"Thank you for coming to my engagement party, Arthur." Regan walked to the balcony to greet her best friend Arthur, a man who looked cold without a hint of a smile.

"No problem; congratulations on your engagement." Arthur, who was currently standing on the balcony holding a glass of champagne,

He didn't like attending events like this. Arthur didn't like crowds that were only filled with fake people, but he couldn't refuse the invitation of his best friend, Regan, his business partner, and one of his best friends.

Among the crowd, Arthur's gaze centered on the woman who had captured his attention. The young woman, wearing a red satin dress, sat at one of the tables with a confused look on her face. Arthur found a point that he thought could relieve boredom, where he was more interested in looking at the woman, even from a distance.

Valerie, on the other hand, was at a loss as to what to look like at their CEO's engagement ceremony. To be honest, it was Valerie's first time attending such a big event; he was just an ordinary employee and not one of the rich people with high titles.

Valerie shifted her gaze, trying to find a view that might, just might, relieve some of her nerves. Her gaze looked up right above the balcony. Valerie, the man in the black suit and bow tie, had a handsome face with sharp eyes, and damn it, the man was also staring at her. His big posture, like a model even, and his face hypnotized Valerie to keep looking continuously. After realizing this, Valerie again broke eye contact first.

Her heart was beating so fast that she felt scared. What if the man was a criminal? Or maybe a hitman like in the novels she often read—it was so scary that, suddenly, there was a tap on Valerie's shoulder, making her body spontaneously surprised that the culprit was Clara, who was also a colleague in the office.

''Gosh, you're this!" Valerie caught her breath.

''What's wrong with you, Valerie?'' Clara sat beside Valerie, looking at her best friend, who was a little strange as if there was an obvious fear there.

''Nothing. Can we go home already, Clara?'' Valerie didn't want to talk about the man she had just seen.

how many minutes ago? Whether the man was still there or not, Valerie was eager to see him again, but she was also afraid.

''Can it wait a few more minutes? We have to say goodbye to Mr. Regan.'' Clara drank the food prepared by the waiter.

''Do you want a drink? I haven't seen you eat anything for a while.

''Yeah, please get me a drink.'' Valerie wanted to slightly moisten her throat, which was already very dry. Clara immediately called out to the waiter, who walked over with a tray of various drinks. Clara hand-picked up a glass of orange juice for Valerie, who never drinks alcohol, and a glass of whiskey for herself.

Clara placed the two glasses on the table, and before Clara could say anything, Valerie had already drunk her glass of champagne. She felt a burning sensation in her throat and a slightly strange taste.

''What is this strange drink?" Valerie said to herself.

''Gosh, Valerie, that's my drink!'' Clara couldn't believe Valerie was drinking whiskey like she was drinking water.

''What is this drink, Clara?" Valerie felt hot in her stomach and a little dizzy now.

"It's Whiskey... Are you okay?" Clara panicked, afraid that Valerie was drunk.

"I'm fine. No need to worry; I need to go to the toilet for a while." Valerie turned bolder and bolder.

"Do you want me to accompany Valerie?"

"It's okay, Clara. I can manage on my own," Valerie said with a small smile before her footsteps left Clara.

As Valerie walked through the crowd, she looked confused as to where the restrooms were in this huge room, and she didn't know who else to ask.

Buuukkk...

Her body collided with a big, tall man. Valerie didn't dare to raise her head other than to stare at the man's expensive loafers.

"Are you looking for something, Valerie? Valerie raised her head to look at the man who knew her name.

Like magic, Valentine fell in love with his ocean-blue eyes, brownish hair, and beautifully embroidered lips.

"Isn't he the man I saw on the balcony?" Valerie said to herself.

Arthur pulled Valerie's waist when he saw the waiter who brought the Napan almost bump into Valerie's body. Valerie was surprised by what the man in front of her was doing—his body was now so close that Valerie could smell the strong perfume of the expensive suit he was wearing.

Valerie tried to break free from the man's embrace. But Arthur did not want to remove his hands from Valerie's waist; he had never felt the need to have something like this moment. Being close to Valerie made him feel like he had to have her at all costs.

"How about you become mine, Valerie?"

The blue-eyed man's words were difficult for Valerie to understand; her head was getting dizzy.

"What do you mean I don't understand? And please let me go." Valerie fainted in Arthur's arms, making the man panic and lift Valerie's body bride style.

"Regan, where is your living room?" Arthur walked over to Regan, who was still talking to the company owners.

"What's wrong?" Regan saw her best friend Arthur coming in with the woman Arthur had just asked her name about, who was now in his arms.

"She fainted?"

"Just take her upstairs, where there's an empty guest room." Arthur quickly carried the woman's petite body to Regan's room.

He placed Valerie's body on the bed. Arthur didn't know what to do, but he was certain that Valerie had only fainted because he had checked Valerie's pulse earlier. Arthur just watched Valerie's face sleep peacefully—a beautiful face and lips that were so tempting he wanted to give them a quick peck. But he was not an asshole, taking advantage when she was unconscious.

Arthur covered Valerie's body with a blanket; he didn't want her to get sick just because. Wearing a dress that was made of thin material for Arthur.

''I'm very interested in you, Valerie." Arthur moved the hair that was covering Valerie's face.

***

Valerie woke up and opened her eyes. "Where am I?" Valerie looked confused as she found herself in a large and grand room, holding her head, which still felt dizzy.

"Are you awake?" A heavy and hoarse voice made Valerie look at the cold man's face, who was seen coming out of one room with a towel and wet hair.

Aaaaakkhhhh...

Valerie screamed and immediately pulled back the covers, making sure nothing untoward happened. Valerie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was still wearing his party clothes from last night.

"Don't worry, I didn't touch you at all." Arthur put on his new shirt—he had to leave for work this morning. For Valerie's sake, he chose to stay at Regan's house because it was impossible to bring her to his. Valerie remembered what happened to her last night, making her feel ashamed of herself.

"Thank you." That was all Valerie could say; she didn't know what else to say because she was the guilty one there.

"Get up and change your clothes." Regan's driver will take you home." Arthur didn't seem to care and went out first, leaving Valerie, who was still not fully awake.

Valerie finally arrived at her small rented house. She laid down on the mattress that was only as big as her body. Valerie was very embarrassed when she remembered the events of the past few hours.

"Death to me, God, what if I get fired?" Valerie said in her heart:

***

Suddenly Valerie's cell phone rang loudly, startling her, who was daydreaming about her fate. Valerie saw the name of her best friend, Clara, calling. Valerie forgot to tell Clara that the woman must be looking for her.

"Hello."

"Valerie, where were you last night?" Clara yelled at her, so Valerie had to put her phone down a little.

"I'm sorry, Clara. I went home first last night." Valerie lied again because there was no way she was telling me what happened last night.

"And what's wrong with you? Why aren't you in the office?" Clara was like a sister to Valerie.

Having a chatty friend like Clara made Valerie feel like there was still someone who cared about her in this world.

"I'm fine. It's just that because of the whiskey last night, I'm a little dizzy this morning."

"Have you taken any painkillers? I'm sorry for telling you so late. After work, I'll come to your apartment."

"Yes, thank you, Clara." Valerie exhaled loudly today, her mind raging with the fate of her job.

"Well, rest up and see you, Valerie."

"Bye Clara." Valerie turned off the phone and placed her cell phone on the nightstand.

She lay down and stared at the ceiling of her room. Imagining the face of the man named Arthur, swirled around in Valerie's mind even though he could not meet Arthur in person. But Arthur had kindly sent a servant to deliver clothes and food.

Before leaving, Valerie asked the servant what the name of the man with the cold blue eyes was. The waiter said that the man's name was Arthur Davidson, a beautiful name that matched his handsome face.

Valerie wondered what it would be like if she had a boyfriend as handsome as Arthur; just imagining it made her body run hot and cold. Arthur's piercing gaze and charm made Valerie fall in love, but she had to put her dreams to rest because there was no way an ordinary woman like her could be loved by a wealthy man like Arthur Davidson.

"You're going back to France already?" Regan looked at Arthur, who was sitting on the sofa not far from her desk.

"Yeah, I'll be back soon, but I have one favor to ask you." Arthur had been thinking about this for a while.

"What do you want from me? A car?" Regan took off her glasses to look seriously at her best friend.

"Give me one of your employees," Arthur said, casually picking up the coffee cup and drinking it.

"Which one do you want? Of course, easy request." Regan couldn't help but grant her best friend's first wish.

"Valerie. I want her to be my secretary."

"Valerie is the woman who stayed at my house last night," Regan asked again to make sure she hadn't misheard Arthur's words.

"Yeah, that woman... Is it that hard to grant?"

"Of course not! It's just that why should Valerie be that woman? It's too simple... I can find you a hotter and equally beautiful woman." Regan wasn't sure her best friend would change her tastes.

"I don't want another woman! I just want Valerie to send her to my company at any cost." Arthur took another firm stance.

"Well, as soon as possible, I'll take care of Valerie's move to your office."

"Thank you." Arthur's lips for the first time uttered forbidden words like thank you." He had never done that in his life, but this was the first time for the sake of having a woman named Valerie.

The next day, Valerie was ready in her simple office clothes. Dressed to the nines, she left for the office by bus. He traveled on foot to get to the bus stop, where the bus he often rode would pass.

After getting on the bus, Valerie immediately took a seat in one of the window seats. She put both handsets to her ears and played a playlist of slow songs while enjoying her journey to the office, which was something Valerie often did to accompany her.

She was just a poor Valerie born to a mother who did not consider her existence. Valerie's mother was a famous model, and her face often graced fashion and adult magazines. Who doesn't know 'Veronica Janson"? Yap, that fact is always kept secret by Valerie, although she can't hide that her face also has the same side as her mother's.

Valerie finally arrived at the big office where she had been working, and her mother still gave her money for her living. But Valerie never wanted to use it.

His feet walked into the glass doors that swirled with all the great people who graced this great company. Valerie was lucky to be chosen to be a part of this. Valerie put her ID on the sensor that would detect her entry; she waited in front of the elevator with other employees. If you ask where Valerie works, as she is one of the product development employees, the products sold are interior products.

The elevator doors open. Valerie rushes to get in, her body getting pushed because of the many employees who also join. This is Valerie's fate; he always dreamed of being able to enter a special elevator for officials, where the elevator can only be filled with a maximum of 2-3 people.

Finally arriving at his office, Valerie placed his bag on his desk and started to turn on the computer, which was displaying the design of a new product.

"Valerie?" A woman approached Valerie.

''Yes." Valerie turned her chair and saw that Mr. Regan's secretary had come to see her. Valerie immediately stood up and slightly bowed her body to salute before looking back at the other person.

"Mr. Regan is calling for you to come as soon as possible, okay?"

"Yes, sir." Valerie bowed once again. After Mr. Regan's secretary left, Valerie tried to regulate his heartbeat because he was afraid that Mr. Regan would fire him.

"How is this? What should I do?" Valerie sat back down and tapped her fingers on the table.

After feeling calmer, Valerie walked to the room where the CEO was—the first time Valerie was face-to-face with Mr. Regan.

"Come in."

"Sorry sir, I'm Valerie... Why did you call me?" Valerie sat down, not daring to look directly at her boss.

"Sit down, Valerie; I have something to say." Valerie sat on the chair opposite Mr. Regan, and immediately Valerie's hands trembled. He was ready if he had to lose his job.

"The reason I called you here is that you will be transferred to another company." Mr. Regan's words made Valerie raise his head. He breathed a little relief that he was not fired, but why was he transferred?

"You will be transferred to a company in France."

****