“Do you have any information about the big boss?” If I couldn’t meet him, at least knowing his name


    would clear up some of the mystery.


    Ron nced up at me. “Getting curious about the boss now?”


    “Yeah, he’s way too mysterious. It makes people naturally curious,” I admitted.


    Ron finished grinding the coffee beans and brought them up to his nose for a sniff. “Smells good.”


    Then, looking at me, he offered, “How about I brew you a cup?”


    “No, thanks.” I didn’t have time to drink coffee. My curiosity about the elusive CEO of thispany


    had already taken over my thoughts.


    Ron, undeterred, lifted the jar of freshly ground coffee beans toward me. “These are from the boss


    himself. You sure you don’t want to try some?”


    “I’d rather meet him in person than drink the coffee he sent,” I said bluntly, voicing my true thoughts.


    Ron justughed, not saying a word.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Hisugh totally threw me off. “What’s so funny? Did I say something ridiculous, or am I just missing


    the joke here?”


    He shook his head. “Nah, not at all. It’s just funny how our big boss works his magic. He’s got you


    hooked, and he hasn’t even shown his face yet. Smooth, right?”


    I just stared at him. Speechless.


    I knew Ron was messing with me, but I wasn’t about to lose focus.


    When he set a cup of coffee in front of me, I cut right to the chase. “If you’re worried I’ll fall head


    over heels for the guy, just show me his résumé. That way I can get to know him without all the


    mystery.”


    “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen,” Ron said, shutting me down like I knew he would.


    I smirked. “And why’s that?”


    He put on that fake ‘sorry, nothing I can do‘ face. “Boss’s orders.”


    “Seriously?” I asked, feeling like he was totally ying me.


    “He’s worried people might get a crush on him,” Ron said with a straight face, the smell of the


    coffee filling the room.


    Growing up in the Johnston family, I knew fancy coffee when I smelled it. This stuff? It was high–


    end. Clearly, the CEO


    wasn’t just some average guy.


    “You have no idea,” Ron added. “Our boss? Total heartthrob. Forget the girls–honestly, every time I


    see him, I can barely… keep it together. No shame, zero hesitation.


    I had tough to myself. Ron was going in circles, but the message was clear. I wasn’t meeting the


    boss. Yeah, I was curious about the guy, but pushing it any further would just make things


    awkward.


    And thest thing I wanted was for Ron to think I was trying to social climb.


    “Try the coffee,” he offered. “One sip, and you’ll never go back.”


    I gave a small smile. “If it’s that good, I should probably pass. Pretty sure I can’t afford a new


    addiction.”


    I got up and made my way to the door.


    “You sure you don’t want it? This stuff’s not something Just anyone gets to try. Don’te crying to


    meter!” Ron called after me.


    I walked out of his office, letting out a long, frustrated sigh.


    Half of my stress was from Jace, and the other half? Ron.


    For all his chill vibes and harmless look, Ron could seriously get under your skin sometimes.


    Back in my office, I tried casually asking around about the elusive big boss. Everyone I talked to


    said the same thing: since they’d started working here, they’d only ever seen Ron. No one had even


    heard of the CEO, let alone met him.


    Could the CEO of OceanixCorp be, like, some urban legend? Was this whole thing just Ron


    messing with


    me?


    I was still lost in thought, trying to make sense of it, when my phone rang. Demi’s voice came


    through, all frantic and shaky, like she was about to cry.


    “Keira, something’s happened!”