The lights were off.
Crickets outside.
Villa silent.
Andrea slowly drifted into sleep…
Until the AC blasted cold air straight into her face like revenge.
She shivered violently.
After five minutes of trying to ignore it, she mumbled half-asleep:
"C-c-cold…"
She curled into a ball.
A shadow shifted.
The CEO opened one eye.
He watched her tiny shaking form for a moment…
exhaled in annoyance…
then pulled the blanket and covered her completely like burrito roll.
She instantly snuggled into the warmth.
Without realising…
she slid closer.
Closer.
Too close.
Her hand accidentally landed on his chest.
He froze.
Like—statue mode.
Her warm breath was on his shoulder.
Her fingers lightly curled on his skin.
He looked down at her sleeping face.
For the first time…
his heartbeat actually stuttered.
He whispered, almost irritated at himself:
"…Trouble."
He gently removed her hand and scooted away—
but she sleepily grabbed his satin robe and pulled it.
His eyes widened.
This girl.
This tiny creature.
This stubborn demon.
She pulled him closer like a hugging pillow.
"…I hate my life," he whispered to the ceiling.
But he didn't move.
Not even once.
The first light of dawn slid gently into the room.
The CEO woke up from the numbness in his arm—her head had been on it all night—
and the moment he felt her shift, he shut his eyes again, pretending to sleep.
Andrea woke up slowly… warm… comfortable… cozy…
Then her brain caught something strange.
Her arm was wrapped around something—
Something firm.
Something alive.
Something breathing.
She blinked, frowned, opened her eyes…
And saw his chest.
HIS. CHEST.
Perfectly sculpted. Warm. Right there in front of her like a forbidden museum exhibit.
For half a second, her sleepy brain went:
I'm still dreaming. No way the annoying CEO is this… built.
And because she thought she was dreaming?
She touched him.
Like an artist studying marble.
Tracing every ridge and groove of his chest with fascinated fingers.
The CEO, flustered as hell, screamed internally.
She is indeed a lot thirstier than other women…
He opened one eye slightly.
"You seem to be enjoying your morning."
Her soul rebooted.
Andrea flew back so fast she slammed into the headboard.
"YOU—YOU—YOU—WHY WERE YOU SO CLOSE?!"
He rubbed his sleepy eyes, absolutely unfazed.
"You hugged me."
"I DID NOT!"
"You clung to me like a koala."
"I'M NOT A KOALA!"
He paused. Calm. Deadly honest.
"You drooled on my shirt."
Andrea turned tomato-red.
"THAT—THAT—THAT IS A LIE."
He lifted his shirt.
There it was.
A tragic little drool mark.
Her soul evaporated into steam.
"I HATE YOU," she whispered, defeated by the universe.
He smirked, smug enough to end civilizations.
"Good morning to you too, idiot."
Andrea stomped down the hallway like she was marching to war.
The CEO followed behind her, hair still messy from sleep, robe slight open, looking way too calm for someone who just got drooled on.
He sipped his water like nothing happened.
Andrea hissed,
"Don't walk behind me."
He shrugged, "Can't help it. Your legs are too short."
She spun, ready to commit murder.
"Say that again."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You can barely reach the top shelf."
"THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY LEGS."
He smirked.
"It has everything to do with your legs."
She stormed ahead, vowing to kick him later.
They entered the dining room.
His mother looked at them once…
Saw Andrea's too-red face…
Saw her disheveled hair…
Saw the CEO's annoyingly smug expression…
And the mother's eyes lit up like she'd just discovered a new episode of her favorite soap opera.
"Oh? You two came down together this morning?"
Andrea froze.
The CEO froze.
The mom raised both eyebrows.
Andrea shook her head violently.
"No—NO—WE DIDN'T—NOT LIKE—WE WERE NOT—"
The CEO calmly buttered his toast.
Then looked at his mom and said,
"She drooled on me."
Andrea slapped her forehead.
The mom gasped dramatically.
"Oh my! Already this comfortable?!"
"NOOOOOOO!" Andrea screamed internally.
As Andrea sat down, the mother leaned toward her.
"Did he kick you while sleeping? He used to kick a lot as a child."
Andrea blinked.
"…He nearly suffocated me with his arm."
The mom glared at her son.
"You tried to kill her?!"
The CEO: "I was asleep."
The mom: "No excuses."
Andrea watched this with pure joy.
For once…
He was the one getting scolded.
Blessed morning.
The breakfast aroma rose—hot pancakes, scrambled eggs, warm tea.
Andrea reached for a bowl of fruit.
But the bowl was too high.
She stretched.
Stretched.
Streeetched—
Still nothing.
Before she could cry in frustration, a long arm reached past her, effortlessly grabbing the bowl.
He placed it in front of her.
Their fingers brushed.
Not dramatically.
Not romantically.
Just enough to make her freeze and him inhale sharply.
He looked away instantly.
So did she.
They ate breakfast like two people who absolutely did not just have a moment.
After breakfast, the CEO leaned over the table, voice low.
"Where's the paper you were working on?"
Andrea stiffened.
"My room."
"I want to see the rest."
"You're not allowed."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You're hiding something."
She crossed her arms. "Yes. My sanity. From you."
He leaned forward slightly.
She leaned back instantly.
Their mom watched this exchange, sipping tea like it was world-class entertainment.
The CEO stood, straightening his tie.
"Finish whatever you were drawing. I'll check it later."
She scowled.
"You don't command me."
He smirked.
"I literally do."
She threw a napkin at his face.
He caught it mid-air without looking.
Show-off.
Then he leaned close enough for her heart to glitch.
"Don't disappear today. I need you."
She blinked.
"…For what?"
He walked away.
"For work."
But his tone…
His tone said more.
Way more.
And Andrea sat there, clutching her spoon, brain fried, heart offended, ice cream craving returning, butterflies threatening to unionize.
Andrea stepped out after breakfast, hoping for peace.
HAHA.
Cute hope.
The moment she stepped into the hallway, two maids passed by.
"Did you hear? Madam was talking about wedding colours—"
"With the young master and that girl?"
Andrea stopped breathing.
Wedding WHAT?
She peeked around the corner.
The maids were squealing.
SQUEALING.
"She must be special if he brought her home."
"I heard their rooms were connected."
Andrea almost fainted.
CONNECTED???
The room was connected by trauma, not romance.
She stomped away before she imploded.
Andrea was pacing angrily in the garden when someone's shadow appeared behind her.
"You look like you're plotting murder," the CEO said.
"I AM," she snapped, pointing at him. "You! You started a rumour!"
"What rumour?"
"That we're getting MARRIED!"
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then said—
"…And?"
Andrea almost combusted.
"AND?! What do you mean AND?! Shut it down! NOW!"
He shrugged casually,
"It's just a rumour."
"It's a RUMOUR about ME marrying YOU!"
He raised a brow.
"I'm not that bad."
"You're WORSE."
He smirked.
"Yet you hugged me all night."
She nearly threw a rock at him.
Andrea pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Just give me back my phone."
"No."
"WHY?!"
He walked past her, hands in pockets.
"You'll run away."
"I. WILL. NOT!"
He stopped, turned, and looked straight at her.
That sharp, unreadable CEO stare.
"That brother from overseas will call again. And I don't like distractions."
Andrea gasped.
"Distractions?! He's my BROTHER!"
He didn't budge.
"Still a distraction."
…The audacity of this man could power a city.
They arrived at his company—
"AURELIAN CORPORATION" (sleek, intimidating, absolutely billionaire-coded).
Andrea followed him inside like a tiny angry storm cloud.
Employees bowed deeply the moment he stepped in.
But today… everyone's eyes were on her.
And whispers rose like smoke.
"Is she the one?"
"She stayed at his house…"
"The CEO never brings women home—"
"She must be incredibly special—"
Andrea clenched her fists.
The CEO noticed her stiffening and slowed his steps just enough so she was right beside him.
When an employee stared too long at her,
he stopped walking, turned his cold gaze toward the guy, and said:
"Focus on your work."
The employee nearly died.
Andrea blinked.
"…Did you just defend me?"
"I told him to work."
"You said it BECAUSE he looked at me."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
She smirked.
"You're jealous."
His jaw tightened.
"That's not possible."
"So you admit you feel something."
He glared.
"Shut up."
Inside the meeting room, executives were arguing over a proposal.
The CEO sat down.
Andrea sat next to him, hugging her sketch paper like a baby.
Suddenly a young female manager walked in—
pretty, confident, clearly interested in the CEO.
"Good morning, sir," she said with the sweetest tone, ignoring Andrea completely.
The CEO nodded.
"Start."
But the woman kept glancing at him…
and Andrea noticed the irritating sparkle in her eyes.
Andrea rolled her eyes so hard she saw her brain.
The woman finally smiled at him and said,
"Sir, I brought the documents you asked me to personally prepare yesterday…"
Andrea scoffed under her breath.
The CEO heard it.
"What?" he asked her.
Andrea whispered,
"Nothing. Just allergies."
He narrowed his eyes.
Meeting ended.
Executives filed out.
Before leaving, the flirty manager turned to Andrea.
"So… what is your relationship with the CEO?"
Andrea opened her mouth.
Before she could say "Nothing. Zero. Less than zero."—
The CEO placed a hand on Andrea's shoulder.
Firm.
Possessive.
Unmistakable.
And said:
"She stays with me. That's all you need to know."
The entire room froze.
Andrea's soul exploded.
She whipped her head toward him.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
He walked away calmly.
"Clarification."
"YOU MADE IT MORE CONFUSING!"
"Good."
"GOOD?!"
He glanced at her, expression unreadable and dangerously soft for half a second.
"You're mine to handle. Not theirs."
Andrea's heart MISSED. A. STEP.