His Beautiful Addiction

''Holy fuck. ''

The two other employees glanced at Ari in shock. Did she just curse in front of the CEO? Was she asking to be sacked? Ari's hands flew to her lips when she realized what she just did. ''I'm sorry, sir. It was a slip of the tongue.''

She apologized, trying her best to avoid eye contact. Just what the hell did she get herself involved in?

Xavier sat up in his chair; ignoring what just happened, he asked; ''Have you all been briefed?''

"Yes, we have,'' they replied. ''Alright, you're welcome to Greenfield Corporation. I hope you enjoy working with us.''

Xavier said and stood up, extending his hand for a handshake;

The two employees shook him, and Ari stretched her shaky hands. Xavier smiled as he shook her. Nothing extra, but Ari felt shivers travel up her spine, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

Xavier smiled and dismissed them. Ari was the first to turn around in a bid to escape quickly, but Xavier was not done with her yet.

''Maria Guzman.'' He called and her legs came to a halt as she shut her eyes, cursing beneath her breath.

''Wait behind; '' He said and Ari almost cried as she watched the other employees walk out of the office and close the door behind them. Ari did not turn around, she just stood rooted to the spot.

Xavier stood up from his chair and stood in front of his table, leaning on it, his hands in his pockets. When he saw her earlier, his jaw almost dropped.

Long skirt, sheltered top, and glasses which almost covered half of her petite face. He could not believe that the same girl who was rocking a short body-hugging gown, which clamped around her hips, was the same girl in front of him. She had an innocent beauty, which made her seem like she could not hurt a fly.

''I'm standing this way, Ms. Maria. '' Xavier said with a smirk on his lips. He loved seeing her tensed up. Ari straightened her back and turned around.

Wait, why was she scared? It was a one-night stand, and they did not know each other and never thought they would meet again. She could as well pretend she did not know him now. Their deal ended that morning when he left her house.

At that moment, Ari remembered she remembered she had sent him off with a 100 dollar bill and she felt like sinking into the ground.

Forcing a smile, she spoke; ''I'm very sorry for my earlier misbehavior, sir, it would not happen again.''

She apologized again as she tried to maintain healthy eye contact, but the way he gazed intently at her was making it impossible.

Xavier smirked and stood up, walking towards her.

Ari tried her best to look composed, but her heart was almost jumping out of her rib cage. She could barely breathe as he walked to her. Xavier stopped when he was a few inches away from her.

''Maria Guzman… '' He called. This time, he spoke slowly, as though tasting her name on his tongue.

Ari breathed in. She hated it when someone called her by her full name, but she did not stop him.

He was her boss, and she was not about to lose this job. She had already bid farewell to her colleagues and her manager would laugh her to scorn if she dared come back, and would still not give her the job back. So she was stuck here.

''Yes, sir… '' Ari replied. She had already given herself away by cursing earlier, so she wasn't sure she was doing a good job pretending now.

''The glasses look good on you. '' Xavier said, and Ari, who just noticed it was out of place, quickly pushed it up.

''Thank you, '' she said. Xavier smiled. He was about to say something else when the door was pushed open.

''Babe, you can't believe what just happened?'' Melissa walked into the office, her face looking sad.

Her words were cut short when she saw Ari standing in front of Xavier. Her eyes moved from Xavier to Ari, and back to Xavier again. ''Who is she?''

''A new employee. '' Xavier replied; turning to her, he asked; ''what happened? Why do you look so unhappy?''

He asked as Melissa walked to where he was standing and held his arm; ''You won't believe what just happened.''

''What is it?'' Xavier asked, and Ari took the cue and left immediately. She only breathed out when she was out of his office.

What the hell did she get herself involved in?!

Not only did she sleep with her CEO, but she had also made him cheat on Melissa, Melissa! Now she thought about it, it was him! She had seen pictures of them together, but his face did not register in her mind until now. How did she get herself into this deep shit?

Ari felt her head getting light. She prayed everything was just a nightmare, and she was going to wake up soon, but it wasn't.

She was wide awake, and she was in some serious trouble. ƒ𝑟𝐞𝗲𝘄𝙚𝚋𝑛ｏ𝙫𝒆𝒍.𝒄𝘰𝓂

When she went back downstairs, she was shown her office. It was a large room with connected desks. She was employed as an auditor. Although she worked as a financial analyst in her previous company, Greenfield paid more. And she was all about the money.

She did little work that day, and when she was finished; she went home. Ari took off her shoes and fell on her bed limply.

She had left her home all bubbly and excited, but she came back worse than she had ever been. Why did it have to be him?

Why did it have to be Greenfield? It could have been any other company. Why? Just why?

Ari kicked her legs into the air angrily. And to think he had cheated on Melissa with her and was not the least perturbed when she walked in on them.

Wow, he was a pro!

There were levels to this playboy shit. Ari shook her head. She did not like to live a life of regrets, but at that moment, she regretted ever doing a one-night stand with him.

She could not even resign, else she would starve. She would have to face him every day and pretend that nothing had happened between them. Ari dragged herself up from the bed and took a shower. After which, she opened her Instagram. She wanted to stop herself from thinking about her predicament by viewing interesting posts, but what met her eyes the moment she opened the app made her jump up from her bed.

'Xavier Howells has requested to follow you...'

Ari could not believe her eyes. Did he still send her a friend request even after she knew about his girlfriend? Was he not scared she was going to tell her about them? Or wait, did he think she was that kind of girl that slept with men in relationships?

Well, she slept with a man in a relationship, but she never thought they were going to meet again, and not even in this manner!

Ari was so angry, but yet she did not know what to do. She could not reject his request, and yet she could not accept it.

What would she do?