A Second Chance: The Billionaire's Quest for Forgiveness

Heather Rynn, the CEO of Warner Group, had been on a five-day business trip and was returning today. Unusually, this time, he didn't take his assistant, Prisley, with him.

Prisley had prepared the CEO's office with freesia flowers. Their subtle fragrance lingered in the air. Heather liked this scent.

In her own office, Prisley straightened her hair with a flat iron, then put it up in a high bun. Her original hair was long with golden slightly curly locks. But for the past four years, she had always styled it straight, trying to look like a specific woman, including her way of dressing and behavior.

Once her hair was done, Prisley sprayed some perfume into the air above her. She walked through the mist, frowning slightly. She didn't like this perfume, but she had to cater to Heather.

Yes, this was also part of her job. She was not only Heather's assistant but also his secret lover, bound by a five-year contract. It was her duty to be in her best condition before his return.

The assistant's office door was knocked, and as it opened, Heather appeared outside. He wore a sharp tailored suit, with the cuffs and tie perfectly. Everything was accentuating his tall and upright stature as well as angular face.

His slender light-colored eyes looked calmly at her, yet hinted an undercurrent.

Prisley couldn't hide her joy and greeted him, "Mr. Rynn, how was your trip?"

"Not bad," he replied flatly.

The door closed, and Prisley found herself pressed against the wall. His long and elegant fingers touched her face, sliding down to her lips.

"Haven't seen me for a few days, and now you act so distant?" He said with a slight smile, with a flicker of fire in his eyes.

Heather's gaze was captivating, enough to stir any woman's heart.

Everything was as it should be: her appearance, her scent, unchanged over the past four years. He had always been pleased with her.

Prisley shyly lowered her head. "It's better to maintain a proper distance when we are at work."

"Distance? I prefer zero distance, or even negative distance," he teased.

"What's negative distance?"

Before Prisley could figure it out, Heather's lips were on hers, hard and demanding.

One moment he was the epitome of elegance, the next, a beast.

"Mr. Rynn, it's almost work time..." Prisley tried to protest, but her words were swallowed by another heated kiss.

Maybe the days apart had intensified Heather's desire for Prisley. He seemed even more passionate than usual. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her breathing erratic, and she leaned weakly against his chest.

Heather lifted her onto the bed in the cubical of the office. His kisses trailed over Prisley's body, sending shivers through her. She tensed up. Her breathing was heavy. She held him tightly and her body responded to him.

With one thrust, Heather was fully inside her. Prisley let out a moan. Heather leaned close to her ear. "Did you miss me?" His deep and magnetic voice sent electric currents through her, making her shiver.

"Yeah..." she managed to whisper.

Heather smiled and continue his move, more wildly than usual. Prisley's body grew hotter, the electricity from Heather almost burning her. Pleasure washed over her, making her moan even louder.

But they were in her office; she couldn't let anyone hear. She bit her lip to stifle her intense joy. Heather's thrusts became faster and wilder, and she trembled, feeling like she was melting.

Prisley gasped, her eyes glazed. Her slender fingers traced the contours of Heather's muscles. His desire grew with every touch. The small space filled with raw and primal passion.

Prisley moaned softly with his thrusts. "Why are you biting your lip?" Heather asked playfully. "Let me hear you."

"I don't... want to be... heard..." Prisley forced out.

"So what?" he smirked, thrusting harder.

"Mm... Mm...mmm...!"

Overwhelming pleasure surged through her. Prisley bit her lip hard, muffling a scream. Her face and chest flushed with excitement, adding to her allure.

Heather didn't let her speak, driving her to climax. Prisley collapsed onto the bed, barely conscious. "Heather, are you crazy today?"

Heather didn't reply, holding her tightly and giving her a deep kiss before heading to the bathroom. Prisley lay there, reliving the wild moment. Something seemed off about Heather today, but she couldn't pinpoint it.

The shower stopped, and Heather emerged, a towel around his waist. His proportions were perfect, with sharply defined muscles resembling sculpted marble. His six-pack and V-shaped lines glistened faintly in the thin mist, exuding a wild surge of hormones. His angular cheeks rivaled those of any A-list celebrity.

"How's the company been?" Heather asked casually, as if he didn't care about the answer.

"Everything's fine. Worried I couldn't handle it?" Prisley smiled at him.

"No, never worried about that." He kissed her lightly, his previous passion gone, replaced by his usual cold demeanor.

This was his normal state.

Four years ago, Prisley made it through the final round of interviews from a large pool of applicants. The CEO, Heather, personally interviewed her and asked if she would sign a five-year lover contract with him, offering a substantial sum of money.

Prisley had just graduated from college at that time and had a lot of student loans. Her mother's death had left her with even more debt. It was hard to resist the temptation of money and the handsome CEO.

Such a perfect man, many women would die for. She signed the contract without hesitation.

Prisley took a clean shirt from the closet and helped Heather put it on, listing his afternoon schedule:

"There's a meeting with David this afternoon."

"You have a stack of contracts and documents from your trip. I've sorted them by priority."

"I rescheduled the meeting with Mr. Redford to the day after tomorrow."

From the obedient kitten on the bed, Prisley turned into a competent executive assistant.

Heather's eyes were tender. He kissed her earlobe, then her collarbone, moving downward.

"Prisley, you always make my life easier." Prisley's breathing grew heavy, and she pushed him away. "Heather, it's time for work. You have a busy afternoon."

She adjusted his tie and collar, stepped back to admire his impeccable appearance, and urged him to leave.

Watching Heather's back as he left, Prisley smiled. Four years had passed, and they had shared so many sweet moments in this small cubicle.

She was very clear about her role as a stand-in. Heather needed her only for physical pleasure. He didn't love her. He loved the body that matched his so well in bed.

Heather wouldn't even make love to her in his own office.

Thinking of this, Prisley felt a little down. She shrugged it off, telling herself, "It's fine, as long as I'm getting paid. Besides, he's perfect in bed. If he were another man, I'd even pay him."

She walked into the bathroom to clean herself. As water cascaded over her body, she realized there was only a year left on their contract. Would Heather renew it? He was such an outstanding man, she didn't want to let go.

Prisley dressed up and walked to the office area. She looked sharp and efficient. She wore high heels and a fitted business suit. Her hair was made in a bun.

The secretaries in the executive office were not as busy as usual. A few girls gathered around a computer screen, whispering.

"Didn't expect to hear gossip about the boss."

"His girlfriend from four years ago, she was his ultimate sweetheart."

"Why aren't you working? What's so interesting?" Prisley joked, walking over. The girls fell silent and returned to their desks.

Prisley saw a blurry photo on the screen but instantly recognized Heather. In the photo, Heather and a woman held wine glasses, gazing into each other's eyes. Prisley's eyes stung.

Her gaze dropped to the headline:

"Warner Investment Group CEO spotted with mystery woman. "

"Old flames rekindled after four years?"

She was back, the woman Prisley had been imitating!

She was back. What did that make me? The other woman? Prisley felt a wave of sadness.

She agreed to the contract because of the money and because Heather was handsome, but the main thing was he was single at that time.

No matter how poor Prisley was, she would never get involved in someone else's marriage or relationship. That was her bottom line.

Now that Filla had been back and they were so close, Prisley was just the extra person. Heather's trip this time was really to see Filla, wasn't it? Otherwise, why didn't he take her along?

The business trip...thinking of it now...

Heather had just left Filla's arms and then came to her for sex? No wonder she felt something was off about him today, something she couldn't put her finger on, but it was definitely there.

Disgusting!

Prisley rushed back to the bathroom. The intimacy and excitement moments ago seemed like a joke now!

Applying several times the usual amount of shower gel, she scrubbed her skin hard with a sponge, removing the scent of perfume and his touch until her skin was slightly red. She washed her hair again, letting it return to its natural wavy curls. Then she picked up a dark red lipstick instead of the bright red one which was used to imitate Filla. Even her eye makeup was redid in the way she liked.

Ten minutes later, a completely different Prisley walked out of her office.

Four years ago, naive and inexperienced, Prisley signed the contract and only read the terms afterward. That's when she learned she had to mimic another woman. Though her pride was hurt, as a recent graduate burdened with student loans, she bowed to reality.

Later, she learned that the woman was Heather's ex-girlfriend, Filla.

He was in a coma for several months after a car accident, with little hope of waking up. Filla left him and married a wealthy businessman abroad.

Months later, Heather miraculously woke up. He was depressed for a while after Filla's departure, then selected Prisley as his contract lover.

The reason Prisley was chosen, besides standing out among the competitors, was that she resembled Filla a lot.

Over the years spent together, Prisley secretly fell in love with Heather, but she couldn't say anything. To Heather, she was just the other party to the contract, someone he could always deal with by using money.

Heather, as the new head of the powerful Warner Group, was high above, and wouldn't easily change what he set his mind on. He definitely didn't want any stories beyond the contract.

Prisley used to think it was enough to love him secretly. After all, apart from his occasional bad temper, erratic personality and frequent coldness, he was quite nice to her. But now, with Filla back and they being so intimate, Prisley felt like a rat that couldn't see the light of day. It was a horrible feeling.

She had already wasted some work time on personal matters and couldn't afford to be distracted any longer. Prisley quickly adjusted her mood.

"Eric, is the report ready for the meeting?"

"Just finished double-checking the data."

"Send me a copy, the meeting is about to start."

"Lisa, expedite the contract with SSA Company."

She worked like a precision clock, busy and accurate. As always, she did her job as an executive assistant perfectly. Any emotional pain was well hidden beneath her strong exterior.

After assigning tasks to her team, Prisley returned to her office. The vibrant sparkle in her eyes was completely gone. She took out a few jewelry boxes from her drawer and opened them, feeling a bit lost.

Inside were pieces from major brands, each worth a fortune. They were all gifts from Heather. Prisley didn't like wearing elaborate jewelry, only putting them on when accompanying him to events.

She picked a ring from the box. It was a custom-made piece she and Heather had designed together, and they each had one. Of all the jewelry, this was the only piece she intended to keep. She would return the rest to Heather.

Prisley walked into the CEO's office and handed over some documents. "Mr. Rynn, these need your signature." Her tone was professional and devoid of any emotion.

Heather looked up at her and seemed to be taken aback. His gaze didn't leave her face. "What's going on?" He took the documents, glanced at them briefly, then tossed them aside, still staring at her.

Prisley felt uncomfortable under his gaze. "Nothing, this is how I originally looked. And, Mr. Rynn, this is how I'll be dressing from now on."

Heather seemed to understand. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on her, now with a hint of coldness.

"Why?" he asked.

Prisley only called him Mr. Rynn in formal settings, but now he sensed something he'd never felt before - she was unhappy.

"Mr. Rynn, I saw the news just now," Prisley said calmly, though her heart ached. "I think you no longer need me in this role." She felt her breathing grow heavier. She tried hard to control it so that he wouldn't notice.

"So?" he asked, showing no particular expression, as his hand slowly opened the drawer beside him.

"So...I want to quit." "This is for you." They spoke simultaneously, each handing over something.

Prisley placed a resignation letter on Heather's desk, while Heather handed her a check of five million dollars.

Prisley's breath caught as she looked at the check. Her eyes flashed with surprise.

Heather glanced at the resignation letter on the desk, his gaze even colder. He picked up the letter and slowly tore it in pieces. He stared at Prisley, "Her return has nothing to do with you. The contract isn't up yet."

His light blue eyes were like icy lake water, sending a shiver down Prisley's spine. She remained silent for a moment, trying to steady her breathing.

"Mr. Rynn, the meeting with David is starting in ten minutes. You should go now." She tried to keep her voice steady, but it still trembled.

Heather stood up, walked around the desk, and lifted her chin with his fingers. "How dare you think of leaving me?" His possessiveness radiated from him. Then he straightened his tie and walked out. "Go to the meeting," he said over his shoulder.

In the conference room, the company's senior executives were seated. Denis, Heather's brother as well as the vice president, watched Heather stroll in leisurely. "Heather, you're late."

Heather raised an eyebrow, ignoring him, and took his seat in the center. Prisley, standing behind him, nodded slightly at Denis and pointed to her watch. "Mr. Rynn, the meeting starts in 30 seconds." She would never let the her boss be late, although a slight delay wouldn't have mattered much. She could arrange everything precise and orderly.

David didn't gain any advantage and was annoyed. He always clashed with Heather, always trying to undermine him.

Today's meeting was about the acquisition of Macron Tech. Denis wanted a project he could lead from start to finish, proving his capabilities instead of being overshadowed and criticized by Heather.

Denis passionately presented the details of Macron Tech. Heather flipped through the documents, playing with his pen, making no effort to hide his disdain.

"Sorry, Denis, this company is trash."

Denis's face turned red. "The financial data and market outlook are excellent. I'm confident I can triple their market share in a year. Are you questioning my ability?"

"I'm not questioning it, but I only trust my team."

Denis pointed at Prisley. "Her? That slut only knows how to spread her legs for you!"

There were mocking laughs. Prisley felt hostile stares from around the room. She was deeply uncomfortable but kept her professional demeanor.

She pulled up some files on her computer and projected them onto the screen. "Everyone, these are our recently compiled data, which differ significantly from what you have. I'll need about ten minutes of your time."

Heather relaxed in his chair, propping his chin on his hand, watching her speak confidently. His earlier irritation vanished. Prisley always handled these details perfectly. He never had to worry about her making mistakes.

Although Prisley and Heather kept their relationship private at work, maintaining a professional distance, there were always rumors. They were an attractive, well-matched pair, sparking speculation.

"...Therefore, we believe Macron Tech has presented overly optimistic projections. That's all. Thank you for your time." Prisley glanced at the clock - just under ten minutes.

She met Heather's gaze, and he gave her a rare smile.

Denis, embarrassed and angry, snapped, "Heather, you need to be responsible for the company!" Then he stormed out.

"Thanks for the reminder, dear brother," Heather replied lazily, getting up to leave as well.

In the CEO's office, Prisley handed Heather the meeting summary she had prepared.

Heather grabbed her retreating hand, playing with it absentmindedly. "For those stupid meetings, you handle them from now on. I don't want to waste my time."

"But Denis is your brother. You should at least give him some respect," Prisley said, trying to pull her hand back, but he gripped it tighter. "He's not cut out for this. I won't play his games anymore."

Heather brought Prisley's hand to his lips and kissed it. "That report was good. Better than I expected."

"Thank you, Mr. Rynn." Prisley wasn't sure if he had forgiven or forgotten her earlier transgression.

"Not happy?" Heather asked. "Oh, I forgot this." He took out a property deed from the drawer. "Along with the check, it's all yours."

Prisley pushed the jewelry box on the desk towards him instead of taking the deed.

"Mr. Rynn, I don't need these. I'm giving them back. Thank you for your generosity over the years."

"I'll only keep one ring as a memento." She raised her hand to show him.

Heather looked up at her. She felt the chill in his gaze. Her voice trembled. "I'll inform HR to find a suitable replacement. I won't leave until completing the handover."

She finally dared to meet his eyes.

Heather didn't speak. He stood up and walked over to Prisley. His tall frame cast a shadow over her. She lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.

Heather lifted his hand, gripping her cheek, slowly increasing the pressure.

Prisley winced in pain.

"Prisley, I'll say it again. Don't test my patience!"

"Do you remember the contract terms? The penalties for breach?" His voice was quiet but icy.

Tears filled Prisley's eyes. She dared not let them fall, breathing heavily, her chest heaving.

She clearly remembered every clause in the contract. If she unilaterally terminated it, she would have to pay a hefty compensation fee. She knew it was unfair, but how could she possibly afford to challenge Heather in court over such clauses?

Just as she feared Heather might crush her chin, he suddenly let go. His long finger brushed aside her bangs, tracing her forehead, eyes, earlobe and chin, then down to her neck. His fingers moved slowly. It was like he was admiring a piece of art. Prisley felt an inexplicable dread.

"Don't be afraid. As long as you behave well, nothing will change." His smile was enigmatic.

"But if you ever think of running away..." He kissed her hard.

Prisley pushed against his shoulders, gasping for breath and in pain.

"I can't promise what I'll do."

Prisley's lips hurt, and she tasted blood. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, staring at Heather in terror.

"Now, get out!" His said slowly in a low voice. Prisley felt like an ice blade piercing her heart, making her whole body tense.