When the CEO’s Golden Secretary Walked Away Chapter 1

Everyone in my graduating class knows that back in high school, I ruthlessly dumped the heir to the Croft corporate empire, Daran Croft, all for a fat paycheck.

Now, they all think I am his pathetic lapdog, clinging to him as his personal secretary.

What none of them know is that I am actually a corporate proxy, handpicked by Daran's parents to babysit their deadbeat son.

We signed a contract in secret. It was a transaction with a very clear price tag.

Daran, however, firmly believes I am desperately in love with him.

And now, that contract is exactly one month away from expiring.

* * *

I was a scholarship student funded by the Croft Foundation. I was also the brightest kid they had ever sponsored.

Seven years ago, during my senior year, I was at the absolute top of my class.

Then my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness, requiring a massive amount of money for medical bills. To make matters worse, my father vanished into thin air, taking every last cent of our family savings with him.

That was when a woman dripping in diamonds and old money condescension appeared in my life.

I knew exactly who she was. She was the mother of my then boyfriend, Daran.

She slid a sleek black bank card across the table, followed by a thick legal contract.

"Three million dollars."

The matriarch's tone was dripping with arrogance.

"Get accepted into an Ivy League business program. After you graduate, you will work for the Croft family for three years, entirely off the books."

"And while we are on the subject, I expect you to be smart about this little high school romance you have going on with my son."

I took the deal.

I went straight back to school and broke Daran's heart.

After graduation, his grades were so atrocious that his parents shipped him off to Europe to hide the embarrassment.

I, on the other hand, followed the contract to the letter and secured my Ivy League degree.

This month marks the final thirty days of that binding agreement.

The air in the CEO's office was thick with the suffocating stench of cigar smoke.

I wrinkled my nose in discomfort, keeping my eyes fixed on the man slouching in the leather executive chair.

A redhead with miles of bare legs was perched comfortably on Daran's lap.

Her perfectly manicured, cherry red nails lightly traced the jawline of his handsome face.

The two of them were lost in their own little world, giggling and flirting, treating me like a piece of furniture.

I knew my place. I stood quietly to the side, my face an unreadable mask.

"Come on, babe! I really want to be the leading lady in that new movie!"

Behind the mahogany desk, the man smirked. He threw a fleeting, provocative glance in my direction.

"Done. It is just a movie, right? If my Tiffany wants the part, it is hers."

I recognized the girl immediately. She was Tiffany, the latest flavor of the month tearing up the Hollywood gossip blogs.

My expression remained utterly placid. I had grown entirely numb to these little theatrical displays of debauchery.

Ever since I became Daran's secretary three years ago, there had been a revolving door of supermodels and starlets.

He had been a terrible student in high school, and he had learned absolutely nothing during his luxurious exile in Europe.

On paper, this entertainment subsidiary was a sandbox for the young heir to learn the ropes of business. In reality, every single operational decision from the top down was executed by me.

And the movie Tiffany was whining about happened to be the company's most critical investment for the third quarter.

"Mr. Croft, Director Dawson's contract strictly prohibits investors from swapping out the cast at the last minute."

I felt a familiar migraine throbbing at my temples.

The cast was already locked in. The entire production crew was scheduled to begin principal photography next week.

Demanding a new female lead at the eleventh hour was classic Daran, reckless and incredibly stupid.

Daran exhaled a cloud of toxic smoke, his arm tightening around the actress's waist.

"I am the one writing the checks. I can swap out whoever I want."

His eyes locked onto mine, cold and challenging. "If Dawson has a problem with it, tell him to pack his bags."

"And if you have a problem with it, you can pack yours too."

A dry laugh almost escaped my throat.

Did he honestly think I wanted to stay in this gilded cage?

If it were not for the remaining thirty days on my contract, I would have walked out that door and never looked back.

"Understood, Mr. Croft. I will contact the production team immediately."

It was his money to burn. Why should I care if he tanked his own third quarter revenue?

Tiffany giggled, planting a messy kiss on Daran's cheek. "You are the best, babe!"

Daran kept his gaze glued to me, a mocking sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I maintained my absolute indifference. In my head, I casually tallied up the number of women he had cycled through in the past ninety days.

I also wondered how many of them would throw a tantrum post breakup, forcing me to work overtime to manage their hush money.

I had barely stepped out of the corporate lobby when a voice called out from behind.

"Hey, Secretary!"

Tiffany strutted up to me, her designer stilettos clicking sharply against the pavement.

"Word around the industry is that you and Daran used to date back in high school."

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

It was hardly a state secret anymore. It did not surprise me that she had done her digging.

"How can I help you, Tiffany?"

She inspected her fresh manicure, her eyes heavy with manufactured pity.

"I will write you a check for five hundred thousand dollars right now. Quit your job tomorrow and stay away from my man."

I stared at her, genuinely struggling to figure out what facial expression to use.

"You dumped him for cash back then, right? Taking a payout to disappear now is the exact same thing."

She offered a venomous smile. "Do not tell me you actually think playing the devoted secretary is going to make him fall back in love with you?"

"Daran despises disloyalty. Whatever twisted fantasy you are holding onto, it is a waste of time."

Great. Another clueless groupie who had heard two sentences of a rumor and decided to play the conquering queen.

I gave her a radiant, polite smile. "I think you are deeply confused about a few things, Tiffany."

"Instead of wasting your breath trying to intimidate me, you should probably focus on keeping Daran entertained."

"I really hope I do not have to process your severance package as his fifth ex girlfriend this year."

The smugness melted off Tiffany's face, replaced by pure, unfiltered rage.

I offered her one last polite nod before turning on my heel and walking away.