Chapter 3Resigning From the Billionaire

Too bad.

I was hoping to cash out and leave.

Now I’d have to resign.

Adrian’s fiancée was quite famous around the office lately.

Word was she was the granddaughter of a very prominent DC politician, and her parents were loaded, too.

She had a serious pedigree, and a serious temper to match.

After the engagement, she demanded Adrian fire all his close female staffers.

Adrian had two chief secretaries.

One male, one female—his right-hand people.

The female chief was highly capable, so Adrian protected her job.

But someone like me, the base-level executive assistant, wasn't so lucky.

Even if I wasn't fired, staying wouldn't be pretty.

Who knew when the wife would start suspecting me.

I went back to my office.

I ran into colleagues from other departments coming to the assistant's pool for stamps.

When they saw me return, they all shot me sympathetic looks.

"Elena, when are you leaving? Let’s get dinner before you go."

I pulled out my chair and slumped over my desk.

"Earliest next month. The HR process takes time."

"HR process? For a firing, you don't need to wait, do you?"

"I’m resigning," I said. "Mr. Sterling doesn't plan on firing me. Does anyone have a resignation letter template I can borrow?"

Thank you for the opportunity to grow with the company...

Due to personal reasons...

I have decided to resign.

I clicked 'send' on the resignation email.

I pushed back from my keyboard and exhaled deeply.

Then I remembered Adrian’s offhand comment.

He must have really loved that woman to keep the baby.

I didn't know what Julian’s feelings for me actually were.

Back when I worked in DC.

I lived in a standard entry-level apartment complex for young professionals.

It was crowded, a real mix of people.

I experienced my first stalker there.

And then, my first attempted break-in.

I was a light sleeper that night.

My phone buzzing woke me up.

The peephole camera app was alerting me.

Someone was loitering outside my door.

The man in the video was masked, wearing a hat and gloves.

I couldn't see his face, and his bulky work clothes hid his build.

He was professional and efficient at picking locks.

Every now and then, he’d glance back and murmur something to an accomplice behind him.

I froze in the living room for a few seconds, then instinctively ran to the kitchen for a knife.

I hid back in my bedroom, staring at the camera feed, trembling as I finally called 911.

Then I called Julian.

His voice was raspy, heavy with sleep.

"What is it?"

I said, "Someone is picking my lock."

There was a dead silence on the other end for one second.

Then I heard the rustle of him sitting up and grabbing clothes.

He sounded completely awake now.

He asked me, "How many are outside? Are they armed?"

"I only saw two... I didn't see any knives. I don't know if they have anything on them."

His voice calmed down. "Don't cry. Get in your room and lock the door."

The camera feed suddenly went black.

The front door clicked open.

Footsteps entered the living room, getting closer.

The thief started pushing against the bedroom door.

I gripped the knife, wondering if I should rush out and attack first.

The adrenaline made it hard to stand.

I was gripping the handle so hard my hand felt numb, like I wouldn't be able to swing it.

Suddenly, things got chaotic outside the door.

A few muffled thuds.

Cursing mixed with screams of pain.

The sound of shattering glass, things hitting the floor. Crashes.

"Julian?"

"It’s me," he said, his voice muffled and slightly winded. "Don't come out yet. It’ll just be a minute."

I was wiping sweat off my face.

My legs gave out, and I slumped onto the edge of the bed.

Until there was a knock on the door.

I dragged the heavy furniture I used to block the door away.

The living room was a wreck.

The thieves were barely alive on the floor.

Someone was dragging one of them by the ankle, like a dead animal, out of the apartment.

Julian wiped blood off his knuckles and pulled me close.

His overcoat was freezing, but a warm scent of rich tobacco radiated from his skin, warmed by his body.

He held me very tightly.

He looked down and kissed the top of my head.

The men with Julian coughed politely.

"Mr. Sterling... what do we do with them?"

"Check if they have priors. Send them away for a long time."

Julian was running his hand over the back of my head, his voice calm.

Buried in his shoulder, I murmured.

"Are they your friends? It’s so late... I should treat them to dinner sometime."

"It’s fine," he said. "Go rest. I’m staying with you tonight."

The police arrived.

Julian lit a cigarette, ushering me back to the bedroom.

The low murmur of conversation didn't last long.

He climbed into bed, pulling me securely into his arms from behind.

I was still shaking.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "It won't happen again."

I turned around, kissing him frantically.

Julian froze for a moment.

He was usually very direct in bed.

I was used to him unbuckling his belt, pressing the back of my neck, and getting straight to it.

That night, he was surprisingly gentle.

He just caught my hands and wrapped them around his neck.

He rolled on top of me, kissing me back.

The late autumn wind was howling outside.

His body was burning hot.

When he cupped my face with his palms, I truly felt loved.

But past events are like sugarcane pulp that’s been chewed too many times.

Back at the Sterling estate, talking about "interests," I realized I couldn't delude myself with that tiny bit of sweetness anymore.

He loved me the way one loves a pretty pet.

He might not be paying attention to it, but he wouldn't let anyone else touch it.

That was all.

Work was done.

It was Friday.

My resignation email had been sent.

Earliest I’d get a reply would be Monday.

I packed up my desk, slowly erasing my presence.

I didn't expect it.

Julian called me on Sunday night.

He must have just gotten off a plane; the background noise was a bit loud.

"Elena, what’s the 'personal reasons' you cited in your resignation?"

"Mr. Sterling, I’m twenty-nine. It’s time I started a family."

He was silent for a few seconds.

"You’re not quitting just because you’re afraid I’ll set you up with my brother, are you? Don't overthink it."

"No," I said. "I found a good match on a dating app. I was planning to quit around this time anyway."

"What’s his background?"

"Ordinary. Professor at a local college."

"I see. Fine. Work hard for the next thirty days. I’ll give you a bonus as a wedding gift."

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling."

"One more thing."

He said.

"Pick out some gifts that a little girl would like. Next Friday, you're coming with me to DC."

A little girl.

I was stunned for a moment.

"...Yes, Mr. Sterling."