The CEO's Obsession: Seducing His Childhood Sweatheart

Emma Winters gazed around the not-so-very-new apartment she would be staying in now, feeling a surge of excitement and dread. "This is it," she thought, determined to make the most of her fresh start even though deep within her was a pain she carried along. Thinking about how sadly she had been leaving Florittle, Emma decided to go for a drink even though she needed to unpack. Unpacking could wait - she had bigger things on her mind, and after a challenging move from Florittle to Zeden, she needed a break.

Without hesitation, she hurried to the bathroom for a quick refresh, then swiftly dressed and made a beeline for the bar. As Emma sat in the cab, the driver taking her to the address she had given him, and a sigh escaped her lips as a wave of nostalgia hit her. It had been eight years since she last set foot in the city of Zeden, and if it hadn't been for the job offer she got, she probably wouldn't have returned. And if it weren't for her heartbreak, she also probably wouldn't have applied for the job or wanted a fresh start in the very city she had grown up in with a lot of crazy moments. Thinking about that, her mind flashed to her once best friend. Was it her crush? She mused, a smile tugging her lips. Before she could dwell on that any further, her phone buzzed in her purse, jolting her out of her reverie. She took out her phone, and when she glanced at the screen, she saw that it was Ivy, her best friend since college. A faint smile tugged at her lips. Without wasting any time, she answered. "Hey, girl. What's up? Did you get there safely? You didn't call!" Ivy's voice chirped through the phone, and Emma smiled when she imagined the pout that would very much be on Ivy's face. "I'm sorry I didn't call. It totally slipped my mind," she said, and Ivy frowned. "What? Don't I matter anymore? And I was worried sick thinking something had happened," Ivy said, and Emma laughed. "Don't be silly, Ivy. I got in a little while ago. It's not even up to three hours," Emma replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear while looking out the window. Ivy opened her mouth to complain, but the faint noise in the background caught her attention. "Wait... are you going out? It sounds noisy," she asked curiously, and Emma smiled. Knowing Ivy and how protective she was, especially since she was worried about her, Emma hesitated for a second, thinking whether or not to tell Ivy she was going to a bar. On second thought, she grinned, deciding to tell her. "Well, if you must know, I'm heading to the bar....." "WHAT! On your first day back in Zeden?" Ivy exclaimed, and Emma laughed. "Don't worry, Ivy. I'll be fine. After everything that's been going on lately and me being back in Zeden after so long, I figured I'd grab a drink, unwind a bit....." "But....." "I understand your concern, but don't worry. I'll be fine," Emma said, and Ivy sighed in resignation. "What about work? Aren't you supposed to be home gathering all you can about your boss?" Ivy asked, and Emma chuckled. "Didn't we try to do that already? There's no news of him on the internet. No nothing, so how am I supposed to know about him?" Emma asked, and Ivy shrugged even though Emma couldn't see her. "Well, since you're going out, you could just try to ask around," Ivy said, and Emma nodded, seeing reasons with her. "Good point. So, am I free to go now?" she asked, and Ivy grinned when a thought crossed her mind. "So, which of the bar or club are you going?" she asked teasingly, and Emma, knowing what she meant, couldn't help the smile that graced her face. "02 Arena....." "I knew it!" she exclaimed, and Emma giggled. "Knew what exactly?" Emma asked with a knowing smile. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, girl. You're not actually going there to UNWIND, as you say, but you're going there to see if you'll run into him, isn't it?" Ivy asked, and Emma laughed softly. It was true. When she had returned to Zeden, a part of her was hoping she would somehow run into him even though she had no idea where he was now. "What's wrong with hoping to run into him while I'm unwinding? It's been ages, and I sincerely want to see him again if there's a chance," she said, not wanting to mention names since she was in a cab. Ivy sighed. "I hope you do know he won't be the same best friend you used to know. It's been eight years already, bestie," Ivy said reasonably, and Emma shrugged. "I'll think about that when I finally see him. Besides, even if he's changed, what harm could it do to me?" Emma asked with a shrug despite the fact that Ivy couldn't see her. Ivy chuckled, though her voice had a slight edge of concern. "Just be careful, okay? We don't want a repeat of you unknowingly attending your boyfriend's wedding." Hearing that, Emma's heart clenched briefly, the memory of that painful day flashing before her. She took a deep breath to keep herself from thinking deeply about that painful memory. "I really don't want to talk about him, Ivy. But," she sighed, "I do hope he gets what he deserves." There was a pause, and then Ivy's gentle voice followed. "You'll be fine. You deserve so much better." "Thanks, Ivy." Emma smiled, appreciating her friend's support. "I'll call you tomorrow." "No, call me tonight when you get home," Ivy said, and Emma chuckled before ending the call. Just as her call ended, the car came to a stop in front of the bar, and Emma stepped out after paying her bills. As she entered, the familiar scent of alcohol and faint chatter greeted her. She hadn't been here in years, not since-the last time she and Chris visited there, a day before he left to study abroad. As she looked around, a rush of memories flooded her mind as she thought about what she had wanted to do that night. Although she had loved him deeply then, she had been too scared to tell him about her feelings because she didn't want to risk their friendship. What if she had? she wondered. Would things have turned out differently? What would've become of her? Lost in thought, Emma barely noticed the crowd around her until a deep voice interrupted her reverie. "Emma?" the male voice called, uncertainty laced in his voice. Her heart jumped in her chest the moment she had him. She turned around, curious, hoping her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. Her eyes widened in surprise and shock when they locked onto a familiar face. Christoper Jacobs.

Emma's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the familiar face of Christoper Jacobs. It couldn't be. She thought. For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming or seeing things. It had to be her mind playing tricks on her, she told herself. Eight years had passed since they'd last seen each other, and during that time, he had left to study abroad, so how was it him? She thought as she closed her eyes. "I'm only seeing things," she muttered before opening her eyes again, hoping he would be gone by now.

But when he stepped forward, his lips curling into that boyish smile she remembered so well, reality hit her, and without hesitation, she threw her arms around him. "Chris! I can't believe it's you!" Her voice wavered, her eyes stinging with the emotion she'd tried to suppress for so long. Christoper hugged her tightly, his voice warm and full of nostalgia. "You're seeing things? Really?" he said, laughing, and Emma pulled back and slapped his chest. "You can't blame me. It's been ages!" she said in her defense, and when Chris grinned, she hugged him again, this time staying a little longer. "Oh, Em. It's been too long. I missed you so much," he said, holding on to her. She pulled back slightly, searching his face. It was older, more refined, and even more handsome than she remembered, but one thing she knew was that he was the same Chris she had known. Her best friend. The one she had loved secretly for so long. Tears threatened to spill over, but she blinked them away, a broad smile breaking across her face. They stood there for a moment, just taking each other in. All the years they've spent apart melted away in that instant as if no time had passed at all. "So it's really you," she said, still in doubt, and Chris smiled. "Flesh and blood. Come, let's sit," Chris said, gesturing to a seat in the corner. They slid into the seats, and for a moment, neither of them spoke as they didn't even know where to begin. It had been so long, and yet everything felt familiar, as though this was what they'd been doing all their lives. "Where have you been, Em? After I left..." he trailed off, his eyes searching hers. "I lost contact with you, and when I asked Dan to help me check on you, he said you'd left." Emma exhaled softly. "Well, after you left to study abroad, I went to Florittle for college. I ended up settling in Florittle after I graduated since my parents were gone by then. I couldn't just come back here, you know? There was nothing here for me," she said with a sad sigh, thinking about her parents. Christoper's face softened with empathy. "I'm so sorry, Em. I didn't know. Dan never told me. When I returned a year ago, I tried looking for you at your old place. That was when I heard. I'm very sorry about your parents," he said, and Emma shook her head, giving him a small, sad smile. "It's okay. It's been over five years now. I've had time to heal," she said, and Christoper reached across the table to squeeze her hand in silent comfort. Emma's heart skipped a bit when his hand connected with hers. The warmth of his touch sent a flutter through her chest, reminding her of everything she hadn't said to him all those years ago. She had thought her feelings had died down with the years of being apart, but right now, with his hand on hers, she didn't know what to think. She shouldn't even be thinking about that. She was still very heartbroken from what her ex-boyfriend did to be feeling flutters in her chest. She told herself and sighed inwardly when Chris pulled his hand away. "I'll go get us some drink," he said, heading to the bar. In a few minutes, he returned with a bartender who was carrying their drinks. "So, how have you been?" she asked, trying to shift the mood. "What's been going on in your life?" she asked as she took a sip from her glass of double martini. "Surviving, I guess," Christoper shrugged, his smile returning. "Work's been intense, but I've managed to keep things together," he said, and she nodded. "And what about you? Why are you here all of a sudden? Did you come to find me?" Christoper asked with a wink, and Emma giggled. "I guess I did," she said, and he looked at her momentarily. "Why do I feel like you just said that? You didn't even know I was here," Christoper said, and she shrugged. "True. I was already considering moving back here, so when I got a job offer from JB Enterprise, I decided to use that as an excuse," she said, and Christopher looked at her in surprise. "Really?" he asked, and she modded. "Speaking of JB Enterprise, do you know the CEO? You said you've been here over a year, right?" she asked curiously, and Christoper narrowed his eyes. "Why are you asking? Is he interested in you?" he asked, and she laughed. "Please, Chris, can you be serious for once? I'm going to be his secretary, and I don't know the slightest thing about him. I don't even know his name! How worse can that be?" she said, and Christoper laughed. "Well, I don't know about him, but I do know you're good at whatever you do, so you'll do well," he said, and Emma sighed. "I guess I'll leave it all to fate then," she said, and Christoper nodded. "C'mon, cheer up. He may not be that bad," he said, and she nodded. "Yeah. So, how's your mom and cousin? Any special man in your life now?" she asked, not just out of curiosity but something else she couldn't quite place. Christoper smirked, his voice teasing. "You first." Emma's smile quickly faded, replaced by a shadow of hurt. "I'm not in any relationship right now," she said, and Christopher raised a brow. "Why?" he asked curiously, and she shrugged. "Well, I guess I'm still recovering from a brutal breakup. I went with my friend to a wedding... only to find out the groom was my boyfriend. He'd been hiding the whole thing from me," she said with a sad sigh. Hearing this, Chris's eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened in anger. "What? Who the hell would do that to you? Is he mad?"

"Don't worry about it, Chris," she said quickly, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm here now, and I'm starting fresh." "Now that you're back, I'll make sure no one else tries to hurt you in any way," he said protectively, and Emma smiled. "I've really missed you," she said, and Chris smiled. "Me too." They continued to talk, catching up on the eight years that had passed. Chris told her about his time abroad, and how he'd taken over the family business, she knew as Jacobs Realty. Emma shared stories from college and her life in Florittle when he was done.

The laughter flowed as they reminisced about their childhood adventures in Zeden, and the bond between them rekindled with every word. Hours passed before they finally realized how late it was. "I should probably get going," Emma said reluctantly. Chris stood up with her, an easy smile on his face. "I'll see you off." "You don't have to. I can manage," she protested, but Christoper shook his head. "No way. I want to make sure you get home safely. Besides, I drove here," Chris said, and Emma agreed, seeing how determined he was. Emma directed him to her place, and when he pulled up in front of her apartment, she turned to Chris, a warmth spreading in her chest. "Thanks for tonight, Chris. It was really good to see you again." "It was good to see you too, Em," he replied softly, his eyes lingering on her for a while. Before she could step out of the car, he reached for her phone. "Here, let me have your number." She handed it over, and he quickly dialed and saved his contact before giving it back. "I'll call you tomorrow," he said, and Emma nodded, stepping out of the cab. "Goodnight, Chris." "Goodnight, Em." As he drove away, Emma stood there for a moment, watching it disappear down the street. Her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time, and she couldn't help the happiness that spread through her, knowing she now had her best friend back. After dropping Emma off and arriving home, Christoper stepped into his spacious apartment, the thought of his unexpected reunion with Emma at the bar still fresh in his mind. He kicked off his shoes and tossed his jacket onto a nearby chair, his thoughts racing. After all these years, he'd finally seen her again, and it was like no time had passed. He had thought he'd have to wait till Monday, but then fate had just shown him it had other plans for her. A smile tugged on his lips when he remembered how surprised she had been seeing him again. Although he had been quite surprised, he wasn't as surprised as she was since he had been waiting for it for over a week now. With all the excitement he felt seeing her again, he decided to share it with someone. Who else could it be if it was not with his best friend? He grabbed his phone and dialed his best friend's number without a second thought. Frederick Lawson. He didn't have to wait long since Frederick answered after the second ring. "Chris? What's up? I thought you'd be out," he said the moment he received the call. Christoper chuckled, already picturing Rick's curiosity. "You won't believe who I ran into tonight," he said, and Frederick raised a brow when he heard the excitement in his voice. Rick's voice perked up as he asked, "Who?" "Emma," Chris said, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face. There was a pause; then Rick let out a low whistle. "Emma Winters?" he asked with a curious frown. Chris leaned against the kitchen counter, recalling her face and the way her smile had lit up the dim bar. "Yes, man. I met her at the bar today. She looked really beautiful, man, with her long, wavy brown hair. Her voice, her smile... the way she talks, it's still the man, man. Just as I remember her, it's been eight years, but when we met today, it felt like we picked up right where we left off, and I couldn't help but wonder if it would've been this way had we met on Monday," he said, and Rick who had been listening nodded. "That's great, man. Really," Rick said sincerely. "With the way you described your meeting now, I can feel your excitement from here. So, does she know?" he asked. "Know what?" Christoper asked, though he already knew what his friend meant. "That you're the one who hired her? That she's going to be working for you at JB Enterprise?" he asked plainly since Chris was playing dumb. Chris chuckled softly, shaking his head. He remembered how worried she had looked just because she didn't know anything about her boss. "Nope. She has no idea, and I didn't tell her," he said with a sheepish smile. Rick sighed on the other end. "Why didn't you tell her? It would've been the perfect moment. She would've known you've been trying to reconnect with her, and that would make her even more happy," Rick said, and Chris chuckled. "I know that. But," Chris said, a mischievous glint in his eye, "When I realized she didn't figure out I own JB, I thought I would surprise her with the knowledge. Besides, I really want to see the look of surprise on her face when she finds out I'm the boss she was asking me about," he said, and Rick frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" Rick asked, and Chris continued to tell him about it. Rick laughed when he was done. "You're something else, man. You're enjoying this now; I hope you do too when she gets mad at you," he said with a shake of his head. Chris smiled to himself, already picturing Emma's reaction when she walked into his office on Monday. "I'll definitely enjoy watching her vent. I've missed it. I missed her, Rick. I mean, I really missed her and want to see all of her again," he said, and Rick frowned. There was a moment of silence before Rick spoke again, his voice more serious. "Chris, are you sure you're not doing all this because you're still in love with her? I thought you just wanted to reconnect," Rick said in confusion. Christoper didn't hesitate before saying, "I'm still in love with her, man. I always have been, and seeing her today made me realize that." Rick let out a low hum as if mulling over his next question. "And what about Kimberly?"