Kylie

It wasn't the best day to wake up to a repulsive hum of an old vacuum cleaner. Not after the terrible headache I had last night. There was a little throb in my temple in crescendo to the terrible sound. Groaning, I sit upright and reach for my phone.

No messages from my boss.

I swing my legs off the bed and sashayed my way to the bathroom.

Through the paper-thin wall, I could hear the vacuum wheezing. It was one dust away to croaking. Please, give out already. I took a shower and changed into an embroidered skirt I paired with a cropped brown shirt. I secured a scrunchie to my wrist, grabbing my bag. Breakfast is not given a thought today. Not with the dying vacuum from the neighbor that's making my ears bleed. I'd rather nibble on a doughnut on my desk at the office, thank you very much.

Half an hour later, I'm heading to the elevators of the office building. Audrey is not coming in today. It is her father's birthday and she had to visit home with her boyfriend Vren Parkinson. I've been working for her since I was nineteen. And believe me, she hasn't done anything exciting in nearly four years. For the first time, she had something going on and I give her my full support covertly.

I stepped out of the elevator, squeezing my shoulders between two men who hadn't realized there was someone in the back corner. Their eyes tailed my skirt. It was quirky, all right, for those who hadn't heard of embroidery. I made my way to my desk, the sight of a box of doughnuts stretching my mouth into a grin.

Audrey's boyfriend has offered to supply me with doughnuts in exchange for a little breach of information about Audrey. It wasn't a bribe. No, not entirely a bribe. My loyalty to my boss can't be strained with a dozen of premium doughnuts every day for a month. He just wants to check on Audrey, and since she's not the type who answers her phone unless it's a business call, Vren calls me to check on her.

Sharing the doughnuts to my colleagues, eases off the tiniest guilt – if there was any. I open the box, surveying the array of doughnuts. I purse my lips, torn between the maple bacon and the one coated in powdered sugar. I pick my first choice and lifted the box off my desk. I steer clear from the fitness team when it comes to carbs. I learned that lesson when I offered them pizza years ago. Especially the fashion and trend.

I swerve to that one team who doesn't frown at carbs. The relationship department are Audrey's star columnists. Alexis looks up from her monitor, eyes twinkling when she sees me.

"The Kylie Preston." Violet beamed at me.

Julie pushes her chair from her desk and spun it to my direction. "Love the skirt."

"This old thing?" I tug on the aforementioned skirt with my free hand and did a curtsy.

"You finally came for a relationship advice?" This came from Aimee who has tried to pair me with one of her brothers. Twice.

"Nah. Just the daily ration." I open the box as they got up from their seats to take a couple each. "I have to go back to my desk."

"Is the boss here yet?" Julie chewed on her doughnut.

I shake my head. "She has to be somewhere else today."

"With the boyfriend?" Violet wiggles her eyebrows.

"Maybe." I winked playfully.

I went back to my desk, did a little clean-up on Audrey's. My boss can be a little neat freak. And she's the woman I want to be when I turn twenty-five. She can be cold and bossy but she's everything lots of women look up to. Including me.

I sprayed alcohol on my desk and started scouring it clean with a Kleenex.

A shadow looms behind my computer. I shoot the crumpled tissue to my trash bin and look up with a smile frozen in place. Only to be greeted by a smug grin. Bachelor's editor in chief stood behind my desk, blue eyes watching me closely. There's something about him that instantly draws attention, like gravity to human.

It wasn't primarily because of the physical aspect. He has that tousled hair that fits him so well, the bedroom eyes and the squared jaw. Then there's the finely carved mouth that shifts into varieties of smiles ranging from a slow, sexy smile to wildly alluring.

Christian Parkinson has that easy-going attitude too. His personality seemed... appealing. As if the good looks weren't enough to pump his large ego.

"Good morning, sir. Ms. Danler won't be coming in today," I speak as politely as I could.

He leaned on the edge of my desk, hands on his pockets. He shot me a lopsided smile, his hair a sexy mess on his head. Christian Parkinson has his looks to be cocky about, no question there. But he also has the reputation of discarding women as often as he can. Did I mention he's arrogant?

"I actually came here for your name."

My smile faltered. "Sir, don't you think it's inappropriate to come up to people you barely even know for their name?"

"It's Christian. You make me sound like an old man." He was still grinning like my words didn't register in his gigantic head.

A flicker of irritation pulled the corners of my lips down. "Okay, Christian. My name is none of your business." I'm not supposed to be impolite, but the man just got in my nerves for looking like he would have me wrapped around his finger with his undeniable charisma.

Although there's a small flutter in my belly whenever that sly little smile makes an appearance on his face, it's nothing out of the ordinary. A picture of Zac Efron does the same thing.

Christian tilted his head, leaning closer. "Can I guess?"

My hands clenched on my lap. It's harder to be polite. Which is strange because I'm usually patient around annoying people. I can blame it either on my lack of sleep or just his overbearing self-confidence.

"Lily," he murmurs, eyes crinkling in amusement.

My brows wanted to furrow desperately. But for some reason, I couldn't display contempt, mainly for professional reasons. Besides, he's not worth getting fired over.

"No?" He rakes a hand over his hair, thinking. "How about Daisy?"

I breathed in a long, calming breath through the nose.

"Poppy?"

I bite my tongue.

"Rose?"

There's a rooting exasperation in the pit of my stomach. I tamp it down and resorted to my happy place – by a fireplace, surrounded by books and having all the time in the world to read every single one of them.

He snapped his fingers, plucking me out of my solace. "Is it Jasmine?"

Jesus, he is frustrating.

"How about Ivy? Dahlia? Heather, maybe?"

I clicked my tongue. "You do know that not all women are named after sweet flowers, don't you?"

"I know. But you aren't?" There was genuine confusion on his face as he rubs his bottom lip with his thumb.

I forced a smile. "You thought I'm named after a flower?"

Christian shrugs innocently.

"Are you trying to be annoying or is this just you being you?" I deadpan, good manners aside.

He chuckles, the sound enticing.

I clamped my lips together but open them once again. "I think you have spent enough time unproductively, sir."

"Christian," he corrected. "And I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that."

My teeth grind. "Christian. I think your name should belong to someone else. Like a gentleman, maybe?" I bat my eyelashes in overstated innocence.

The bastard merely smirked. "I'm not leaving without your name. So, is it Holly?"

"Unbelievable," I muttered to myself, pressing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. "Why not name me after a tree? Mahogany sounds great." I rolled my eyes.

He laughs. "I'm not sure that would suit you."

"You know what? I've tolerated this conversation long enough." I spring off my seat and walked off.

"Hold on, Buttercup."

I took longer strides, sensing him behind me. I push the door open, relieved to see my colleagues doing touchups inside. They paused in horror, looking over my shoulder. I turn around with a smile of victory.

Christian stood by the door, nailed on the floor.

I craned my neck to meet his gaze. "News flash: they have these bathrooms made exclusively for people with boobs." I reach for the knob and close the door on him.

His brows lifted, invalidating my victory with a wry half-smile.

Dedicated to the first lovely reader who voted for my book. @DebieBabaylan ! Thank you, you beautiful soul. ❤