." She replied.

"I insist."

"Okay, sir...I mean Derek." Grace smiled.

"Let's have one more drink", Derek said, waving to the waiter nearby.

One drink turned two, then three.

Before Grace knew it, she was standing with Derek on the balcony, away from the noise. She brought out her phone from her purse to text Lucy about her whereabouts when she felt Derek lean into her slightly.

"You're different from the others", he murmured, his voice husky.

"Different? What do you mean?" She swallowed.

Derek leaned in more, his scent wrapping around her.

"You're natural," he said. "You've been working diligently and focused on your work, and you've grabbed my attention unknowingly."

"Derek..." Grace slightly pushed him backwards, noticing he might be a little drunk

"I can't take my eyes off you," he admitted, his fingers moving around her cheek

Grace became speechless; she didn't know what to do or say, but she liked the way she felt and didn't want it to stop.

For a while, she recalled Derek had a fiancee, and he shouldn't be flirting with her.

"I think you're drunk, why don't I take you to a room to rest." She said as she held him by the hand and dragged him to a room nearby.

She opened the door and dragged the tipsy Derek to the bed; she led him to the bed, took off his shoes so he wouldn't stain the duvet and was about to leave when he pulled her on top of him.

Her breathing hitched as she stared right into his striking blue eyes.

Grace knew this was dangerous. She should have stepped away, should have reminded him that he was engaged to Christina Winslow.

But she didn't. Instead, she stared.

She couldn't find the strength to pull out, she didn't want to. She was just a woman lying on top of a handsome man who made her feel different.

So when Derek leaned in and kissed her, she kissed him back, forgetting everything else.

And that kiss led to something more.

--

The Next Morning,

Grace stirred, the warmth of the sheets wrapping around her like a cocoon. Her body ached in places she had never felt before, and she was having a headache.

She sat up abruptly; her dress was rumpled, and this was not her room.

The memories of last night came rushing back like a wave.

Derek. His touch. His lips.

"Oh my God," she gasped.

Reality came crashing down on her.

"What have I done?"

She carefully slipped out of bed, her fingers shaking as she tried to think straight. She needed to leave before he woke up.

But before she could take another step, the door burst open.

The sound was like a gunshot in the silent room.

Before Grace could react, a hand yanked her by the hair, dragging her away from the bed.